Balabushka playing characteristics

kqwaterman

kqwaterman

New member
Hello!

I am sure this has been asked before (although I could not find this exact question in a search) but what is it about the PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS of a Bushka that makes it so great? I have never played one and am a total pool newbie so I am just curious. Is there something out there that plays similar other than a tascarella, or is that the closest there is? Regardless, $2,500 is a lot better than 20k haha. Thanks in advance.
 
kqwaterman said:
Hello!

I am sure this has been asked before (although I could not find this exact question in a search) but what is it about the PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS of a Bushka that makes it so great? I have never played one and am a total pool newbie so I am just curious. Is there something out there that plays similar other than a tascarella, or is that the closest there is? Regardless, $2,500 is a lot better than 20k haha. Thanks in advance.
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I can't make a personal opinion, because I have never hit with one, but most opinions that I have read about them is that they do not hit good, compared to cues of today. I read they are much more of a collectors item, then a playing cue.

I imagine that a signature series Replica Adam / Helmstetter Balabushka hits better then an Original.

No offence to the playability of the most famous cue maker who ever lived, but modern cues just hit better.

Get a modern Tasc, if you can afford one.

http://jjcue.com/tascarellacues.htm
 
Agreeing that they are great historical treasures, I just can't get used to steel joints. The hit just doesn't feel right to me. Bushkas, Shons, and the like. This is just MY opinion and I'm not stating this as a fact.
 
I had the opportunity to try, and got to play with a Real George Balabushka, the hit was be discribe like a 40 Ton Semi colliding with a VW Bug Car at 25 MPH. THUD.
 
kqwaterman said:
Hello!

I am sure this has been asked before (although I could not find this exact question in a search) but what is it about the PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS of a Bushka that makes it so great? I have never played one and am a total pool newbie so I am just curious. Is there something out there that plays similar other than a tascarella, or is that the closest there is? Regardless, $2,500 is a lot better than 20k haha. Thanks in advance.
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IMO they feel just like any other top quality steel-joint cue. Never owned one but have hit balls with a couple documented 'bushka's and to me they felt just like the Scruggs and R. Black i was using at the time. If i was looking at this style right now i'd take a serious look at a Garten Bierbower cue. He makes them the old-school way. Prices are very reasonable too.
 
Any one in Dallas and wants to know can call me ,come by and hit a few balls to find out for themself

i think the Tascarella comes close to the same hit for those who don't have the opportunity

the Balabushkas were usually heavier than what is opular today,and that might add to the great feel they have
 
deanoc said:
Any one in Dallas and wants to know can call me ,come by and hit a few balls to find out for themself

i think the Tascarella comes close to the same hit for those who don't have the opportunity

the Balabushkas were usually heavier than what is opular today,and that might add to the great feel they have
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Dean,

If they twisted your arm real hard, would you consider selling them a Bushka? LOL
 
Bushka joined his forearm to the handle this way.http://www.dzcues.com/images/a-joint/a joint 03.jpg
That determined his hit.
Any decent maker can do that.
But, Bushka was making cues during the days of great maple shaft stock was readily available. And he was fortunate to be where the best ones were readily available , NY/Canada border.
 
Real Bushka’s are too heavy and too much cue for today’s fast equipment. They are less than ideal.

On the old Stevens cloth and deal rails, balls etc they moved the CB around a it better than say a McDermott A series or Stroud cue. szams did as well. That’s what made them special and there were a lot less options back then as well.


Compared to what’s available now they are not notable. I have played whit about 10 Bushka’s and over 50 szams. A few of the szams would still make the cut today, but mostly Barry’s cues his dads are again like Bushka’s a bit much cue(heavy) for fast equipment.

Fatboy
 
Although not really a playing characteristic, those old-school cues often had BIG butt sections. Not uncommon to see 1.27"+ at the fat end. Most modern cues fall somewhere in the 1.20(skinny) to 1.25ish. I never like the big handle cues. Had a chance to basically steal a Gilbert one time but it was almost 1.30" and i just could not play with it.
 
