Okay, here is my question. If you take a Balabushka remake and get it fitted with a better shaft (i play with a predator z2) with an after market tip (i play with a kamui black medium) in theory what would make it less good than any other cue fitted with a LD shaft?
Are Adams' Balabushka's Worth The Cost?
- Thread starter PoolHawk21
- Start date
It would be fine. I know that there are others who will disagree with me, but as far as playability goes, the shaft IS the cue.
If you like the balance of the butt and the hit of that particular joint then get a shaft on it your comfortable with. So many variables in how good a cue plays, shaft, diameter of it and also the tip are very important like Chris said.
i think they play ok. but some of them, the last time i looked, were going fairly high into the $600-700 range. you can buy some decent custom made cues for that price range. i don't think they are worth that. but that's me. if a person likes the cue it's worth what he wants to pay.
I would'nt want any of the ones that are made in china, but the ones made in japan, are very well built cues. Many of the older ones are even full splice. The helmstetter, and bushka lines are the ones to get, and as with ANY production cue, the older the better. Let's put it this way, if Dickie would have put all his energy into making custom cues, his cues would no doubt be one of the most sought after, and collectible around.
Being the multi faceted genius that he is, he did'nt. Still, most pre 90's cues that bear his name, play better than any newer joss, or schon. at least imo. At the very least, they don't have lazy cnc'd points in them, which imo, is the main reason newer schon's, and joss's just don't compare to the older ones.
Being the multi faceted genius that he is, he did'nt. Still, most pre 90's cues that bear his name, play better than any newer joss, or schon. at least imo. At the very least, they don't have lazy cnc'd points in them, which imo, is the main reason newer schon's, and joss's just don't compare to the older ones.
AGREE! I have a Balabushka replica made by Adam (Japan) and it is well worth the money I paid for it...especially since I got it at 50% off. Mine is from the Hall of Fame series that do not have the George Balabushka signatures on the forearm. I've actually had several people come up and ask me if it was a Szamboti. It looks good and plays damn good.
AGREE! I have a Balabushka replica made by Adam (Japan) and it is well worth the money I paid for it...especially since I got it at 50% off. Mine is from the Hall of Fame series that do not have the George Balabushka signatures on the forearm. I've actually had several people come up and ask me if it was a Szamboti. It looks good and plays damn good. [/quote]
I know that balabushka separated from Adam and is now it's own company but are the still made in Japan?
On their site they say they are committed to living up to the balabushka name and standard of quality. Which they should.
They set a huge bar for themselves by taking over the bushka name. You would think quality would be their top priority.
From what i gather from other threads that i have read and posted, a bushka remake with an after market shaft should play a well as any other cue. This has been a question i keep asking and no one has yet to give me a reason to think otherwise..
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
I know that balabushka separated from Adam and is now it's own company but are the still made in Japan?
On their site they say they are committed to living up to the balabushka name and standard of quality. Which they should.
They set a huge bar for themselves by taking over the bushka name. You would think quality would be their top priority.
From what i gather from other threads that i have read and posted, a bushka remake with an after market shaft should play a well as any other cue. This has been a question i keep asking and no one has yet to give me a reason to think otherwise..
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
This is the camp I'm in. That's a lot of cash for a cue that feels dead. I ended up finding out that the weight bolt was stripped out in the butt of the cue - no good way to fix it. I opted for a McDermott Portico instead of a replacement, and I love that cue.
I love the way they look, but for that price you may as well get a Joss that has a very similar look, and is widely regarded to be a great playing cue (I cannot confirm, as I have never hit one).
DeaconBlooze said:
Valid points. The problem i run into getting a joss our a schon or any other higher end cue is the shaft. I started paying with an LD shaft and i don't think joss is LD. Switching to a conventional shaft i think would kill my game and buying a joss and swapping out the shaft i feel would completely change the cue.
Any advice?
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
ive heard the hit is crappy on those but have never tried.
butts will make a difference in feel, i have a schon, joss, and scruggs, all with the same pin, and if i move a shaft threw all three they all have a different hit, and feel, for the most part the shaft makes the contact and does the grunt of it regardless of butt.
the butt weight and feel is more about comfort and confidence then cb control.
butts will make a difference in feel, i have a schon, joss, and scruggs, all with the same pin, and if i move a shaft threw all three they all have a different hit, and feel, for the most part the shaft makes the contact and does the grunt of it regardless of butt.
the butt weight and feel is more about comfort and confidence then cb control.
Personally, i think a great non laminated shaft will improve your game, not hinder it. All the top players i know, do not play with laminated shafts.
danutz said:
The shaft i play with is a low deflection shaft but it isn't laminated.
What I'm saying is that i learned the game not really accounting for deflection because of my cue. I feel like if i switch to a conventional shaft it will hurt my game.
