Up and coming cue makers to invest in???

T

thrillsoft

New member
For people just starting out collecting... what cue makers/brands would you suggest investing in now for UNDER $800 that will only GO UP in value? If people thought of collecting as an investment, or a collection to leave their children/grandchildren 30 years from now... which makers would you suggest will only increase in value?

I think this would be a very interesting conversation. Some cue makers are very talented but only start making cues in their older years and don't have time to build a name for themselves. Other cue makers that are younger may end up "selling out" and mass producing and dilute the market. (or maybe don't win awards that seem to help value).

What makers (under $800) would you predict would be valuable in 20 years? I'm dying to hear the thoughts from so many different experts on here.

PLEASE let's leave out of the discussion "Just buy what hits the way you like". Obviously, those are the ones we play with. I'm talking about INVESTMENT quality that can currently be bought at very reasonable prices. Things you stick in the closet because you feel it's going to be valuable.
 
skor said:
I wouldn’t invest in pool cues
There are better investments out there.
Buy a pool cue because you like it and want to play with it
Click to expand...

^^^ This ^^^

Unless you're deep into 8 figures already, if you're "investing" in pool cues, you need to talk to an investment professional...
 
thrillsoft said:
For people just starting out collecting... what cue makers/brands would you suggest investing in now for UNDER $800 that will only GO UP in value? If people thought of collecting as an investment, or a collection to leave their children/grandchildren 30 years from now... which makers would you suggest will only increase in value?

I think this would be a very interesting conversation. Some cue makers are very talented but only start making cues in their older years and don't have time to build a name for themselves. Other cue makers that are younger may end up "selling out" and mass producing and dilute the market. (or maybe don't win awards that seem to help value).

What makers (under $800) would you predict would be valuable in 20 years? I'm dying to hear the thoughts from so many different experts on here.

PLEASE let's leave out of the discussion "Just buy what hits the way you like". Obviously, those are the ones we play with. I'm talking about INVESTMENT quality that can currently be bought at very reasonable prices. Things you stick in the closet because you feel it's going to be valuable.
Click to expand...
Generally, cues don't appreciate in value these days, unless you're willing to wait something like 14 to 18 years for a Southwest. And, in that time, I suspect a passbook savings account or money market fund would have done better than even that. Cue collectors are shrinking somewhat, as the visible market is going away from traditional cues and into carbon fiber and that sort of thing.

Now if you're willing to talk to guys like Justin, Carbondale Kid, Outrider, and Vintagecollectibles, I'm sure they'll give you very good advice with cheap cues that may or may not appreciate in value.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I don't think any maker would meet your criteria. $800 for a custom cue today is low, even for a year 1 builder. If he can't get $800 in year one, that means he won't become popular later on. IMO.
Click to expand...
Of all the Cue Makers I helped get started. Bob Manzino was the fastest to get top notch. Within about 6 months he was getting $1000 for a cue. That was pretty good for a beginner 1990's cuemaker. If I had bought several of his $1000 cues at the time they would be worth 3 or 4 times that now. But I have no way of predicting who has the lasting power even if they get good and recognized quick. Danny Tibbits would have been a great investment on his earlier cues right before John Wright discovered him. Your safest buying in my opinion is from a really good young cuemaker who was an apprentice with someone famous. Take Eddie Cohen, Josh Treadway or Barry Szamboti for examples. Their early cues are worth way more now. Take Jerry Franklin who apprenticed with Kersenbrock. I sold one for 10 times original price.
 
cueman said:
Of all the Cue Makers I helped get started. Bob Manzino was the fastest to get top notch. Within about 6 months he was getting $1000 for a cue. That was pretty good for a beginner 1990's cuemaker. If I had bought several of his $1000 cues at the time they would be worth 3 or 4 times that now. But I have no way of predicting who has the lasting power even if they get good and recognized quick. Danny Tibbits would have been a great investment on his earlier cues right before John Wright discovered him. Your safest buying in my opinion is from a really good young cuemaker who was an apprentice with someone famous. Take Eddie Cohen, Josh Treadway or Barry Szamboti for examples. Their early cues are worth way more now. Take Jerry Franklin who apprenticed with Kersenbrock. I sold one for 10 times original price.
Click to expand...
Nobody is buying a Manzino for 4k. Period

