Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this...
In your opinion, what did Gus Szamboti achieve that make his cues so appealing?
- Thread starter branpureza
- Start date
As a new player I don't know much about cue building..
but it seems balabushka and szamboti just applied some ideas to their cues that weren't done yet, even know they should of been. It seems like cue technology has been FAR behind creativity wise... now a days its the same in my opinion, behind design wise, and technology wise, you'd think low deflection technology plus much more would of been out in the beginning of the 90s. Also you think much more then inlays and veneers would be around but I guess there is only so much you can do to a cue.. hopefully a new-age bushka comes out and takes cues making to the future.
but it seems balabushka and szamboti just applied some ideas to their cues that weren't done yet, even know they should of been. It seems like cue technology has been FAR behind creativity wise... now a days its the same in my opinion, behind design wise, and technology wise, you'd think low deflection technology plus much more would of been out in the beginning of the 90s. Also you think much more then inlays and veneers would be around but I guess there is only so much you can do to a cue.. hopefully a new-age bushka comes out and takes cues making to the future.
Ivory Inlays?
Just what I observed,
Wasn't Gus the 1st to make shapes other than those gotten out of the Music Instrament inlay selections, and the use of Ivory, other than MOP?
Then, Bill Schick started making them really fancy by adding Archs to the shapes, like arch diamonds and arch spears?
Just what I observed,
Wasn't Gus the 1st to make shapes other than those gotten out of the Music Instrament inlay selections, and the use of Ivory, other than MOP?
Then, Bill Schick started making them really fancy by adding Archs to the shapes, like arch diamonds and arch spears?
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There is no school like the old school
Hope all is well Buddy
Berny
Hope all is well Buddy
Berny
........
IMO ....there are already a few .......
Szam .... Searing ... Showman ....Tascarella .... Hercek .... also some excellent newcomers like Blackcreek/Sugartree/Cashcues/Prewitt and so on ... just to name a few.
I also have to say that Mr. Davis made some outstanding Blanks ... i really appreciate his great work.
Berny
IMO ....there are already a few .......
Szam .... Searing ... Showman ....Tascarella .... Hercek .... also some excellent newcomers like Blackcreek/Sugartree/Cashcues/Prewitt and so on ... just to name a few.
I also have to say that Mr. Davis made some outstanding Blanks ... i really appreciate his great work.
Berny
Gus was ahead of his time. He used all Sears tools.
Gus had a passion to make his cues play good that was #1, $$$$ wasnt his motivation, sure he had a large family that liked to eat alot
, but Gus wanted to make sure his customers got exctactly what they wanted. Ray Martin had to have a specific nylon wrap so Gus went out and bought a huge roll of it for Ray's cue-Barry tells me the spool is monster huge and has never been used again. Gus was close to his customers. He listened to them. All of his cues play a bit different, some are front heavy, others are ass heavy, fat, skinny. every thing different lengths as well.
There wasnt near as many cue makers back then and cues were tools to play pool with, now there is a sub-culture of cue collectors, some play others dont. Gus had many origonal designs, used alot of different woods, took the time to buy the right wood and cut it down slowly to de-stress it. He used the best materials and worked hard at learning to build better and better cues over time. When you know alot about his work you can tell kinda the date range a cue was made in. They are all great cues.
There will never be another Gus, too many cue makers, too many tools in thier shop, were in a different era now. Its cool to watch this evolution, Gus can be credited with a few others(Bushka etc) as the founders of where we are today in cues. He was a better man than Cue maker-I have been told by more people than just his son. I had my chance to talk to him and I was too shy,young and short sited. I will awalys regret that.
Also Gus's cues played alot better than any one elses cues did back(on the whole) then so thats another reason he stood alone at the top, his cues today are still among the best playing cues, but you have to find one you like cause they vary from cue to cue. In contrast in todays world there are a number of great cue makers who's cues play great, Gus is part of why that is, the aspiration of greatness. Cue makers take alot of pride in their work, Gus sure did and perhaps that influenced alot of the "New school" cue makers. Patience is what Barry Szamboti told me is required to build a cue, Barry much like his dad is very humble.
