The best ones sold them as real Bushkas. 
There are hundreds of them in Japan alone.
The one Pete just made is truly a great one.
There are hundreds of them in Japan alone.
The one Pete just made is truly a great one.
You Ask "Who Makes The Best Bushka Tribute?"
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huh??
Simply AWESOME cue sir!! I usually don't think much of old looking cues, but absolutely love this one! wow!!!
There's been a lot of talk here about who makes the best Bushka tribute cue... Well hands down, no competition, none close in my opinion...it's...........TASCARELLA!
Everything is perfect on this Willie Mosconi Balabushka Tribute Cue...Even made with original materials... Thanks Bobby!
Simply AWESOME cue sir!! I usually don't think much of old looking cues, but absolutely love this one! wow!!!
I'm sort of the same way. It's MUCH harder to take simple shapes and arrange them into something beautiful. When it's done right, they're some of the nicest imo
There was a question on this thread comparing Tasc to Balabuska.
That is a tough one. I played with a Balabushka that was sold for $20K I think when the market was at tops. While the hit was excellent, there were negatives to it, but somewhat unfair negatives.
The butt of the Buska was bigger in diameter than the Tasc. I understand that it was common size at the time, but it was bigger. Most modern cues are pretty standard, With some minor exceptions, but almost all modern cues INCLUDING Tasc have that advantage. For that reason, unless I could get one that more narrow handle, the modern day Tasc would be a better player.
I have commented on ways that Tasc does his inlays and got hammered for it, but some of that can be hidden with wise choices in the design. IMO, that keeps him from being a favorite cuemaker for me. I like his cues and have owned a couple, but those issues are there.
I am weird, and often think, "Boy, if this old cue could talk, I bet it could really tell some stories!"
Ken
That is a tough one. I played with a Balabushka that was sold for $20K I think when the market was at tops. While the hit was excellent, there were negatives to it, but somewhat unfair negatives.
The butt of the Buska was bigger in diameter than the Tasc. I understand that it was common size at the time, but it was bigger. Most modern cues are pretty standard, With some minor exceptions, but almost all modern cues INCLUDING Tasc have that advantage. For that reason, unless I could get one that more narrow handle, the modern day Tasc would be a better player.
I have commented on ways that Tasc does his inlays and got hammered for it, but some of that can be hidden with wise choices in the design. IMO, that keeps him from being a favorite cuemaker for me. I like his cues and have owned a couple, but those issues are there.
I am weird, and often think, "Boy, if this old cue could talk, I bet it could really tell some stories!"
Ken
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I forgot about this one!
Monster player. The owner will take it to his grave.
And this one
Nick
Monster player. The owner will take it to his grave.
And this one
Nick
Well
You only paraphrased my quote! While Tasc is one of the finest cue makers out there for some the $5k difference in price doesn't make sense! Particularly when buying a cue that was made for someone else. We all have our opinions....I respect yours!
Wedge
You only paraphrased my quote! While Tasc is one of the finest cue makers out there for some the $5k difference in price doesn't make sense! Particularly when buying a cue that was made for someone else. We all have our opinions....I respect yours!
Wedge
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I've been avoiding this one, but as the owner of the first Rauenzahn Mosconi tribute, I guess I should give an opinion. It was the first accurate tribute of the cue that I'm aware of, and Jerry and I spent a lot of time with reading glasses, ruler, and magnifying glass to get the proportions right. I think the pictures show that Jerry's proportions of point length, space at bottom of points, and ring above wrap thickness are more accurate than the others so far, including Tascarella. I'm not going to argue the point, you can look at the pictures and decide. And statements such as Jerry is no Pete aren't worth dignifying.
Does that make Jerry's the best? Not necessarily. Best could be priciest. Or longest wait time. Or most original materials. Or cuemaker presence in hall of fame. Or oldest wood. Or most accurace proportions. You get the idea.
Best is subjective, which is why I don't use the term in cues I've posted here. I've posted many Tim Scruggs, Jerry R, Richard Black, and other cues here, and have just given a bit of history with the advice of please enjoy. Seems to be more what this forum should be about. The claim of best seems to bring out rutting season in a testosterone-laden forum such as this one, understandably.
Best answer I can give.
Best,
WildWing
Does that make Jerry's the best? Not necessarily. Best could be priciest. Or longest wait time. Or most original materials. Or cuemaker presence in hall of fame. Or oldest wood. Or most accurace proportions. You get the idea.
Best is subjective, which is why I don't use the term in cues I've posted here. I've posted many Tim Scruggs, Jerry R, Richard Black, and other cues here, and have just given a bit of history with the advice of please enjoy. Seems to be more what this forum should be about. The claim of best seems to bring out rutting season in a testosterone-laden forum such as this one, understandably.
Best answer I can give.
Best,
WildWing
Attachments
Personally, if I were to have a maker re-create this cue (the Mosconi cue), then, without a doubt, I would start with a John Davis shortie forearm. It is the closest thing today you will get to that Mosconi tribute in proportion and style. Yes, every cue makers style (while not intentional) is added to their point work in tributes imo. It is like you can spot a Richard Black/TS Bushka tribute a mile a way. The style of a maker just bleeds through somehow.
