Out of all the cues Balabushka made, utilizing Titlist blanks, does anyone know approximately how many were left with full-splice butts, versus those that were converted into cues with handles and butt sleeves?
Assuming two of his Titlist cues looked identical, with one being a full-splice and the other being a "conversion", which would be more valuable?
For anyone who has played with Balabushka full-splice Titlist and one of his Titlist conversions:
Which cue did you prefer or think played better?
Lots of questions. And does not seem no one wanted to answer them. But lets see.
Well first it would be good to understand George's cues. He used full splice blanks and short spliced.
All of the Titlist blanks (full splice) I can recall from memory did not have rings above the wrap, so he did not have to cut the cue to add a handle. He would basically add a butt sleeve, joint, inlay etc...
George then used the more fancy (in appearance) short spliced blanks. They usually incorporated rings above the wrap, many inlays, and a genius way of connecting a handle. George made his cues very sound. These are usually the more valuable as they are made by Burton Spain, John Davis, or Gus. And simply because these cues incorporated more fancies so to speak. This is the general consensus, but not always the case. They tend on most cases to be the most valuable. Not because they hit better than the full splice titlist though.
I have also spoke to John Davis once about this, and he told me he made both short and full splice blanks for George. But in all the cases I have heard of from various sources, he left the full spice cues a full spice.
So the answers:
Out of all the cues Balabushka made, utilizing Titlist blanks, does anyone know approximately how many were left with full-splice butts, versus those that were converted into cues with handles and butt sleeves?
All I have seen were left full splice and just added a butt sleeve and joint, inlays etc...
Assuming two of his Titlist cues looked identical, with one being a full-splice and the other being a "conversion", which would be more valuable?
They were all full splice.
