Cornerstone! Is this true?!? Gus and Barry titlist?

[pharaoh68]

I was just flipping through some of the pages of the web, looking at cues and whats on the market when all of a sudden, this gem caught my eye.

http://www.cornerstonecustomcues.com/cues/lrgcues/022j.html

Its a fancy titlist conversion by none other than Gus Szamboti. And, according to the product description, it comes with two shafts. One by Gus and one by Barry.

Now I'm not one to fan the flames of the fire or go and start any trouble rolleyes: ) but I seem to remember this cue. In fact, it looks very similar to Gus Szamboti conversion that was once for sale on another AZer's site. Only, it was slightly less expensive then and, if memory serves, the second shaft wasn't made by Barry. It was made by another well known and respected cuemaker. But still, NOT Barry. Am I missing something here?! Because this can REALLY look bad considering you're purporting a product to be something that it isn't!

 

[cuesrus]

I was just flipping through some of the pages of the web, looking at cues and whats on the market when all of a sudden, this gem caught my eye.

http://www.cornerstonecustomcues.com/cues/lrgcues/022j.html

Its a fancy titlist conversion by none other than Gus Szamboti. And, according to the product description, it comes with two shafts. One by Gus and one by Barry.

Now I'm not one to fan the flames of the fire or go and start any trouble rolleyes: ) but I seem to remember this cue. In fact, it looks very similar to Gus Szamboti conversion that was once for sale on another AZer's site. Only, it was slightly less expensive then and, if memory serves, the second shaft wasn't made by Barry. It was made by another well known and respected cuemaker. But still, NOT Barry. Am I missing something here?! Because this can REALLY look bad considering you're purporting a product to be something that it isn't!

Maybe Bill asked Barry to make another shaft to match
Sounds right to me.

 

[branpureza]

Because this can REALLY look bad considering you're purporting a product to be something that it isn't!

Why didn't you politely ask him about the cue in a private message instead of trying to call him out on something before you know the facts?

He could have easily gotten another shaft made by Barry somewhere else...

 

[pharaoh68]

Why didn't you politely ask him about the cue in a private message instead of trying to call him out on something before you know the facts?

He could have easily gotten another shaft made by Barry somewhere else...

This may be the case. But at the same time, if something else is going on here, don't you think that one of our own, more esteemed members / 'experts', should be slightly more forthright with his customers???

Now, I'm not saying Bill is lying to all of us. What I'm saying is that I remember this cue being slightly different than advertised. If something has happened between then and now, perhaps we should all be made aware of it. I mean, this cue is no stranger to the internet. Its been up for sale before. And if I remember it for sale elsewhere, I'm probably (and when I say probably, I mean definitely) NOT the only one.

 

[branpureza]

This may be the case. But at the same time, if something else is going on here, don't you think that one of our own, more esteemed members / 'experts', should be slightly more forthright with his customers???

Actually what I think is that "one of our own, more esteemed members / experts" should at least be given the benefit of the doubt... Bill seems like a nice, honest person and he runs a great business. I just think he deserves a little credit...

 

[pharaoh68]

Actually what I think is that "one of our own, more esteemed members / experts" should at least be given the benefit of the doubt... Bill seems like a nice, honest person and he runs a great business. I just think he deserves a little credit...

Wait. So you mean that the same Bill Grassley who thinks that his opinion holds more weight than everyone else simply because he has lots of money and lots of cues should be given carte blanche to make claims that other AZers can never dispute? Even when they have it on good authority that one of his cues isn't exactly as advertised???

I know a former owner of this cue. And I have it a good authority from said owner that the second shaft was made by someone else. Now, perhaps this shaft WAS made by Barry. If so, more power to Bill and his sale of a great cue. But what i can't figure out is if the shaft was not made by Barry, why lie. If it was, what happened to the other additional shaft?!?

I understand your intentions and I know you think he deserves a little credit. But if you wanna handle it differently, be my guest. This is how I choose to go about it because based on some of Bill's more outlandish, ridulous statements, I choose not to give him the same respect he doesn't always have for others.

