Alternative to Gold Crown?

nrhoades said:
Oh really!! So then the $8000 retail numbers may be unnecessary? Thats good news for my wallet!
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I picked up my mint 9' diamond pro (not pro-am) w/ the dymondwood upgrade, embroidered cover and super aramith pro ball set for $3000. This was 4 years or so ago. Been happy ever since. There are deals to be had for sure on the 'bay and craigslist. Also picked up a 7' valley bar box for $100. Not too bad either. Happy hunting and good luck...
 
I read through this thread and am tailoring my reponse based on your responses. Originally I would have said the only alternative to the Gold Crown was the Diamond Pro-Am but I see that won't work.

You most likely wouldn't find one of these to try out first but when I was researching tables I found Vitalie and heard their tables play pretty well and they do look nice for the wife. Made in North Carolina was another plus. I just learned when researching this that it looks like they closed shop in 2010. Maybe you can find one use.

I ended up getting a Brunswick Gold Crown I with a bunch of accessories off of Graigslist for $1500 and couldn't be happier. It plays great. My wife had wanted something prettier but couldn't comlpain about saving a bunch of money and understood my point about practicing on the same (or similar) table to what they were using in leagues and tournaments.
 
purpdrag said:
I read through this thread and am tailoring my reponse based on your responses. Originally I would have said the only alternative to the Gold Crown was the Diamond Pro-Am but I see that won't work.

You most likely wouldn't find one of these to try out first but when I was researching tables I found Vitalie and heard their tables play pretty well and they do look nice for the wife. Made in North Carolina was another plus. I just learned when researching this that it looks like they closed shop in 2010. Maybe you can find one use.

I ended up getting a Brunswick Gold Crown I with a bunch of accessories off of Graigslist for $1500 and couldn't be happier. It plays great. My wife had wanted something prettier but couldn't comlpain about saving a bunch of money and understood my point about practicing on the same (or similar) table to what they were using in leagues and tournaments.
Click to expand...


Funny you should mention vitalie. I picked up a used 8' Vitalie for $200 for a friend. They're not too bad either. The point is that some great used stuff is out there if you look and are patient.

Here's my recent $200 purchase from good ole' craigslist.


Cheers...
 
I play on both Brunswick and Diamond Pro Am's all the time. Both are great tables. I like either one no more or no less. They are different, but each have their good points. To me it is more about just having a good professional quality 9' table with tighter pockets and good rails.

One thing I liked on the Diamonds compared to the GC 1,2,3 is the pockets were more flush and the black piece surrounding the pockets would get in my way on the GC 1,2,3 in bridging the cue over pockets. The GC IV has very flush pocket rubber around the top of the pockets (love that).
For my home though, I went with the black GC IV I bought from here and had Shane (cuehoric) set it up with some tournament blue simonis. It has the tighter tournament pockets etc... Do not regret it at all.

One thing in Diamonds favor (for me), over the GC, is the height of the table. The Diamond sits a little higher and is easier on your stance and back for long periods of time. Especially if you are in the 6' range. But this is preference for one who likes them higher, there is some who likes them lower.

Not sure about the Jetsons though :lol:
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nrhoades said:
We just bought a brand new 2012 raised ranch with a 25' by 28' unobstructed room on the lower floor (LVL beams overhead). The room is unfinished (no drywall yet) so I can do what ever I want with it... i.e. pool room.

The default table I'd like to buy is a 9' gold crown since those are the competition standard (Snookers RI).

My wife hates the look of the gold crown's, referring them as something George Jetson would use.

So I need something that looks pretty, and something that plays as well as competition tables.

I think this decision will also be like buying a guitar, where I would have to try the brand of table out before I consider buying it. If anyone knows of locations let me know.

Thanks
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if you can find one the Brunswick medalist (modern not the antique) had the same playing field and rails but didn't have the Jetson landing pads.

