Zinzola Cues opinions?
- Thread starter FSutton
- Start date
I have never hit a ball with a Zinzola cue but I have seen several close up and person. I have also seen numerous pictures of his cues posted on this forum and I am continually amazed at how poorly his "signature" barbell ring work is executed as well as how unshaped the inlays are on cues I have seen priced upwards of 2k. (Avg. being around $1,500 which is a lot for a new cuemaker imho.) For example there continues to be gaps where the the bar doesn't reach the endpoints and where one barbell doesn't seem to align with the others.
Examples:
$2400 Zinzola for Sale
$1,250 Zinola for Sale
I personally would expect better execution on a cue that's priced over 1k.
At Valley Forge I came across his cue at Barnhart's booth. Barnhart also uses silver in his cues, lots of it, and his execution is FLAWLESS in comparison in cues comparably priced.
Feel free to buy a Zinzola but I would probably stay away from any silver ring work or inlays.
Examples:
$2400 Zinzola for Sale
$1,250 Zinola for Sale
I personally would expect better execution on a cue that's priced over 1k.
At Valley Forge I came across his cue at Barnhart's booth. Barnhart also uses silver in his cues, lots of it, and his execution is FLAWLESS in comparison in cues comparably priced.
Feel free to buy a Zinzola but I would probably stay away from any silver ring work or inlays.
I'm sorry sir, but I'm totally not seeing what you're describing.
I have yet to have the privilege of playing one of Tony's cues and my only exposure to them has been on this forum.
I've been building cues for 20 yrs. and in that time I've aquired a sense of what looks good to me.
According to his web-site, Tony's been building cues just more than 2 yrs. If in fact that is the case then in my opinion, his work is off the charts.
His point work rivals some of the best I've seen.
He has a sense of color that will cause his work to be in even greater demand, more so than it is already.
Of the current 'up & comers', Tony is just now lighting the fuse.
Now, if someday I do get lucky enough to play one of his cues, I doubt my opinion would diminish. Actually, it could only expand.
I have yet to have the privilege of playing one of Tony's cues and my only exposure to them has been on this forum.
I've been building cues for 20 yrs. and in that time I've aquired a sense of what looks good to me.
According to his web-site, Tony's been building cues just more than 2 yrs. If in fact that is the case then in my opinion, his work is off the charts.
His point work rivals some of the best I've seen.
He has a sense of color that will cause his work to be in even greater demand, more so than it is already.
Of the current 'up & comers', Tony is just now lighting the fuse.
Now, if someday I do get lucky enough to play one of his cues, I doubt my opinion would diminish. Actually, it could only expand.
that was problem that he acknowledged. he has since changed to smaller barbells in his ringwork to correct this problem and there appear to be no more gaps in the ringwork in his newer cues.
I love the long points and veneer combo work. I think they are nice. Never seen one in person but he takes really good pics.
I don't know Tony very well, but I've met him a few times at Country Club in Chelmsford. He has about as much pride and drive for what he's doing as you could have. Which generaly is seen in the quality of whatever your doing. I've seen several of his cues and I agree that the point work is fantastic. I'm no collector, but I've been around this a long time. I have hit a few racks with a couple and they hit great. I haven't played any real length of time with any, but I like what I felt when I hit a few balls. This probably doesn't help you much, I just wanted to share what I felt from meeting him.
I think is point work with the paper veneers between the primary points is out of this world. I agree that some of his barbell work is not perfect but I would guess that the flaws are not discernable from more than a foot and I believe this has been a recent point of focus for him. I also agree that the Barnhart cues appear to be executed very nicely.
-don
-don
Honestly, I think he does nice point work and nice veneer work. I don't care for his color scheme for most veneers and his inlay work is getting better.
I think his cues are overinflated due to this website and the people who have pumped it up so hard that the prices reach those.... of say what Gina gets. No doubt the guy has talent, but his work will improve with experience and time.
There are a ton of cuemakers out there that are humble in asking a fair dollar for what they do.
I think his cues are overinflated due to this website and the people who have pumped it up so hard that the prices reach those.... of say what Gina gets. No doubt the guy has talent, but his work will improve with experience and time.
