Joe Salazar always had a booth with some high-end cues. Since he's passed, I'm curious to see what happens in that location.

Bob Jewett said:

$30 each. Made in the USA. Claims 38 thousand have been sold. $24 each if you buy 3.

Something doesn't add up.

Click to expand...

Agreed

xX-Wizard-Xx said:

more goofy things category along with the break rak

Click to expand...

If you think this tool is goofy then you have a limited understanding for sports.

Yes.

misterpoole said:

So looks like a Pewitt but it ain't........

Click to expand...

It doesn’t look like a cue design Ed Prewitt made. But then again, I don’t get to preview, or see, every cue he’s made.

AuntyDan said:

... Interestingly this just popped up on my Facebook marketplace feed. Seems like a much more reasonable price point but no idea if it is legit or not: https://www.speculatek.com/products/bitmanrack-9-ball-pro

Click to expand...

$30 each. Made in the USA. Claims 38 thousand have been sold. $24 each if you buy 3.

Something doesn't add up.

AuntyDan said:

... although IIRC John Schmidt used one in some of his 14.1 record attempts. ....

Click to expand...

I think he was sponsored. Lou Sardo was present for some of the attempts.

Johnson said:

Who cares about the table, what color is the cloth???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Click to expand...

No. No. Pocket size?

Troll Troll Troll your boat…

Kris_b1104 said:

Who on AzB is trying to be a top pro? Lol

Click to expand...

The two top US players that might qualify as visitors/posters are Mike Dechaine and John Schmidt, but they both seem to have cut back on pro play. Schmidt hasn't won $10k in a year for ten years, and Mike hasn't for six years. John hasn't been on AZB for 10 years.

As for the aspiring players, we don't seem to get many young players here, but I could be mistaken. The young people do FB and such.

Does anyone here play in WNT majors?

Who cares about the table, what color is the cloth???????????????????????????????????????????????????

garczar said:

CF rules the roost when it comes to energy transfer and low-def. In wood you might try the Pred. Vantage. Really good power and low-d.

Click to expand...

The Becue Prime II 12.0 shaft feels like a wood shaft that transfers power like a CF shaft, my other CF shafts were stiffer and I didn't feel any feedback, this shaft has flex and feedback like a wood shaft, super long taper, I love this shaft.

iusedtoberich said:

I doubt anyone has tried both. They are so obscure, and to have access to both systems would be a stretch.

I didn't like the built in drills on mine that much. I preferred to use it to mark a random rack, then practice getting out that rack over and over. I had about 10 racks I'd cycle between.

The PPB is a father-son team. The son is the programmer, the father is the player. They might have had a secretary at one point too. They were always super responsive to me in both email and FB, even when I was being an ass. I also screwed up the Raspberry pi trying to reinstall some software (my fault). They told me to sent it back to them and they fixed it for me in a day and then sent it back. (this was around 2022 or so). I'm quite surprised there are recent reports of poor communication. I'm in that FB group and saw those reports also.

The ICA system I'd bet is also just Robin developing the drills and a programmer he hired, so just as small a company.

Click to expand...

I have tried them both because Robin Dreyer was selling the PPB first before he jumped ship with Bob on ICA. I upgraded from the PPB to I cats on the urging of Robin and sort of "traded in" my old system for the new. I think ICA has put a lot more thought into it JMO.

Having said that I have decided I am past the point of trying to improve my game much and just want to play and enjoy.

If anyone wants a complete ICA system with a long throw projector Viewsonic PA503W (Has to project from the end, not the side) I am moving my table to my new house and am on the fence whether to set it up or not. I would sell the entire setup for $750. It has all the base modules plus some of Robin's drills and Dr. Daves billiard university exams. There is a lot of expansion available from ICat.

Up for a true killer

FAST_N_LOOSE said:

So far, that is of public knowledge..... the ivory handled 8 point cue loaded with silver, or the Ebony nosed 8 ivory point cue.
The gold cues are up there as well.

There are also some special cues out there that aren't as "elaborate" but are super collectible and rare.

Click to expand...

"Most elaborate cues" from a certain maker are awesome and I've always been a huge fan of "more is better"..for me. But in this case, the more elaborate cues out of the Tascarella shop may not always be the most desirable and I know you are on a similar page..... You've had more than a few of the 1%'ers. As you've said, I think there are some special and/or very collectible ones that deserve attention too. One factor could be the materials used for the build that could help make them more desirable and put them towards the top of the "desired" heap. I know I may be veering away from the op's "most elaborate" question but you did bring up the other points to consider... For me, the 1st that comes to mind, and in my opinion the TOP cue to ever come out of the Tascarella shop that I know of, is the GTB cue built for Joe and Mark using one of the last few assembled George B. butts with a Gus blank found in George's shop after he passed. The shop finished the cue to Joe's and Mark's direction using all period correct materials and specs. It's very fancy but not the MOST elaborate for the op's question, but I would want THAT cue over any other built out of the Tascarella shop because it ties together the lineage and top tier craftsmanship between Balabushka, his connection with Gus Szamboti, and the continuation of excellence from the Tascarella shop...but that's me. Second would be my veneered diamond cue with one of George's original socket cap screws securing the delrin buttcap to the butt sleeve of course LOL