Buying a Brunswick Gold Crown III

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randerson

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I've been lurking on this site for some time. It seems like you guys have some great insight on tables. I am in the process of buying a used 9 foot, drop pocket, Gold Crown III. The table is about 15 years old and will come recovered with Velocity Pro Cloth. The table is in great condition. With delivery and installation included, I am looking at about $2200. I am located in the DC/Metro region. I've been looking for a table for about 3 months and this seems like a fair deal, but I wanted to get some opinions first. What do you guys think?
 
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I think that is a decent deal with cloth and delivery. I would insist on Simonis though.
 
You could probaly get one cheaper, maybe $1,500 for just the table (or so). If it is in like new condition it is worth what you are paying with all that you are getting.

Make sure your room is about 16 By 19 or so. The width and length of the table plus ten feet (five on a side for the cue sticks is minimum.)

Check to make sure the installers are experienced. There is more to it than just assembly and it will take two or three passes over a month to get it level, after everything adjusts.

Search the forum here for making your own lights and ball cleaner, etc.

Welcome to the club. I have had a GC III for 20 years and I love it. Plays as well today as when I bought it new.

I agree, if you can get 860 Simonis (even with the old rails) it is worth kicking in the extra $50.00 or so as an "upgrade." Probably want Super Aramith balls too.

Simonis sell for about $150- 200 for a 9 footer. Super Arimith balls sell for $125.00 -$150.
 
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Simonis for sure.

Avg used price 1200-1500. Simonis plus moving plus installation 600-800. Sounds like a fair deal if done properly.
 
JoeW said:
You could probaly get one cheaper, maybe $1,500 for just the table (or so). If it is in like new condition it is worth what you are paying with all that you are getting.

Make sure your room is about 16 By 19 or so. The width and length of the table plus ten feet (five on a side for the cue sticks is minimum.)

Check to make sure the installers are experienced. There is more to it than just assembly and it will take two or three passes over a month to get it level, after everything adjusts.

Search the forum here for making your own lights and ball cleaner, etc.

Welcome to the club. I have had a GC III for 20 years and I love it. Plays as well today as when I bought it new.

I agree, if you can get 860 Simonis (even with the old rails) it is worth kicking in the extra $50.00 or so as an "upgrade." Probably want Super Aramith balls too.

Simonis sell for about $125- 150 for a 9 footer. Super Arimith balls sell for $125.00 or so.
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Simonis is 251.00 at poolfelt.com
 
Cloth, balls, etc can be had for various prices if you know where to go. If you get into that check back on the forum for referrals to several trustworthy places. Usually you get these in PMs from various people here on the forum as they do not want to publically knock anyone's business.

You can make the second and third adjustmets to get it level yourself. The base of the table legs spin for height adjustments. I use a hydraulic bottle nose jack on a cinder block and a couple of pieces of wood. The key is getting it right across the whole table the first time and then making minor adjustments later.
 
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randerson said:
I've been lurking on this site for some time. It seems like you guys have some great insight on tables. I am in the process of buying a used 9 foot, drop pocket, Gold Crown III. The table is about 15 years old and will come recovered with Velocity Pro Cloth. The table is in great condition. With delivery and installation included, I am looking at about $2200. I am located in the DC/Metro region. I've been looking for a table for about 3 months and this seems like a fair deal, but I wanted to get some opinions first. What do you guys think?
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$2200 is on the high side IMO. You might do well to shop around more.
The table is probably worth between a thou and fifteen depending on condition.
If you could post some pics in the Mechanics section some of the guys that work on GC's all the time could comment.
9' Velocity at retail is $139. That puts delivery/install at around $600 which sounds a bit high if this is a local deal.
Is this a private or dealer sale?
 
Wow, thanks for the input. Just got some information this morning about the table. Apparently, this "great" condition table is not as great in person as the picture online. I would rate it cosmetically about a 5 out of 10. But, structurally it's sound. I'm thinking that the costs to refinish the rails and finish on the table will kick the cost up above what should be considered reasonable. I guess I will continue to scour the local market in hopes of finding something. BTW, it was from a private dealer. I don't know if anyone is in the DC/metro region, but if you know of any tables for sale that haven't been listed on any dealer websites, ebay, craigslist, etc., please let me know.
 
Be sure to check all the Craigs list in your state. I bought a 1996 model about 5 months ago and love it. But I check every city within a 150 miles. $2000 delivered and installed is not a bad price I though. Just get something that is what you want. Maybe a table that has always been a home table is what you want. Tom
 
JoeW said:
You could probaly get one cheaper, maybe $1,500 for just the table (or so). If it is in like new condition it is worth what you are paying with all that you are getting.

Make sure your room is about 16 By 19 or so. The width and length of the table plus ten feet (five on a side for the cue sticks is minimum.)

Check to make sure the installers are experienced. There is more to it than just assembly and it will take two or three passes over a month to get it level, after everything adjusts.

Search the forum here for making your own lights and ball cleaner, etc.

Welcome to the club. I have had a GC III for 20 years and I love it. Plays as well today as when I bought it new.

I agree, if you can get 860 Simonis (even with the old rails) it is worth kicking in the extra $50.00 or so as an "upgrade." Probably want Super Aramith balls too.

