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confused about szamboti's
- Thread starter duke@neo.rr.com
- Start date
I would say if Barrys cues are any better, it would be in areas such as adhesives used etc. I personally think that wood, especially shaft wood used to be alot better than the stuff being used the last 10 years or so. I dont know how much of a supply Gus left behind, but its got to be close to being gone if not gone already. Newer wood is softer, its newer growth. I used to have older Joss's etc that you almost couldnt dent the shaft wood without doing something stupid. A new shaft nowadays you can put marks in the grain with your fingernail.
Chuck
Chuck
I'm sure they both made/make excelent cues. I've played with a Boti, and it hit sweet but there's really nothing supernatural about them. The fact no more "Gus's" will be made drives the price, and it goes from a pool cue to a collectors item. Theres any number of cue makers that could replicate a boti, and already do......for a quarter of the price.
Gerry
Gerry
Both Gus and Barry Szamboti Cues
Jeff and Forum Readers,
I have a cue made for me by Gus and a cue made for me by Barry, of which I will always charish and own.
The two cues were made to my specifications; same weight, same diameter of shafts, same balance points, both SS joints, both four pointers (in fact, both have the same color veneers in the points). The only difference in each of these cues are the ivory designs. Barry's cue has almost 90 ivory inlay's and Gus's has a mere 57 ivory inlays.
The Gus was built for me in April of 1986, while the Barry cue was built in October of 2002.
When I recieved Barry's cue, I felt it played better than his dad's cue and I told Barry this. I can put a little more action on the cue ball, however I told Barry to build the cue this way and he did. I believe he used some of his father's shaft wood for this very special cue. (It is very similar to his father's last cue except it's a 4 pointer).
I played with Barry's cue for many years. Then I went back and played with Gus's cue. Strangely, then I felt Gus's cue played better.
The two cues made over sixteen years apart are so close together in playability, it is really hard for me to say. Quite possibly in my mind only, I feel the best playing cue is the one that I have in my hands, at that time.
These are the highest compliments I can give to both Barry and his father Gus. Gus transferred all of his knowledge and secrets of making one of the best playing cues, to his son. And Barry has met or exceeded his father's cue making abilities.
Best Regards,
Hal
Jeff and Forum Readers,
I have a cue made for me by Gus and a cue made for me by Barry, of which I will always charish and own.
The two cues were made to my specifications; same weight, same diameter of shafts, same balance points, both SS joints, both four pointers (in fact, both have the same color veneers in the points). The only difference in each of these cues are the ivory designs. Barry's cue has almost 90 ivory inlay's and Gus's has a mere 57 ivory inlays.
The Gus was built for me in April of 1986, while the Barry cue was built in October of 2002.
When I recieved Barry's cue, I felt it played better than his dad's cue and I told Barry this. I can put a little more action on the cue ball, however I told Barry to build the cue this way and he did. I believe he used some of his father's shaft wood for this very special cue. (It is very similar to his father's last cue except it's a 4 pointer).
I played with Barry's cue for many years. Then I went back and played with Gus's cue. Strangely, then I felt Gus's cue played better.
The two cues made over sixteen years apart are so close together in playability, it is really hard for me to say. Quite possibly in my mind only, I feel the best playing cue is the one that I have in my hands, at that time.
These are the highest compliments I can give to both Barry and his father Gus. Gus transferred all of his knowledge and secrets of making one of the best playing cues, to his son. And Barry has met or exceeded his father's cue making abilities.
Best Regards,
Hal
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duke@neo.rr.com said:
Hi Jeff,
Don't be confused....
A comparison between Gus and Barry has been thrown around for a long time..
Gus, being one of the greatest cue makers of all time, leaves a legacy of making some of the best constructed and designed cues of our generation. The playablity of his cues are second to none.
This passion and drive has also been adopted by Barry... In my opinion there is no one who puts more heart and soul into a cue then Barry.. The dedication to detail has brought Barry into the elite class with his father..
Any comparision between these two incredible cue makers would be a compliment to each other..
To answer your question now.. Who's Better?
I'll buy which ever one you decide isn't....