 

[cornerstone]

Actually what I think is that "one of our own, more esteemed members / experts" should at least be given the benefit of the doubt... Bill seems like a nice, honest person and he runs a great business. I just think he deserves a little credit...

Iam looking into it as we post. The gentleman nthat i purchased it from at the cue collector show told me he bought it as one barry one gus! all i have to go on is that right now. but i will keep you posted as to what i find out. at t his time i can only go by what the collector reported to me! thank you and i will let you know!! have a nice day

 

[cornerstone]

Wait. So you mean that the same Bill Grassley who thinks that his opinion holds more weight than everyone else simply because he has lots of money and lots of cues should be given carte blanche to make claims that other AZers can never dispute? Even when they have it on good authority that one of his cues isn't exactly as advertised???

I know a former owner of this cue. And I have it a good authority from said owner that the second shaft was made by someone else. Now, perhaps this shaft WAS made by Barry. If so, more power to Bill and his sale of a great cue. But what i can't figure out is if the shaft was not made by Barry, why lie. If it was, what happened to the other additional shaft?!?

I understand your intentions and I know you think he deserves a little credit. But if you wanna handle it differently, be my guest. This is how I choose to go about it because based on some of Bill's more outlandish, ridulous statements, I choose not to give him the same respect he doesn't always have for others.

you dont have to respect me or my opinion, as i stated it will be looked into, i have a call into the owner that i bought it from in hawiai. and he is been very forthright to me also he is a larg collector and displayed at the cue show and i hAVE NO REASON NOT TO BELIEVE HIM!

 

[branpureza]

Wait. So you mean that the same Bill Grassley who thinks that his opinion holds more weight than everyone else simply because he has lots of money and lots of cues should be given carte blanche to make claims that other AZers can never dispute? Even when they have it on good authority that one of his cues isn't exactly as advertised???

I know a former owner of this cue. And I have it a good authority from said owner that the second shaft was made by someone else. Now, perhaps this shaft WAS made by Barry. If so, more power to Bill and his sale of a great cue. But what i can't figure out is if the shaft was not made by Barry, why lie. If it was, what happened to the other additional shaft?!?

I understand your intentions and I know you think he deserves a little credit. But if you wanna handle it differently, be my guest. This is how I choose to go about it because based on some of Bill's more outlandish, ridulous statements, I choose not to give him the same respect he doesn't always have for others.

It's cool man... we can just agree to disagree about it.

Some people assume the best and some assume the worst. I just thought it was a little harsh to call him out on something with little more than an assumption...

 

[TommyT]

No Class

Get a life. You have no class. This should have been a private conversation and if the cue was misrepresented I'm sure it would have been made right before the cue was sold. Bill has always been forthright with all his deals. Your info is hearsay.

TommyT

 

[pharaoh68]

It's cool man... we can just agree to disagree about it.

Some people assume the best and some assume the worst. I just thought it was a little harsh to call him out on something with little more than an assumption...

No worries here. I just have issue with Bill because on more than one occassion he has implied that the opinions of others are not as important or valid because he has held more high end cues in his hands than most.

And no matter how many times I try to express the fact that money doesn't buy knowledge or expertise, the comments are still made anyway.

As for this particular situation, if this really is one in which Bill genuinely did not know, that's understandable. And if he was not responsible for anything more than misinformation from another outside party, no big deal. Not his fault. But I was a little curious because for anyone with a decent memory, the information is there in plain sight for all to see.

Someone is wrong here. Just wanted to get to the bottom of it.

 

[Purdman]

My Experience With Bill

I also had a question about a cue Bill was selling. Very similar situation. I PM'ed Bill with my question and received a phone call soon there after. I recon I could have called his integrity into question and started a thread like this. It sure creates interest on an otherwise boring day. However, he had a perfectly good explanation for the situation.
Purd

 

[ribdoner]

Does this mean that everything a cue seller tells other cue sellers when they're selling a cue might not be true?? If that's the case should the last cue seller cross the t's and dot the i's to insure that verbiage applicable to a 20k piece is factual before it goes out to the world?

