Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
That's a definite possibility , it would depend on the story behind the " break " as who did it and why for full disclosure purposes of course .
What to do with a broken Gus Szamboti?
- Thread starter Cuemaster98
- Start date
Just curious, is Tascarella still using Ivory?
Pete Jr is making the cues in West Virginia, no issues with ivory there...
I’d buy this cue after repair since it will be actually done by the cue maker I thought would do the best job.
Another Szam I always wanted was the cue collaboration made by Barry Jr and his dad. It is the cues with
a unique provenance that intrigue me the most. That how I got around to designing most of my cues. A cue
is always just a cue after all. When there is a bit of history to the cue that distinguishes it, those are the best.
Another Szam I always wanted was the cue collaboration made by Barry Jr and his dad. It is the cues with
a unique provenance that intrigue me the most. That how I got around to designing most of my cues. A cue
is always just a cue after all. When there is a bit of history to the cue that distinguishes it, those are the best.
To extend this cue, I had an idea to add a decorative buhka ring just below the collar. Not sure if that's a good idea, but waiting to hear if this could be done. I wanted the forearm slightly cored to accommodate an ebony extension that will also house the collar and ivory joint.
My vote would be to keep it as original as possible...even if it went a little shorter.
Huh? West Virginia? What's up with that? When did they move?
I think in the middle of last year, I could be wrong
When I was purchasing my Gus, Barry examined it and found that one of the shafts had been broken and repaired. The repair job was so good that he didn’t notice it initially. I only hit a few balls with that shaft because it was a lot thinner than I normally play. But it hit fine.
Way to go……only if you wanted to make this cue universally a available for buyers in all 50 states, you can substitute
for ivory like so many other top names in cue making have done now for awhile. If it was for you to keep, then go ivory.
Like I wrote, a cue’s provenance truly distinguishes it to my way of thinking. My Schon Runde has likely the rarest provenance of any cue Bob built and why he swore off building custom cues exactly as the customer designed the cue.
This Szamboti is going to restored by one of the supreme names in cue making. The only others I had in mind but didn’t recommend was Joel Hercek but his wait list nullifies being considered, not that he wouldn’t try to work in his production. But this is not an easy repair and it shouldn’t be referred to it as such. This is a restoration which as anyone knows is pain in the ass requiring meticulous wood working & expert assessment on how to best restore this otherwise fabulous pool cue.
The other cue maker is Bob Owens whom I consider the equal to anyone building custom cues. But being a highly talented cue maker doesn’t necessarily assure that restoring a cue as badly damaged as this precious cue is would be in that cue maker’s wheelhouse versus building a new custom cue. On that point Mr. Owen has very few peers.
Nope, Tascarella immediately came to mind as the best team to tackle this. In fact, they are near completing a custom cue for my dear friend, Henry, who also is a fellow member at Sierra Billiards & Bar, I’m Fresno, CA. He ‘s probably getting his cue toward end of 2nd quarter ‘26. I’ve seen few Tascarella cues in Fresno over the years even with road players so I am looking forward to trying it out. I hold the Tascarella name in highest regard like the Szamboti’s are also father to son vocationally descendants in exquisite cue making.
I’d hang into this if it was my cue. I recently got a amazing offer for my Prewitt cue and I’m playing less with it so I may just let it go. I realize my Golden Fleece pool cue will never happen and I should just enjoy what I have. It’s hard to do so don’t be surprised if I post in the future about getting another cue. It just has to be a cue that sings….take me home.
Please keep us posted as you get encouraging updates about any progress with this restoration. A lot of us are not only intrigued by the restoration because of the cue’s recoverable desirability but also the magnificence of how the cue is restored by Tascarella. In all my years on this Forum, this is the first time I’ve seen a broken cue butt made by a big name in cue making. Accordingly, you have entrusted that to another big name in cue making to bring this great cue to life again.
This cue is going to be a unique cue for all time. Yup, it’s exactly why I’d want to own it. This is a one of a kind collaboration……Szam-Arella……Tasc-Boti……This could become a Unicorn of a cue……Gosh, I’d want it too.
p.s. I prefer Szam-Arella…..a new logo brand never to happen again……hopefully speaking.
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The Tsacarella’s would never undertake the cue restoration of a prestigious named cue maker without certifying exactly what they did to restore the pool cue. They do this for obvious business reasons with restorations to avoid legal entanglements if the cue was subsequently sold and misrepresented by the seller. Equally as important is their reputation and widespread recognition for expert cue making under their own name. Further, they want to assist the cue owner by providing evidentiary proof of what was done to restore this very cue detailing all materials and cost of restoration.
You offer solid advice and fortunately, it’s informative and a reminder for readers but when dealing with the Tascarella family, have no fear. From father to son, cue making skills are passed along as well as business values and integrity.
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