Advice from the Scotty Experts

[williaza]

Have a few options to buy used Scottys. I am not very knowledgeable on the older Scottys and value/reputation. All of these are used and decent shape. I also don’t mind sending to Scotty custom shop as I think it would be a cool experience on an older model. 
 

Out of these three what would be the order for you guys?:

 

Studio Stainless Newport Beach 1.5..after market torch finish 

 

1998 Newport Classic with Oil Can finish

 

Mil-Spec pro platinum 33/350g head 

 

Thank you for all info and help!

[north_east_pro]

The Custom Shop no longer offer Oil Can or Pro Platinum finishes so your only option for a refinish option on the AOP NP and 350g Mil Spec is a black finish. With the SS NPB 1.5 you can restore to original or to a black finish.

 

Note: The Custom Shop are not accepting putters to be restored at the moment due to Covid-19 pressures and it's the expectation that this service will resume in the summer.

Edited May 30, 2021 by north_east_pro

[williaza]

3 minutes ago, north_east_pro said:

The Custom Shop no longer offer Oil Can or Pro Platinum finishes so your only option for a refinish option on the AOP NP and 350g Mil Spec is a black finish. With the SS NPB 1.5 you can restore to original or to a black finish.

 

Note: The Custom Shop are not accepting putters to be restored at the moment due to Covid-19 pressures and it's the expectation that this service will resume in the summer.

Would you have a preference on these? 

[north_east_pro]

Since I don't putt very well with a flow neck either the Newport AOP Oil Can or the Newport 350g Mil Spec would get my pick.

 

Mil Spec's do look nice in black so I'd narrow my choice down to this one. 🙂

[williaza]

1 minute ago, north_east_pro said:

Since I don't putt very well with a flow neck either the Newport AOP Oil Can or the Newport 350g Mil Spec would get my pick.

 

Mil Spec's do look nice in black so I'd narrow my choice down to this one. 🙂

When I have looked around the Custom Shop website I’ve never see a refinish or color option on the classic form just a paintfill option...am I missing something? 

[north_east_pro]

1 minute ago, williaza said:

When I have looked around the Custom Shop website I’ve never see a refinish or color option on the classic form just a paintfill option...am I missing something? 

 

Like I mentioned in my first reply to your post the CS are not doing restorations at the moment. This option has been removed from the order form but you still can send in putters to get personalisation e.g. stamps, new paint, grips, shaftbands, headcovers etc.

[williaza]

Just now, north_east_pro said:

 

Like I mentioned in my first reply to your post the CS are not doing restorations at the moment. This option has been removed from the order form but you still can send in putters to get personalisation e.g. stamps, new paint, grips, shaftbands, headcovers etc.

I understand now..that’s my fault sorry 

[Fairway14]

5 minutes ago, williaza said:

I understand now..that’s my fault sorry 

 

When the CS resumes doing restorations, I doubt the shop will be willing to work on the NPB you described as having an aftermarket torch finish.

Regarding the other two putters you mentioned, I expect the 1998 Oil Can would be the best "investment", especially if it has standard 35" shaft length and the putter head is free of dings-scratches. The 33/350 Pro Platinum is not especially valuable/collectible because relatively few players use a 33" putter.

15 years ago people could buy beat up older Cameron's  for $100 to $200 , pay the CS $150 for a complete restoration, and resell the putter for a $100 to $200 profit. However in recent years the beat up cold Cameron's sell for $300 to $500 , the CS price increased to  $300 for a restoration, and people are now reluctant to buy refinished putters because they fear that the 10 grams of reduced head weight makes the restored putter too light.

[BYK]

Oh yah, Luke is totally right

the CS is shut down right now for restos, so can't get them done now

 

of the three you listed, the 33/350 milspec all day

regarded as one of the best OTR camerons ever made

some feel it is the closest to a tour head that you can get OTR

[GolfGuitarsCars]

Mil Spec hands down.  The 350 gram is highly sought after and sell for big bucks.

Edited May 30, 2021 by GolfGuitarsCars

[GolfGuitarsCars]

4 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

When the CS resumes doing restorations, I doubt the shop will be willing to work on the NPB you described as having an aftermarket torch finish.

Regarding the other two putters you mentioned, I expect the 1998 Oil Can would be the best "investment", especially if it has standard 35" shaft length and the putter head is free of dings-scratches. The 33/350 Pro Platinum is not especially valuable/collectible because relatively few players use a 33" putter.