Best,
Ken Kerner
www.highendcues.com
Barry has taken his fathers knowledge, learned more and continued the "era" producing Szamboti cues. imo his attention to design is comparable to his fathers but his attention to detail has risen to a different level. he, with no doubt, makes an all around better cue than his dad imo. i had a cue made by his dad and it burned up in a car fire. it played great and i miss it. i didn't think i would ever get to own another "Szamboti" because of Gus's passing and years later a misunderstanding with his son but i was able to let go one of my Tasca gems to an az member and with the help of another member able to put one back in my hands made by Barry. the cue has that classic Boti' ping and performs just as nice if not nicer than the one i had that his father made. i would have loved that Barry's father would have not passed so soon out of selfish reasons due to he agreed to make the same cue again at a discount but i'm happy to get another piece of their work done by someone who to me obviously deserves to continue the tradition to strive for excellence.
i met barry once.. he to me seems like one the greatest guys i ever met.. remembers my name..probably to this day! i would kill for one of his cues.. especially one that would be made for me.. i would love to buy one that is already on the market.. but its just not the same.. and now that he isnt taking orders.. having one made specific for me is probably never going to happen.. thats life i guess.. chris
Those are some very nice looking cues.Hal2 said:
Glad to see a picture of such a nice set.
Thanks for posting the picture.
RiverCity said:
This could not be said any better and IMHAZBO is 100% accurate. I know that Barry throws away probably 90% of the shaft wood he buys because it is deemed "Not good enough" The pride in the construction that he uses and that has been passed down to him is truly inspiring.
Knowing Barry and having been to his house a few times, I will agree that he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He is a pleasure to talk to and I always look forward to a trip to his shop because I know it will be a great time and great conversation. I never had the pleasure of meeting Gus but knowing quite a few people that did know him spoke extremely highly of his approachability and his character.
My experience between the two is, as the others have said, The cues will play extremely similar as the construction is basicly the same as it was with his Dad's. They were/are both very talented machinest which is the reason the cues are constructed the way they are. Gus used to cut his own joint pins because the ones that were made at the time had horrible tolerances so he made his own. That is talent and dedication in my opinion.
Gus's cue bring more money because they are like Real Estate, There isn't any more being made. If I had my choice between a Gus or a Barry it would be to have a cue made by Barry. The reason is simple, Because the Cue would be made for me by Barry and knowing it was made for me and knowing the person who made it is the most important reason to me.
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gnaroz said:
Gus loved pool and loved coming to the tournaments to see the top players. He was proud that so many of them played with his cues. Everyone liked Gus to. I never heard a bad word about him. I can still remember him standing off to the side at Resorts in Atlantic City and one player after another stopped to say hello and chat with him.
I was directing the tournament with Pat Fleming and I asked Gus if he'd like to sit up on the podium and watch from up there. He said no thanks, he'd rather visit with everyone. Gus was a people person. Something else I liked about Gus. He never bragged about how good his cues were or that they were better than anyone elses. The closest he came was to list the names of the players shooting with them. That he was proud of.
I was lucky enough to meet Barry at this year's Valley Forge show and can't agree more that he is one of the most engaging and sincere people I have ever met. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience; and totally the opposite of some other people exhibiting there.
I have a question and some theories to bounce off of the responders on this thread - Jay's post really set it off in my mind. . . . .
Why don't more of today's pros use Szamboti's? Rodney Morris is the only one I have heard of who uses one of Barry's cues. Is it because the price (especially for one of Gus') has pushed them beyond everyday ownership or use? Have all the collectors bought them up? Do they feel that the new technology (to counteract deflection, swerve, etc.) helps them play better?
Thanks for any thoughts or insight.
I have a question and some theories to bounce off of the responders on this thread - Jay's post really set it off in my mind. . . . .
Why don't more of today's pros use Szamboti's? Rodney Morris is the only one I have heard of who uses one of Barry's cues. Is it because the price (especially for one of Gus') has pushed them beyond everyday ownership or use? Have all the collectors bought them up? Do they feel that the new technology (to counteract deflection, swerve, etc.) helps them play better?
