If G. Balabushka were making cues today.

bigshooter said:
Would his cues be superior to all other cues?
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I like to answer this obscure way... George Balabushka reportedly didn't like leather wraps. But, he did them with the equipment he had, begrudgingly if someone really wanted one.

Best leather wrap I've ever seen? George Balabushka. I can't remember who had the cue (I'm sure JoeVan knows the particular cue). And it does figure.

I think his work ethic and quality nature would have put him on the top of any list. My feeling is that he would be Dennis Searing-like.

Freddie <~~~ hypothetically speaking
 
As traditional as Barry is, would Szam still be providing blanks to Balabuska?

I've asked this before and I think the answer is no, does Tascarella have a CNC mill?

Kevin
 
kvinbrwr said:
As traditional as Barry is, would Szam still be providing blanks to Balabuska?
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No, IMO George would have started making his own..

I've asked this before and I think the answer is no, does Tascarella have a CNC mill?

Kevin
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To my knowledge, no. But that was as of the last time I talked to the Tascarellas.

Freddie
 
I remember when I was playing with one and one guy asked me how I aimed with it.. I plainly said.. "Straight for the fireplace..."

:lol:
 
Cornerman said:
No, IMO George would have started making his own..

To my knowledge, no. But that was as of the last time I talked to the Tascarellas.

Freddie
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Ernie's been at it for 50 years (can you imagine that?) and still is yet to splice a blank. You know if he did it would be pretty. I had him close once, but just only close.

With cue making one of the fascinating things is how many different guys do basically the same thing in way different ways.

Its what makes the world go around.

Kevin
 
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Georges smooth leather is as tight as anyones. Grassley had a cue that was freaking ridiculous.

JV

Cornerman said:
I like to answer this obscure way... George Balabushka reportedly didn't like leather wraps. But, he did them with the equipment he had, begrudgingly if someone really wanted one.

Best leather wrap I've ever seen? George Balabushka. I can't remember who had the cue (I'm sure JoeVan knows the particular cue). And it does figure.

I think his work ethic and quality nature would have put him on the top of any list. My feeling is that he would be Dennis Searing-like.

Freddie <~~~ hypothetically speaking
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xianmacx said:
I think when George built cues, the industry was in its infancy which explains the comments about quality of glues/finishes etc from that time. The top guys were experimenting and learning still.
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wait a minute. what industry was in its infancy?
cue making?
custom cue making?
 
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No, his cues would not be superior to all other cues. They would be superior to most other cues. Bill Schick said it best at the cue maker's roundtable in my opinon. He said that George understood the importance of very tight tolerances and that is why his cues play so well and why they don't deteriorate.
 
This is some interesting mental masturbation.

If we suppose that he were born later and started later it would put him in a different era. How would his work compare? Quite favorably I would think. The man had talent and I assume that would have been perfectly adaptable to more modern circumstances. Would his cues be better than any other? I dunno. But I like to think they would be among the best.




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Take into account a couple of things...if it weren't for TCOM, most would never have heard of Balabushka; those that had would probably categorize him in the same class as any one of a number of 10 or more makers. I think he'd be bigger than regional (he was when he was alive). Assuming he lived today, he'd probably have improved his construction techniques (CNC, better epoxies, different materials, better finish, etc.), but he'd probably have stuck with some non-negotiables, like straight grain forearms (cut down from full splice), lag bolt A joint, 5/16 X 14 SS joint, etc. It would probably be similar in stature/wait time as South West or Gina.
 
West Point 1987 said:
Take into account a couple of things...if it weren't for TCOM, most would never have heard of Balabushka.
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That is TOTALLY inaccurate. Why you think they used his name in the movie? Do you think every pool player in the world would not have took note of what all the world champions of the time were playing with? They did take note, thats why his name was in the movie in the first place. The only thing the movie done was make them more expensive for collectors.
 
