Gina cue
- Thread starter Dakid
- Start date
Dakid...I have exactly the same cue. I was told that Ernie made this design for Eddie Kelly, and that there are only a few of them out there. I think Manwon has one also. Can you post a pic of the butt sleeve?
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I had a cue exactly like this, growing up in SF.
Posted before, but whadda hey:
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(insert flashback music) I owned an eight-point Gina when I was a teenager, growing up in SF. ALL the top players on the West Coast, at that time, used a Gina -- a few, played with a TAD. I bought it off a fellow named Dennis, who, in a moment of temporary insanity, sold it to me -- with three shafts and a black alligator Gina case -- for $150. Several years later, I sold it back to him for $250. Ah, youth.
Flash forward 25 years or so and for our tenth anniversary, my wife asked me what I would like for the event (keep in mind that I had a custom made,1 carat emerald cut diamond, with baguettes, in the works for her). I blurted out that I always regretted selling that Gina, so many years ago. She said, "If he's still around making cues, get on the phone and get what you want.
I called Ernie and told him the story and described the cue I had previously owned. He said, yes, he remembered the cue, but didn't make them quite that way any more, and if I wanted one, he'd have to pull out the drawings, spend some time on the computer, and reload the specs. I said great, but with some small changes: I wanted the joint, the inlays, and butt plate in ivory, and a leather wrap. He said no problem and that he would be happy to charge me appropriately. He said eight months.
Six months later he called and said he was sending leather samples for the wrap. He also said that when he looked at the drawings, he saw that he use to make this particular cue with an additional ring below that wrap that I had forgotten to mention. He said he took the liberty of adding it, in ivory, at no additional charge, so that it would look just like the cue I had previously owned.
A week later it was in my hands. It was absolutely flawless -- exactly as I remembered it, but better.
As to it's playing characteristics, I will tell you the following in complete honesty: when I first got it, I wasn't sure I liked the way it hit. It's a firm solid hit, that somehow, sounds soft. Sorry, I can't describe it any other way. In fact, it was only after three or four other players asked to take a few shots with the cue, that I could hear how soft a hit it had (with hard Mooris).
But nonetheless, despite my minor misgivings, I seemed to make a lot of balls with the cue. After just two days, I felt like I was playing a couple of balls better with this cue than I had with any other. I dismissed it as just being "new cue syndrome."
But then, people started telling me (mostly opponents I was relieving of cash) that I had suddenly improved two balls. My practice runs jumped way up. My confidence went way up. After a couple of months I called Ernie and told him how much I loved the cue.
And then I asked, "You know, everyone tells me I'm playing two balls better than before with your cue."
And he said, "I've built special test equipment and my cues are 97% accurate. The cue alone is worth a ball and a half."
Now, you can take that as "a sales story," or hype, or PR or whatever you want. But for my money, you couldn't pull this cue out of my hands with a Mac diesel.
IMO, Ernie is THE greatest living cuemaker. And, IMO, you should get one while you can. It will cost you. But it will be worth every single last penny.
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By the way, what do the veneers look like at the bottom?
Lou Figueroa
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more gina cue pics
here is a picture of the butt...file is too big for more pics...manwa took pictures of my cue and posted them before I joined the forum...anyway, this cue for being 40 yo hit better than most any cue I've handled. The story I got from Whitey when he had it is the same, Eddie Taylor was supposed to have one I heard also Jackie Gleason was an owner as well. I had the cue from 1970 to 1974 when the guy that owned it wanted it back. (he loaned it to me...very nice guy..just loved to watch me play with it) Anyway I run into him for the first time since 74 in 2003. I lets me take the cue to Charolotte to play in a BCA qualifier for Vegas (I live in Tacoma, Wa) I do so well that he said that in his old age he'll never play with it and his kids don't appreciate what it really is. He GIVES it to me. Talk about speechless.....anyway it brings back memories of Whitey teaching me the way around a table, the games I played with him to end his exhibitions (I was 15 and running 50-60 balls, never ever beat him) and of course the lessons on matching up. I remember he would ask me, Kid, how much money do ya have in your pocket? I'd tell him and he would let me try to match up with him. After he took my money, he would let me know how I messed up and told me if he played me for fun I wouldn't remember the lesson...it had to hurt a little...he was right...what great memories this cue has for me. To hear that this cuemaker can make a cue that makes you want to shoot better is great to hear from others as well... if you want a couple more pics to follow let me know and I can take a few more...like showing off pictures of your kids....
