Black Boar collector or player cue?
- Thread starter egon
- Start date
BB is defently a Player Cue same as Vollmer Cues.
They play much better as a Scruggs, more livley(not miss understood,Scruggs is a good Player too)
Hope this helps,
Ralf
They play much better as a Scruggs, more livley(not miss understood,Scruggs is a good Player too)
Hope this helps,
Ralf
Defenitly a real Player and a great one too. But if you take one with 500 Ivory-Inlays you may need a bodyguard when you go to the poolhall. Better use a simple one... ;-)
Wow - that is a very loaded and subjective question.
It really depends on your stroke, the balance of the cue, type of joint, wood composition, and so much more.
Now here is my opinion and a possible analogy (for whatever it is worth)...
Cues are meant to deliver a cue ball in a very straight line, upon impact to either continue on a straight line (follow, stop or draw), to take off on a tangent with no spin, and to take off on that tangent with some spin.
So now for the analogy:
I will use automobiles to maybe describe my feelings…
I have found Tascarellas to be solid players built on a strong frame much like a touring sedan… Solid, consistent with a very firm feeling to them!
The Scruggs and Cochrans are also very solid but have a bit more feel in the suspension where the curves can be taken more aggressively or in cue terms more action on the rock.
The Black Boar and Vollmers are bit more lively since maple is more part of the construction (hard woods added for weight and balance) much like a very responsive sports car on corners. Great performance, lively feel and great control of the rock.
Now the ultimate is when you can have the best of both a solid hit on straight shots (much like a touring sedan) with some lively feel when you need to put action on the rock (much like taking a turn with a vehicle) and for my stroke nothing beats a Half Joint Searing (I understand the Ivory over SS by Searing is even better – hope to test that one day since this joint is very limited in production).
So for an investment, you cannot go wrong with any of the cues you mentioned and you have to evaluate your stroke and game style to figure out which way you want to invest your money. You either buy a player or a closet queen (have more closet queens right now and still searching for players).
As a peak, here is my Cue Collection (picture taken in 2009 and some are gone including the BB but the half joint SS Searing is my daily player).
Again, the above is an opinion from what I found for my stroke.
Other opinions and inputs to the OP are expected.
Myron
It really depends on your stroke, the balance of the cue, type of joint, wood composition, and so much more.
Now here is my opinion and a possible analogy (for whatever it is worth)...
Cues are meant to deliver a cue ball in a very straight line, upon impact to either continue on a straight line (follow, stop or draw), to take off on a tangent with no spin, and to take off on that tangent with some spin.
So now for the analogy:
I will use automobiles to maybe describe my feelings…
I have found Tascarellas to be solid players built on a strong frame much like a touring sedan… Solid, consistent with a very firm feeling to them!
The Scruggs and Cochrans are also very solid but have a bit more feel in the suspension where the curves can be taken more aggressively or in cue terms more action on the rock.
The Black Boar and Vollmers are bit more lively since maple is more part of the construction (hard woods added for weight and balance) much like a very responsive sports car on corners. Great performance, lively feel and great control of the rock.
Now the ultimate is when you can have the best of both a solid hit on straight shots (much like a touring sedan) with some lively feel when you need to put action on the rock (much like taking a turn with a vehicle) and for my stroke nothing beats a Half Joint Searing (I understand the Ivory over SS by Searing is even better – hope to test that one day since this joint is very limited in production).
So for an investment, you cannot go wrong with any of the cues you mentioned and you have to evaluate your stroke and game style to figure out which way you want to invest your money. You either buy a player or a closet queen (have more closet queens right now and still searching for players).
As a peak, here is my Cue Collection (picture taken in 2009 and some are gone including the BB but the half joint SS Searing is my daily player).
Again, the above is an opinion from what I found for my stroke.
Other opinions and inputs to the OP are expected.
Myron
BB and Vollmers are the SAME
Dean, Tony was Michaels Teacher and they build the same way and helped out with the best Wood .If Michael have nice Shaftwood he send it to Tony and Tony does the same Way, that says all:wink:
Ralf
Dean, Tony was Michaels Teacher and they build the same way and helped out with the best Wood .If Michael have nice Shaftwood he send it to Tony and Tony does the same Way, that says all:wink:
Ralf
Dean, it is same as with Tim Srcuggs and Mike Cochran, they plays same way.
Mike have learned from him.
Mottey and James White is the same too:grin:
Ralf
Mike have learned from him.
Mottey and James White is the same too:grin:
Ralf
Dean
The BB cues are very well known in the US while the Vollmer cue is more popular in Europe and more accessible. As Ralf mentioned, Michael spent some time with Tony in his shop learning as much as he could from Tony with regard to his construction techniques. When Michael went on his own in 1993, he continued with what he learned in the tradition of BB cues modifying some things to meet the demands of European players (thinner butts, thinner shafts, etc.). Today, both Tony and Michael continue to talk, share some ideas, share wood (hard rock maple in the USA is better).
This past year, Tony had Michael in his shop and both were at VF together as they continue to share ideas. Tony is an amazing designer and I consider Michael not that far behind him.
Again, I was providing my opinion and consider the two cues very close when it comes to play but that is only when a Vollmer butt is mated with one of his 13mm shafts as the skinny shafts do play differently. Both are very collectable. Have a look at a few cues Michael Vollmer Gallery to see where there are some very distinct similarities.
Thanks,
Myron
My favorite player is my BB RS3 with ferrule-less shafts. Just an amazing cue. It's like an old hot rod with modern components. The car analogy is good...you just don't know what it's like to drive a Porsche until you drive it, then you have to drive it hard to see what it can do. BB is definitely a player.
What a loaded question. I don't think there ever was a custom cue that fit the buyer perfectly. Every cue has to be fine tuned, wether it be weight, type of tip, shaft taper, etc. I have played in my 83 years just about every cue imaginable and realize what plays well for me. I had probably 4 Scruggs cues and all played well but the last one, which had a radial pin with steel jacket, all others had 5/16x14 joints. Every body wants the big pins,3/8x10, radial, 3/8x11 all stiff hitting. Did anybody notice that the best cuemakers,Tascarrella, Hercik, Back Boar, Szamboti, Balabushka, Searing and so on use 5/16x14 joints. Which give a moderate hit with feel and response which leads to control and finesse of the cue ball. Well that works for me and at 83 years old I can still run quite a few balls in straight pool and hold my own in other games. The game of pool is skill and tempo and not slamming balls into the pocket. Again this is my opinion, Larry
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Thank you Sir for still playing the game at 83 and sharing your thoughts with us!!!
What an inspiration!!!
In respect,
Petros
What an inspiration!!!
In respect,
Petros
I believe this to be the wrong place for this discussion.
The main forum or the review section might be more appropriate.
Thanks
Lee
The main forum or the review section might be more appropriate.
Thanks
Lee
Hey Myron,thats a nice Post:thumbup:
The forum is all about information and I have learned so much from the many contributors. I am fortunate to provide some information when possible and at times wish I had more exposure to other cues.
There are many good cue makers out there that you have provided some insight. I do read very many of your threads and yes you do know what you are talking about. I am fortunate to have owned a few cue including Tasc, Scruggs, Black Boars (4-Pointer and 6-Pointer), Searings and Vollmer. All are great and maybe not for everyone.
Please continue to provide those thought provoking questions and we will all be brought up to speed on trends in the billiard industry.
I have included a picture to show you Vollmer at his best with his 15 year anniversary cue. The work is familiar to you I am sure but Tony is still the master and Michael is still the student and at times the rolls may reverse when sharing information. And yes both are very collectable cues.
Myron