The history of who Gus worked with, sold blanks to, shared ideas with also is what makes his cues very deseriable. At this stage of the "game" Gus cues are vintage cues, and like in the watch biz the history adds more value to a watch than diamonds. Gus was a huge piece of the history of our current cues his influence. In any vintage market the prices awalys go up, watches, cars, etc. The fact that Gus was held in such high regard by many champions adds to the story as well. Its more than just a cue now a Gus is a piece of important history-and you can use it too!
Gus is one of my hero's in life, he raised a great family and made the best of the best and supported his family and passion all at the same time. How strong is that? Hell I havent achieved 20% of that in my life, very few people can, and he was a humble man.
Hope that helps,
eric
Gus had a passion to make his cues play good that was #1, $$$$ wasnt his motivation, sure he had a large family that liked to eat alot
, but Gus wanted to make sure his customers got exctactly what they wanted. Ray Martin had to have a specific nylon wrap so Gus went out and bought a huge roll of it for Ray's cue-Barry tells me the spool is monster huge and has never been used again. Gus was close to his customers. He listened to them. All of his cues play a bit different, some are front heavy, others are ass heavy, fat, skinny. every thing different lengths as well.There wasnt near as many cue makers back then and cues were tools to play pool with, now there is a sub-culture of cue collectors, some play others dont. Gus had many origonal designs, used alot of different woods, took the time to buy the right wood and cut it down slowly to de-stress it. He used the best materials and worked hard at learning to build better and better cues over time. When you know alot about his work you can tell kinda the date range a cue was made in. They are all great cues.
There will never be another Gus, too many cue makers, too many tools in thier shop, were in a different era now. Its cool to watch this evolution, Gus can be credited with a few others(Bushka etc) as the founders of where we are today in cues. He was a better man than Cue maker-I have been told by more people than just his son. I had my chance to talk to him and I was too shy,young and short sited. I will awalys regret that.
Also Gus's cues played alot better than any one elses cues did back(on the whole) then so thats another reason he stood alone at the top, his cues today are still among the best playing cues, but you have to find one you like cause they vary from cue to cue. In contrast in todays world there are a number of great cue makers who's cues play great, Gus is part of why that is, the aspiration of greatness. Cue makers take alot of pride in their work, Gus sure did and perhaps that influenced alot of the "New school" cue makers. Patience is what Barry Szamboti told me is required to build a cue, Barry much like his dad is very humble.
The history of who Gus worked with, sold blanks to, shared ideas with also is what makes his cues very deseriable. At this stage of the "game" Gus cues are vintage cues, and like in the watch biz the history adds more value to a watch than diamonds. Gus was a huge piece of the history of our current cues his influence. In any vintage market the prices awalys go up, watches, cars, etc. The fact that Gus was held in such high regard by many champions adds to the story as well. Its more than just a cue now a Gus is a piece of important history-and you can use it too!
Gus is one of my hero's in life, he raised a great family and made the best of the best and supported his family and passion all at the same time. How strong is that? Hell I havent achieved 20% of that in my life, very few people can, and he was a humble man.
Hope that helps,
eric
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...not a clue...and still poking fingers in the eyes of the cue making community as a whole...
Try doing some real homework...Scianella, Manzino, Hercek, Arthur Que, Searing, Ginacue, Samsara, Fanelli, Wayne, White, Prewitt, Schick, Black... that should keep you busy for a while & these only come to mind quickly.
I once read a poster here say that every time he sees someone admit to not knowing what they are talking about, and then immediately follows it up with the words "but it seems", he stops reading right then and there and moves on.
Kelly
I'm guessing no one...Send them to me and I'll despose of them properly...:grin:
That would be me Joey. I`ll take them off your hands, so you have more room in your shop.
Jeff
I want the one with the diamond in the maple window please.
