Cue Maker's former playing cues.....

SK Custom Cues

SK Custom Cues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just got to thinking about the cue makers who were actually decent pool players before they got started making cues and was wondering what cue they were using. I don't know if this question is too personal or even offensive, but I would like to know for giggles, what cue was used before you started making cues? or if you know of what the other cue makers used?

I heard Dennis Searing is quite a player, and I think most good cue makers are actually good pool players too. IMHO, it's actually kind of a pre-requisite, although, not totally necessary. An experienced machinist would certainly qualify having no experience at the table.

If anyone knows or would like to share, I just thought this would be interesting to know. I am picturing Gus and George playing an old brunswick conversion of some sort, and would be very interested to know what Bill Stroud, Ernie, Bill Schick, and the rest (especially my fellow AZer's) might have played right up to the point they started making cues.

I used to play a Pete Petree right before I started, and I know Pete uses an old Runde Schon partly because of the hit that micarta ferrule produces, but also because I think he said it was a Spain forearm. I now play my own cues when I go to the pool hall, mainly for testing purposes, and actually it isn't really playing as I really don't have time to play anymore. For some reason, I don't think I am alone in this... :rolleyes: - Sung
 
No Sir, Your not alone but you should still play. I started with a Meucci, then a Viking, then settled very nicely into a Joss before I started. I loved the Joss, the others, I don't miss.
 
I AM JUST AS OFFENDED AS HELL YOU WOULD EVEN ASK!!!

My first cue is an old Adams that was given to me by me nieghbor. She had to get it out of her house since her boy friend have given it to her and her husband was coming home from a 6 month tour of duty. That was in 1976. My second cue I bought used is a Scruggs bought in 1981. still have them both.

Larry
 
My cue progression has been An Adams and Mali for the first couple years I played. Then my brand new 8 point, $500 Schick for about 5 years. Heubler sneaky for about 3 years, Then a Les Blevins for about 14 years, Then my own.
 
so many cues

I started with a Palmer,then a Mali ,then a JOSS ,then a Balabushka (1966) SWEET CUE!!!!!Then a JossWest....Now I play with my own....custom....This pool stuff is cool:cool:
 
I started playing with bar cues. Then a friend had a nice cue,I tried it, liked it, so started to make my own after a bet. The nice cue was one from Paul Mottey before he went out to make cues full time.She got a price for a spare shaft. The price a few years ago was for just the shaft was close to twice what she paid for the whole cue. I think she said, I only want the front shaft,not a completely new cue.I have since bought to cues from local Pa cuemakers for personal reasons and both of them are better than the bar cues I was using.
Now I just use my cues. I am not a good player ,but enjoy the game.
I know that if I miss a shot it is definately me.
 
Started with a $48.00 Mali in 68' when I was 14. Left it in a bar about 2 months after I turned 21. Next had a Meucci for a number of years. Then a Ron Kilby that plays very well. Had Paul Drexler make me a custom birdseye ironwood cue but had to sell it, needed cash. Played with the Kilby until I made my own cues.
 
I started with a players cue which was a birthday present from my late brother. Of course I still have that cue and will one day refinsh and put it in a display case. After the players I moved to a meucci for half a year or so. Predator after that for and then i found the world of custom cues. My first cue was a Stacey Ebony and Birdseye sneaky pete which was a nice cue. Then I fianaly decided to spend a little bit more a got my self a Capone. I have a Wes Hunter on order right now as well. Just because I make cues dosent mean I lost my love for others work.
 
old adams

one of the pool hall customers got mad snapped his cue in half tossed it in the trash, as i was cleaning up after closing i saw that the butt was unharmed, i payed $14.00 to have a shaft made and had my first 2 piece cue. thats the late 60's

skip forward about 20 years, i busted a player and kept his joss west for the balance he owed me in the early 80's i still have that cue and love it.

now i play with a wood pin cue with a no ferrule shaft , you can get a laugh or two by handing the cue to an unsuspecting player and saying, hey, i hear something funny, can you see a crack in the ferrule?

chuck
 
I started with a Meucci and then a Tunder and I played with the same Schon for years. It took me 2 years after I started building cues to build my own cue that I liked enough to keep and play with it!
 
I started with a Willie Hoppe that I paid 17.95 for. I was still in high school.
I took the wrap off and replaced it with linen.
My next cue was a Rambo that I bought from "Boot" Maples in Johnson City.
It had a linen wrap that went all the way to the buttplate. Paid 100.00 with a Brunswick case.
After that I bought a Balabuska from Ritchie Ambrose in LA. Paid 110.00.
I had beaten him playing pool a few months earlier in Houston.It was new but not a very good cue. Too thin. I played with it for awhile and also bought a Zimmerman in SF for 75.00. Never could play with it.
I then bought another Balabushla similar to the one Jimmy Moore had. Paid 115.00.Thicker butt. I used it for years. Great cue. Never booked a loser with this cue. Used it when I was on the road with Eddie Taylor.
Then Danny and I both ordered cues from Dick Helmsteder in Chicago. Willie Hoppe style with linen wrap. Paid 125.00. Most expensive cue I ever owned. Beat everyone I played for 5 years except Eddie Kelly. Used it until I started making cues myself.
Bill Stroud
 
i hear bryan mordt hit's 'em pretty sporty! he makes a jam up cue too. from what i've heard eric crisp and masonh both play a respectable game too.
 
desi2960 said:
one of the pool hall customers got mad snapped his cue in half tossed it in the trash, as i was cleaning up after closing i saw that the butt was unharmed, i payed $14.00 to have a shaft made and had my first 2 piece cue. thats the late 60's

skip forward about 20 years, i busted a player and kept his joss west for the balance he owed me in the early 80's i still have that cue and love it.

now i play with a wood pin cue with a no ferrule shaft , you can get a laugh or two by handing the cue to an unsuspecting player and saying, hey, i hear something funny, can you see a crack in the ferrule?

chuck
Click to expand...

