Cue Value...

Zims Rack

Zims Rack

Promoting the Cueing Arts
Silver Member
I'm pretty sure there will be a few different opinions on this question...
How do you determine if a cue has gone up or down in value? If a cue is in mint, unused condition how do you know how much it increased/decresed? Does the value go up if the cue maker is no longer alive? (like paintings do) Who/what do you think is the best resource to get an appraisel on a cue if the cue maker is alive and if he's no longer with us?
I currently use the Blue Book of Pool Cues. When is a new edition going to be produced and released? What happened to the Cuemakers Calander? I haven't seen one for about 3 years!

...Zim
 
A cue is worth what somebody is wiiling to pay for it.
The Blue Book of Cues was a handy guide but wasn't a bible.
The authors and the publisher are in a legal squabble right now I heard. The publisher is contending that they own the contents of the previous two blue books.
Cues seem to sell for more on the cuemakers' area/local due to familiarity by the players of the maker.
Cues in general have terrible resale value. Just like any other used item. But, the big named cuemakers' cues tend to hold value better.
 
I have a Russ Espiritu from 2001 that has never been chalked, and only hit about 30 balls with a 314 shaft. It is in mint condition! It was $900 when I bought it new. Just curious on value! It has sentimental value that is why is has never been used and will remain in my personal collection for a long time. I hope to hand it down to my son/daughter when he/she is ready!

...Zim
 
Espiritu is one of those cues that dont hold their value. But if your going to give it too your son or daughter, its priceless.

J. Cues said it perfectly, its what someone will pay for it.
 
I find it hard to believe that an Espiritu cue wouldn't hold it's value or be worth something years down the road! But who's to say, right? Obviously J.Cues said it right, and it's not worth much to you, but maybe someone else!

...Zim
 
the blue book is merely a starting point. i think the best resource would be to ask a dealer, like joe or mark at classiccues.com. dealers know how cues are currently moving. i think right now is a bad time for moving cues.

i think the cuemaker has to be fairly important for his death to cause an increase in value of his cues.

you can't assume every cue is an investment cue just because.
 
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Cues will go up in value sometimes if the person who built them dies. Jerry Franklin era Southwest cues are a perfect example.

I have to agree with the other person on Espiritu cue. He really pumps out alot of cues and they are fairly unimpressive (nothing wrong with them, but nothing sets them apart or makes them special). Same thing with a Schon, even the LTD are not really collectable due to the amount made and the fact they are fairly standard designs.

If you want a cue that will raise in value you need to find something special about that cue. Maybe it has a very special design that makes it hit the ball very well (like a Southwest). Maybe the cue maker is known for extremely elaborate work with fine materials and amazing designs (like Cognoscenti, Black, Gina Cue, Samsara, ect....). Maybe the cue maker has been around for ages and was one of the first people to get into modern custom cue making (Joss West, Gina Cue, Paradise, Balabushka, ect...). One of the most important things though is find a person that builds few cues per a year and puts alot of personal touch into the cues (as little production techniques as possible including CNC machines) the more hand made a cue is the more of a chance it will become collectable.
 
Hi Zim, you are getting good advice from the previous posters. I have also found that geographic area to local quality cuemakers affects the recognition and sales value of a cue. For instance when I am in the Philadelphia area I find great allegiance to Scruggs cues as they are made nearby.

The Blue Book of cues functions similar to the other blue book industries (cars, etc.). They are a guesstimate at a starting point but not a final price in themselves.

A cue is worth somewhere between what you would comfortably sell it for and what a purchaser with reasonable knowledge would comfortably pay for it. When I played in Rhode Island I heard and saw much said in appreciation of Mike Webb cues.

I have also found that the best cuemakers are willing to look at your cue and will tend to give good opinions about potential value without misleading you. A case in point, I was given a custom Brunswick cue circa 1912 with original Brunswick seals on the butt, ferrule and original tip with manufacturing papers. This cue was one of my great-grandfathers playing cues and obviously is priceless to me. The Blue Book of Pool Cues helped to determine a broad price... I then shipped the cue to Richard Black for his opinion. Richard was kind enough to examine the cue and give me more names of people who could suggest a value. While I don't intend to sell it (my cues will go to my daughter) I do have a good idea of the innate value of the cue.

The cues made with consistency and creativity and playability over many years (Balabushka, Samboni, Richard Black and many others) do retain their value and have shown a tendency to increase in value upon the death of the maker ... something to consider when making a large purchase.

Jonathan
 
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