here is a picture of the butt...file is too big for more pics...manwa took pictures of my cue and posted them before I joined the forum...anyway, this cue for being 40 yo hit better than most any cue I've handled. The story I got from Whitey when he had it is the same, Eddie Taylor was supposed to have one I heard also Jackie Gleason was an owner as well. I had the cue from 1970 to 1974 when the guy that owned it wanted it back. (he loaned it to me...very nice guy..just loved to watch me play with it) Anyway I run into him for the first time since 74 in 2003. I lets me take the cue to Charolotte to play in a BCA qualifier for Vegas (I live in Tacoma, Wa) I do so well that he said that in his old age he'll never play with it and his kids don't appreciate what it really is. He GIVES it to me. Talk about speechless.....anyway it brings back memories of Whitey teaching me the way around a table, the games I played with him to end his exhibitions (I was 15 and running 50-60 balls, never ever beat him) and of course the lessons on matching up. I remember he would ask me, Kid, how much money do ya have in your pocket? I'd tell him and he would let me try to match up with him. After he took my money, he would let me know how I messed up and told me if he played me for fun I wouldn't remember the lesson...it had to hurt a little...he was right...what great memories this cue has for me. To hear that this cuemaker can make a cue that makes you want to shoot better is great to hear from others as well... if you want a couple more pics to follow let me know and I can take a few more...like showing off pictures of your kids....
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I wonder how accurate other cues are...
Wasn't there some discussion about what "accuracy" in a cue means? I think it must mean consistency.
pj
chgo
Beautiful cue, Lou! Definitely different than mine. My butt sleeve is sort of like Dakid's, but the MOP dot rings were thinner, and there was BEM, w/4 ebony blocks (larger than the ones on your cue, with MOP diamonds in the blocks, on three sides, and a silver block on the fourth side, with my name engraved in it. Mine had no wrap (and a strange handle of ebony/BEM/ebony, where the wrap would be), and the buttcap was not original (looked like an old Palmer butt cap). I had Bill Stroud refinish the cue, put a linen wrap on it, and make me a 13mm shaft for it. He also engraved the silver block. There's a picture of the cue in the March '05 BD, prior to the cue being sent back to Ernie for a complete redo, including new shafts. Ernie re-engraved S. Lee into the silver block. It's now a stunning cue! It would appear that there were a LOT of these 8-point cues made by Ernie, in different ring and butt sleeve combinations.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I dan't know either. Didn't ask... but, I may see him next week. I'll ask.
Lou Figueroa
I don't recall seeing your cue in BD, but it sounds pretty.
I've seen the butt on Dakid's cue before, but never on an eight-pointer (usually a five pointer). Obviously it's not the same as mine.
Back in the day, practically everyone in my home room played with a Gina. Quick short (but sick) story: the room I played in was part of the Town & Country chain. I think the tables were American Shuffleboard -- white sided tables, gold cloth, with a big gaping ball return. My buddy, Jerry, ordered a new Gina from Ernie. It came in and it was a very nice, dark wood, five-pointer. He has had it out of the mailing tube for, literally, just hours, and he is shooting a jacked up draw shot off the end rail with an open hand bridge. He shoots and the cue slips off his bridge hand and plunges into the ball return at warp speed.
Oh, the nick (gouges) he got in that shaft. He was sick for days.
Lou Figueroa
Nice cues guys, hey Lou do you have a closeup of the butt of the cue? 
Nice cues guys, hey Lou do you have a closeup of the butt of the cue?
Yeah, I know, I know. It's an old photo and Jimbo once gave me grief over it saying something like: Hey. Lou. Nice cue. But next time, try and be in the same zip code when you take the picture.
I don't have any close ups. I'll see what I can do, Lenny.
Lou Figueroa
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DrOoLllllllllll...............................:grin-square:That is absolutely stunning!
Now I want to see the rest of these gorgeous cues you guys are holding over my head!
Great book, great cue....makes me want to reevaluate my current collection again..... wow I love these old cues!