I have got to know Rick Howard and over the years bought several cues from him and he would also make shafts, refinish cues etc.
I asked him to build a cue for me, ebony on ebony, with blue black blue veneers. Ivory joint, etc...
Anyway Rick met me at the DCC and gave me my new cue and I paid him. We went down to sweat some matches and gambling. Finally someone came up and wanted Rick to gamble with him....
He looks over at me and says, "Let me use your cue, I didn't bring any to play with". Again, I hadn't even hit a ball with this new cue, but I hand it Rick and he goes down and wins some off the guy that wanted to gamble some.
Rick come back after a few hours and hands me my cue, and says, "Wow, that cue plays great....I should have charged you more." We both started cracking up.
I always start laughing to myself whenever I think about this time with Rick. Heads up for those who don't know, I would put Rick as one of the best playing cuemakers out there.
Ken