Freddie <~~~ thinks Jane was hawt
 
Cornerman said:
if you can find one the Brunswick medalist (modern not the antique) had the same playing field and rails but didn't have the Jetson landing pads.

Freddie <~~~ thinks Jane was hawt
Click to expand...

If you're referring to this table...

http://www.dr-cheng.com/Table/Custom Table/00-005.jpg

... then that might just be an excellent canidate/compromise!

She's not going to like the metal around the pockets, so I'll have to try to sell her on it...

ACTUALLY, thats a good question:

--> Does there exist alternative materials to the metal pocket corners, like wood?
 
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nrhoades said:
If you're referring to this table...

http://www.dr-cheng.com/Table/Custom Table/00-005.jpg

... then that might just be an excellent canidate/compromise!

She's not going to like the metal around the pockets, so I'll have to try to sell her on it...

ACTUALLY, thats a good question:

--> Does there exist alternative materials to the metal pocket corners, like wood?
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I would stay away from Medalist, Viscount, or Century (by Brunswick)
I think they're all out-sourced and DO NOT play like a Gold Crown.
I'm an old Gold Crown or Anniversary fan, but Diamond solved a lot
of their deficiencies....and it's a world class table that looks good in
a home.

Vitalie, Connelly and many more are really home-table makers that took
a half-hearted shot at the commercial market....like buying a home
vacuum cleaner that does the job....for about 10% of a commercial one.
 
Brunswick Viscount

pt109 said:
I would stay away from Medalist, Viscount, or Century (by Brunswick)
I think they're all out-sourced and DO NOT play like a Gold Crown.
I'm an old Gold Crown or Anniversary fan, but Diamond solved a lot
of their deficiencies....and it's a world class table that looks good in
a home.

Vitalie, Connelly and many more are really home-table makers that took
a half-hearted shot at the commercial market....like buying a home
vacuum cleaner that does the job....for about 10% of a commercial one.
Click to expand...

I would have to disagree with the above, at least with respect to the Viscount. I recently purchased one made in 1964 by Brunswick in the U.S. It is essentially a GC above the frame -- rails, slates, pockets with aluminum trim, counters, etc. -- and all of these are interchangeable with GC parts. The frame is not quite as heavy duty as the GC frame but it is quite ample and I would say it plays essentially the same as a GC. The legs are the "Pretzel" bent and laminated style and plenty strong and it has the GC adjustable aluminum feet.

Jerry Briesath told me that years ago he had four of these tables in his pool hall in Milwaukee (I believe) and that they are "great tables".

Any and all are encouraged to chime in!

David
 
drlipo said:
I would have to disagree with the above, at least with respect to the Viscount. I recently purchased one made in 1964 by Brunswick in the U.S. It is essentially a GC above the frame -- rails, slates, pockets with aluminum trim, counters, etc. -- and all of these are interchangeable with GC parts. The frame is not quite as heavy duty as the GC frame but it is quite ample and I would say it plays essentially the same as a GC. The legs are the "Pretzel" bent and laminated style and plenty strong and it has the GC adjustable aluminum feet.

Jerry Briesath told me that years ago he had four of these tables in his pool hall in Milwaukee (I believe) and that they are "great tables".

Any and all are encouraged to chime in!

David
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I had a friend who bought a pool hall full of Viscounts, brand new....
...he said never again, he only saved $400 a table by not buying Gold
Crowns...the tables got 'lazy' real quick and played a full length slower.
Gold Crowns are heavier, which is better when buying pool tables.
My friend bought Gold Crowns for his next room and was much happier.

And Viscounts are weird looking...it's like seeing a woman who looks
like Marilyn Monroe from the hips-up...but has skinny legs.:)
I rest my case....
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...nB_bbcn40JnsEhlsA&sig2=1tsocFzMPgTPFUhahP0C8Q
 
I don't have any first-hand knowledge, but since you're wanting to stay with a Brunswick, its possible that one of their "furniture model" tables play similar to - or can be made to play similar to - the GC.
 
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