Balabushka or Szamboti or Kersenbrock or ?

[Ken_4fun]

Given the choice what would be your preference?

Seems like you see alot more old Gus cues than Balabushkas. I've played with both and I felt Gus made a better playing cue, and I found the GB cues a little bigger in the handle.

I havent played with a Kersenbrock, but I have hit some balls with them. Honestly, they felt like my JF era Southwest, but that shouldnt be a surprise to anyone.

Ken

 

[rdwell]

best hit

Hey Ken, I owned two Bushka's and I thought they hit very good, but my preference would be a Gus or Barry. I own quite a few of both and I don't have one that I would say hits bad.

 

[macguy]

Given the choice what would be your preference?

Seems like you see alot more old Gus cues than Balabushkas. I've played with both and I felt Gus made a better playing cue, and I found the GB cues a little bigger in the handle.

I havent played with a Kersenbrock, but I have hit some balls with them. Honestly, they felt like my JF era Southwest, but that shouldnt be a surprise to anyone.

Ken

I owned several SW as well as a Kersenbrock and I didn't like any of them. I have had a few Balabushka's, still have two. They were OK, but Szamboti was a superior cue IMO.

 

[pt109]

I think Gus Szamboti is the best cue maker that ever lived.
I've only owned one, but I could do things that I could not do with other cues.
....and I've owned at least a dozen great cues.

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

A Super Fancy Harvey Martin or Rambow would suit me just fine.

 

[cubswin]

I'd like to have a Kersenbrock, and doesn't have to be fancy, of those three. I like stiff hitting cues though.

 

[skins]

A Josey..DUH! :smile:

 

[Colonel]

Szamboti, no interest in the others

 

[jazznpool]

Gus--flat face ivory joint.

 

[SWN99]

Never played with any of those cues, but I will say I would love to have another Scruggs.

 

[SC02GTP]

I would like to find out!

Somebody send me all three and I will get back with you...lol

 

[Bavafongoul]

I'll go with Martin's choice but with a slight variation.....I want my cue made by his son.......Barry.

Matt B.

 

[deanoc]

i would like to have a brand new south west
or a new barry

that is, if i wanted to play with it

now as an investment,the gus and jerry might
work out better.who knows what the future holds

 

[classiccues]

It depends upon what your buying them for. If you're buying them with the intention of making them closet / display queens, then does it matter? Then you buy what you like.

The reason these cues are hardly ever seen in pool rooms is the value. A great player, can play with any cue. When the cue market went ballistic, these guys saw $$$$$ for their Szam's and Bushka's and sold them. I don't blame them. When you can run out from anywhere, with anything, cues a cue.

I have a great playing Gus, however it's high monetary and high sentimental value, means I only break it out occasionally.

Right now when I play, I have a great John Bender, soon to be joined by a great Steve Klein.

JV

 

[cuesblues]

70's Kersenbrock obviously

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I kinda like my custom shaft on a cheap, mismatched Joss butt.

It looks like crap and I can't do anything with it that I couldn't do with any other cue, but it "hits a ton!"

pj
chgo

 

[WildWing]

I have all the playing cues I need, so my choice would be a Bushka. The history is undeniable.

 

[Ken_4fun]

A Super Fancy Harvey Martin or Rambow would suit me just fine.

I have never even held a Harvey Martin cue in my hands.....

I guess I could look it up. But, speaking of numbers.

How many Balabushkas, Gus, Kersenbrock, cues were built?

Thanks,

Ken

 

[Nineballjerry2]

I played with a old house cue kersenbrock converted for me in the 80's played very consistently with it.played with a nicer Gus in the ninetys.last 5 years it's been a real nice six point Scruggs that can read your mind it plays so well! Any cue from good maker will out play most mortals.find yourself a good deal and then just play with it!

 

[Jamie Beaulieu]

Never played with any of those cues, but I will say I would love to have another Scruggs.

I got the chance to play a game with a Balabushka once and I still think my Custom Bob Frey I had from 1986 hits as good if not better than the big B.