Cuemakers......REAL...or.....PHONY ?
- Thread starter tikkler
- Start date
Fatboy said:
I think some form of ranking is necessary, this will give buyers a clue what kind of questions to ask when they decide to have a cue made. In my opinion people using pre-made blanks should not be paid what a craftsman gets to turns his own wood, makes his own parts, and builds cue to his own design.
I also agree that there most likely be a special level of Craftsmanship for those who have been involved in this business from the pioneering days. I also agree that Ernie G, is one of those who would fit into that category, but there are others, how about Abe Rich, Mr. Rich has been involved in cue making form the 1920's to date. The gentleman make a hell of cue, but in most circles has never been given the recognition for his contributions.
My point is there certainly needs to be a set of standards for Cue Makers if only here on AZ Billiards. This way people will have a more informed idea what they are paying for, and what they may expect out resale at a later date.
hey
I like the idea of ranking, but who is gonna do it. Who out here is qualified to rank these artisans and phonies. I dont think anyone is qualified as in picking the top cuemakers. The problem is some guys are buying pre made and lying to people to sell their so called custom cues. Who is going to ferret these guys out, who is gonna know who does what....Steve
I like the idea of ranking, but who is gonna do it. Who out here is qualified to rank these artisans and phonies. I dont think anyone is qualified as in picking the top cuemakers. The problem is some guys are buying pre made and lying to people to sell their so called custom cues. Who is going to ferret these guys out, who is gonna know who does what....Steve
JoeyInCali said:
No he did not, but he was also making cues in an Era when only large companies were making cues. George was a pioneer in the custom cue making field, and his designs were revolutionary for the time frame they were made. But he was not the only one, who could be recognized from years past. However, we are speaking by today's standards, where equipment, materials, and all other cue making supplies are very plentiful. Where many forms of Craftsmanship have been reduced to CNC milling of materials.
I for one do not think that a fair comparison can be made between the pioneers of the Field and cue makers today. While there certainly are still some who can be compared, due to the techniques they chose to use, these craftsmen are certainly not common today!!!!!!
cue parts
Here is a link to what the ACA has to say about it and what it takes to be a member. Almost all cue makers have made cues from prongs and blanks at one time or another in the career (titlist conversions) but the problem comes when people try to say that they did the work them self. Up until about 2-3 years ago you could not get a full splice with veneers.
http://www.cuemakers.org/aca-mr.htm
Here is a link to what the ACA has to say about it and what it takes to be a member. Almost all cue makers have made cues from prongs and blanks at one time or another in the career (titlist conversions) but the problem comes when people try to say that they did the work them self. Up until about 2-3 years ago you could not get a full splice with veneers.
http://www.cuemakers.org/aca-mr.htm
tikkler said:
Steve, you certainly have a great point, but everything must start some where. Like I have said, we have a great deal of knowledgeable people right here on this forum. By Brain storming we may be able to at least come up with a forum standard to rate those who build and sell cues here. Who knows where our idea's may go from here, every journey starts with a single step.
How about the maker who makes Szamboti tribute cues with his cnc which was setup by another person and the g-codes written by another person?manwon said:
Bushka came up with the inlays but the foundation of the cues weren't his. Certainly, he could have milled his own blanks.
Last edited:
hey
Joey.....is this Gus tribute maker being honest in what he is making....if he is, there is nothing wrong with that. If a guy is using CNC I dont think theres anything wrong with that either, as long as he is honest about it up front...getting back to the rankings....so who is gonna say so and so doesnt make his own cues, are you ready for that fiasco...LOL...Steve
Joey.....is this Gus tribute maker being honest in what he is making....if he is, there is nothing wrong with that. If a guy is using CNC I dont think theres anything wrong with that either, as long as he is honest about it up front...getting back to the rankings....so who is gonna say so and so doesnt make his own cues, are you ready for that fiasco...LOL...Steve
tikkler said:
Steve,
I don't know if you can realistically rank guys that do things so differently. How do you "rank" two upper echelon master cuemakers where one guy does his own CNC programming and the other outsources it? Or one guy does traditional points and the other guy never makes points? Certainly none of the dealers are going to go down the path of ranking because they might try to sell said cues down the road or maybe they just don't know.
On the topic of dealers, some may know or may not what goes in to certain cuemakers' work. Overall, I'd like to see a little more transparency with information but it will probably never happen....especially now that the cost of custom cues is so high. Making cues has historically been so secretive, although it's more open now than ever before. I feel that's it very important for cue sellers to always educate their buyers on their products and the differences between other products, whenever that chance presents itself.
Interestingly.....healthcare is right in the middle of making that move (to transparency) in an effort to help better educate the patients (buyers) on things like clinical success rates, cost, accreditation, past malpractice issues, etc....and guess what, most of the doctors, groups, hospitals, etc. are in an uproar over it. You never want to look like you're doing something worse than the other guy down the street !!
Just a few random thoughts....Sean
Last edited:
JoeyInCali said:
Joey, there are certainly many scenarios that can brought into this, along with all the what ifs, but the Categories I listed in a previous post are basically the levels people building cues fall into. Like I have said, it is just my opinion and there certainly is nothing in writing I have ever seen that disagrees with it.
I know there are things that could be added to it or maybe taken away, but realistically it certainly describes most people making cues today.
i love lamp
Last edited:
tikkler said:
Steve, most of the Cue dealers and high end buyers know what they are buying. The people they do business with are known for what they do. A while back, I had a long conversation With Bill Schick, concerning another subject, and during our conversation Bill told me that the reason he would never use CNC type equipment was because his customers would no longer want his cues. Now this in the 1980's, and Bill has not changed because cause of this to this day. Now Steve, Bill is not the only Cue Maker who is using more traditional methods to build their cues, but to me personally there is something to be said for it.
Steve, it is not that hard to identify who is being Honest and who is sell a bill of goods. It may be as simple as going to there shop, to see the construction techniques they are using, that is up to the buyer. But I will say this, cues built from purchased prepared blanks that are selling for a $1000 or more in my opinion had better be built from a rare blank, not something from Schmelke.
Count Judd and Trudy Fuller. Trudy still uses the Gorton panto they bought from another maker.manwon said:
Tascarella and Nitti too iirc.
I say he's a top 5 in cuemakers now.manwon said:
hey
first of all its not that easy getting into any shop you want to. If you did you would have to know what to look for.
Joey ...I am so happy that us wallhanger collection buyers make you laugh....keep laughing as I see my investments doubling and tripling in value...hahahahahaha ....still funny ? Steve
first of all its not that easy getting into any shop you want to. If you did you would have to know what to look for.
Joey ...I am so happy that us wallhanger collection buyers make you laugh....keep laughing as I see my investments doubling and tripling in value...hahahahahaha ....still funny ? Steve
Shaeesh, I'm keeping my Enron shares.tikkler said:
I'd jump on Searings and Haleys now if I had the cash.
