The market has come down for basic to semi basic Szamboti and Bushkas. That said, cues that have a fair amount of work and that are in great condition still command good $ or are not being offered because there are very limited amounts of those cues and collectors don't want to give them up for reasons not only due to the market. I still think those cues will eventually bring some big $ again. When that will be is anybody's guess. If history has shown anything, with most collectables, excellence is eventually understood by all and rewarded. Szamboti's and Balabushka's ARE excellence.
Your cue is a very nice cue and though it should bring a pretty penny, you may have to wait till someone HAS to have it or you may have to sell it "at the market" (old Chicago Board Of Trade lingo
) if you really need to sell. Wanting to sell only for top $ is not a good position to be in.
Interesting read...
I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective.
What I am seeing from attending SBE over the last 15 years and supporting my friends working their booths, are less collectors are attending the grand event. Gone are the days of the big cues coming out for the first time in a long time to see expo lighting, seeing my first Barry Box cue with the white wrap (what a beauty), old players deciding it is time to give up their playing cues (Szam's and Bushka's), maybe even grabbing and holding on to the unattended case as a collector digs deep into the booth (I had you covered Will), unwrapping new cues being delivered directly to the expo by the cue makers, watching a bidding war for a cue makers player cue and much more.
When the SBE was at VF Expo Center, there were so many vendor booths that it was always amazing to see all the different cues. This past year, I saw more people sharing the cost of the booth and doubling up when possible (sales have been down in the past).
From a sales perspective, things were slow this year with high end customs (narrow down the range to those over $10K). Of course, a few changed hands but not many as I can remember back in 2008 and 2009. I was helping in a booth again with Kenny and Gian and a few others. There were Gus’s of course but a lot more questions were directed toward the Barry’s for the first time that I can remember. I do not remember seeing any Gus cue traded hands but there were a couple of new Barry cues that went home. Prices on the Barry’s were in line or up slightly over last year’s prices. I know that in my case I still have my eyes on another Barry cue (love the Bushka Rings with silver dots in the ebony).
If the OP had attended the SBE, I am not sure he would have fared much better over what I think he may have been offered via PM’s. There is interest I am sure but I think the numbers are not as high as they were 8-10 years ago. As a Szamboti owner, I have an interest of where the market is headed.
All the best in your decision and that is a pretty Gus.
Myron
