F
Fred Agnir
Guest
blud said:
Since the question was asking for "opinions," then it's as fair as any question.
Fred
best cuemakers
- Thread starter Rick
- Start date
Since the question was asking for "opinions," then it's as fair as any question.
Fred
drivermaker
Banned
Fred Agnir said:
Fred, I happen to know that you're one of the people in the know, but doesn't post here too often. I was pretty much referring to the non-cuemakers on this forum.
F
Fred Agnir
Guest
drivermaker said:
Fair enough.
Fred <~~~ not a cuemaker
Man, this is a touchy subject. MY favorite is Scruggs. Just because that what I grew up with and what im used to. I always enjoy meeting cuemakers and ussually wish I had the spare cash to buy something from everyone of them because I know most pour there hearts and soul into it. Thats why I would hate to make a top ten list of best cue makers. It woulod probably end up being more like a most popular list. Thats just me.
Another question for the cuemakers though. I wonder if they would prefer to sell an more expensive cue to a guy who will just pack it up and hold it as a collecter. Or a plainer cue that someone is go to play and learn with for many years?
Another question for the cuemakers though. I wonder if they would prefer to sell an more expensive cue to a guy who will just pack it up and hold it as a collecter. Or a plainer cue that someone is go to play and learn with for many years?
Last edited:
drivermaker said:
I think you are underestimating the knowledge of alot of the non-cuemaking members of the board. DPK actually used to work with Franklin if I am not mistaken and is a large factor in how good SW cues hit to this day. He is not exactly a unknown cue maker and is linked to one of the most well known custom cues in the game today.
PS: Blud, you need to lighten up man. People are totally within their rights to discuss what cue makers they like the best and why. You have always taken a extremely defensive stance when it comes to threads such as this and seem to think that when it comes to cue buying a consumer should be "in the dark" and not be enlightened by past peoples experiences. It only looks bad on you when you respond like you did on this thread.
Last edited:
drivermaker
Banned
Celtic said:
You're probably right...I don't know about "alot", but I retract my statement.
F
Fred Agnir
Guest
There is an article on South West Cues in the September '04 Issue of Inside Pool Magazine that touches on Kersh.Celtic said:
I hear it's a decent article ;-)
Fred
maximillion said:
Would love to see cuemakers answering this question. =)
maximillion said:
I love making cues that people play with, there is great satisfaction in making a player happy with a cue.
There is also great satisfaction in making something beautiful enough that someone feels they don't want to subject it to everyday use.
I'm still relatively new to cuemaking, but have made a few that are "put away". I think that will probably increase as time goes by, but I definitely focus on making cues that are for playing, not collecting.
Alot of us cuemakers were influenced by David Kersenbrock. Any of us that are using the table saw tapering machine can thank him for that. He is the one that originally convinced me that I should add a taper bar to my Cue Smith lathe. That decision alone doubled my income. He was the one who made sealing the pores with five minute epoxy using a card to apply it while spinning on a lathe popular. Also one of the earlier ones to use live tooling to install joints. His book has helped many with small tid bits that have helped greatly. So I have no problem what so ever with having him on my top ten list. He built $25,000 cues with a manual pantograph without a wood or metal pattern. He would use his pantograph to trace by hand over his drawing on paper using magnification lenses. Try that sometime if you don't think that takes talent. His work with Omega in the 80's was far ahead of the rest of the field for manual pantograph work. See the Lady cue if you don't think so. I made my top ten list basically based on who I feel is top in certain aspects. If we take CNC out of the equation I think I would rate David #1 on my list. But maybe I am partial because of his advice that doubled my income. 
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
The reason why I never did list down a top ten because of the the criteria used, if there is any. It usually is just based on popularity/personal opinion but there's nothing wrong with that. I've always considered a solidly built, cleanly made cue as a must for a cuemaker to be considered a cuemaker and whatever innovation that he adds to its construction or design that influences other craftsmen is what sets him apart or takes him to the frontline of the craft.
I have some idea who and I may need some input on these too.
1. Burton Spain and Gus Szamboti- for the v-splice and the most notable descendants are: Craig Peterson, Pete Tascarella, Barry Szamboti. I'd think that Murray Tucker, Sheldon LeBow, Mike Webb, Bryan Mordt and *.... fall under this
2. Harvey Martin- straight forward, solid playing cue and the notable descendant to me is Zyler Cues, *......
3. David Paul Kersenbrock - compound taper and cuemaking machinery and methods. Notable followers are Jerry Franklin, Mike Bender, Ed Young, up&coming Pete Omen, *......
4. Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)- Improvements in cuemaking machinery, leather wrap, silverwork and design, flat-bottomed traditional looking points. *....