I have had many many tribute cues, and the John Davis forearm is the closest I have seen to original GB cues. Right down to John using aged straight grain maple forearms instead of new white woods, angle of the points, and leaving approx 3" from tip of the points to the joint. It just looks the time period, and it of course looks just like George's forearms from the Spain/Davis era. We all know the reason why that is. The Mosconi cue is a Spain/Davis forearm. So, regardless which maker, it would be one who would use a Davis blank.
Secondly, would be using the original Palmer gold polyester in the butt of the cue (which the Tasc cue has). Getting the proportions of the rings above the wrap to proportion is also key. The style of the notched diamonds is also a factor.
Also, most taper proportions would leave the cue feeling a little "fat" in the butt, if the taper is to proportion of the original.
While I have had a many cues styled after George's work made (it is my personal favorite style), they all missed something, or had a style all their own, opposite of what I wanted the cue to be. This was until the last cue I had made for me. After about 20 years of having cues made and of course playing with and seeing many of George's cues, I finally got one I felt was a perfect representation in all aspects. And of course it is the cue I have owned and will own the longest.
This took nothing away from my past cues. Most of the were excellent and very well made cues. They just did not live up to being the "perfect" tribute cue imo. But taking that point away, most of them were pretty much perfect cues, just not "George" perfect.
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Question: Is a Tribute Cue intended to be a exact copy or is it another cue-maker's rendition of the Bushka design features & some tweaks to make it look better?"
Personally, since I seldom hear anyone refer to their cue being a copy of a Balabushka, the latter is more in line with my interpretation of a Bushka Tribute cue.
Exactness is not what I think of in a Bushka Tribute versus a distinctly handsome look. Kevin Lindstrom's cue is really the best I've ever seen. How do you feel?
Matt B.
Personally, since I seldom hear anyone refer to their cue being a copy of a Balabushka, the latter is more in line with my interpretation of a Bushka Tribute cue.
Exactness is not what I think of in a Bushka Tribute versus a distinctly handsome look. Kevin Lindstrom's cue is really the best I've ever seen. How do you feel?
Matt B.
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my apologies to the entire az world
if my remarks started this not so sweet spirited half way knowledgeable comparison of cue maker
Neither Tascarella nor Jerry would want to draw comparisons of their cues to each other
I would be willing to bet if we had several of each that people could pick up and examine
that we still would not settle the question
I really like Jerry R and his work,and I would also like to buy this Tascarella
You can like them both,own them both and enjoy them as well as the original
Balabushkas as well
I may not speak for everyone,but when I buy a tribute I could care less about
exact original specs
I owned a bunch of Bushkas including an Ivory joint one,the last one ever shipped
at his death and had 2 ue from his next batch when he passed away.Willie offered me
his personal cue in 1980 something for $2700 and I told him it was too much
so that clearly tells you what I know about this business
Had I bought it it would be worth $100,000 but I was too smart to pay $2700
The day may come when this Tascarella sells for a big figure too
dean
if my remarks started this not so sweet spirited half way knowledgeable comparison of cue maker
Neither Tascarella nor Jerry would want to draw comparisons of their cues to each other
I would be willing to bet if we had several of each that people could pick up and examine
that we still would not settle the question
I really like Jerry R and his work,and I would also like to buy this Tascarella
You can like them both,own them both and enjoy them as well as the original
Balabushkas as well
I may not speak for everyone,but when I buy a tribute I could care less about
exact original specs
I owned a bunch of Bushkas including an Ivory joint one,the last one ever shipped
at his death and had 2 ue from his next batch when he passed away.Willie offered me
his personal cue in 1980 something for $2700 and I told him it was too much
so that clearly tells you what I know about this business
Had I bought it it would be worth $100,000 but I was too smart to pay $2700
The day may come when this Tascarella sells for a big figure too
dean
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No one noticed the green Schick?
Bill is no slouch and Tim or Mike. Jerry has really done himself proud. Only took about 40 years to be recognized for the master he has become.
I wonder if any of the tributes have all thread going up into the shafts like some of George's shafts did to get his shafts weigh up to the 4 ounces he was famous for.
Nick
Bill is no slouch and Tim or Mike. Jerry has really done himself proud. Only took about 40 years to be recognized for the master he has become.
I wonder if any of the tributes have all thread going up into the shafts like some of George's shafts did to get his shafts weigh up to the 4 ounces he was famous for.
Nick
Great questions. I think it's a personal opinion.
My personal opinion is:
Tribute = Copy/Stolen Design
It's a very slippery slope.
Not the first time you did that Dean. You have done it before with Larry Vigus vs. Dennis Searing.
It's an old excuse. Come up with something better next time.
<-----in my humble opinion
Matt,
IMHO copy means duplicate which means exact. Cues that "look like" are subject to interpretation. No one wants to say where the lines are drawn because the CDT proponents, don't want to piss certain people off so they curtail their explanations as not to upset the applecart. Nor do they want to say what they feel is ok, or not ok. Kind of like that saying "I can't define porn, but I know it when I see it" type stance.
