Best of the Best Cue Makers

I don't know, if you bought say a Scruggs cue 10-15 years ago for like $1,200 chances are it's worth about the same thing today, or less depending on condition.
Those didn’t do so well. I took my hits on plenty of cues long ago and held the SW’s, and the like that do go up. But that’s the exception not the rule. I don’t see it getting any better for TS cues, Bushka’s, and most others. I have some Tads I got in the early 90’s that are up a hair(factor in inflation and I’m down).
 
Hi I’m a fairly new cue collector and I only want to buy cues from the best cue makers that will increase in value over time. Is this a subjective list or are their many obvious choices?
I agree that you should look around locally for good que makers. You will never find the "goldmine" cue. Many makers make beautiful cues. They just are not going to be Balabushkas
 
Not so sure time is enough as an only factor.
I bought a Phillippi custom cue in the 90s (4,000 USD) and one more (7,000 USD) 20 years ago, don't think any of them has gain any value, but if they have I still lost on the depreciation of money.
 
A lot of cues don't increase in value until the maker passes. But to offer some ideas as to ones that might. Also depends if you want to play with them or not

Balabushka (Not Great for Current Standards)
Szamboti
Scruggs
Franklin South West (Or any South West for that matter)
Kersenbrock
Searing

Then some I think might increase in value would be.

Thomas Wayne
Richard Black
Gina by Ernie Gutierrez
Tascarella (Also heard they also play like older cues)
PFD by Paul Drexler
Showman
Tad
Mottey
Black Boar

Just my opinions, I believe most of the lists will not increase in value. Just some guesses.
 
Cues are not a good investment vehicle. If you buy smart, you won’t lose money on your cues.

I have never lost $ when I sold a pool cue. I have always turned a profit. Nothing to brag about
but I did get to play with some great cues along the way and always replaced a cue a sold with
a nicer cue otherwise I would have kept the cue I sold. Pretty simple….get to play with some great
cues and not lose any money when I sold a cue. How many folks can claim they sold their cues for
more than they paid every time? I can and I’m sure lots of others have enjoyed the same outcome.

Usually, when you sell a used cue, you take a hit. I maintain my cues in pristine condition unlike some
pool players. But the main thing is I picked highly regarded cue makers. If you follow that approach,
I can say how much profit you’d ever realize when you sold a cue but you sure won’t lose any money.
Top names in cue making will always be in demand and deceased or retired cue makers even more so.
 
I've found cues to be like most anything, there are deals to be had, where a nice cue can be purchased at a great price and turned for a profit if that's what someone wants to do. This is true for anything, especially in the internet age.
 
Ive had a blast collecting and selling cues and met some friends in the process. I collect all the big names but also took a liking to a few makers who's names haven't reached the highest levels and several younger craftsman. If you start getting into this go to the EXPO and other shows/events and meet the people with whom you will do business. If you don't know them, or someone you know well can't vouch for them, don't buy or sell. I'm building a house with a barn out back. Sold more than half my collection to help fund the project. I didn't make a killing. I had some I bought real well that overcame the ones where I lost a little.
 
There are lots of good cue makers. Some of the best cues were made by guys who have passed away. The market in some of those is still strong. I been doing this for 37 years, have a pretty good collection.


Don’t fall for the “cue dealer” thing. Anyone who buys and sells cues is a cue dealer. It’s a level playing field. Buy smart, sell smart. You won’t get rich from this. But it can be lots of fun

Good luck
Fatboy
I agree with you on the "cue dealer" thing.
 
Looking at how long thing stay posted in Forum For Sale section, says something about Cue market in 2022.

At one time I recall when Pool was big in Japan, lots of builders where sending everything they made to Japan.


Reason was dollar & cents, was so much more in Japanese market.
 
I've tried many butts to play with my Revo which is what I like-- tried many production & many custom butts and I am going to say here (Not based on looks) that the best butt I've ever played with is the Mike Gullyassy butt.

