Richard Black Cues

skins said:
... his cues sell like hot cakes to top collectors...
Click to expand...


Tim, I cordially must disagree here....based on experience selling cues in the secondary market, IMO there is perhaps no harder cue to move than a high-end Black, unless it's a give away.

I've not participated in this thread because 1. I've personally never bought anything straight from Richard and 2. a few of my personal acquantances have and had some pretty bad customer service and quality issues (one that I have a little direct knowledge about the situation). Here's one example....a local guy here had some finish problems on a brand new Hoppe style cue, and when he informed R.B. of the problem and asked that that the problem be corrected, he was told to send it back for a refund and he didn't "deserve to have one of his cues". He got his refund, though. :(

My personal feeling on his cues are that when the time is taken, the finished product is usually exceptionally nice. I've had R.B. cues where you couldn't find a flaw, and I've seen some where nothing seemed right on them. Having said that, he is perhaps THE CUEMAKER that has pushed the design envelope further than anyone else out there.....I would say even moreso than T.Wayne and Kersenbrock. But the 'quality aspect' remains a personal choice with each individual buyer.

So in summary.......to each their own.

Sean
 
Last edited:
Regarding the earlier posts about Tascarella quality vs. RB, a few of you really jumped all over the guy about the quality of the inlays. I think I know the pics he was speaking of. Take a look at Spanky981's Tascarella and look at the inlay in the butt and the points. I this were the only Tasc. I had ever seen, I would probably never buy one of his cues. The little square shaped inlay doesn't appear to even be square! It may just be picture quality or angle of the picture, but it doesn't appear that way. Compare that what I have seen on other cue broker websites, and this one does appear to be sub-par.

But overall I do strongly agree that Pete's work is higher quality than Richard's.
 
cuenut said:
Regarding the earlier posts about Tascarella quality vs. RB, a few of you really jumped all over the guy about the quality of the inlays. I think I know the pics he was speaking of. Take a look at Spanky981's Tascarella and look at the inlay in the butt and the points. I this were the only Tasc. I had ever seen, I would probably never buy one of his cues. The little square shaped inlay doesn't appear to even be square! It may just be picture quality or angle of the picture, but it doesn't appear that way. Compare that what I have seen on other cue broker websites, and this one does appear to be sub-par.

But overall I do strongly agree that Pete's work is higher quality than Richard's.
Click to expand...


I HAD THE CUE YOU SPEAK OF IN MY HANDS AND THE INLAY IS CERTAINLY SQUARE. THE WORK IN THAT CUE IS NOT SUB-PAR, IT MUST BE IN THE PICTURES OF IT. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CASH IN MY POCKET THAT CUE WOULD BE HERE WITH ME.
 

To all,

The Academy of American Cue Art, would like to invite you to the AACA’s annual membership meeting, held Saturday, April 8th- 5:00 PM at Richard Black’s spread on the outskirts of Houston. As you may all remember the Academy was originally called the ‘Gallery of American Cue Art and was recognized for presenting some of the most innovative and progressive exhibitions of cue art in the world at such places as the Biltmore Hotel in LA and the New York City Athletic Club and the National Arts Club.

We are very pleased to announce the recent appointment of a new board of directors and officers who are committed to carrying on this tradition. The AACA is dedicated to promoting the functional art form of cue-making. We do this by challenging the cue-making community to ‘push the envelope’ in developing new creations; by promoting recognition of cue art in the arts community at large, and by supporting education with charitable contributions from the proceeds of our Academy.

All cue makers, cue collectors, cue dealers, art aficionados, and those who loves cues are welcome. Everyone, in or out of the billiard industry, that shares the vision of the Academy, please come and spend an evening with the new Academy of American Cue Art.

Dinner and refreshments will be served so if you would like to attend please respond to this email or call Richard Black at 281-794-5666 or Dan Dishaw at 315-439-1777. There will be a question and answer period that should help everyone understand the Academy’s objective.

For additional information please refer to www.cueacademy.org Hope to see you there.



Regards,



Dan



President

Academy of American Cue Art

www.cueacademy.org

Let's all print all these posts and hand em to RB.:eek:
 
just a question

I have two questions..

Anyone can answer.. I dont know these answers but just wondering..Well I might have a hint

Why do some of his cues sell for over $3000 if his execution of inlays, points and veneers are so bad?

&

Is there any cuemaker out there who sells cues for over $3000 that has poorer execution of inlays, points and veneers??

Mike
 
spanky981 said:
I have two questions..

Anyone can answer.. I dont know these answers but just wondering..Well I might have a hint

Why do some of his cues sell for over $3000 if his execution of inlays, points and veneers are so bad?

&

Is there any cuemaker out there who sells cues for over $3000 that has poorer execution of inlays, points and veneers??

Mike
Click to expand...

1.) As this thread made very clear, some buyers simply don't care about precision when it comes to inlays/points/veneers. Perhaps they like the design. Perhaps they know little about what else is out there and are fixated on the RB name.

2.) I can't think of a single one. In fact, I can't think of a single cuemaker who pumps out subpar cues with such consistency, for any price.

The point is, there are so many, sooooo many lesser-acclaimed cuemakers out there who demand much more of themselves as craftsmen. I would venture to say that most cuemakers care more about execution than RB does.

-Roger
 
spanky981 said:
I have two questions..

