Who is the GREATEST Living Cue Maker? *Take the test*

HighEndCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've taken hundreds of calls and emails asking me at one time or another who was the greatest (LIVING) cuemaker.

This is a question that I believe will always be subject to one's own opinion.


I'm personal friends with MANY of the possible contenders, and respect all of their talents.

Am I qualified to give the answer? NO?

Being judged by your peer's always showed credibility to me.

So I've asked many of the best Cue Makers this question, and one name came up the most.


But I will give my criteria for everyone to judge for themselves.


I will give (10 ) catagories what I believe the the GREATEST cuemaker should be rated on.

Pick YOUR top 3 cuemakers for each category.

At the end, count which cue maker made the most catagories.


1) Reputation

2) Playability

3) Creativity

4) Execution

5) Longevity

6) Customer Satisfaction

7) Body of work to date

8) Design/Technique that has evolved todays cues

9) Will/IS to make Hall of fame (since all GREATEST deceased have been inducted)

10) Craftmanship (For the Hand made non CNC guys)


Let's here your answers.


Best,

Ken Kerner
 
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Shooter08

Runde Aficianado
Silver Member
Dennis Searing, Duh

I've taken hundreds of calls and emails asking me at one time or another who was the greatest (LIVING) cuemaker.

This is a question that I believe will always be subject to one's own opinion.


I'm personal friends with MANY of the possible contenders, and respect all of their talents.

Am I qualified to give the answer? NO?

Being judged by your peer's always showed credibility to me.

So I've asked many of the best Cue Makers this question, and one name came up the most.


But I will give my criteria for everyone to judge for themselves.


I will give (10 ) catagories what I believe the the GREATEST cuemaker should be rated on.

Pick YOUR top 3 cuemakers for each category.

At the end, count which cue maker made the most catagories.


1) Reputation

2) Playability

3) Creativity

4) Execution

5) Longevity

6) Customer Satisfaction

7) Body of work to date

8) Design/Technique that has evolved todays cues

9) Will/IS to make Hall of fame (since all GREATEST deceased have been inducted)

10) Craftmanship (For the Hand made non CNC guys)


Let's here your answers.


Best,

Ken Kerner



I think someone established Searing as the "king of cues" recently. I read it on the internet it must be true. (this is just a attempt at humor, do not take this seriously).
 

ddadams

Absolutely love this cue.
Silver Member
1) Reputation

Ernie G.
Tascarella
Searing

2) Playability

Ernie G.
Searing
Tibbitts (probably alone on this but you just have to try one...)

3) Creativity

Thomas Wayne
Ernie G.


4) Execution

Thomas Wayne
Ernie G.
Searing

5) Longevity*

Ernie G.
Searing
TAD

6) Customer Satisfaction

Searing
Ernie G.
Tony S.

7) Body of work to date

Ernie G.
Thomas Wayne
Dennis Searing

8) Design/Technique that has evolved todays cues

Ernie
TAD - though his father truly did the designs


9) Will/IS to make Hall of fame (since all GREATEST deceased have been inducted)

Ernie
Dennis Searing
Thomas Wayne

10) Craftmanship (For the Hand made non CNC guys)

Danny Tibbitts
Eric Crisp
Dmitry Komarov

For non-CNC you just have to play with their cues and examine them. There are definite flaws I've seen in all the work but they play so well nobody cares.

Had a well known older player who plays with a Gina tell me last night he was jealous of my cue after playing with my Tibbitts. He's never heard of Danny.
 

WildWing

Super Gun Mod
Silver Member
Reputation - Ernie Gutierrez, Pete Tascarella, Tim Scruggs
Playabiity - Too hard to judge; one would have to have played with them all.
Creativity - Thomas Wayne, Richard Black, Erinie Gutierrez
Execution - Tim Scruggs, Ernie Gutierrez, Jerry Rauenzahn
Longevity - Dan Janes, Ernie Gutierrez, Tim Scruggs (you didn't specify whether they had to be currently making cues)
Customer Satisfaction - Tim Scruggs, Jerry Rauenzahn, Pete Tascarella
Body of Work To Date - Ernie Gutierrez, Tim Scruggs, Dan Janes (have to remember the old days)
Influencing Design to date - Ernie Gutierrez, Barry Szamboti, Tim Scruggs
Hall of Fame - Tim Scruggs, Ernie Gutierrez, Barry Szamboti
Non CNC Craftsmanship - Tim Scruggs, Jerry Rauenzahn, Pete Tascarella

In the end, Ernie Gutierrez. Longest and most complete pedigree of all.
 