15 years ago people could buy beat up older Cameron's  for $100 to $200 , pay the CS $150 for a complete restoration, and resell the putter for a $100 to $200 profit. However in recent years the beat up cold Cameron's sell for $300 to $500 , the CS price increased to  $300 for a restoration, and people are now reluctant to buy refinished putters because they fear that the 10 grams of reduced head weight makes the restored putter too light.

Have you priced 350 gram Mil-Specs on eBay?  They are the most sought after of the line.  Put a 34 or 35 inch shaft in that 350 Mil Spec and you have the closest thing to a tour 009 without the price.  

[Fairway14]

13 minutes ago, GolfGuitarsCars said:

Mil Spec hands down.  The 350 gram is highly sought after and sell for big bucks.

 

On ebay the used 33/350 Mil Spec's have recently sold for $200 to $400. 

[brendan6q66]

11 hours ago, GolfGuitarsCars said:

Have you priced 350 gram Mil-Specs on eBay?  They are the most sought after of the line.  Put a 34 or 35 inch shaft in that 350 Mil Spec and you have the closest thing to a tour 009 without the price.  

@GolfGuitarsCars is correct. The 350g heads sell for quite a premium over the other models listed by OP and for good reason. The only way they would sell below $300 today if is the head is so damaged it’s barely recognizable.
 

If you prefer the heavier weight, don’t give this option a second thought. Also, skip the custom shop and get it refinished by BOS. Far more finish options, including stripping the Pro Platinum off and going with a raw oil can / black oxide (I have two 350g one in each of these finishes). 

[BYK]

12 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

On ebay the used 33/350 Mil Spec's have recently sold for $200 to $400. 

I didn't look it up, but I'm surprised they would go that low, specially right now when the Cameron prices have really taken off

[abenjami]

1 hour ago, brendan6q66 said:

@GolfGuitarsCars is correct. The 350g heads sell for quite a premium over the other models listed by OP and for good reason. The only way they would sell below $300 today if is the head is so damaged it’s barely recognizable.
 

If you prefer the heavier weight, don’t give this option a second thought. Also, skip the custom shop and get it refinished by BOS. Far more finish options, including stripping the Pro Platinum off and going with a raw oil can / black oxide (I have two 350g one in each of these finishes). 

 

I keep seeing people post about BOS on here but has anyone actually used them?

 

Their website looks great but when I tried to contact them a few months ago, the customer service was less than stellar.  I couldn't even get my questions answered or a call back.  And I'm a local guy too, I only live 20 minutes away from BOS.

 

I ended up sending my Scotty to the custom shop and couldn't be happier.  It also came back in less than 3 weeks.

[brendan6q66]

2 minutes ago, abenjami said:

 

I keep seeing people post about BOS on here but has anyone actually used them?

 

Their website looks great but when I tried to contact them a few months ago, the customer service was less than stellar.  I couldn't even get my questions answered or a call back.  And I'm a local guy too, I only live 20 minutes away from BOS.

 

I ended up sending my Scotty to the custom shop and couldn't be happier.  It also came back in less than 3 weeks.

They have refinished 4 Scotties for me within the past two years. Two 350g Mil-Spec heads, a JAT Prototype, and a 350g Studio Style NP2. Their work is exceptional. They also offer about a dozen more finish options than the custom shop, including several finishes for the older raw carbon heads that the custom shop abandoned. I've always known what I wanted when I've sent them something, so can't speak much for their customer service if you have lots of questions, and their website needs a lot of work.... would be super useful to have several photos of each finish. But as for the work itself, you can't do better.

 

Example photos of the 4 I've sent them below.

 

[BYK]

1 minute ago, brendan6q66 said:

They have refinished 4 Scotties for me within the past two years. Two 350g Mil-Spec heads, a JAT Prototype, and a 350g Studio Style NP2. Their work is exceptional. They also offer about a dozen more finish options than the custom shop, including several finishes for the older raw carbon heads that the custom shop abandoned. I've always known what I wanted when I've sent them something, so can't speak much for their customer service if you have lots of questions, and their website needs a lot of work.... would be super useful to have several photos of each finish. But as for the work itself, you can't do better.

 

Example photos of the 4 I've sent them below.

 

That oil can is downright beautiful

So very nice!

[Fairway14]

2 hours ago, BYK said:

I didn't look it up, but I'm surprised they would go that low, specially right now when the Cameron prices have really taken off

 

 

This 33/350 Mil Spec, appearing to be in good condition,  sold May 21st for $280

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144038572660?hash=item21895e3274:g:EEsAAOSw3ipgndkX

 

 

Edited May 31, 2021 by Fairway14

[BYK]

23 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

 

This 33/350 Mil Spec, appearing to be in good condition,  sold May 21st for $280

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144038572660?hash=item21895e3274:g:EEsAAOSw3ipgndkX

 

 

Yah just looked

that was a good snag at 280, and a bit of an outlier

looks like the rest are all 400-600 and up

They are such great putters

[aloha b.]

2 hours ago, abenjami said:

 

I keep seeing people post about BOS on here but has anyone actually used them?

 

Their website looks great but when I tried to contact them a few months ago, the customer service was less than stellar.  I couldn't even get my questions answered or a call back.  And I'm a local guy too, I only live 20 minutes away from BOS.

 

I ended up sending my Scotty to the custom shop and couldn't be happier.  It also came back in less than 3 weeks.

BOS used to do the finishes for Scotty on his early model putters.

[Fairway14]

1 minute ago, BYK said:

Yah just looked

that was a good snag at 280, and a bit of an outlier

looks like the rest are all 400-600 and up

They are such great putters

 

It seems the current market price for a 33/350 Mil Spec in average condition is about $300-$350 I think if the OP buys one and pays BOS $150 to refinish the head, he could probably sell it on ebay for approximately $450. 

 

33/350 Mil Spec that sold May 12th for $239.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144030233893?hash=item2188def525:g:mL8AAOSwy7hgkuL9

 

33/350 with matching correct cover which sold for $415, April 26th

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144037647979?hash=item218950166b:g:VtoAAOSwL75gnJiV

 

a refinished 33/350 that sold for $310

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333946891782?hash=item4dc0c92e06:g:qPAAAOSwOXxgah48

 

33/50 that was listed with a $250 buy-it-now and sold for best offer

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384062134550?hash=item596be31916:g:IYcAAOSwoSNgXTh6

[nitram]

Back in the day the Mil-Spec line were as solid as he ever produced and were as good as some of the Circle T's that were coming out of San Marcos. So if you want one of the best he ever made available to the masses, get the Mil-Spec although I've always been a sucker for that oil can finish.

[BYK]

12 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

It seems the current market price for a 33/350 Mil Spec in average condition is about $300-$350 I think if the OP buys one and pays BOS $150 to refinish the head, he could probably sell it on ebay for approximately $450. 

 

33/350 Mil Spec that sold May 12th for $239.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144030233893?hash=item2188def525:g:mL8AAOSwy7hgkuL9

 

33/350 with matching correct cover which sold for $415, April 26th

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144037647979?hash=item218950166b:g:VtoAAOSwL75gnJiV

 

a refinished 33/350 that sold for $310

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333946891782?hash=item4dc0c92e06:g:qPAAAOSwOXxgah48

 

33/50 that was listed with a $250 buy-it-now and sold for best offer

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384062134550?hash=item596be31916:g:IYcAAOSwoSNgXTh6

Yah

I'm more in to the original ones not beat up too much

Some of the restos are OK, but not a fan of ones like the one ya listed above as all the face milling is gone, and I'm not too sure bout the finish

[RobotDoctor]

If anyone has a Cameron that was originally finished in Oil Can or Black Oxide why would they not choose to send it to BOS for refinishing?  After all BOS was the company that originally developed the Cameron Oil Can finish and really are the only company that can apply a factory original version of that, even though Cameron/Acushnet severed ties with BOS years ago (another story).  If I had a putter that was Black Oxide, Oil Can or Pro Platinum I would never send it to the Custom Shop for refinishing if I wanted original.  BOS is the only option I would select.  I have had a couple putters restored in Oil Can in the past and both came out tremendous.  BOS customer service and communication was excellent.

[williaza]

Thank you for all the responses. I have to say, I was never a Scotty guy and then picked up a 2.6 to try CS and kind of went down the rabbit hole of the Scotty universe and there is something cool about the "community" and culture around the putters. I know most of it is marketing and created to make them seem more special than they are but it is a pretty cool thing. 

[whowhispers]

My pick would be the Mil spec. Maybe extend it to 34", and leave

the finish alone. As long as the pro-plat is kept clean and oiled, the

finish won't rust and will give years more of that soft carbon feel.

[kennyFpowers55]

John Pinney from the Scotty custom shop told me BOS never did any finishes for Scotty so I don’t know who to believe because I’ve heard that same tale for years as well

[Belltower]

Mil Spec is always hard to beat.