Thanks for any thoughts or insight.
ScottR said:
when a player plays a match he can't have any distractions. he can't worry about scraping the cue on the rail, putting dings in the finnish and even watching it every minute to make sure it's not stolen. playing with cues that have become non replaceable is too much distraction. the cues play great but why take the risk when you can get a cue made by a maker today that plays as good for you, look beautifull and not have the worry of course untill their ( the makers ) cues start to become collectors items themselves. you can still pull the cue out and play with it every once and a while but they don't want to subject themselves to possible damage or loss.
MY Szamboti
If enough people are interested i'll tell the story about Keith and my Szamboti, that he used to win the B.C. Open and 25K in 1984. He lost that cue and it came back to me. But it's a long story. Jam would probably enjoy it too.
If enough people are interested i'll tell the story about Keith and my Szamboti, that he used to win the B.C. Open and 25K in 1984. He lost that cue and it came back to me. But it's a long story. Jam would probably enjoy it too.
ScottR said:
Most of the pros could play with a Tree branch and still play close to the same level. Like most other sports my guess would be they get paid to play with a Cuetec, Viking, Predator, etc. I would bet they are have work done to them as well. Skins is right on as well, They don't need to keep an eye on their equipment they just need to worry about the playing.
Meeting and playing with Rodney years ago he definately could play with anything but he chooses one of Barry's cues. I Think this is his second one I believe, but I could be worng about that. If you really want to see Rodney in action you should see him eat Cheesesteaks. We went to Pat's in Philly one time and he had 2 finished before I was even half done with one.
ScottR said:
Hi Scott,
My understanding is he doesn't make enough cues to pass around, and what few he does make each year go to filling orders made a decade ago. His cues are worth about twice as much as he charges. Getting one in a pro hands would be one trick, keeping it there another.
I terms of comparing a Barry to a Gus, it would be fun to have Barry explain that. I view them as the same.
Chris
Story Please
Jay,
I would love to hear your story of Gus Szamboti.
I too have a story to share with everyone:
The first time I met Gus, it was at his house in April of 1986. He had invited me to his home to pick up the cue he made for me. We both went downstairs to his basement where his shop was. In the basement/shop Gus handed me my new cue. My wedding ring hit the side of the shinny shaft and it made a slight 'kling.' We both looked at each other in silence, finally Gus said "Well Hal you may want to take off your ring when you handle this cue."
About that time, his wife Betty called him upstairs. But before Gus went upstairs he told me to look around his shop, and at his cues. He said he would be back in a while.
Gus left me alone in his shop for more than a while, it was probably over an hour. During that period I got a chance to see many of his cues in various stages of construction. I read many letters on his table from people all over the county with their requested cue designs. When Gus returned he noticed I had removed wedding ring and he just smiled.
I can not agree more with others, Gus was a people-person. He was a very proud cue maker and a proud father. He knew who he could trust. And I firmly believe he trusted everyone until a point in time that a person proved he could not be trusted. That was Gus, my friend.
Best Regards,
Hal
Jay,
I would love to hear your story of Gus Szamboti.
I too have a story to share with everyone:
The first time I met Gus, it was at his house in April of 1986. He had invited me to his home to pick up the cue he made for me. We both went downstairs to his basement where his shop was. In the basement/shop Gus handed me my new cue. My wedding ring hit the side of the shinny shaft and it made a slight 'kling.' We both looked at each other in silence, finally Gus said "Well Hal you may want to take off your ring when you handle this cue."
About that time, his wife Betty called him upstairs. But before Gus went upstairs he told me to look around his shop, and at his cues. He said he would be back in a while.
Gus left me alone in his shop for more than a while, it was probably over an hour. During that period I got a chance to see many of his cues in various stages of construction. I read many letters on his table from people all over the county with their requested cue designs. When Gus returned he noticed I had removed wedding ring and he just smiled.
I can not agree more with others, Gus was a people-person. He was a very proud cue maker and a proud father. He knew who he could trust. And I firmly believe he trusted everyone until a point in time that a person proved he could not be trusted. That was Gus, my friend.
Best Regards,
Hal
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