Aside from the tip, the shaft affects how well the entire cue plays. Most shafts are made of some type of maple. There are some cues constructed out of titanium, aluminum, fiberglass, or graphite, but for the most part, cues are made of maple. The two main types of tapers are billiard taper and pro taper and what you decide your cue to have is a personal preference. The billiard taper starts out at a certain diameter at the tip and constantly grows wider along the length of the shaft, somewhat like a long cone.
Many players prefer the pro taper because it allows the cue to easily slide inside a closed bridge.
The stiffness of your cue is also a personal preference. Usually darker shaft wood indicates a stiffer feeling cue. Joint pins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and more are coming out with every new cue maker. The first number indicates the diameter of the screw and the second number indicates the number of threads in one inch. See example on the right.