Company Profile
Dan dedicated 25 years to building and restoring vintage stringed instruments. This gave him the ability to select and work with woods from all over the world. Eventually, this led to Dan owning his own music store, where he pioneered the introduction of computers interfacing with musical instruments known as MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).
In 1990, DanBuilt Cue Case Company emerged from the music business. These specialized cue cases were designed for cue makers, cue collectors, and dealers. In 1992, Dishaw Custom Cues evolved into a business where Dan’s cues are now considered some of the most sought-after cues by world-class players and by collectors and dealers from all corners of the world.
Dishaw Custom Cues was proud to be one of the founding members of the American Billiard Manufacturers Association.
Dan is a current member of the Billiard Congress of America and exhibits at all the BCA Trade Shows. In April 2002, Dan was elected to the BCA Board of Directors and has served on several committees, such as Trade Show, Promotion, Hall of Fame, Membership, and Long Range Planning.
Dan was a participating cue artist at the very prestigious Gallery of American Cue Art, held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, the NY City Athletic Club, and the International Cue Collectors Show. He also served as President of the Academy of American Cue Art. As you can imagine, as a past Chair for the Trade Show Committee, Dan was present on all of the AACA’s committees.
I think it’s safe to say that Dan has consistently shown a sincere desire to be a part of this industry, in addition to being regarded as a well-known and respected craftsman.
History
Dan Dishaw grew up close to a pool hall, with a father who was a good player. Dan started playing at a very early age. He continued to play pool through college, where he majored in biochemistry and math. Dan was also involved in music, and he played several instruments. Right out of college, he did some construction work, restoring old hotels in Buffalo. Soon, he was working as a pattern maker, making full-size wood models for castings, and making custom cabinets as a hobby. One day, he repaired his guitar, and decided to start doing some instrument repairs. Before long, he was doing all the repairs for three local music stores, specializing in wood stringed instruments. He enjoyed working with musical instruments, so when one of the music stores went out of business, he decided to open his own store.
In the late 1980s, Dan bought a small company that made flight cases for musical instruments and called it Danbuilt. As a pool player, Dan saw the need for a heavy-duty flight case for pool cues, so Danbuilt started making them. He put a pool table in his shop in the early 1990s and began playing more. When he had a cue repaired, he was disappointed with the job because he knew he could do better. So, he bought an old lathe and began cue repairs as a hobby. In 1992, he made his first three cues. As a result of showing these cues, Dan got orders well over two dozen more.
Early Danbuilt cues are easily recognizable by the Danbuilt logo on the butt cap. In the summer of 1996, Dan started signing his cues “Dishaw” on the forearm instead and renamed his cue company Dishaw Custom Cues to avoid confusion with his case company. Early cues were fairly plain, but the more recent cues may feature overlapping points and elaborate inlay work. He believes that his experience with wood musical instruments gives him a different approach to cue construction.
Dan makes about 100 cues a year in the shop he has built under his music store. Dishaw Custom cues are indefinitely guaranteed against construction defects that are not the result of warpage or abuse. If you have a Danbuilt cue that needs further identification or repair, or would like to talk to Dan about ordering a new cue or receiving a free color brochure, contact Dishaw Custom Cues listed trademark index.