I owned and played with two Bushka cues in my life. I really liked the second one. It was a 57" cue that weighed right at 19 oz. It had a clean crisp hit that felt just right to me. I went broke at the Dayton tournament in 1973 and sold it for $200. C'est la vie.
 
kqwaterman said:
Hello!

I am sure this has been asked before (although I could not find this exact question in a search) but what is it about the PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS of a Bushka that makes it so great? I have never played one and am a total pool newbie so I am just curious. Is there something out there that plays similar other than a tascarella, or is that the closest there is? Regardless, $2,500 is a lot better than 20k haha. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I have a lot of hobbies, one of them is wine. So to address your last sentence, some things just have built up a "cult" like reputation, its not about the item, its about the mystique that surrounds it. Is a 5k bottle of Screaming Eagle WORTH it? HELL no. I could have a better experience with a $120 bottle of Silver Oak. Cues are no different, good luck in your search.
 
Back in the day, Balabushka's were sought by top players in the Metro New York area. I have heard stories from a few. He was a player's cue maker with a terrific reputation. He was a good listener, a perfectionist and very patient with customers. For example, if you didn't like the tip, he would change it until you did. The few I have hit balls with were similar to early Gina's. Great solid shaft wood, a little butt heavy, pro taper on the stiff side.

Anybody who buys a Balabushka to actually play with has way too much money.
 
TATE said:
Back in the day, Balabushka's were sought by top players in the Metro New York area. I have heard stories from a few. He was a player's cue maker with a terrific reputation. He was a good listener, a perfectionist and very patient with customers. For example, if you didn't like the tip, he would change it until you did. The few I have hit balls with were similar to early Gina's. Great solid shaft wood, a little butt heavy, pro taper on the stiff side.

Anybody who buys a Balabushka to actually play with has way too much money.
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I play with mine, usually just at home, but occasionally take it to the pool room and I let anyone hit with it. My Balabushka is the second or third I have played with. The other Balabushkas were thicker handled, but the one that I currently have has the original courtland linen and is great. I think the balance of the cue is excellent.

My playing cue for the last few years is a Gus Szamboti hoppe. Frankly it is the best playing cue I have had. It is 57" long, and just an incredible cue.

Ken
 
I think that a lot of people that have played with a Balabushka have done so with a heavy butted, thin shafted cue. Most of the ones I have seen were very representative of the dimensions that many people used at that time that Herman Rambow had made popular for the top pool players. George would work with players to give them what they wanted.

Not all of his cues are that way. Mine has a thin butt and has four substantial shafts. I drag it out to the poolroom ever so often and I think many of you would be shocked how well it hits balls.

Mine has tips that are like new. I think that's also a problem with many Bushkas. The owner is trying to keep the cues in original condition, but the tips have dried out over time. I have a Bushka shaft from another cue that has a dried up tip and it is like hitting with an extra hard tip.

The cues I think play pretty much like a Balabushka are Pete's and Steve Klein's. I have owned two of Steve's Bushka tributes and I think they are very close in feel.

George made cues for players. Lots of those players were straight pool guys. That's where it seems that the heavier cues do their magic. Once you learn how to let the cue work for you, it seems that heavier cues just hit softer shots better. That is just my two cents, though.

There is always this kind of discussion, no matter the item. Stradivarius and Guarneri violins have their doubters. Many people think that there are cars today that are made better than Bugatti or Dusenberg. To collectors, the oldtimers are always going to be in demand. They have proved their worth and value over long periods of time. New masters will arise from the heap. Dennis Searing, Pete Tascarella, Joel Hercek, Dave Kersenbrock and Southwest, just to name a few are all well on their way. Once a person can't find cues made by someone who has passed or no longer makes cues, the supply diminishes and the demand will be determined players and collectors in the future.
 
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