There are a ton of cuemakers out there that are humble in asking a fair dollar for what they do.
I saw the Zinzola cues at the VF show. I was very disipointed in the quality. After looking at the price ($1700-$2200 if I remember correctly) I was shocked.
He does nice veneere work. He has a long way to go on the rest of the cue.
He does nice veneere work. He has a long way to go on the rest of the cue.
I have posted a short review of some of my cues in a past thread. Here is the short review I wrote on Tony's cue:
See some pictures of the Zinzola here
See some pictures of the Zinzola here
Wow...this is classy post by a fellow cuemaker....not!
Did you stop by to see Tony, introduce yourself when you were in VF? A cuemaker with more class (say, like Ron Haley), would strike up a conversation and discuss techniques that may help each other out.
If you didn't see him at VF you might have thought about giving him a call when you returned to discuss cues.
Maybe you did those things, but I can't imagine a fellow cuemaker who went to that trouble would turn around and diss his peer in a public forum.
Come on Ross... if you think Tony is getting what Ernie gets for his cues you must have no idea of the value of a Gina, and I don't believe that for a second...
Call Ernie himself and as him how much for a 5pt cue with veneers.... He'll tell you 6mo and $1700. Is that not close to what his asking prices are?
Jamie - I know you are going to defend the guy any way possible and I understand why. I don't fault anyone for that.... but at the end of the day, this is a consumer-driven website that should be able to cast their opinion without fear of retribution from anyone.
Unfortunately there are "gangs" (not in a literal sense) of people that have their own opinions that will castrate any of those that do not share the same opinion.... we all know of the "Varneyites"...
Anyways, that's my take on it - for as worthless as it may be....
Actually...no...that is for a base Gina cue with an Irish Linen wrap. Ask Ernie to put fancy silver and ivory rings in all positions and a leather wrap and then let me know what the ticket is.
I am only defending the inaccurate statements that are being made.
Rep for you....
i'm assuming that this inlay is suppose to be the same in the butt as it is in the point. please note that this is on a $2400 cue.
u should have talked to him, cuz as he said, none of the cues at the show were ready for sale. u can buy it but he was going to take it back and do some more work on them before actually sending them out. he brought them there for show, the cues were not finished yet.
I talk to many builders trading ideas and working together to build better cues. Tony can call me anytime and I'd help him build a better cue. I'd like to know some of his secrets. He could be a great builder in the future.
I'd never let anybody see a cue like the cues I saw at the VF show. It's a cue show that thousands of people are looking at your work. 1 perfect cue is better then 4 poorly build.
I wanted to see a perfect cue when I picked them up. I looked forward to looking at Zinzola, Sugartree, Mason, and the other builders that frequent this site. Like I said I wasn't impressed. Just because I'm a builder doesn't mean I don't have an opinion. Leave the fact that I'm a builder out of your statement. If you want to quote everything I say with "builder" then my opinion is a professional opinion and I know what I'm talking about.
This is a public forum and I will be honest with my opinion. I will continue to build great cues and be an active member on this site. That's the only way this forum will work.
The title on this thread is "Zinzola Cues opinions?" I saw 4 cues. They were below average. IMO!
If you don't like my quality speak up.
I'd never let anybody see a cue like the cues I saw at the VF show. It's a cue show that thousands of people are looking at your work. 1 perfect cue is better then 4 poorly build.
I wanted to see a perfect cue when I picked them up. I looked forward to looking at Zinzola, Sugartree, Mason, and the other builders that frequent this site. Like I said I wasn't impressed. Just because I'm a builder doesn't mean I don't have an opinion. Leave the fact that I'm a builder out of your statement. If you want to quote everything I say with "builder" then my opinion is a professional opinion and I know what I'm talking about.
This is a public forum and I will be honest with my opinion. I will continue to build great cues and be an active member on this site. That's the only way this forum will work.
The title on this thread is "Zinzola Cues opinions?" I saw 4 cues. They were below average. IMO!
If you don't like my quality speak up.