Simonis sell for about $150- 200 for a 9 footer. Super Arimith balls sell for $125.00 -$150.
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I wanted to post a response to this comment. I have done exhaustive research on the room size necessary for a nine foot table. Based on everything I ready, my room should be fine. The table would go in my finished basement. It is 14 feet wide by the length of my house long. I might have to use a short stick if shooting for a middle pocket from the other middle pocket, but, other than that, I should be fine. Is my research wrong? Do you really need five feet on each side?
 
randerson said:
I wanted to post a response to this comment. I have done exhaustive research on the room size necessary for a nine foot table. Based on everything I ready, my room should be fine. The table would go in my finished basement. It is 14 feet wide by the length of my house long. I might have to use a short stick if shooting for a middle pocket from the other middle pocket, but, other than that, I should be fine. Is my research wrong? Do you really need five feet on each side?
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Here is my math on width...

playing surface is 50, cues are 58, frozen rail backswing is only around 4 inches.

50 +58 +58 +4 +4 = 174. 174/12 = 14.5. I think you can get away with 14' 6" and never touch a wall. With that being said, if my only option was a 14' room I would still absolutely get a 9ft. The walls will get in the way <5% of the time and my quality of life would be horrible without a 9ft in my basement. haha
 
xianmacx said:
Here is my math on width...

playing surface is 50, cues are 58, frozen rail backswing is only around 4 inches.

50 +58 +58 +4 +4 = 174. 174/12 = 14.5. I think you can get away with 14' 6" and never touch a wall. With that being said, if my only option was a 14' room I would still absolutely get a 9ft. The walls will get in the way <5% of the time and my quality of life would be horrible without a 9ft in my basement. haha
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I appreciate the information. I really had my heart set on a 9 foot table too. That eases my concerns.
 
I would dearly like to have a 9 ft. table.

However, I just don't have the room. My table is an oversize 8 ft. and I still need a short cue for 90 degree shots off the long rails. If you have a problem in this respect just make sure that your short cue is as good quality as your normal cue.

Outside my home I play on 9 footers and it really is not much different.

Dave Nelson
 
randerson said:
Do you really need five feet on each side?
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I always recommend 5' minimum on each side, but you can get by with slightly less than that without needing a short cue. Playing surface on a 9 footer is 50" X 100", so there you have 4' 2", and if your cue is 58" you're looking at 13' 10", which only leaves 1" per side for stroking with a level cue. You will almost certainly need a short cue for some shots, but most of the time you will be able to shoot uninhibited. I like to be able to take a step back from the table to get a better look at kick shots sometimes, and I think my room, which is about 17' wide, is just at the minimum for that.

I would suggest that you include Gold Crown II's in your search as well. As with all things, opinions vary, but I have heard many people say that the GCII was actually a better table than the GCIII. I have played on both many times, and I think they are both fine tables, but I personally wouldn't trade my slightly-worn GCII for a perfect GCIII. I have heard of people picking up GCII's and III's for as little as $1k, but you'd have to be pretty lucky to find one in your area for that price that was in decent shape. I paid $1400 for my GCII with fairly new 860, a set of centennials, and a 4-bulb light, and I felt like I got a good deal. I had to pay $550 for delivery and setup, though, since the table was about 100 miles away.

Edit: Oh, and once you get your GC, do a search on the forum for realkingcobra. He has done some amazing work on Gold Crowns, changing out the cushions, snugging up the pockets, etc., and you may decide you want him to do some work on yours.

Good luck,
Aaron
 
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randerson said:
I wanted to post a response to this comment. I have done exhaustive research on the room size necessary for a nine foot table. Based on everything I ready, my room should be fine. The table would go in my finished basement. It is 14 feet wide by the length of my house long. I might have to use a short stick if shooting for a middle pocket from the other middle pocket, but, other than that, I should be fine. Is my research wrong? Do you really need five feet on each side?
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Pick up a 48" shorty cue and you'll be fine for those side to side shots where the cue is froze to the rail if jacking your regular cue doesn't work.

On the table - I'd suggest you start a thread in the Mechanics section. Something along the lines of Looking to buy a GC.
There are several guys in your vicinity that may have a lead on a table or at least can be on the lookout for one.
 
Dartman said:
Pick up a 48" shorty cue and you'll be fine for those side to side shots where the cue is froze to the rail if jacking your regular cue doesn't work.

On the table - I'd suggest you start a thread in the Mechanics section. Something along the lines of Looking to buy a GC.
There are several guys in your vicinity that may have a lead on a table or at least can be on the lookout for one.
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I will do that. Thanks for the tip Dartman.
 
I have the same problem on the side rails of my table. The walls are just a few inches too close. Its helped me on jacked up shots a LOT though.
 
Here's my 2 cents and some facts

In the Upstate NY in 1998 GCIII with runners cost $3300 if you were a Brunswick dealer, Came with Brunswick cloth. Every 10 tables ordered got you 1 free. The dealer (a friend) put 860HR on all of them.

I own one, purchased after the pool hall of the above guy closed.

Paid $2200 installed in my basement, with slightly used 860HR. I got 1 set of Centenial balls by Brunswick, rack and 2 bridge sticks.

My room uses the formula of 50" x 100" playing surface + 58" cue + 6" stroke. But I have more length in the room.

I moved a pole. Search my name and moving basement pole. I've told the tale dozens of times here and rec.sport.billiards

I recovered in 2005. Picture shown in the attached link taken in 2000.

I love the table. Have had one problem, dead rail in 1999. Brunswick sent me the entire rail set at NC. I told them I bought table new.

They are easily scratched and dented, the corner castings and feet discolor. Some have pocket liners that leave a mark on cues, mine don't because they were changed at one time by Brunswick.

Most pros love GC's. Regardless of whether it a 1,2,3,4 or 5. It's a Brunswick and they are well made. People knock the quality. I disagree having moved it once and I spent 37 years in manufacturing, I know junk from quality.

My favorite table is the Brunswick Anniversary with runners.


Link to pictures
http://sports.webshots.com/album/199940479ONGPtC

Paul Mon
 
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