Perhaps a COA from BARRY would have been in order...

 

[Purdman]

Does this mean that everything a cue seller tells other cue sellers when they're selling a cue might not be true?? If that's the case should the last cue seller cross the t's and dot the i's to insure that verbiage applicable to a 20k piece is factual before it goes out to the world?

I see your point. It close to the end of one of those round thingies on the brim of your hat! Very nice indeed!
Purdman

 

[JimmyRayK]

One thing I can definitely add to this. I was standing there in the hotel room (in Houston) with Bill and the collector when the deal went down and the the information that was given to Bill was just as he said. One Gus shaft and one Barry shaft.

Again just as Bill said, he can only go by what the collector said.

This is not the first time this type of situation has come up and it will not be the last.

Hope this helps.............

Jimmy

 

[pharaoh68]

Does this mean that everything a cue seller tells other cue sellers when they're selling a cue might not be true?? If that's the case should the last cue seller cross the t's and dot the i's to insure that verbiage applicable to a 20k piece is factual before it goes out to the world?

Perhaps a COA from BARRY would have been in order...

Basically what it means is NEVER advertise something as one thing UNLESS YOU CAN SUBSTANTIATE YOUR CLAIM!!!!!

Hell! That's kind of one of those elementary principles of sales. Isn't it?


Oh, and TommyT- my info comes from one of the bigger, and better known cue dealers / collectors out there. He used to own the cue. Don't tell me my info is hearsay. Class? Maybe not. Facts, hell yeah!

 

[cornerstone]

well

I did not have a reply as of yet from the seller but i spent some time on the phone with barry and he remembers buying the brass special for this cue, but it has been a long time and does not recall, but we went over some tech on the shafts and it appears to be one of barrys. but my reply will never be good enough for the kind and considerate pharo68 ,at this time i still stand behind the gentleman that i bought it from. and thank you jimmy for being there at the right time! because some people you cannot please . and pharo to your bigger and better know dealer, i can truly see whay the attack was spured! thank you to pharo68 and joe v to all have a nice day

 

[Tommyd1]

Pharo68,

You seem to have some kind of problem with Bill ?

You have actually exhibited this in the past as I recall ? !

Have you ever sought any professional help, your Profile actually gives a hint to a problem.

Just trying to be helpful

Anyhow, just trying to be helpful, even if you don't have Insurance....I'm sure there a places you can get help...

As alway's, someone who truly cares..............Tommyd1

 

[classiccues]

I did not have a reply as of yet from the seller but i spent some time on the phone with barry and he remembers buying the brass special for this cue, but it has been a long time and does not recall, but we went over some tech on the shafts and it appears to be one of barrys. but my reply will never be good enough for the kind and considerate pharo68 ,at this time i still stand behind the gentleman that i bought it from. and thank you jimmy for being there at the right time! because some people you cannot please . and pharo to your bigger and better know dealer, i can truly see whay the attack was spured! thank you to pharo68 and joe v to all have a nice day

I told you.. bring my name up and I will make you look bad every time... He saw it on classiccues because that's where it was listed. All the work was done by Tascarella, even the butt restoration, missing pieces etc.. If you need further assistance get a hold of Keith Walton he should remember the cue as he sold it to Mark. As for Barry's involvement it was authenticated by him.

Now if you really want to get punished we can talk about the Gus you sold that I just tried to resell but couldn't bring myself to not list it's flaws. Like the boomer-shaft and the "sharpified" crack from the corner of the maple window to the butt cap. You know the flaws you must have "missed" in your description.

http://www.cornerstonecustomcues.com/cues/lrgcues/022d.html

Bill, don't ever mention my name again.

JV

 

[masonh]

Wow,this is getting good.