Bushka II Project (Deanoc) Is Sold Out.........

Balabushka #3

Jerry Rauenzahn's version of Steve Mizerak's "DOVE" Balabushka. BUSHKA Project II, first one of the group finished.
 

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Mike......what a great cue.......you have to be beaming with pride and to have the cue arrive just before Thanksgiving, well, you have a lot to be thankful about when it comes to pool cues.

Matt B.
 
Hello all

Some great cues Jerry has made. Really like the Mosconi

Looking forward to seeing everyone's designs

Dave
 
Welcome aboard pool pro
I love the classic design

You'll enjoy the experience and working with Jerry is an absolute pleasure

Did you decide on joint and pin

I went with ivory joint and 3/8 10 last time and love the hit and feel

Doing the same on this one

Enjoy
Dave
 
Interested In Viewing One More.....

Wanna see one more?

I love the acrylic rings on this one. As I recall it's from old stock Palmer acrylic Jerry had tucked away......the overall design clicks splendidly.
The beautiful ring design above the gorgeous leather wrap......what a lovely wrap it is & must feel amazing in your grip......Wow!

Now that Jerry has all of the Bushka II cue orders, if you missed out on this project, get in touch with Deanoc who has an identical project
starting up right now with another cue-maker. In the meantime, I'm hoping Dean and Jerry will entertain doing a 3rd theme cue project but
only after after Jerry gets some well deserved rest pursuant to finishing all of the Bushka II cues.

Matt B.
 

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Hi Matt:

Those acrylic rings are really nice, and apear to match the red veneer in the points.

I'd like to see the design you're going with this time around.

Actually, I'm interested in all of the Bushka II designs.

Please share your designs with the group.

Thanks agin to Dean & Jerry and good luck to everyone on the raffle.

Dave
 
Dave,

Jerry will become more active with my cue after the 1st of the year........I have progress pics of the veneers but I am looking forward to seeing it come to life.

I spent a lot of time deciding which veneers to use for the 2 cues underway......one with Jerry and one with Bob Owen....and I read that Dean has this same
project kicking off with him right now.......he is one of my favorite cue-makers as much as Jerry is having now been part of Bushka I & II.

I'll post some pics of my 1st cue shortly that has some history to it....the first design had to be changed mid-way because the cue weight was coming in heavier
than I wanted due to the ring design I asked Jerry to use. We had to scrabble to come up with a different butt sleeve design at the last minute. This next cue
design is decided and it's a humdinger.......I always wanted this Bushka design which is a replica of a TS Bushka cue that I tweaked the way I'd like it to be.

Matt B.
 
I guess I don't understand the interest of making copies of cues. Sure, you can call them tributes or clones or whatever, but wouldn't it be better to buy an original or design an original cue?

I can even understand taking an element of a cue but just to take a cue and then have another cuemaker make a direct copy of a cue, imo, strange.

I think if I wanted a copy, I would just get an Adams "Balabushka".

Dean has had some incredible cues made, and I am huge fan of the "tom and jerry" cue he had Pfd just made. I wasn't a fan of the Schon "tribute" (rounded points, etc.) and I am even more confused on the "Buska II Project".

I guess one shouldn't comment if and when someone posts, but this appears to be more common occurance. Years ago, Jimbo, noted "cue ripoffs" of designs even if it was a subtle element, but this isn't subtle at all, these are just pure copies. While I often differ with Jimbo on his thoughts, but on this topic I think he is spot on.

I wish everyone the best of rolls, but truly I don't understand this trend.

Ken
 
I know.....verbosity comes to mind......hope you'll indulge.

Ken's observation is shared by many cue enthusiasts & collectors and the thinking is really rock solid.In regard to pool cues, I've found myself being less rationale & logical.....it's just how I'm built. When Dean came up with this idea on how to get some nice custom cues made at a reasonable price, he had to locate a cue-maker & mutually agree on the parameters for a group purchase & the price. Making 10 similar styled cues vs.10 any design you want cues helped getting the lowest cue price too.

Regardless, Ken's post still rings true but if you were going to do a cue project like Dean came up with, what should it be. Mark & Joe at Classic were going to do a special cue project with Tascarella and all of the cues were high end, limited edition cues but the theme was going to be the same. As it turns out, the GTB cue is the only one produced but they did a similar project with Steve Klein producing a limited number of cues. ( I think it was 3 or 4 cues). I realize the aforementioned cues were very special cues and are not the same as having a Bushka design cue made by a cue-maker of your selection. Yup, got that.....absolutely, the Tascarella & Klein cues are different and rare cues and rarity has nothing to do with having 10 Bushka cues made. The cues that were made by Messrs. Tascarella & Klein were designs made without any specific customer. In other words, while the cue was made, the customer wasn't pestering Pete or Steve with tweaks in the design they have in mind to be built. The cue was made the way the cue-maker wanted the cue to look.....what he had in mind for the design.

With Dean's Bushka Projects, each & every cue has an owner before the cue is started and the owner gets to say what design to use and exactly what it should be. Therein lies the rub......what if someone wants their cue made exactly like a cue of some notariety.....like the Dove cue made by Pete and more recently, the one Jerry made for DunnM1. How do you refer to a cue you own that's made to resemble the original Mizerak cue design? When someone asks where did you come up with the design, is your reply...."It's a copy of MIzerak's cue" or "It's the same design as the George Balabushka made."....or fib and say it's something you just came up with.

When you order a cue made based upon a popular George Balushka design, we call 'em Bushka cues.When you have 10 customers concurrently place orders for 10 of these cues & you get a group price, it seemed logical to call this first project the Bushka Project & when it repeated itself, ergo the Bushka II. The question invariably arises is copying a cue design made by another cue-maker, active or deceased, the right thing to do....the proper thing. Yet when when we walk down memory lane of pool cue designs, there are countless examples of imitation by different, esteemed cue-makers over the decades. It's pretty difficult to be original with almost every cue you produce unless you are Thomas Wayne......and that's a compliment, not a slap in the face 'bout TW.

Coming up with 10 Bushka cue designs isn't so easy when you are free to change anything in the cue. Again, the project needed a name and Bushka seemed in line with the project's theme for cue designs.It sounds better to refer to a cue as a repro, or tribute rather than copy or even worse, a clone.....so what do you say your design is based upon.......why did you choose that design.......and the bottom-line is people sometimes give their cues nicknames and some may refer to their cue as a tribute.....I know, it does sound corny but it's far better to saying I had a knockoff made of an original Balabushka design. The good news for some Azers is I am not involved with the recent Owen cue project Deanoc just launched and that means I will be on the sidelines watching 10 cues get made. I just kick started Dean's thread posting photos of the cue Bob made for me. My point is when someone goes over the top, as I've been accused of doing, it deadens any interest in the topic and turns people off.

I think the best part of this is we are going to eventually see 30 great cue designs and if the Bushka design is one that appeals to your taste, you're in for a great treat......10 completed this year by Jerry and another 10 cues in 2016 plus 10 great ones from Bob Owen. Personally speaking, the Bushka design is my all-time favorite design and I can't imagine owning too many.

Matt B.
 
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Hello Ken 4FUN:

I guess we are just having too much fun working with Jerry and coming up with different varaitions of cues that emulate George's design and spirit.

There are a lot of things in this life I don't understand. Especially when it comes to why some people do certain things. But, if they seem to enjoying themselves and not hurting anyone, I say let them have FUN.

That's what this sport is all about anyaway, IMHO

Enjoy

Dave
 
Hello Ken 4FUN:

I guess we are just having too much fun working with Jerry and coming up with different varaitions of cues that emulate George's design and spirit.

.......

Enjoy

Dave

That I understand, if the build was to build a cue that was original, yet in his style. But, making a copy of an existing cue, (if it is Jerry, or Tasc or whomever), IMO, pretty lame.

Years ago, there was a calendar made of pictures of some of the top cuemakers cues. Sure enough a couple years later, several copies were made in China. (They didnt even call them clones or tributes..:rolleyes:) The cuemakers were all upset, (and rightly so) and said they would NEVER do another calendar shoot.

I dont understand "RAT RODS" either.

Ken
 
I have no problem with tibutes like this, especially when they're of cues from makers no longer alive. The designs are such classics they deserve to live on.

I come from the world of custom traditional knives where things are shared readily. The whole custom slipjoint world was pretty much created by a guy named Tony Bose who reinterpreted old patterns and brought them back to life. He created these patterns and shares them with new makers so they too can build these knives that are patterned off old production classic from a bygone era. They are recreating old designs but they are adding twists here and there and keeping the traditions alive by doing it. I think it's an admiral thing to carry on the work of a previous generation so their art can be appreciated by new people.

Just my thoughts, but I'd love a Bushka tribute cue!
 
Slide13.....A Knife Story

slide13,

I just got back my 1978 David Boye custom knife from Francine's Etched Knives whom refinished the knife for free. What amazing service and Francine told me it was a rare knife.......I had little idea........I spent some time with David at his knife booth at the Cow Palace Gun Show in 1978 and told him I was looking for the best skinning knife available.

He has a locked chest behind the display table and comes back with this knife he just finished a month ago.......gorgeous wood handle that fits perfectly in your hand and a blade that so well made it was breathtaking to hold....Francine told me this particular knife I have was the predecessor design shape for his series of sailing knives.

So I ship my knife to Francine for $120 bucks which is what I paid.......she ships the knife max insured for a $1000 and get this, says it was under insured and she didn't know how much value to use. She also let me know she'll refinish the knife for free since it's an original David Boye custom knife that he signed & dated at the blade hilt.

I hadn't any idea this knife would have increased in value at all, let alone this much and I still have no idea what it is worth. I knew a couple of my guns had appreciated but I have never given a second thought to my knives since I stopped adding knives long ago. Anyway, as a knife person, I thought you might find this of some interest.

Matt B.
 
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Did Someone Mention Adams?

Ken posted earlier...."I think if I wanted a copy, I would just get an Adams "Balabushka".


Well, your wish is my command.....at least the sleeve portion of my cue.

The original design I asked Jerry to use was rendering my cue too heavy so we had to come up with a new sleeve design........and fast too.

The sleeve Jerry & I settled upon should be right up Ken's alley since it's based on an Adams design.....My final two cues underway, only is a Bushka design.

Matt B.
 

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Bavafongoul - very cool, that's awesome! Knives can definitely appreciate, I was into tactical back in the early 2000s and knives I bought for $400-500 are now going for $1200-1800.....sadly I didn't keep them, kicking myself for it now. Thanks for sharing!
 
I will admit, I don't want a copy.

With my taste for a simpler, basic cue (especially Titlist), it is hard not to copy a previous design.

I do like the idea of a Bushka (or other maker) inspired theme for a build. I hope that is what mine ends up - inspired.

Make no mistake, a couple of the previous posts are among my absolute favorite designs and are beautiful cues.

No matter what, I am getting a great cue from a great maker, and I couldn't be happier!
 
Since I last posted some photos of my cues on this thread, a couple of others have been made
by Jerry R. and Bob Owen. The last two made by them were completed Memorial Day weekend
2016 just before the CA ivory ban took effect. Both cues were originally forecast to be completed
the summer of 2016 but after CA enacted its all inclusive ivory ban, Bob and Jerry had to exert
themselves to get my cues completed before July 1, 2016.. Neither cue-maker disappointed me.

I've posted a new group photo of my cues and some close up photos of my last two custom designs.
It was a distinct pleasure to work with these gentlemen & rest assured, the cues they made are great.
If I could decide on an ivory substitute, rest assured Bob & Jerry would be making me more cues now.

Both fellows are wonderful people to do business with & their cue-making skills are underappreciated.
As far as cue designs, the nostalgic look of Bushka style pool cues are my all time favorite cue look.


Matt B.
 

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what a lot of memories

not just the original balabushkas
but all the fun we had with tributes

not copies,but tributes to the style and the man

the projects with Jerry and Schon were nothing but fun
thanks to Matt for the memories once again
 
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