Gus's cues just have a certain look that I cant describe, I have never found the words. The points are just right not to long/short/fat/skinny. Everything about them is well balanced in their looks. I'm refering to the player cues, the loaded up 8pt cues are a different story. I have a plain 8pt It has just a few inlays and It looks amazing, not over the top, or to busy.
szambotis
i'm naturally very curious, and wonder what prompted such a question, brandon?
wish i had some first hand gus stories to add to the thread . . . .
coming from a gina guy? ; )
i'm naturally very curious, and wonder what prompted such a question, brandon?
wish i had some first hand gus stories to add to the thread . . . .
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Gus' cues are flat out some of the best hitting cues out there. They are timeless in design and executed as well by hand, as some of these newer genius's and their cnc's can do.
Gus made cues for players. Not many were over the top, and very few were overly inlaid. They served one purpose, to play pool. Now I only know Gus because I met him through my uncle, who ordered and received 3 from Gus. Never waiting more than 6 months for any of them. But he liked my uncle, and always took the time to talk to him.
Gus had integrity, and I think he stuck to his orders 85% of the time. Only the master players got cues in a "hurry". I believe even today Gus would tell, people who are willing to "buy" their places on his list, to go to the back of the bus. A traight some others will never have.
I remember the one cue I went with my uncle to pick up, at the time I was to young to realize who I had met. I also remember him picking one up and asking for Gus to add the G.S. to the butt cap. I remember him telling me how Gus refused, then relented and said George, for you, ok.
His cues are done so perfectly, the points, the inlays. Pantographed to perfection. You have Bushka rings, Szamboti propellors and peacocks, Sszamboti prongs. When your name is associated with items used by your peers, it says a lot, IMHO. His color choices for points were second to none.
JV
Gus made cues for players. Not many were over the top, and very few were overly inlaid. They served one purpose, to play pool. Now I only know Gus because I met him through my uncle, who ordered and received 3 from Gus. Never waiting more than 6 months for any of them. But he liked my uncle, and always took the time to talk to him.
Gus had integrity, and I think he stuck to his orders 85% of the time. Only the master players got cues in a "hurry". I believe even today Gus would tell, people who are willing to "buy" their places on his list, to go to the back of the bus. A traight some others will never have.
I remember the one cue I went with my uncle to pick up, at the time I was to young to realize who I had met. I also remember him picking one up and asking for Gus to add the G.S. to the butt cap. I remember him telling me how Gus refused, then relented and said George, for you, ok.
His cues are done so perfectly, the points, the inlays. Pantographed to perfection. You have Bushka rings, Szamboti propellors and peacocks, Sszamboti prongs. When your name is associated with items used by your peers, it says a lot, IMHO. His color choices for points were second to none.
JV
dave sutton
Banned
i think playability and design. not that there werent a few really good makers. gus' designs jumped him to the top IMO. while GB was buying everything pre made and putting the together gus was building everything by himself. one man in a basement. aslo suppling other makers with parts. his cues were all ivoried up and ready for battle. no disrespect to the other great makers joss palmer tad ect
i think gus' stock has risen nore in the last 10 15 years. in the late 70's early 80's you called gus for a player. he didnt have a full bodt of work to look baqck on and admire.
i would love to see barry post in this thread
i think gus' stock has risen nore in the last 10 15 years. in the late 70's early 80's you called gus for a player. he didnt have a full bodt of work to look baqck on and admire.
i would love to see barry post in this thread
Oh there's no ulterior motive to my question... I'm just genuinely curious as to other people's opinions on the matter.
I love Gina's for my own reasons and would never second guess anyone else for loving a Szam.
I would love to own a Szam but it would be because of the way everyone else holds them in such high regard... not for my own reasons... if that makes any sense.
I love looking at cues here in the gallery but I think what I enjoy even more is having a discussion on the cues themselves... I like hearing the stories and opinions people have about cues. Also some of the history behind the cuemakers is awesome...
Thanks to Fatboy for the insight into Gus himself.. those are the things I was looking to gain from this thread.
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dave sutton
Banned
well i think i matters where u live.
if you were a east coast guy u got a bushka or szamboti
if u were a west coast guy u got a martin or gina
IMO gus was the best ever. nj :wink: