Please elaborate on the essence of the original Balabushka cues.

[jrctherake]

Your post may very well have some merit, but it will most likely piss a lot of people off who have a great appreciation for nice cues.

I own 5 different 2 piece cues, and I keep practicing with the one I enjoy the least. Ha!!! Why? Because every time I put it up and use another cue; I instantly start playing just a hair better. I don't want to be locked into a single magical pool cue. It's just a cue I use to practice stroking balls, night after night.

Of my 2 favorite cues; one is a standard deflection steel joint collar American made 1990s cue, and the other is a current lower deflection cue that is very light on the front end. I like them both equally. Go figure?

Yeah, well, nothing holds it's value forever unless there is a "need" or "want" and no matter who makes it a pool stick will only be worth what your willing to pay for it and the people that think it's worth a big price are a breed that are passing at a very fast rate.

Like ive said before, after everyone that LOVES it is gone there will still be interest but it will be LIKE, not LOVE and liking something doesn't drive you to pay nowhere near as much as loving it does.

Most think im glad its happening, well, just the opposite actually. Im one of the people that appreciates a work of art, especially pool cues by ridiculously talented makers but, since the upcoming generation doesn't know or give a ratz a55, well.....

High end cues are gonna plummet much more in years to come. How many years? Hard to say. Really depends on how long us old geezers can hold on and more importantly:

How many youngsters we can RECRUIT!

 

[JolietJames]

Jmho, but...
If the hit of these cues was indeed so fantastic and magical, every pro on the planet who wasn't being sponsored would be hitting with one.
Also imo only, inlays look cheesy to put it politely. I value craftsmanship in the splice, veneers, and rings. I do not, and will not ever, own a cue with inlays.

These cues are collectors' items and their value is set by collectors, not players.

Again this is just my opinion.

 

[9 Ball Fan]

Yeah, well, nothing holds it's value forever unless there is a "need" or "want" and no matter who makes it a pool stick will only be worth what your willing to pay for it and the people that think it's worth a big price are a breed that are passing at a very fast rate.

Like ive said before, after everyone that LOVES it is gone there will still be interest but it will be LIKE, not LOVE and liking something doesn't drive you to pay nowhere near as much as loving it does.

Most think im glad its happening, well, just the opposite actually. Im one of the people that appreciates a work of art, especially pool cues by ridiculously talented makers but, since the upcoming generation doesn't know or give a ratz a55, well.....

High end cues are gonna plummet much more in years to come. How many years? Hard to say. Really depends on how long us old geezers can hold on and more importantly:

How many youngsters we can RECRUIT!

It's not just fine old cues that are underappreciated by today's masses. Antique furniture is also underappreciated. The very finest antiques sell today for a fraction of what they did 20 years ago. EBay, yard sales, and tv shows have convinced the masses that you can buy stuff for pennies on the dollar. Many young people are also more interested in the latest fad, than an old looking piece of furniture. It will only get worse from here on out.

 

[WildWing]

George used a sealer made by Randolf Products called sealer#89.

He used blanks from Brunswick, Spain, Szamboti. They made NO difference in how his cues played.

There is so much misinformation on AZ from people that have no idea what they are talking about that it overshadows those that do.

Bill Stroud

Agree that the blanks do not make a difference. And I think your description of a sealer is consistent with what I said, when the question was asked about how how George prepared his shafts.

Always good to hear from you. There are still some of us who watched you, Dan, and Tim finishing the shafts on the lathe.

All the best,
WW