McWORTER "DECO"
IN BLACK AND WHITE
(EBONY & WHITE LBM)
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Here is one of my favorite designs from ACA Hall of Fame cuemaker Jerry McWorter of Ventura, California. He calls it the "Deco." I've had this design from him several times through the years in various wood combinations, and although I've liked them all, I think this one in all ebony with white LBM inlay, and his stunning silver work is something special.
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Jerry continues to make some of the prettiest and best-playing cues on the market today. Always in demand in Asia, so many have been sold there through the years that you don't see many on the secondary market here. His striking designs and fine workmanship have always kept him on the "A-List" of both discriminating players and collectors.
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Like all his designs, it relies on lots of fine silver work and beautiful wood for its elegance. In this stick, he used fine black ebony with bright white LBM to complete the picture. And of course, it wouldn't be a fancy McWorter without the elegant silver work.
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It's difficult to exactly describe the points in this cue. They are basically long white, highly stylized points, interrupted with some flairing silver and a spearhead along the way. It's a very elaborate design, and just the kind of thing that Jerry has always been able to pull off.
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The picture above clearly shows why Jerry's silverwork is always a highlight of his cues.
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As always, Jerry's work is immaculate and meticulous, and every detail is handled with perfection. And his design is delicate in the details, but bold in overall scope. This "Deco" is unique, and different from any he's made in the past. The smallest inner section of the base in each of the points is normally black, but in this one he made the points all white. Either way, it's a sublime cue and stunning in all respects.
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Just above and below the wrap he adds a wide, white elforyn ring that perfectly frames the black leather. Jerry's wraps are one of the best in the business - virtually seamless to the naked eye.
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At the bottom of the butt sleeve he engraves his name and the cue number.
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This design is a bit of a palindrome - it's basically the same design going in both directions from the handle. The design in the butt sleeve is just a squeezed-down version of the design in the forearm.
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Of course, any description of a McWorter cue would be incomplete without a mention of their playability. I've always been a fan of the way McWorters play. They are very consistent. Almost every one hits virtually the same. He doesn't vary his construction. He is a very good player, he knows how he thinks a cue should hit, and he builds them that way. They are simply great playing cues.
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His inlaid points are always long and sharp. And with the maximum contrast of white against sleek black ebony, this cue really stands out.
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On almost all of Jerry's cues, he uses the same ring set - two thin silver rings closely aligned to appear almost as one. This also allows for all his shafts to be interchangeable.
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His points are always even and very sharp.
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There are a lot of cue makers who do great work in fine silver, but nobody does it any better than Jerry. The work is always meticulous and the designs are smooth and flowing. And its easy to see why this one is called the "Deco." the design harkens back to the days of art deco in the 1920s and 1930s.
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In spite of all the fine detail and intricacy in this stick, and how good it looks close-up, the real payoff comes when it's viewed at arm's length - or from across the room. His designs are always handsome and refined.
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His wraps set the standard for fine custom cues. Even using the smoothest leather, his wraps appear virtually seamless. Nobody does it better.
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He builds it with his 3/8X10 stainless steel pin in a flat-faced, wood-to-wood joint, as he does with every cue he makes.
It comes with one of his low-deflection 12.8 mm shafts with an elforyn ferrule and a Whitten medium layered tip. It weighs 19.3 ounces (15.5, 3.8) and is 58 inches long. (And if you're a fan of carbon fiber shafts, just think how wicked this cue would look with a black shaft!)
Jerry's cues are the ultimate in playability, and are a genuine pleasure to use.
PRICE: $6400 plus shipping
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