Your cues are the nutz!!!!! i haven't tried one of your ferrule less shafts yet though. what kind of tip do you use? does it have to be layered?
 
cuemaker pool players

SK Custom Cues said:
Just got to thinking about the cue makers who were actually decent pool players before they got started making cues and was wondering what cue they were using. I don't know if this question is too personal or even offensive, but I would like to know for giggles, what cue was used before you started making cues? or if you know of what the other cue makers used?

I heard Dennis Searing is quite a player, and I think most good cue makers are actually good pool players too. IMHO, it's actually kind of a pre-requisite, although, not totally necessary. An experienced machinist would certainly qualify having no experience at the table.

If anyone knows or would like to share, I just thought this would be interesting to know. I am picturing Gus and George playing an old brunswick conversion of some sort, and would be very interested to know what Bill Stroud, Ernie, Bill Schick, and the rest (especially my fellow AZer's) might have played right up to the point they started making cues.

I used to play a Pete Petree right before I started, and I know Pete uses an old Runde Schon partly because of the hit that micarta ferrule produces, but also because I think he said it was a Spain forearm. I now play my own cues when I go to the pool hall, mainly for testing purposes, and actually it isn't really playing as I really don't have time to play anymore. For some reason, I don't think I am alone in this... :rolleyes: - Sung
Click to expand...

I know Gus used to play with a basic four point of his own design. I bought about ten of them and he always said they were his personal cue though he wasn't a real good player..
Paul Mottey was a pretty good nineball player good gambler and competitor. Pete Toscarella was a good nineball and straightpool player. Pete Ohman/Omen of florida is a real good nineball player and banker as well as one pocket. Paul Fanelli plays good nineball and straightpool. I used to play David Kirshenbrock on a bar table in Vegas and he held his own. I used to watch Frank Paradise play in Clifton pool room and he ran about eighty balls in straight pool. Bob Meucci can hit a golf ball to die for. lol Someone else will have to help I can't recall at the moment.
 
My first real cue was an Abe Rich I bought in 1974. Played with that for several years. Bought a Huebler in 1981, played with it for about a year and then got on a Szamboti kick. Had 13 Gus' in all had 12 at one time. Went broke and had to sell them one by one to keep my pool room afloat and get into the cuemaking. Had a few Joss West (Bill Stroud) cues that I like a lot then bought a Kersenbrock and a few SW's and started leaning that way in my construction techniques. ( Phenolic joints and big pins) Been playing with one of my own cues mostly since about '87.
 
Very interesting to hear about the old timers..... Special thanks to Bill Stroud for participating in this thread. I am very humbled to hear about you and Dan Janes' early years....

Thanks to all cue makers who have posted here... I think it is cool to see how things were back then, and how things have evolved up till now......

I hope someone can come along and post about Dennis Searing or Ernie Gutierrez..... Bill Schick, Mike Lambros...... Andy Gilbert.....

I think Leon Sly told me he used to play Tim Scruggs and Bob Frey.....
 
Dennis Searing played with a Gus.... well - several of them, actually. Always had one on order with him.
 
First cue 1930's Brunswick , purple heart points and rock maple with points in the shaft ... old Adams rosewood ... Joss West 4 pt ebony and maple ... McDermott B-16 , had 2 of them ... Billy Schick conversion that was originally made for Curtis Payne ... A 9 point old Kersenbrach with 4 shafts ... About 18 or so Southwests ... A couple of Jim Buss cues ...Now I play with my own ... :cool:
 
bstroud said:
I started with a Willie Hoppe that I paid 17.95 for. I was still in high school.
I took the wrap off and replaced it with linen.
My next cue was a Rambo that I bought from "Boot" Maples in Johnson City.
It had a linen wrap that went all the way to the buttplate. Paid 100.00 with a Brunswick case.
After that I bought a Balabuska from Ritchie Ambrose in LA. Paid 110.00.
I had beaten him playing pool a few months earlier in Houston.It was new but not a very good cue. Too thin. I played with it for awhile and also bought a Zimmerman in SF for 75.00. Never could play with it.
I then bought another Balabushla similar to the one Jimmy Moore had. Paid 115.00.Thicker butt. I used it for years. Great cue. Never booked a loser with this cue. Used it when I was on the road with Eddie Taylor.
Then Danny and I both ordered cues from Dick Helmsteder in Chicago. Willie Hoppe style with linen wrap. Paid 125.00. Most expensive cue I ever owned. Beat everyone I played for 5 years except Eddie Kelly. Used it until I started making cues myself.
Bill Stroud
Click to expand...


Bill -

Do you still have any of those old cues?

Ken
 
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