Convert, Modify, or Refinish-Brazilian Titlist

cuesblues

cuesblues

cue accumulator
Silver Member
Brazilian rosewood Willie Hoppe signature cue
This cue is straight, 1.33" diameter at the Hoppe ring, and it plays really good so far with just a Schon or Schuler shaft.
The original shaft. is skinny and needs a tip.
The overall length is only is only 56 1/2" with the original shaft, a 50/50 split.

I bought this cue thinking conversion, but I was not expecting it to be so straight and solid.
All four points are virtually even.
.
What would you do:

  • Refinish the cue with nice 29" shaft and have 3/4" added to the butt sleeve?
  • Modernize the cue with a full custom conversion, 2-shafts, ivory joint & ferrules, etc.
  • Sell it or donate it to the home for wayward cuemakers
  • Other ideas?

Thank you






 
Personally, I would keep it the way it is.

But, I am realistic. These cues were "mass produced" and in fact are pretty commonly available, even in the more rare woods. True they are more "special" with the more rare woods but if you want one you can get one. There seems to be more of them coming up for sale these days probably just because the owners are passing away or just getting rid of them because they don't use them anymore.

So, I am not really offended if somebody decides to convert one. I do personally think it merits true expert attention if one decides to do it and would recommend carefully selecting a cue maker to do the work.





.
 
Chopdoc said:
Personally, I would keep it the way it is.

But, I am realistic. These cues were "mass produced" and in fact are pretty commonly available, even in the more rare woods. True they are more "special" with the more rare woods but if you want one you can get one. There seems to be more of them coming up for sale these days probably just because the owners are passing away or just getting rid of them because they don't use them anymore.

So, I am not really offended if somebody decides to convert one. I do personally think it merits true expert attention if one decides to do it and would recommend carefully selecting a cue maker to do the work.

.
Click to expand...

I would get it refinished if I was going to keep it, and not if I was going to sell it.

Same reasons as Chopdoc, but different result.

Ken
 
I'd chop that brass collar down.
Extend it and modify it.
Stag collars and stag white dash at the bottom.
 
Modernize the cue with a full custom conversion, 2-shafts, ivory joint & ferrules, etc.
Go big or leave it alone.
 
cuesblues said:
Brazilian rosewood Willie Hoppe signature cue
This cue is straight, 1.33" diameter at the Hoppe ring, and it plays really good so far with just a Schon or Schuler shaft.
The original shaft. is skinny and needs a tip.
The overall length is only is only 56 1/2" with the original shaft, a 50/50 split.

I bought this cue thinking conversion, but I was not expecting it to be so straight and solid.
All four points are virtually even.
.
What would you do:

  • Refinish the cue with nice 29" shaft and have 3/4" added to the butt sleeve?
  • Modernize the cue with a full custom conversion, 2-shafts, ivory joint & ferrules, etc.
  • Sell it or donate it to the home for wayward cuemakers
  • Other ideas?
Click to expand...

You can sell it to me :) I have a handful I am trying to keep so they are still around a few years from now. If you decide too, I am interested.
 
Chopdoc said:
Personally, I would keep it the way it is.

But, I am realistic. These cues were "mass produced" and in fact are pretty commonly available, even in the more rare woods. True they are more "special" with the more rare woods but if you want one you can get one. There seems to be more of them coming up for sale these days probably just because the owners are passing away or just getting rid of them because they don't use them anymore.

So, I am not really offended if somebody decides to convert one. I do personally think it merits true expert attention if one decides to do it and would recommend carefully selecting a cue maker to do the work.





.
Click to expand...

I have a Rambow Hoppe and other Rambow's to compare these signature cues with,
and typically there is a noticeable difference in the quality control for the Titlist blank, especially the points.
The quality control on this blank is closer to the quality of my Rambow
Titlists, and to me it doesn't have that mass produced feel.

The Hoppe ring is actually an ivory disc, 1.33" diameter and 1/4" thick.
My Rambow Hoppe has the same ivory disc but it's cracked, and it's only 3/16 thick
I don't know when this cue was made, but my Rambow's were made around 1942.

I want to do something different with this cue, I have several Titlist conversions, so I
though it would be cool to keep it original, new finish, shafts, and butt sleeve extension.
Going to a stainless steel joint would make sense.
 
I would put a 29 inch shaft on it and refinish.
....if you need the extra length....make the shaft longer.
...would not add anything to the butt.

There were some good cues where the shaft was longer than the butt....
....just don't make it a long pro taper....
 
pt109 said:
I would put a 29 inch shaft on it and refinish.
....if you need the extra length....make the shaft longer.
...would not add anything to the butt.

There were some good cues where the shaft was longer than the butt....
....just don't make it a long pro taper....
Click to expand...

+1
I have one that supposedly has a shaft mad by Ed Young The fat butt (on the cue) takes a little to get used to, but it plays great
 
The first cue I owned was just like that one. I paid $10.00 for it used. Played with it about a year and sold it for $8.00.
 
Chopdoc said:
Personally, I would keep it the way it is.

But, I am realistic. These cues were "mass produced" and in fact are pretty commonly available, even in the more rare woods. True they are more "special" with the more rare woods but if you want one you can get one. There seems to be more of them coming up for sale these days probably just because the owners are passing away or just getting rid of them because they don't use them anymore.

So, I am not really offended if somebody decides to convert one. I do personally think it merits true expert attention if one decides to do it and would recommend carefully selecting a cue maker to do the work.
.
Click to expand...

I think I would too. :)
 
cuesblues said:
Brazilian rosewood Willie Hoppe signature cue
This cue is straight, 1.33" diameter at the Hoppe ring, and it plays really good so far with just a Schon or Schuler shaft.
The original shaft. is skinny and needs a tip.
The overall length is only is only 56 1/2" with the original shaft, a 50/50 split.

I bought this cue thinking conversion, but I was not expecting it to be so straight and solid.
All four points are virtually even.
.
What would you do:

  • Refinish the cue with nice 29" shaft and have 3/4" added to the butt sleeve?
  • Modernize the cue with a full custom conversion, 2-shafts, ivory joint & ferrules, etc.
  • Sell it or donate it to the home for wayward cuemakers
  • Other ideas?

Thank you






Click to expand...

If you sent this cue to Guido Orlandi, you would get a Magic Wand back. That is all I have to say... If you would like to see some of his work... just give him a call 906-542-7069 & he'll send out some pictures. He already has a Hoppe re-man for sale, that is stunning, with an alligator grip....

Good Luck

I, Charley Bond, guarantee that you will love his work.
 
Robert58 said:
That was around 1960. It makes me laugh when ever I see ya'll discussing them.
Click to expand...

1968 in Denver, they were $25
The were lined up on a wall of this billiard supply store on Broadway.
Every one of the 19-20 oz. Hoppe's were warped, so I bought a different Brunswick with a gold colored wrap...$19
Lost it the next day on one game of nine ball.
 
It would break my heart to convert that cue. I have one Very much like it and am always looking for another. The cue in the pic looks to be an older one maybe pre 1945. I don't have a problem converting the one piece Titlists but the Pros I like just the way they are.
Nice cue one way or the other.
 
Cuebuddy said:
It would break my heart to convert that cue. I have one Very much like it and am always looking for another. The cue in the pic looks to be an older one maybe pre 1945. I don't have a problem converting the one piece Titlists but the Pros I like just the way they are.
Nice cue one way or the other.
Click to expand...

I could play with it like as-is, but it would look cool refinished.
The glue on the tip was so old that it popped off when I barely pushed on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top