Conversion Cues by Unknown Makers
- Thread starter Ascue
- Start date
I have and will if I like the cue.
they arent for nits
billiards_watch
Well-known member
As long as they are balanced and hit well.
I've shot many put together by hobbyists and some are a hit and some are a miss. The ones that are good means they are playable and the others not so good.
Not so good meaning its heavy and your bicep and forearms will get tired. It made me realize how balance is very underrated. It can easily be done wrong and you feel like you are holding a dumbbell.
Be weary though because people will buy these blanks and send them to a cue maker. The cue maker will put his name on it. It's up to the seller to disclose it. I am assuming most do but you never know.
I've shot many put together by hobbyists and some are a hit and some are a miss. The ones that are good means they are playable and the others not so good.
Not so good meaning its heavy and your bicep and forearms will get tired. It made me realize how balance is very underrated. It can easily be done wrong and you feel like you are holding a dumbbell.
Be weary though because people will buy these blanks and send them to a cue maker. The cue maker will put his name on it. It's up to the seller to disclose it. I am assuming most do but you never know.
Unless explicitly stated, Titlist cues would be old and Brunswick, imo. There aren't blanks.
I'm unclear what you mean by the seller disclosure too...I guess if you used that word to mean maker (converter), might be ...but buyers of these conversions are almost undoubtedly aware they are not new constructions.
billiards_watch
Well-known member
I can buy my favorite blanks send it to someone like Tasc. He would put it together and stamp his signature on the forearm like all his other cues and even put one of his polished bolts on the bottom.
Now I can sell it if I don't like it and say its a Tasc. You get the idea.
I've already seen some of them and seller will say XYZ blank/Tasc for disclosure. Which is great and should be done this way.
You can send blanks to Drexler and Carmeli to name a few.
Gotcha.
Those are 'conversions' and not 'titlist conversions', definitely two different cue types.
And while on the topic, should anyone be considering both...modern prob a better choice than antique if it is gonna be a player.
billiards_watch
Well-known member
Vintage cues are ok to shoot with I guess. I shot with an old Helmstetter and lets say it felt very old. LOL
Antique cues? I wouldn't dare.
In the collector's world...antique would be anything over 100 years of age. Vintage use to be 50 years or older. I know some people like to say their cue built in the 1990's is vintage when it should be considered another old ass cue. I try to reserve vintage for anything over 50 years of age but collectors have changed the definition to 20 years or older.
1969 Camaro = vintage
2005 Camaro- people will try to sell it as a vintage Camaro when its just another old ass Camaro. It's not vintage. LOL
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
"Titlist"
I am always on the lookout for an old Titlist or Willie Hoppe to use as a blank. I have two Hoppes but I don't want to mess with them. It is one of my favorites with those veneers.
If it is made well could be worth that. Type of wood plays a part in the price as well. This is a very sought after cue. Unless you happen upon an old cue in a yard sale or thrift shop you will have to pay $400 and up just for the "blank" to start with. So, another few hundred for the conversion and finish will easily get it up there.
This could be a fair question if was your first. From this and previous similar posts, you seem to have an issue with paying for materials and labor.
If a guy named drexler converted a titleist or gilbert let's say, I would be interested in spending some hard earned money but what I'm wondering about is unknowns or nearly unknown. Many on these forums.
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
Titlist. It's a pool cue not a golf club. For a big name cue-maker you would probably pay more then. An unknown can still make a great cue. The cost of the blank, materials and labor can be justified.
I understand concerns for your "hard earned money", but it needs to balance with the other sides hard earned time and skills. You are buying a product produced from renting a cue-makers time. No one is going to work for you for free or less than they are worth just because you don't understand what it takes to produce a quality cue.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Here is what some are missing: each and every "great cue maker" was at one point a complete unknown, and, who knows for how many years, they labored in obscurity.
Most of us can recognize good and bad cues when we see them. Persons who rely upon "names" or labels to inform their purchases should try to trust themselves and buy what they like.
Most of us can recognize good and bad cues when we see them. Persons who rely upon "names" or labels to inform their purchases should try to trust themselves and buy what they like.
Titlists are Old Wood, they seem to have people who love Old Titlists.
What does a conversion entail?
Every unknown cuemaker has landed on about $950 for a conversion. Thats all well and good but try selling it for 950 . Not likely
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
Price will vary. A conversion has a wide amount of variance. Don't forget most need a brand-new shaft made as well. A good conversion can be simple, and it can also involve most if not all aspects of building a cue from blocks.
Minimalistic: Cut it in half, install pin and insert and done.
3/4 Cored. Is it worth less because I used a house cue rather than buying a new blank?
Ebony Dufferin. A lot of different cuts on this one.
Butterfly conversion with abalone inlays.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Nice!
My son found 2 1950s one piece titilist - we had both converted -about 3 years ago at about $350 each - no additional inlays - total with original titilist purchase came to $450 each - new shafts included - I just don’t get the $1000 price tags - but to each his own.
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
That’s my point. If someone brought me the titlist cue and it was a simple conversion, that’s about right. Adjusting a little for inflation
There’s a Jacoby on eBay for almost $3000. Prices will be all over the place depending on type of titlest, complexity of the conversion, maker etc.