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West Point 1987 said:
Take into account a couple of things...if it weren't for TCOM, most would never have heard of Balabushka; those that had would probably categorize him in the same class as any one of a number of 10 or more makers. I think he'd be bigger than regional (he was when he was alive). Assuming he lived today, he'd probably have improved his construction techniques (CNC, better epoxies, different materials, better finish, etc.), but he'd probably have stuck with some non-negotiables, like straight grain forearms (cut down from full splice), lag bolt A joint, 5/16 X 14 SS joint, etc. It would probably be similar in stature/wait time as South West or Gina.
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Seriously?!?!? No one born in the '80's or later. Maybe.

Scott
 
West Point 1987 said:
Take into account a couple of things...if it weren't for TCOM, most would never have heard of Balabushka; those that had would probably categorize him in the same class as any one of a number of 10 or more makers.
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This is false. He was the man and was collectible long before TCOM. That's one reason his was chosen. The regional idea has merit but consider people from across the country were seeking out his cues at a time of when cue collecting was all but unheard.

TCOM showcased him. But he was destined for HoF status already. Look at the list of World Champions who continued to use his cues a decade after he passed.

Freddie
 
To give my opinion on the OP's questions. If cue making was a pyramid (bad at the bottom, good in the middle, great towards the top), George would be the gold point at the top, along with only two other people imo. That would be Gus and Ernie.

My case, it had already been said, besides the machines making the cues, not much has changed with cues since George. We can say glue, but is it really better? I mean George's cues are still played with today without coming unglued...
But George was a tinkerer, an innovator, he would not have stood for cues not having changed much. Who knows what we would be seeing from him, but having learned a lot about him over the years, I can say with a great deal of confidence it would not be "a cue that has not changed much".
 
Found myself at GCue Billiards yesterday and come to find out by the guy working there; they are one of the main dealers of Balabushka cues. The prices were good and I had mentioned I hit with one years ago when I was playing a Pechauer and didn't like them. He set up a few balls on the table so I took a whack at them.

Nice cues and from a dealer the prices are fair. He did say they are made to spec overseas. If I had some spare cash floating around, I'd pick one up.

But myself, I have a fondness for points on a cue. They did have a prototype that was the G1 without a name on it.

I may go back... Anybody want to buy a Falcon BS-7??? Lol
 
desertshark said:
Found myself at GCue Billiards yesterday and come to find out by the guy working there; they are one of the main dealers of Balabushka cues. The prices were good and I had mentioned I hit with one years ago when I was playing a Pechauer and didn't like them. He set up a few balls on the table so I took a whack at them.

Nice cues and from a dealer the prices are fair. He did say they are made to spec overseas. If I had some spare cash floating around, I'd pick one up.

But myself, I have a fondness for points on a cue. They did have a prototype that was the G1 without a name on it.

I may go back... Anybody want to buy a Falcon BS-7??? Lol
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Are you freakin serious? :grin-square:
 
xianmacx said:
He would be equal to the current top tier classic makers IMO: Hercek, Szamboti, Tascarella etc.

I think at the top of the pile, there is little to zero difference to the quality/playability etc. There will be some preference things, but I doubt anyone will be saying "man that szamboti is so much better built than Hercek". Sure you might prefer the hit of one or the other, but the quality is in the same ballpark.

I think when George built cues, the industry was in its infancy which explains the comments about quality of glues/finishes etc from that time. The top guys were experimenting and learning still.

You can also look at it like the question - Would Mosconi dominate cue sports today like he did in the past. My answer is no, he would not dominate 90% of the events like he did back then but he still absolutely be a top top tier players. The depth of top tier players just keeps increasing in number. The same can be said about cue makers IMO.

Short answer: yes he would be at the top of the heap along with a handful of others.

Ian
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I find it funny that people say he would be considered amung the best when he didn't even build his own fronts.

In todays market if u can't do everything start to finish ur a hack cuebuilder or labled as a assembler, but not if u have the right name I guess.
 
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