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
I know that balabushka separated from Adam and is now it's own company but are the still made in Japan?
On their site they say they are committed to living up to the balabushka name and standard of quality. Which they should.
They set a huge bar for themselves by taking over the bushka name. You would think quality would be their top priority.
From what i gather from other threads that i have read and posted, a bushka remake with an after market shaft should play a well as any other cue. This has been a question i keep asking and no one has yet to give me a reason to think otherwise..
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android[/QUOTE]
I have a Predator 314-2 FAT shaft that fits it and it plays good.
I've had my GB2 for awhile. I went through a couple of cues first to see what I liked in a cue. I actually have two. They are the ones made in Japan with the certificate thingy
The hit is different between the two, not much but a little. Even though they are both the same model, the butt on one is a little smaller in diameter and the fit between the shaft bolt pilot and butt joint is the tighter than the other. I use the maple shafts that came with them.
It is these two difference that make them hit different the joint fit and butt size.
Also, the GB2's I have the butt is shorter than the other cues I have. When I check it with other peoples cues, the butt is also shorter. Just a FYI. Not sure if all GB2 will be this way. No where was it mentioned the butt is shorter than most. For me, it's not a big deal, but just wanted to get this info out so those checking out a GB2 might ask about the butt length or any model really.
On my main player, I had a stacked leather wrap put on. For me, this was the finishing touch. It totally changed the feel of the cue plus, now that I think about also the hit and balance of the cue. I played with the other one a few days ago that has the linen wrap on it. I noticed I had to use more grip pressure with it than the with the stacked leather. Plus. I like the feel of the smooth leather over the linen. I do use a slip stroke at times, and can still do so with the stacked leather wrap, just had to adjust grip pressure.
What made me decide about buying one use the looks. I had a Palmer model in the 70's and the GB2 came the closest in looks and was at a price I could afford.
After playing with them for over 5 years now, there was never a time I thought about trying another cue or shaft. I like the hit and looks of them, especially the one with the black stacked leather wrap. This one is my baby. The other is a spare.
But like all things, the selection of a cue is highly subjective. People that have hit with them have always liked the hit and feel of them.
I do hope that the new series will be just as good as the ones I have. I just wanted to share what my experiences have been using the GB2.
The hit is different between the two, not much but a little. Even though they are both the same model, the butt on one is a little smaller in diameter and the fit between the shaft bolt pilot and butt joint is the tighter than the other. I use the maple shafts that came with them.
It is these two difference that make them hit different the joint fit and butt size.
Also, the GB2's I have the butt is shorter than the other cues I have. When I check it with other peoples cues, the butt is also shorter. Just a FYI. Not sure if all GB2 will be this way. No where was it mentioned the butt is shorter than most. For me, it's not a big deal, but just wanted to get this info out so those checking out a GB2 might ask about the butt length or any model really.
On my main player, I had a stacked leather wrap put on. For me, this was the finishing touch. It totally changed the feel of the cue plus, now that I think about also the hit and balance of the cue. I played with the other one a few days ago that has the linen wrap on it. I noticed I had to use more grip pressure with it than the with the stacked leather. Plus. I like the feel of the smooth leather over the linen. I do use a slip stroke at times, and can still do so with the stacked leather wrap, just had to adjust grip pressure.
What made me decide about buying one use the looks. I had a Palmer model in the 70's and the GB2 came the closest in looks and was at a price I could afford.
After playing with them for over 5 years now, there was never a time I thought about trying another cue or shaft. I like the hit and looks of them, especially the one with the black stacked leather wrap. This one is my baby. The other is a spare.
But like all things, the selection of a cue is highly subjective. People that have hit with them have always liked the hit and feel of them.
I do hope that the new series will be just as good as the ones I have. I just wanted to share what my experiences have been using the GB2.
Gb23
I owned a GB23, i thought the quality and sharp even points, and the inlay were great. The cue played very well and when i put a jacoby edge on it, i liked it even more, only reason i got rid of it was someone offer me more money then i paid for it, now this was 4 years ago, i dont know if things have changed, as far as price, i got mine from an ebay dealer and by buying it outside of ebay , i only paid $400 for a $720 cue, so i thought the cue was well worth the money , plus adams has great costumer service, as i had a problem with a old helmstetter from the early 90s, and they sent me a new shaft without wanting see the warped one. Not too many production cue company making sharp pointed cues, the only thing i didnt like was the big signature on the forearm.
I owned a GB23, i thought the quality and sharp even points, and the inlay were great. The cue played very well and when i put a jacoby edge on it, i liked it even more, only reason i got rid of it was someone offer me more money then i paid for it, now this was 4 years ago, i dont know if things have changed, as far as price, i got mine from an ebay dealer and by buying it outside of ebay , i only paid $400 for a $720 cue, so i thought the cue was well worth the money , plus adams has great costumer service, as i had a problem with a old helmstetter from the early 90s, and they sent me a new shaft without wanting see the warped one. Not too many production cue company making sharp pointed cues, the only thing i didnt like was the big signature on the forearm.
