Barry Szamboti: A Reputation Well-Deserved

Szamboti cues

Two beautiful cues, the photography is absolutely fine, and nicely written too. Thanks for this thread! Love what both Barry and his Dad did below the wraps. These gentlemen just have the eye -- no matter how fancy or simple, it's never cluttered, always balanced, and just looks right. And the cues always hit like a dream on top of all that!
 
mosconiac said:
I spoke with the owner of the cue tonight & he said it was OK if I posted about him. His name is "Big" Joe Pena of the Pena Brothers Band (a Quad Cities blues band with 3 CDs). Everyone who has seen the Pena Brothers perform tell me Joe's an exceptional guitarist. Joe's an artist and he appreciates the work of other great artists. Now you know why he chose to commission a Barry Szamboti cue all those years ago. ;)

I'm not sure how to explain my incredible fortune, but I got a second chance to audition Uncle Lupe Pena's Gus Szamboti this evening. This time Lupe was gracious enough to allow me to partner it with the original shaft. So here it was, in my hands, a complete Gus Szamboti cue...and Big Joe wanted to play some straight pool. How could life get any better?!?!

I'm floored by my good fortune in befriending two such generous cue lovers. I really don't know how to thank them for allowing me to audition these rare & collectible cues. My words fall short...but here they are again:

THANK YOU!

I'm obligated to discuss the playability of the Gus. It has a more forward balance than Joe's Barry. This was an interesting surprise because it felt very good in my hands now that I'm out of stroke. It helped me get through the CB nicely. The Gus has a bit more vibrational feedback than the Barry, but it would come down to personal preference for which is most appealing. Either hit is impossible to put into words, but when you feel it you know it's special.

It's amazing to me that I could pick up either of these cues & feel pretty damn comfortable playing with them...I'm a long time low deflection shaft user & I usually struggle for a while with a traditional shaft. Not so with these cues. Further, you would expect the ivory ferrules to have even more deflection, but that's the magic of Szamboti cues I guess.

I have a question for the experts: aren't double black veneers unusual? I remember something being said about Gus' with those veneers, but can't remember what it was.

Without further ado, he are my pics of Uncle Lupe's Guz:

Please note: Once again, sorry for the poor photography & the random glares. There are no nicks or dings in this cue, so don't be fooled by splashes of light in the finish.
In the above pic, you can see that Joe's cue is actually a 60" cue.
Click to expand...

Those two cues are stunning. Being older than dirt, I am partial to the cue made by Gus, but Barry's cue is gogeous. Truly spectacular cues.

Scott
 
I have a question about the wrap on this cue: Is it dark in the back from hand oils (cue held to the rear) or is it light up front from wear (cue held at balance or forward of that)? Just curious...I love the look of a well-worn cue. :) Thanks for posting it.

classiccues said:
szam_2.jpg


Classic Gus colors ...

JV
Click to expand...
 
mosconiac said:
I have a question about the wrap on this cue: Is it dark in the back from hand oils (cue held to the rear) or is it light up front from wear (cue held at balance or forward of that)? Just curious...I love the look of a well-worn cue. :) Thanks for posting it.
Click to expand...

Funny thing.. that cue wrap was redyed by Barry and I guess from the oils it didn't stay on that long. What you see is just wear. The front you see the buzz ring where the dye I guess stayed. Pretty wild.

It's an original Gus wrap.

JV
 
mosconiac said:
I spoke with the owner of the cue tonight & he said it was OK if I posted about him. His name is "Big" Joe Pena of the Pena Brothers Band (a Quad Cities blues band with 3 CDs). Everyone who has seen the Pena Brothers perform tell me Joe's an exceptional guitarist. Joe's an artist and he appreciates the work of other great artists. Now you know why he chose to commission a Barry Szamboti cue all those years ago. ;)

I'm not sure how to explain my incredible fortune, but I got a second chance to audition Uncle Lupe Pena's Gus Szamboti this evening. This time Lupe was gracious enough to allow me to partner it with the original shaft. So here it was, in my hands, a complete Gus Szamboti cue...and Big Joe wanted to play some straight pool. How could life get any better?!?!

I'm floored by my good fortune in befriending two such generous cue lovers. I really don't know how to thank them for allowing me to audition these rare & collectible cues. My words fall short...but here they are again:

THANK YOU!

I'm obligated to discuss the playability of the Gus. It has a more forward balance than Joe's Barry. This was an interesting surprise because it felt very good in my hands now that I'm out of stroke. It helped me get through the CB nicely. The Gus has a bit more vibrational feedback than the Barry, but it would come down to personal preference for which is most appealing. Either hit is impossible to put into words, but when you feel it you know it's special.

It's amazing to me that I could pick up either of these cues & feel pretty damn comfortable playing with them...I'm a long time low deflection shaft user & I usually struggle for a while with a traditional shaft. Not so with these cues. Further, you would expect the ivory ferrules to have even more deflection, but that's the magic of Szamboti cues I guess.

I have a question for the experts: aren't double black veneers unusual? I remember something being said about Gus' with those veneers, but can't remember what it was.

Without further ado, he are my pics of Uncle Lupe's Guz:
Click to expand...




here are my thoughts,


The double black veneers were mid to late 70's, more of them were mid 70's from 73-77 is when the majority of them were made(there are some newer and older). Barry told me this, I play with a gus from that period with rose wood prongs and the double black veneers, It is my favorite "Player" Gus I own, I played with it daily for almost a year. ts a 59" cue and that really helped me after the 4th back operation.


I also agree with the idea that when your dead out of stroke its alot easier to get back in stroke faster with a Barry or Gus, better cues bring out the best in players IMO. I only have one Gus I dont like the feel of(and everyone else loves it) Its a little heavy in the butt, the weight is just too far back for my preference, I let alot of people use that cue when they visit if they want to or dont have their cue, everyone likes it, except me. It would take me along time to play good with that cue.


Gus had it all figured out, the new school cues with cnc sure do look pretty but they still dont play as good as a Gus or Barry and Mr. Cantando(I have only played with one) and it hits better than 50% of the Szams I have played with. Gus had to have showed Mr Cantando the secret sauce recipie back in the day.
 
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