Who is the #1 most in demand cue maker in the world today?

YubaCushion said:
Your small experience could of been between two people who didn't like each other. For the most part respect is given between people on that level in any craft.
I blew it on the hall of fame thing, that was dumb. I assumed he was in for his work. It's a shame he's not. Then come to find out guys like Palmer and Huebler aren't in either. That's not a hall of fame then.
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So, yesterday you use the Hall of Fame to support your big point.

Then you find it doesn't so you now, one day later, denigrate the organization you were one day ago using as a source.

Neat trick.

You are probably right about my small experience.

Kevin
 
I'll say one thing.

I would LOVE to have a newer fancy Searing to put up on eBay in a no reserve auction. I love love to see what kind of interest that would spark.

Its interesting how collectibles develop cache. Searing has it, Barry has it, Tony has it, Jerry R. doesn't. I had a pal with a ~R~ cue and to my inexperienced eye, it looked real pretty and well-built, but we couldn't get 75% of what he paid for it new at auction. That just won't happen with a Barry or a Searing, not to say one cue is "better" than the other, but maybe (just once) FatBoy is right and there's a reason (beyond Lucky) that some makers get cache and others don't.

Thanks

Kevin
 
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kvinbrwr said:
So, yesterday you use the Hall of Fame to support your big point.

Then you find it doesn't so you now, one day later, denigrate the organization you were one day ago using as a source.

Neat trick.

You are probably right about my small experience.

Kevin
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It was "part" of my point, I was wrong, I apologize for my incompetence.
I did not use them as a source. If I did I would of not made that mistake.
I didn't mean to denigrate it. How can something be called a cue makers hall of fame and have two of the most famous cue makers not in it. There's something wrong there.
 
It seems many people didn't read the question 'Who is the #1 most in demand cue maker in the world today?' While being the most in demand does indicate they make a great cue, making a great cue doesn't necessarily make them in great demand. I'm a huge fan of Bill McDaniel and firmly believe no one ever made a better playing cue. But the cue makers most 'in demand' today are Searing and Barry Szamboti.
 
YubaCushion said:
Your small experience could of been between two people who didn't like each other. For the most part respect is given between people on that level in any craft.
I blew it on the hall of fame thing, that was dumb. I assumed he was in for his work. It's a shame he's not. Then come to find out guys like Palmer and Huebler aren't in either. That's not a hall of fame then.
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You are wearing me out. When you say Palmer should be in the HOF, that really sounds dumb. First off, Palmer is the cue line, the guys name is Gene Balner, and he IS in the HOF. I have attached the list. I added the brand of cues to the maker so you wont sound silly on those too...:mad:

IMO, to not have Kersenbrock on there is terrible. Most modern cues today with a big pin "southwest pin" are based on his cue. I know I have been corrected in the past, that others did it earlier, but what I hear today is it is "southwest" pin.

The other one that seems to missing to me would be Bill Stroud, but what do I know. I pulled this from the ACA website, and to me it looked out of date so this might not be accurate or up to date.

IMO, this HOF is a pretty solid lineup and at one time I thought it would be neat to put a collection together with one of each of these makers.

George Balabushka - February, 1993
Herman Rambow - October, 1993
Burton Spain - October, 1993
Ernie Gutierrez - July, 1994 GINACUE
Harvey Martin - March, 1995
Gus Szamboti - March, 1997
Frank Paradise - June, 1998
Eugene and Ilona Balner - July, 1999 PALMER
Ernie Gutierrez - 1994-07-01
Dan Janes - 2003-07-01 JOSS
Jerry Franklin - 2005-03-01 SOUTHWEST
Bill Schick - 2007-03-01
Richard Black - 2009-03-01
Tad Kohara - 2011-07-14

Ken
 
kvinbrwr said:
I'll say one thing.

I would LOVE to have a newer fancy Searing to put up on eBay in a no reserve auction. I love love to see what kind of interest that would spark.

