Cue collector - Interview with M.Piesner (tikkler)

Benoit Michaud

Benoit Michaud

Registered
Since the 2009 international Cue Collectors Show is on the way, here is an interview I did a couple of weeks ago with the cue collector Steve Piesner (tikkler on AZ).
This interview was posted on my french billiard blog MonBillard.com

Here is the original English interview just for you AZ Friends.:wink:

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MonBillard - Hi Steve! First, I would like to know how you inherited this passion for pool cues?
Steve- I have been interested in playing pool since I was about 6 years old. I used whatever cue was around until about 1972-3. I then went to a big time pool hall in Queens, N.Y. called the Golden Cue. That was where all the big time pro players hung out. I had the guy at the front desk announce that I was looking to buy a Balabushka. About 4 guys came over trying to sell me cues, one of which was Steve Mizerak. Steve had a Balabushka for sale for $100, but it had no wrap on it. Of course I said no thanks....LOL
I ended up buying what I thought was a very fancy Balabushka from another pro for $110. From that time forward until around 1988 I was playing with this cue and telling my family it was a Balabushka. I finally went into a pool hall with it, and the owner happened to be a collectable cue dealer. He looked at it for 1 second and told me it wasnt a Balabushka, it was a Palmer. About a year or so later I bought my first 2 collection cues, 2 Burton Spain cues. I paid $375 each for them, and they are worth around $5000 or so today. Heres a pic of my Balabushka......oops I mean my Palmer

click on image to enlarge


MonBillard - How do your family and friends react to this dedication?
Steve - Other than my son and my stepson, who are both into it bigtime, everybody else thinks that I am nuts.....LOL And it was very disheartening for a long time, until I found the internet


MonBillard - As of today, how many pool cues do you count in your collection?
Steve - 93 with 11 high end cues from top cuemakers coming over the next 6-10 months

click on image to enlarge


MonBillard - Having aquired so many already over the years, do you envision getting to a point where you will feel your collection is complete?
Steve - I wish that would happen, but I know it wont...LOL I just love the newer cues, and they just keep getting better and better. There is no hope for me, I cant see a light at the end of the tunnel hahaha

MonBillard - When the time comes to playing it must be difficult to choose one. Which one are you using at the moment?
Steve - Great question....but as it turns out, an easy one. I have been playing with a Black Boar for a while. I just recieved a new player from Tony at Black Boar. It is rather plain and came with 2 ferrulless shafts. This cue plays far and away better than any cue I have ever touched before. This will be my playing cue until I cant play anymore. Tony has developed a way to make these cues and add the incredible genius behind the ferrulless shafts (not just a regular shaft without ferrulles) Here is a pic of it

click on image to enlarge


MonBillard - For those of us that are not experts, what is the difference between a $500 cue and a $5000 cue?
Steve - The value of a cue always comes down to who made it. The bigger names are obviously going to get more, because there name makes them worth more on the secondary market. If you were to line up 10 cues by the top makers in the world they would vary from 0-10 in how well they are built, but the public doesnt know most of this because they dont have a chance to see any of them being made. Like everything in the world the value is set by what the percieved value is, not by fact.

As far as playability goes, that is such a personal thing that a $500 cue could play 10 times better than a $5000 cue

MonBillard - Within your collection, which ones are your favorites and why?
Steve - I absolutely love all cues. I am crazy over traditional cues like Gus Szambotis and Balabushkas, but I also love new ultra intricate work of art cues like Black Boar and Manzino. And everything in between, so I dont think I can answer that

MonBillard - If this is not too indiscreet, which one of your cues is the most valuable? And what is its estimated value?
Steve - The latest Black Boar by Tony Scaiannela is absolutely incredible.....I would estimate it is worth around $125,000

click on image to enlarge



MonBillard - Could you name one that you would like to acquire?
Steve - I am waiting for my first, made for me cue by Dennis Searing and Ron Haley. I cant wait to get them. I will only buy direct from cuemakers now, so there is really nothing that I would want to go after

MonBillard - According to you, who are the top 5 personalized pool cue craftmans?
Steve - In my opinion, and remember this is like asking who makes the best Beer.......not in any particular order, Tony at Black Boar,
Bob Manzino, Dennis Searing, Joel Hercek, Barry Szamboti

MonBillard - In conclusion, the readers of MonBillard and myself wish to thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and I hope that one day I will get the chance to see in person your amazing collection.
Steve - I thank you so much for being interested in what I have to say. I would love to hear from anyone that reads this interview to discus cues or help in any way that I could.

I am only an hour outside of N.Y. city, and would love to have you come here and look at every cue that I have....your always welcome my friend


click on images to enlarge


More beautiful cues from tikkler:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=130701
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=140992
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137693
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137495
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137801
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=136792
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137572
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137624
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=144488
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=124216
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137085
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=137213
 
Thanks for posting the interview and pics!! AWESOME cues....sure would be nice to have Miz's Bushka now too though (for $100) :eek: :grin:

rep for the thread!!
 
Great interview, love the Palmer. Did Steve happen to mention if it had a Szamboti or Spain forearm?
 
great interview, article.

its amazing how I think like steve. My opinion of cues, whos best, whats important etc are consistant with this article. the most important thing is to enjoy life, were not here for a long time but a good time.


enjoy your cues steve, that goes for everyone. its not a contest-its a passion,
 
Cue Collector

This thread is great for all of us cue nuts. Steve is well known here on AZ for his outstanding cue collection and the willingness to share pictures of his fine cues with the forum.

Thanks for sharing the interview and the pictures.

James
 
Steve, you are truly an inspiration in cue collecting. You are also a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Thank you very much,
Chris
 
hey

CMD said:
Steve, you are truly an inspiration in cue collecting. You are also a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Thank you very much,
Chris
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Chris, I am sitting home every night polishing everything up for you..LOL
Mike Morgan is gonna come over too
 
Wow, long thread - but very informative. Always wondered what got Steve going.

So Steve, do you play pretty good ????

Thanks for all the great pictures and story's over these past few years, your passion is our entertainment !

Thanks for all the knowledge that you have imparted to us.

It's alway's a pleasure.
 
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I second the motion!!! We'd finally have someone with their priorities in order!! And has the good taste to demonstrate it!
Great thread, interview, collection, cues, and collector!!!!
If that doesn't qualify it as one of the best ever, I don't know what does!:grin-square:

Thanks Steve, hope to shake your hand someday when I'm up in that part of the world!
 
hey

your comments have been so nice...thank you. Anytime anyones gonna be around NYC and you want to look at some cues....just let me know. Sharing the fun of holding and looking at these cues in person is what makes it worth doing.
 
Thank you all for the great comments.

Steve is a very generous and passionate man. It was very kind of him to accept this interviews with a relatively unknown little french guy ;-)

Again, thank YOU Steve.
 
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