Cues that should no longer be played with

[West Point 1987]

The money in games have changed drastically, you have pro players living on the street literally now...before that they could at least make a decent living. Most of these custom cue markers probably can't afford to sponsor a player now with the way the market is right now for cues.

Back in the day custom makers would "loan" a cue to a top player to use, usually on the condition that the cue came back to them at some point. Players started selling them off shortly after getting them and the makers got burned. Also, a lot of these cues weren't $5k back then, either. You still see a lot of SW cues and the occassional Gus out there, but a lot of the players that had the high end cues aren't playing anymore and the next generation stuck with production cues. There are still a lot of custom cues out there, but not as many really high end ones.

 

[Cuemaster98]

Well...I think you see mostly production cues in the hand of pro players because they're the only one left with sponsorship and it ain't anywhere near where it used to be. If the Pro players were all making decent money, I'm sure you'll see them all playing with high end custom cues. I don't think it's by choice that they're playing with production cues.

Back in the day custom makers would "loan" a cue to a top player to use, usually on the condition that the cue came back to them at some point. Players started selling them off shortly after getting them and the makers got burned. Also, a lot of these cues weren't $5k back then, either. You still see a lot of SW cues and the occassional Gus out there, but a lot of the players that had the high end cues aren't playing anymore and the next generation stuck with production cues. There are still a lot of custom cues out there, but not as many really high end ones.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Great question Bill,

Pretty straightforward rule that I am making up right here and now that everyone should follow to the end of time absolutely is if you spend more than one month of your income on a pool cue, you should not play pool. Sure, go ahead and buy as many cues as you like, but you are now banned from playing pool.

Cues serve the purpose of putting the little round balls into the little round pockets. Sure, there is room for individuality, art, style, variety and even a bit of ego. Understandable that it feels good to shoot with a cue you like (for whatever reasons) and other people like.... O Yeah, that's my Stealth cue with a 30 inch Schmelke shaft baby! WOOOoooooo!!!

However, when people start toting around cues that sell for as much as my car.... there needs to be some kind of intervention. The intervention I have chosen is an outright ban on such persons from any and all establishments that identify themselves as a Pool Hall or Billiards Parlor. It just has to be done so that Cue Sports remains focused on the actual achievement in Cue Sports that awaits all who are able to focus on the game itself.................................. unlike.......... some... people.

So when a cue becomes so rare and so valuable that it would result in a felony charge if someone stole it.... right about there, that is a good demarcation point for where you need to shelve that particular cue, or simply retire from playing altogether. Buy yourself a nice brand spankin new Dufferin two-piece or (if you are feeling spendy) a sweet McDermott Cue, mass produced right here in the US of A and GO GETTUM!

So take your Rambow, Balabushka, Paradise, Searing, Stroud, Bloodworth, Arthur, Rauenzhanenzazenhouzen, Black Boar, Gina, Diveney, TaD, Bender, McDaniel, yadda yadda yaddahhhhh cues and stick to your beach houses and mansions... invite over your blue-blooded oxygenarian one-percenter buddies and have a blast. Maybe you can have an unemployed customer service professional rack the balls and pour 50 year old scotch for the evening. Harrumph!

Bacon flavored Pickles,

Lesh

None of my cues are worth one month of my salary.....

Ken

 

[ghost ball]

In a slightly different light, cues made by a dead beat cuemaker like (insert dead beat cuemaker here) should no longer be played with....

 

[bdorman]

I play all the time with my OB121.

My old Player's HXTE10 (2 year old antique) is now for show only...until I put it up on ebay.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Can anyone recommend what a general rule seems to be on what price point cues get too expensive to use rather than to just collect.

When the value of the cue is ove 1% of your yearly income, it might be too expensive to play with.

This might be $500 for the median income
This might be $5,000 for a 1%er
This might be $5,000,000 for a billionaire

So, no one number states the answer, but a percentage of total income might.

 

[Mr. Bass Man]

In spite of the fact that I made it the cue I played with was in the 10k range. It wasn't being used as a show piece but because it played like a dream. Personally I don't quite comprehend collectors who hang them on the wall or hide them in a vault. Even museum who have priceless musical instruments take them out occasionally for a romp. Personally I believe priceless guitars, violins, etc....wood items like pool cues too, get better with age and playing time. I'm not sure if it's the vibrations or compression or what it is but I think they do get better the more they're used.

This is true for me as well, my double bass is 200+ years old and in excellent condition and it's the only one I play! As for wood in general it settles considerably over time and weather changes and is always more stable afterwards. The backs and tops for most violin family instruments are cut oversized to anticipate shrinkage over the course of 100 years and within the first 30-50 years they don't sound very pleasant. I feel like good cuemakers have this same longevity in mind and there is definately a settling process that I feel really enhances the response. In a certain aspect, collectors may be profiting of off this stabilizing timeframe but doing a fine job of finding the players who want to play with them (and can afford them) but I always have to hit with my sticks no matter the age or maker/value. I think they all have a voice like a well made musical instrument as well and mojo is definately a plus in my book

 

[Gary G]

super hot model

The real question is why buy a pricey cue without plans
of playing w it ? Thats like marrying a super hot model and
not ..... well you get my point . If you have it you better use
it before you lose it . just my 2cents worrh. :thumbup:

 

[classiccues]

Well cues are meant to be played with... they are also NOT like other sports equipment.

Golf Clubs.. lets say you wanted to play with a set of clubs that were made in the 40's. Could you? Could you hold par?

A Rambow, I witnessed a guy run a 75, and three racks of 9 ball with one in the last few years. So drop off.. not as bad.

Baseball bat... Wood.. shapes have been refined. An older fat bat, would not be optimal for the new rules and stronger pitchers...

Balabushka.. same, my partner can run a lot of balls....

Tennis rackets. Would anyone even try it? What would be the drop off of a tennis champ using an old wood racket.. could they beat anyone in a tournament?

The technology in cues has evolved, but NO where near the pace of the other sports. One other fact that still remains.. most if not all the "records" have been set with what we would call vintage or standard cues. Mosconis 526, Earls 13 racks, I am sure there are others.. if the difference was THAT large, wouldn't they have fallen by now? No LD, no CTE PRO, No Gloves... just practice.

JV

 

[Colonel]

Cues are meant to be played, I have a certain amount of contempt for collectors, they deprive the pool world of nice cues that should be played, not just admired while they have a glass of brandy & count their money. They sort of remind me of stakehorses, they really don't play well so it's their way of being around the game.


Why am I the Colonel? Because I always get the chicken