Its interesting how collectibles develop cache. Searing has it, Barry has it, Tony has it, Jerry R. doesn't. I had a pal with a ~R~ cue and to my inexperienced eye, it looked real pretty and well-built, but we couldn't get 75% of what he paid for it new at auction. That just won't happen with a Barry or a Sealing, not to say one cue is "better" than the other, but maybe (just once) FatBoy is right and there's a reason (beyond Lucky) that some makers get cache and others don't.

Thanks

Kevin
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Good point, can't argue with that.

spktur said:
It seems many people didn't read the question 'Who is the #1 most in demand cue maker in the world today?' While being the most in demand does indicate they make a great cue, making a great cue doesn't necessarily make them in great demand. I'm a huge fan of Bill McDaniel and firmly believe no one ever made a better playing cue. But the cue makers most 'in demand' today are Searing and Barry Szamboti.
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I got off topic. My fault, this is for another thread.
 
skierlawyer said:
Who is the most in demand cuemaker right now? I would base this on who's cue is worth the most on the secondary market. Ie: 2 cuemakers make identical cues, say a 4 point 4 veneer basic cue, who's is worth the most and would sell the fastest at that price.

I am going to go out on a limb and guess it's either Barry Szamboti or Dennis Searing.

What do you think?

Between Barry and Dennis, who is more "hot"?
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Its got to be Searing, although Barry's cues are way strong in the secondary market. I'm saying, apples to apples, 2 brand new plain 4 point 4 veneer cues in well publicized no reserve auctions by a reputable auctioneer (big smile) it would be Searing +700 (and I think both makers would be delivering those cues for about the same price although I might be wrong). I will say, no surprise to most, that both cues would far outpace what the maker's charge brand new.

But when is the last time we have seen a recent Searing come to market? The last 2010 or newer Searing offered for sale? I mean Dennis HAS finished a cue in the last 3 years hasn't he? Is Lucky buying them all? Is everybody holding?

Searing hands down (I think but I don't have the experience to back it up).

How many do you have?

FatBoy? Got Searing? I know Will does (and plays with it).

I've never had one (which is NOT the result of not enough begging Dennis).

Kevin
 
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THE #1 reason and absolute FACT for not knowing the top 2 answers to the initial poster's question is pure ignorance of the craft.

That leaves a second question that may be a bit hard to determine... Who is the 3rd and 4th most in demand?.... you guy's can fight that one out... :wink:

Skins is among many who are not ignorant of the craft.......
 
skins said:
THE #1 reason and absolute FACT for not knowing the top 2 answers to the initial poster's question is pure ignorance of the craft.

That leaves a second question that may be a bit hard to determine... Who is the 3rd and 4th most in demand?.... you guy's can fight that one out... :wink:

Skins is among many who are not ignorant of the craft.......
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I would say Haley & Mobley without a doubt....JMO :grin:
 
albu said:
I would say Haley & Mobley without a doubt....JMO :grin:
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Which would leave out Showman, Hercek and Black Boar (without a doubt) and leaves out Bava's without a doubt Tibbets and, of course, Prewitt.
 
kvinbrwr said:
Which would leave out Showman, Hercek and Black Boar (without a doubt) and leaves out Bava's without a doubt Tibbets and, of course, Prewitt.
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Yes...and Ginas,Schick..etc....what can i say,im subjective.. :thumbup:
 
William said:
Yes Dennis has. No, Lucky isn't.
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I figured, I see pics of him handing cues to guys I know not to be Lucky at cue shows occasionally, but all I ever see of his for sale is either conversions or more than 10 years old. I've offered Dennis to "prove" he can finish a cue by sending me one (which would become my lifetime player OBO) but so far he hasn't fallen in my trap.
Assuming that Dennis and Barry are the 2 highest cache cue makers working today, I think it interesting that they both were most influenced by Gus. I guess that says a little bit about Gus's stature in the cue world.
 
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Billy Schick.... Good luck getting one made and if you can find a four point with veneers get ready to come off that wallet to purchase it.
 
Does anybody have a pic of Searing made in the last two years??
I dont remember i see one.
 
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