Manzinos are nice, but 2k are the limits for resale.
 
jasonlaus said:
Nobody is buying a Manzino for 4k. Period

Manzinos are nice, but 2k are the limits for resale.
Click to expand...
Except for the one currently listed at $7250:

cleitonrocha

Thread 'Manzino Cue FS'

Manzino Cue
Just another Great cue by the CAPTAIN MANZINO

Segmented handle ​

Coper inlays​

In Excellent shape
3/8x12 pin
.
Shaft1: 3.9oz - 13mm
Shaft2: 4oz - 12.95mm
.
$7250
.
Trades ok (for high end cue makers only)
,
Free shipping within USA.
  • Like

which previously sold for $4,000-5,000 within the last couple of years.

And, the one that sold a few moths ago for around $10k, which previously sold for around $6k several years ago.

And, the one Martin listed in November of last year for $5,550.00, which sold within 1 week (which I predict will fetch at least $4k if resold).

And....
And...
 
Last edited:
7stud said:
Except for the one currently listed at $7250:

cleitonrocha

Thread 'Manzino Cue FS'

Manzino Cue
Just another Great cue by the CAPTAIN MANZINO

Segmented handle ​

Coper inlays​

In Excellent shape
3/8x12 pin
.
Shaft1: 3.9oz - 13mm
Shaft2: 4oz - 12.95mm
.
$7250
.
Trades ok (for high end cue makers only)
,
Free shipping within USA.
  • Like

which previously sold for $4,000-5,000 within the last couple of years.

And, the one that sold a few moths ago for around $10k, which previously sold for around $6k several years ago.

And, the one Martin listed in November of last year for $5,550.00, which sold within 1 week (which I predict will fetch at least $4k if resold).

And....
And...
Click to expand...
Sold for $5,500 and will resell for 4k?

For the love of God, never take investment advise from this guy^^^^

Listed for $7,250 and selling for that amount are 2 entirely different things. Do you think that was a 1 or 2k cue when it was built???

You might as well compare a topped out version of a new Z06 to a base model stingray 🤡🤦‍♂️.

Fact is, Manzinos are NOT making you money
 
SlateMan said:
If you put $1,000 in the S&P in June of 1990 and reinvested the dividends you would have about 31k in May of 2025.
Click to expand...
This is true-collecting- PASSION- is generally NOT investing.

Generally----- unless you have many, many millions and can buy high, high end eternal desirables like certain paintings, jewelry, sports related items, cars, etc. where there "may" always be someone with more money who wants the top, top end in the world. It then becomes usually NOT a passion- but an " I own it because I can" attitude.

As per pool cues- forget it- just not an investment class, if it is not a passion for you- look somewhere else. Funny but those $100 e bay Dale Perry cues from 2000 now sell for closer to $400- a 300% profit-- there you go!:):):) I wish that I still had mine from 2000- it played great too!
 
thrillsoft said:
For people just starting out collecting... what cue makers/brands would you suggest investing in now for UNDER $800 that will only GO UP in value?
Click to expand...

If pool continues on the same trajectory it has been on since 1990-to-present:: no cue will be worth "much" as pool continues to die off.
 
SlateMan said:
If you put $1,000 in the S&P in June of 1990 and reinvested the dividends you would have about 31k in May of 2025.
Click to expand...
This is true-collecting- PASSION- is generally NOT investing.

Generally----- unless you have many, many millions and can buy high, high end eternal desirables like certain paintings, jewelry, sports related items, cars, etc. where there "may" always be someone with more money who wants the top, top end in the world. It then becomes usually NOT a passion- but an " I own it because I can" attitude.