For some reason that I don't know, his Butt has some type of dampening system that when I strike the cueball with it, hard or soft it doesn't matter it is always really smooth on my grip hand...... I feel that Mike has gotten it down to the vibration level of engineering, I am 100% sure he included some type of dampening calculation to make it such that you feel that the cue is a part of your body.

Good job Mike Gullyassy.
So you are saying Mike Gullyassy has a nice butt ? Wink wink.

I have read nothing but good things about Mike. Add this to positive feedback he is gets ;)
 
Buy only what you will play with and enjoy. Although cues sometimes appreciate, most don’t. I completely agree to buy top tier quality. The good news is there are quite a few cuemakers who are building with superb precision.
 
I’m in Baton Rouge , La. Any cue makers in or around me other than Schik
Ive had a blast collecting and selling cues and met some friends in the process. I collect all the big names but also took a liking to a few makers who's names haven't reached the highest levels and several younger craftsman. If you start getting into this go to the EXPO and other shows/events and meet the people with whom you will do business. If you don't know them, or someone you know well can't vouch for them, don't buy or sell. I'm building a house with a barn out back. Sold more than half my collection to help fund the project. I didn't make a killing. I had some I bought real well that overcame the ones where I lost a little.
Ive had a blast collecting and selling cues and met some friends in the process. I collect all the big names but also took a liking to a few makers who's names haven't reached the highest levels and several younger craftsman. If you start getting into this go to the EXPO and other shows/events and meet the people with whom you will do business. If you don't know them, or someone you know well can't vouch for them, don't buy or sell. I'm building a house with a barn out back. Sold more than half my collection to help fund the project. I didn't make a killing. I had some I bought real well that overcame the ones where I lost a little.
Any Expos in the southern states?
 
I agree with you on the "cue dealer" thing.
It’s the biggest clown show ever

I was buying, trading, flipping more cues than I could count 15 years before the internet was invented. I come online and there’s these self proclaimed “cue dealers” wtf does that mean? At best it means they might have back in 2003 had a few more contacts to buy and sell cues with. News flash that’s all done.

The only “edge” a guy can have is knowing the owners of a few very rare desirable cues and how to price them. Wait……that’s a broker at best. Dealer lolololol. If you have heavy inventory and are buying direct like Omega billiards does-then yes you are a dealer and Mike is a hell of a guy. But that’s rare and he ain’t earning a living off high end cues.

Either a person is in the mix or they are not. We all have 99% the same information

Best

Fatboy<——your local cue dealer lololol🥳
 
Looking at how long thing stay posted in Forum For Sale section, says something about Cue market in 2022.

At one time I recall when Pool was big in Japan, lots of builders where sending everything they made to Japan.


Reason was dollar & cents, was so much more in Japanese market.
Yes 35 years ago when Japan was doing great loads of cues went over there. And there they shall stay.
 
Yes 35 years ago when Japan was doing great loads of cues went over there. And there they shall stay.

I am sure you remember the Zkapsnrse dealer “LUCKY”, my buddy in Louisana use to send him
Many high end 1 x 2 Cases. Ron Thomas sold the guy many,many case. As many as he cared to send, and the guys money was good.
 
I am sure you remember the Zkapsnrse dealer “LUCKY”, my buddy in Louisana use to send him
Many high end 1 x 2 Cases. Ron Thomas sold the guy many,many case. As many as he cared to send, and the guys money was good.
I’ve spoken with him a few times, his English isn’t the best. Nice guy. Has a monster collection of Gus’s. He wanted late 90’s prices for them in 08/09. Those cues will remain in Japan. I doubt he gets his money out of them.
 
I’ve spoken with him a few times, his English isn’t the best. Nice guy. Has a monster collection of Gus’s. He wanted late 90’s prices for them in 08/09. Those cues will remain in Japan. I doubt he gets his money out of them.
Lucky is now a cue maker.
His minimum is $4K in Japan
 
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