I can show you Szams that clearly have Bushka patterns in them. Did Gus copy? Yes, did he do what the customer asked? Yes. Does that make him a bad man, no. But because no one wants to piss his son off,(they might want a cue someday) they (CDT proponents) say well MOP is a "common" design element, and "certain" rings should be excluded.... well isn't that convenient?
They forget that its the thinking process that made the design, and that was done by an individual. The material didn't jump from the table and set itself inside a pocket by itself. Since that is the case, then anyone with any common sense and anyone with the ability to be a consistent judge of design has to admit that just about everyone has copied something.
In other words there is NO grey area. There is NO grey area if you steal a nickel, or a quarter. I would hate for any of these people to be on a jury in a trial I am in. Well your honor, I know he hit the accelerator, and aimed his car at Joe, but was the accelerator half depressed or to the floor? Do we know if he was paying attention, or was he texting, I know the witness said the car was blue, but that car is a blueish green, forget Joe's blood on the bumper, are we sure that is the car?.... jeez..
JV
IMHO copy means duplicate which means exact. Cues that "look like" are subject to interpretation. No one wants to say where the lines are drawn because the CDT proponents, don't want to piss certain people off so they curtail their explanations as not to upset the applecart. Nor do they want to say what they feel is ok, or not ok. Kind of like that saying "I can't define porn, but I know it when I see it" type stance.
I can show you Szams that clearly have Bushka patterns in them. Did Gus copy? Yes, did he do what the customer asked? Yes. Does that make him a bad man, no. But because no one wants to piss his son off,(they might want a cue someday) they (CDT proponents) say well MOP is a "common" design element, and "certain" rings should be excluded.... well isn't that convenient?
They forget that its the thinking process that made the design, and that was done by an individual. The material didn't jump from the table and set itself inside a pocket by itself. Since that is the case, then anyone with any common sense and anyone with the ability to be a consistent judge of design has to admit that just about everyone has copied something.
In other words there is NO grey area. There is NO grey area if you steal a nickel, or a quarter. I would hate for any of these people to be on a jury in a trial I am in. Well your honor, I know he hit the accelerator, and aimed his car at Joe, but was the accelerator half depressed or to the floor? Do we know if he was paying attention, or was he texting, I know the witness said the car was blue, but that car is a blueish green, forget Joe's blood on the bumper, are we sure that is the car?.... jeez..
JV
This cue is bad ass! The rest of the BS in this thread needs to be somewhere else.
The Tascarellas are as good as anybody when building a classic style cue. (By far the best, IMO)
The Tascarellas are as good as anybody when building a classic style cue. (By far the best, IMO)
If that should ever happen I'd be making a lot of calls.. :wink:
....Don't worry "you know who", you'd be first..
Thanks... there would only need to be 1 call made.
"you know who"
Good post. Agree with you that a Davis blank would be the best current approximation of what George did. Jerry and I did research on the dimensions of the Mosconi points and concluded quickly that it was a Burton Spain blank, rather than Szamboti. A Szamboti blank with that tightness of points at the bottom would have been too long. Burton Spain was the only one who was doing the right angles to keep the points at 3/4 of the forearm, keeping the tightness at the base. This excludes, of course, all the full splices of today, which can do it easier.
One disagreement I have is on the "gold" rings on the butt sleeve. They weren't gold colored at all. They were brass colored. Palmer had those too. All you have to do is look at the pictures available to tell the brass color. It's one reason Jerry and I picked brass as the ideal material to duplicate the look, even if it didn't match the material.
Good call on the butt thickness also. Most Bushka's are thicker. But here's something not all realize. Mosconi's cue had a steep taper to it, from butt plate to joint. In other words, the middle of the wrap area was actually fairly thin, compared to the end of the butt plate. The pictures show it, and I could see it in person when he played in Atlantic City (Harrah's) in 1982. I suspect these dimensions were at Willie's request for a comfortable grip at the middle of the wrap, where he tended to hold the cue. Probably also lowered the weight to what he said in his books was his favorite, about 19.5 ounces. A lot of Bushkas were heavier than that.
Anyhow, good post. Yours is the only other analytical one, rather than these "I know what's best" posts.
It's very common for older cues to have a larger diameter butt.
As an example, my Schon Runde from 1985 is made that way but newer Schons aren't.
Remember, the standard length for a cue used to be 57" and cues weighing 20+ ounces were pretty popular in the 60's, 70's & early 80's.....and obviously, things have changed.
Matt B.
As an example, my Schon Runde from 1985 is made that way but newer Schons aren't.
Remember, the standard length for a cue used to be 57" and cues weighing 20+ ounces were pretty popular in the 60's, 70's & early 80's.....and obviously, things have changed.
Matt B.
The material WAS gold colored just as it is in my Tasc. Pete used all original materials in my cue so when Willies cue was made it looked like mine....
Does this look like gold or brass to you? This is the original. Sure looks more like a brass, almost copper color to me. Palmer did have different shades of metallic colored plastic, which George also used extensively. Other pictures of the original show the same thing.
