Does age of cue matters?

RafaReyes

RafaReyes

Super Rafa
Silver Member
Regardless of who's signature is on the cue, does the age matters?
Let's say you have a cue which is 30 years old, and a same (equal properties, identical) cue which is brand new, can we say they are both of same value, does the newer one (newer materials) is of more value, or the older one.

I ask the question because I see many older cues on sale many times more than what the original price was. To me older is old, don't matter what it is.
 
RafaReyes said:
Regardless of who's signature is on the cue, does the age matters?
Let's say you have a cue which is 30 years old, and a same (equal properties, identical) cue which is brand new, can we say they are both of same value, does the newer one (newer materials) is of more value, or the older one.

I ask the question because I see many older cues on sale many times more than what the original price was. To me older is old, don't matter what it is.
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Supply and demand.

The older cues become more scarce with time and some of them are quite desirable. If you want one, it might cost you a great deal.

This is a matter of appreciation of value over time. It is a market force, not an inherent characteristic of the item. If people didn't want them, the prices would be weak.

You can speculate on such matters as well. Certain cues were not so valuable at one time, didn't really attract attention, but they become "hot" and the value goes up. If you speculate, buy low, sell high, you try to predict which cues will appreciate the best in a certain time frame.

Also, when a cue maker dies or retires or a company closes the value goes up because you can't get those any more. Classic examples would be Mottey cues, retired. Huebler, when he went out of business his cues started going up. Abe Rich, died, cues started going up.

Lastly, some of the older ones actually are superior in design, craftsmanship, and playability, so it can transcend their value as collectibles or antiques. And you simply can't buy a new one. You can't buy a new C or D series McDermott (actually there are a couple rare ones available right now, brand new). You can't buy a new Balabushka or Gus Szamboti. Those cues are superior playing cues, and there are others of similar stature that are only available used...old...no new ones will ever be produced again.


Since you don't seem to like old cues, if you have any, please contact me, I will be happy to take them off your hands. :)


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there are some people who claim the older cues hit better because the wood changes over time.
I don't know if this is true or not ,just have heard it for years.
 
I have a bunch of old cues on ebay that will probably go pretty cheap. I like old wood...
 
measureman said:
there are some people who claim the older cues hit better because the wood changes over time.
I don't know if this is true or not ,just have heard it for years.
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I have heard similar. No doubt wood changes with time. When we call wood stable or stabilized it isn't exactly so..it will change eventually, so it's really only "relatively" stable. But that change will eventually be for the worse as well, wood will degrade eventually, no doubt about that. Whether or not it improves to any extent with time as far as cue performance goes is something I am just not sure about. I do like a nice patina though, so in my eyes that is an improvement.


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RafaReyes said:
Regardless of who's signature is on the cue, does the age matters?
Let's say you have a cue which is 30 years old, and a same (equal properties, identical) cue which is brand new, can we say they are both of same value, does the newer one (newer materials) is of more value, or the older one.

I ask the question because I see many older cues on sale many times more than what the original price was. To me older is old, don't matter what it is.
Click to expand...
Some other things influence the pricing.... Like economics

I paid $400 for my first "custom" cue. It was a better than average Rempe model Adam from Hemstettler. (sp)

That was in late 70's dollars. Minimum wage was less than $2.00, a new car was well under $10,000 and average income was a fraction of what it is today.

For example, I bought a brand new VW Super Beatle off the dealer's lot for $2049 in 1972. Really wanted the low end Porsche or Karman Ghia but they were in the $3,000+ range and totally out of the question.

To an extreme, in the 60's a Balabuska could be found in the $100 range

So do the math, a cue "costs more dollars" today than when it was new due to inflation regardless of the change in materials or arguable qualities.
 
I have a cue I bought in 1964 and shoot with it once in awhile. It still feels like a good solid hit for 48 years old.
 
I REALLY like the old growth shafts. They do feel different to me and they don't get as dirty from chalk. Anyone else notice that?
 
Musical instruments made out of wood can go up in value over centuries and many use maple in their construction ..... :grin:
 
Scaramouche said:
Musical instruments made out of wood can go up in value over centuries and many use maple in their construction ..... :grin:
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good point! Try to convince a guitar player that the wood on a 63' Strat will give you the same tone as a new Strat.
 
If a cue stayed straight say over 20 years, then the chances it warping are pretty slim. I heard it takes years for Southwest to make a shaft, because they wait something like 3-4 months between cuts. Same premise, let the wood sit, see which stays straight, and cull the rest.

LAlouie said:
An older cue has stabilized. You don't have to worry about the woods shifting
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