5. Bill Schick- Scrimshaw and design innovation. *....
6. Joe Gold- G10 pin CNC design innovation. Notables would be McWorter, Mottey, Jacoby, Bludworth (also in machinery) *....
7. Thomas Wayne/Bill Stroud- for their amazing talent with the use of 4-axis CNC. I think Tony Scianelli and Dan/Jeff Prather falls under this, *....
8. Tad Kohara/Samsara - Design contribution, possibly Joel Hercek, Ed Pruitt, Manzanillo falls under this *....
9. And of course Edwin Reyes. If I didn't believe that I've been working on improving the engineering side and design side then I don't have a reason to be in this craft. So for blending current structural precision with handcrafted design innovations.
10.
Just help me out with all the *.... and give your opinion as above is just my opinion coming from the stated viewpoint. You can add your favorites or contradict under the stated reasons for why I picked the above. Thanks for the help.
I have some idea who and I may need some input on these too.
1. Burton Spain and Gus Szamboti- for the v-splice and the most notable descendants are: Craig Peterson, Pete Tascarella, Barry Szamboti. I'd think that Murray Tucker, Sheldon LeBow, Mike Webb, Bryan Mordt and *.... fall under this
2. Harvey Martin- straight forward, solid playing cue and the notable descendant to me is Zyler Cues, *......
3. David Paul Kersenbrock - compound taper and cuemaking machinery and methods. Notable followers are Jerry Franklin, Mike Bender, Ed Young, up&coming Pete Omen, *......
4. Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)- Improvements in cuemaking machinery, leather wrap, silverwork and design, flat-bottomed traditional looking points. *....
5. Bill Schick- Scrimshaw and design innovation. *....
6. Joe Gold- G10 pin CNC design innovation. Notables would be McWorter, Mottey, Jacoby, Bludworth (also in machinery) *....
7. Thomas Wayne/Bill Stroud- for their amazing talent with the use of 4-axis CNC. I think Tony Scianelli and Dan/Jeff Prather falls under this, *....
8. Tad Kohara/Samsara - Design contribution, possibly Joel Hercek, Ed Pruitt, Manzanillo falls under this *....
9. And of course Edwin Reyes. If I didn't believe that I've been working on improving the engineering side and design side then I don't have a reason to be in this craft. So for blending current structural precision with handcrafted design innovations.
10.
Just help me out with all the *.... and give your opinion as above is just my opinion coming from the stated viewpoint. You can add your favorites or contradict under the stated reasons for why I picked the above. Thanks for the help.
Hmmm, a speed reader. You could've gone line for line and added your input and/or contradiction. Maybe you can add something beneficial to all instead of being a ......Nomoney said:
Rambo, George Brittner and Balabushka are the ones who started custom cuemaking and its current basic form in America instead of importing these custom cues from Europe.
Caution: Increase in posts from "other screen names" with low number of posts anticipated. "Quote" with care. Posters with less than 30 posts credited to them, unless recognized in the industry like Fred Agnir, and no intelligent explanation for their posts to share with everybody here can just be considered as ...hehe, choose your favorite adjective.
Last edited:
bandido said:Hmmm, a speed reader. You could've gone line for line and added your input and/or contradiction. Maybe you can add something beneficial to all instead of being a ......
Rambo, George Brittner and Balabushka are the ones who started custom cuemaking and its current basic form in America instead of importing these custom cues from Europe.
Caution: Increase in posts from "other screen names" with low number of posts anticipated. "Quote" with care. Posters with less than 30 posts credited to them, unless recognized in the industry like Fred Agnir, and no intelligent explanation for their posts to share with everybody here can just be considered as ...hehe, choose your favorite adjective.
drivermaker
Banned
I don't know about achieving a top 10 because opinions do vary, however, here are the names that pop up on EVERYONE'S list at some point, so I guess we can say there's a consensus on a top 5:
Bill Schick
David Kersenbrock
Ernie Gutierrez
Joe Gold
Joel Hercek
Here are some sites for samples of their work:
www.wuscues.com/BSch/Bsch.htm
www.billschickoriginals.net
www.wuscues.com/DPK/DPK.htm
www.wuscues.com/Ginacue/ginacue.htm
www.wuscues.com/Joel Hercek/j_hercek.htm
www.hercek.com
Have fun.....
Bill Schick
David Kersenbrock
Ernie Gutierrez
Joe Gold
Joel Hercek
Here are some sites for samples of their work:
www.wuscues.com/BSch/Bsch.htm
www.billschickoriginals.net
www.wuscues.com/DPK/DPK.htm
www.wuscues.com/Ginacue/ginacue.htm
www.wuscues.com/Joel Hercek/j_hercek.htm
www.hercek.com
Have fun.....
Last edited: