TOM MIGLIORE
FOUR POINT EBONY & MAPLE
WITH ABALONE
|
Here is a really sharp looking cue, and a great player, from cue maker and master machinist Tom Migliore. It's an ebony and maple cue with four long points of veneered ebony and beautiful inlay work featuring gorgeous pieces of high grade select abalone and fancy ringwork.
|
Known for many years as one of the premier manufacturer of cue components in the industry, Tom has been gradually building more and more cues under the name "TNS." Normally building no more than five or ten a year, he's hoping to expand his production to about 15 this next year as he moves more of his time into complete cue building. This is the first one I've had, and it is an exceptionally nice build.
|
While the name of Migliore is not known to a lot of players and cue collectors across the country, it is well-known in the East, and to most cue makers across the U.S. He has been making parts and components for cues since 2003 and has a strong reputation as a machinist. It's not surprising his cues are well-constructed and that every detail is carefully attended to.
|
Tom is particularly well-known for developing the 3/8X10 "Modified" pin, which has become an everyday term in cue building and a standard of the industry. He developed this thread on his own, in an attempt to eliminate the "V" gap in the thread and give it more surface to surface adhesion, and better tension, resulting in an improved "hit." It's the most popular pin today, and whenever you hear someone say a pin is "3/8X10 modified" their are likely using Tom's pin. In addition, almost all the custom cues built today with an extension fitting are using Tom's extension kit which he also designed and builds.
|
This is a traditionally designed stick utilizing ebony for the butt sleeve and points. Within the base of each point is an arrowhead of white elforyn inlaid with a smaller arrowhead of select abalone.
|
He uses the same arrow head design in the butt sleeve, using it at the top and bottom of ebony windows, each outlined with a thin elforyn veneer,with a large notched diamond of more abalone in the middle.
|
The points are long and even, each carefully framed with very pretty veneer work.
|
The maple in the forearm is nicely figured with a warm tone, and the ebony is a deep rich black.
|
To finish off the beautiful detail in this stick, he added a nice set of rings, featuring white elforyn rectangles framed in blue veneer, and then used those above the butt cap, below and above the handle, at the joint and on the joint rings on the shafts.
|
All of this beautiful work comes together to complete a clean, balanced look and a gorgeous cue. Personally, I'm always partial to traditional designs in which the butt sleeve and forearm go together perfectly and form a very balanced look.
|
The points are outlined with black, blue, green and natural maple veneers. The blue rings and predominantly blue veneers nicely complement each other.
|
The abalone in this stick is very high quality, with nice, tight mottling and lots of detail within it. When you look closely you get the feeling you're looking through a kaleidoscope.
|
The points are very long, narrow and nicely tapered - very sharp and very even.
|
A closer look at these very pretty veneers ...
|
He builds it with a nice white elforyn joint, adding the perfect color detail.
| |
|
To match the white joint, he adds a white elforyn butt cap, with his "TNS" logo engraved in it. (Tom builds every individual part of his cues, with the exception of the tips.)
| |
He includes two 12.8mm shafts - one in traditional maple and the other in kielwood, both 29 inches. They have matching ringwork and elforyn ferrules.
|
|
He wraps the handle with a softly textured black pigskin "Arora" wrap.
|
This cue weighs 19.2 ounces and is 58 inches long. The two shafts are made from Hydex 202 ferrules and have Whitten medium-soft tips. It is fitted for an extension and comes with a six-inch carbon fiber extension made by Tom.
This cue is priced at $3350 plus shipping.
|
|