I have an LGB8 model and it plays great. Looks great too. I really love the old school look. Of course, I only paid half price for mine, which was just a few hundred bucks when I got it about 10 years ago. Retail for my stick today would be $600 to $700. I definitely would not spend that much for one. For that price, I would look at a custom cue.
The most interesting part of this discussion is the lack of knowledge by so many people regarding Adam Cues. Here is a piece about the history of Adams Cues: https://www.poolcues.com/history-of-adam-cues
No two people in the history of cue making were more concerned about the quality of cue building then Richard Helmstetter and David Forman! Quite frankly, when these two built the Adams Cue Company, using Yuri Miki's Japanese facility, they WERE the highest of high end production cues.
For those of you who do not know Miki, he is now known as Mezz Cues. Adam Cues have always had a money back guarantee. You don't like the cue, send it back! Even Don Spetkar, who bought Adams Cues when Helmstetter, Forman, and Miki split up...still offers the same guarantee.
I really find it silly when someone says, "for that kind of money you could buy a custom cue"...as if the 29" below the shaft made all the difference in your pool game. Fact is, most good shooters and pros use "production" shafts, such as Predator, OB, Tiger, Mezz, Schon, Joss, and etc. BTW any LD shaft is a "production" shaft!
Ask your self this, what makes a custom cue "custom"? Even the most famous cue makers that ever lived Balabushka, Rambo, Balner, Paradise... used "production" cue blanks to make their "custom" cues. So did they really do anymore than decorate the production blanks?
Yes, I own and play with a custom cue. However, I use a "production" shaft, Tiger, on that cue and ALL the cues I play with. I also own the complete series of Adam HOF Willie Mosconi series of cues. and if I put one of those cues next to my $2500 custom cue...you could not tell the difference in quality. Since if I were to use one of those cues...it too would have a Tiger shaft on it!
Richard Helmstetter moved to Japan in 1968 to join with David Forman to form the Adams Cue Company. Here is one of the most famous of all Adams/Helmstetter cues: http://www.cornerstonecues.com/cue775.htm. Despite what it says here...this cue was made in Japan at the same facility were all the Adams cues were made.
My advice is first find a shaft with which you can play with consistently. Then find the nicest looking 29" below that shaft that will tickle your fancy and remain within your budget. Personally, cues with rounded points and inlays do NOT tickle my fancy, and of all the Production cues...Adams does NOT use rounded points!
No two people in the history of cue making were more concerned about the quality of cue building then Richard Helmstetter and David Forman! Quite frankly, when these two built the Adams Cue Company, using Yuri Miki's Japanese facility, they WERE the highest of high end production cues.
For those of you who do not know Miki, he is now known as Mezz Cues. Adam Cues have always had a money back guarantee. You don't like the cue, send it back! Even Don Spetkar, who bought Adams Cues when Helmstetter, Forman, and Miki split up...still offers the same guarantee.
I really find it silly when someone says, "for that kind of money you could buy a custom cue"...as if the 29" below the shaft made all the difference in your pool game. Fact is, most good shooters and pros use "production" shafts, such as Predator, OB, Tiger, Mezz, Schon, Joss, and etc. BTW any LD shaft is a "production" shaft!
Ask your self this, what makes a custom cue "custom"? Even the most famous cue makers that ever lived Balabushka, Rambo, Balner, Paradise... used "production" cue blanks to make their "custom" cues. So did they really do anymore than decorate the production blanks?
Yes, I own and play with a custom cue. However, I use a "production" shaft, Tiger, on that cue and ALL the cues I play with. I also own the complete series of Adam HOF Willie Mosconi series of cues. and if I put one of those cues next to my $2500 custom cue...you could not tell the difference in quality. Since if I were to use one of those cues...it too would have a Tiger shaft on it!
Richard Helmstetter moved to Japan in 1968 to join with David Forman to form the Adams Cue Company. Here is one of the most famous of all Adams/Helmstetter cues: http://www.cornerstonecues.com/cue775.htm. Despite what it says here...this cue was made in Japan at the same facility were all the Adams cues were made.
My advice is first find a shaft with which you can play with consistently. Then find the nicest looking 29" below that shaft that will tickle your fancy and remain within your budget. Personally, cues with rounded points and inlays do NOT tickle my fancy, and of all the Production cues...Adams does NOT use rounded points!
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Brought back from the dead..........
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And they are still misspelling "Adam".
Brought back from the dead..........
This thread is old.
The only thing that is old, is people who have little to add to a thread but find it necessary to be annoying! This is the Internet, no thread is dead!