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HighEndCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
CNC guys have no craftsmanship ?
Hand made ?
This survey will be going nowhere I think.
Come on Joey!!!!
Don't put words in my mouth!
That was a SERERATE category for the guys that cant be as precise in their tolerances since not having CNC.
REALLY? Like I don't think any CNC Cuemakers don't have craftsmanship?
If you know what I collect your statement made ZERO sense>>>
 

JoeyInCali

Maker of Joey Bautista Cues
Silver Member
1) Reputation
McWorter

2) Playability
Searing

3) Creativity
TW

4) Execution
Searing

5) Longevity
SW
6) Customer Satisfaction
SW

7) Body of work to date
Gina

8) Design/Technique that has evolved todays cues
Gina


9) Will/IS to make Hall of fame (since all GREATEST deceased have been inducted)

10) Craftmanship (For the Hand made non CNC guys)

Barry
 

JoeyInCali

Maker of Joey Bautista Cues
Silver Member
Come on Joey!!!!
Don't put words in my mouth!
That was a SERERATE category for the guys that cant be as precise in their tolerances since not having CNC.
REALLY? Like I don't think any CNC Cuemakers don't have craftsmanship?
If you know what I collect your statement made ZERO sense>>>

My bad.
Corrected and voted .
 

POOLPLYR1111

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
cue makers

besides the mentioning of all the obvious "living legends"


im going to throw this cue makers name out there because in my opinion he meets all 10 points of criteria.

Chris Nitti
 

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I think Richard Black's name should be mentioned in each category. He may not be everybody's favorite, but he fits the bill.
 

WildWing

Super Gun Mod
Silver Member
I think Richard Black's name should be mentioned in each category. He may not be everybody's favorite, but he fits the bill.

I see your point, and I did have him in the creativity section in my vote. Since limited to 3 in each, it was very difficult. Had it been 5 in every category, he would have been in each of mine. Tough field, you have to admit.
 

cueball1950

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
funny no one mentioned joel hercek

my top makers.....black boar,
richard black
joel hercek
ernie guitterez.....(gina Cues)

in no patricular order
 

ribdoner

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Silver Member
I've taken hundreds of calls and emails asking me at one time or another who was the greatest (LIVING) cuemaker.

This is a question that I believe will always be subject to one's own opinion.


I'm personal friends with MANY of the possible contenders, and respect all of their talents.

Am I qualified to give the answer? NO?

Being judged by your peer's always showed credibility to me.

So I've asked many of the best Cue Makers this question, and one name came up the most.


But I will give my criteria for everyone to judge for themselves.


I will give (10 ) catagories what I believe the the GREATEST cuemaker should be rated on.

Pick YOUR top 3 cuemakers for each category.

At the end, count which cue maker made the most catagories.


1) Reputation

SW, Ernie

2) Playability

SW, Barry, Tasc

3) Creativity

Moochie, Black, Schick

4) Execution

Searing, Haley, Manzino

5) Longevity

Ernie, Tad

6) Customer Satisfaction

Searing (upon receipt), SW, Ernie

7) Body of work to date

Schick, Ernie, Tad

8) Design/Technique that has evolved todays cues

Moochie, SW, Searing

9) Will/IS to make Hall of fame (since all GREATEST deceased have been inducted)

Moochie, Ernie, SW

10) Craftmanship (For the Hand made non CNC guys)

Tasc, Barry, Schick


Let's here your answers.


Best,

Ken Kerner

............
 

Big-Tattoo

I'm back
Silver Member
All in all, Ernie Gina Cues
What makes we wonder, no one's mentioned Bob Manzino in the CNC/Style category:frown:

Just my 2 Cents
I can vote myself for Bill McDaniel in the playability/CNC category:thumbup:
 

Ken_4fun

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you dont have Bill Schick as #1 living cuemaker.....

Lets just say, we disagree.

Ken
 
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