Anyone can answer.. I dont know these answers but just wondering..Well I might have a hint

Why do some of his cues sell for over $3000 if his execution of inlays, points and veneers are so bad?

&

Is there any cuemaker out there who sells cues for over $3000 that has poorer execution of inlays, points and veneers??

Mike
Click to expand...

NO CLUE

&

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY

I REALIZED YEARS AGO THAT NAMES MEAN MORE THAN QUALITY TO SOME PEOPLE. IN MY AUDIO SHOP, I SELL BIG NAME BRANDS, AND BRANDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF. MOST OF THE TIME THE UNKNOWN BRAND COSTS LESS AND PERFORMS BETTER, BUT PEOPLE STILL PAY EXTRA FOR THE NAME THEY KNOW. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
 
FAST_N_LOOSE said:
NO CLUE

&

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY

I REALIZED YEARS AGO THAT NAMES MEAN MORE THAN QUALITY TO SOME PEOPLE. IN MY AUDIO SHOP, I SELL BIG NAME BRANDS, AND BRANDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF. MOST OF THE TIME THE UNKNOWN BRAND COSTS LESS AND PERFORMS BETTER, BUT PEOPLE STILL PAY EXTRA FOR THE NAME THEY KNOW. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
Click to expand...
-----------------
Happens in many other areas... people paying for names. Its the name that they trust. Take for example art (paintings, sculptures etc), construction (named architects), furniture, fashion apparel, computer models/brands. People who can afford it would rather pay more for the name, prestige, warranties that go with the name. Doesn't mean that the cheaper brand/name is so inferior. The cheaper one can even (as you say) outperform (or is of better quality) the named brand. But that's how things are. If I can afford it, I'd pay for a Black, Gina, Tascarella, Mottey, Hercek, Southwest, Thomas Wayne, Pfd, White, Cantado, RC3, McWorter and at least 5 other brand cues, rather than take several hundred No Names... that's if I can afford it.
 
FAST_N_LOOSE said:
NO CLUE

&

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY

I REALIZED YEARS AGO THAT NAMES MEAN MORE THAN QUALITY TO SOME PEOPLE. IN MY AUDIO SHOP, I SELL BIG NAME BRANDS, AND BRANDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF. MOST OF THE TIME THE UNKNOWN BRAND COSTS LESS AND PERFORMS BETTER, BUT PEOPLE STILL PAY EXTRA FOR THE NAME THEY KNOW. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
Click to expand...
I sold audio eqt. too.
It was pretty sickening people buying Sony over Onkyo or Harman Kardon.
People would come in and buy no highs/ no lows Bose over much better speakers all the time. :eek:
 
Fast And Loose

This is a little off topic but I was curious. Ive always heard that Tascarella gets his spliced blanks from Japan, the same people that do the Adams cues. I thought you may know. Is this correct?
 
puckdaddy said:
This is a little off topic but I was curious. Ive always heard that Tascarella gets his spliced blanks from Japan, the same people that do the Adams cues. I thought you may know. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

I'VE NEVER ASKED PETE THAT QUESTION. I KNOW THAT HE HAS DONE CUES WITH BLANKS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES, INCLUDING HIS OWN BLANKS. BUT I'M NOT SURE WHO WAS PROVIDING THEM.
 
FAST_N_LOOSE said:
I KNOW THAT HE HAS DONE CUES WITH BLANKS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES, INCLUDING HIS OWN BLANKS.
Click to expand...

your right but i'll tell ya his blanks are the nuts.
 
i guess you were just referring to this persisting rumor about Tascarella for years that he used some Adam blanks early in his career ... Frankly i never see what this fuss was all about, all cuemakers has to start somewhere..!
 
blanks

FAST_N_LOOSE said:
I'VE NEVER ASKED PETE THAT QUESTION. I KNOW THAT HE HAS DONE CUES WITH BLANKS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES, INCLUDING HIS OWN BLANKS. BUT I'M NOT SURE WHO WAS PROVIDING THEM.
Click to expand...

George Balabushka never made his own blanks and if Pete buys them from somewhere else who really cares.. They play awesome..and are worth alot..

Mike
 
spanky981 said:
George Balabushka never made his own blanks and if Pete buys them from somewhere else who really cares.. They play awesome..and are worth alot..

Mike
Click to expand...

Hey Spanky-
You know Big Jim and Paul pretty well. I heard that Pete was buying his blanks from them. Any truth to that?
 
My Richard Black

I have a piloted ivory jointed Richard Black - plain 4 point 4 veneer. My experience is that it plays great - but as far as "asthetics" go it leaves a bit to be desired. Its a 1983 RB and I sent to him for complete overhall (everything - including refinish and rewrap). It came back and the finish looked like crap and the wrap looked like it had been played with for years. I sent it back for him to look at and he apologized to me and said he couldnt believe he would let that out of his shop and he was experimenting with new clearcoats. Anyhow I got it back and it looked better but the finish was still not as good as I have seen with some and the wrap still looked a little dirty.

So in summary my experience is that my RB is more of a players cue as opposed to a piece of art.

My 2 cents.
 
I got to shoot a few racks with a 4 point, no veneer, no inlay Richard Black this past weekend. It had even points, and looked nice.

The hit was fantastic. I enjoyed playing with it.
 
1000004996.jpg

Is this a richard black? Guy is too lazy to take another photo told me to go find him and check it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top