As per pool cues- forget it- just not an investment class, if it is not a passion for you- look somewhere else. Funny but those $100 e bay Dale Perry cues from 2000 now sell for closer to $400- a 300% profit-- there you go!:):):) I wish that I still had mine from 2000- it played great too!
MitchAlsup said:
If pool continues on the same trajectory it has been on since 1990-to-present:: no cue will be worth "much" as pool continues to die off.
Click to expand...
My prediction- somewhere down the line the higher end stuff will truly start to slide- that will be the beginning of a steep pool cue price decline- I think that it will be in the next 15 years or so as the 60-70s get to 80+ At this point - 70s-I only have left what I want to play and what I want to leave to my sons as memories----- not looking for profits any longer.
 
MitchAlsup said:
If pool continues on the same trajectory it has been on since 1990-to-present:: no cue will be worth "much" as pool continues to die off.
Click to expand...
Not only that, as the pros use more and more production CF cues, the association of the names of great makers with great players is changing a lot.

Having the George, Gus, Herman, Burton etc. of Willie, Steve, Buddy, Irving, etc, or a cue like it, is a thing that is going away.

There are clone, reproduction, counterfeit, commemorative, etc. cues.

We know them by their first names.

Now? Tomorrow?
 
Question is Crap Shoot.

Only one good answer, ask.

1751238502130.png
 
thrillsoft said:
For people just starting out collecting... what cue makers/brands would you suggest investing in now for UNDER $800 that will only GO UP in value? If people thought of collecting as an investment, or a collection to leave their children/grandchildren 30 years from now... which makers would you suggest will only increase in value?

I think this would be a very interesting conversation. Some cue makers are very talented but only start making cues in their older years and don't have time to build a name for themselves. Other cue makers that are younger may end up "selling out" and mass producing and dilute the market. (or maybe don't win awards that seem to help value).

What makers (under $800) would you predict would be valuable in 20 years? I'm dying to hear the thoughts from so many different experts on here.

PLEASE let's leave out of the discussion "Just buy what hits the way you like". Obviously, those are the ones we play with. I'm talking about INVESTMENT quality that can currently be bought at very reasonable prices. Things you stick in the closet because you feel it's going to be valuable.
Click to expand...
Do not think of pool cues an investment opportunity. That is a foolhardy, naive approach to investing.
There are just too many variables that interfere and undermine any reliable predictions or any forecast.

I have tens of thousands of dollars spent, not invested, in my limited collection of cues which is but a small
stipend compared to what others have assembled and spent gathering their pool cues. Everything is relative.

Here’s what I know and believe having learned this over many decades of pool experience. If you buy smart &
maintain your cues in great condition, you should not lose money when you are ready to sell or trade the cues.

I have owned and sold over 17 pool cues that culminated in what I now have. If I did not in a state that banned
ivory, I’d be flipping my cues and tapping my IRA to get down to only 4 cues but they’d be big names like Hercek.

Over the years, I always got more than I paid for my cues when I sold them. Sometimes it was only a $200 more
for a Schon Ltd but I also made $1400 on a Mottey cue that I used to buy my Prewitt. My point is I never lost $.

I am very confident I can sell my cues for what I paid because I see how much more cue makers are charging in
contrast to 10 years ago which is when I bought my last cue. As long as I don’t lose money, then I’m very pleased.

How many other cue owners have played with their cues for years, decided to sell a cue and didn’t lose a red cent,
not even including the cost of shipping? Just always use a reputable cue maker and build a nice 19 oz. cue design.

You can’t go wrong with 19 ozs and instruct the cue maker the butt should be 15.0 ozs. w/o any weight bolt and the
shafts at least 4.0 ozs. That’s an ideal weight ratio & no weight bolt helps the balance seem more level than tail ended.

Pool cues should not be considered an investment although it is hard to deny some cues are worth many thousands
more today than when the cues were built. And indeed, deceased cue makers cues admittedly receive higher prices.
 
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