Gus Szamboti's destroyed cue?

IMHO... As much as i can appriciate the history, (as-is just a early rare WICO Szam) or as "The Easter Szam", (cuz it was resurrected). It's a Szam and should be saved. Repaired (maybe not if there was some way to validate or link it to Gus's story in the BBOC. But that's now its past!

Show it, play it & Enjoy it!
 
measureman said:
Not the only cue Gus destroyed.
Back in the 80's I hung out in a Jersey room called The Ballroom in Toms River N.J.
The owner Tony Cattucci was close friends with Gus and he would come to the room from time to time.
Gus made a Rosewood cue for Tony's daughter Gina and when he put the finish on it the oil leaked out and ruined the finish,off to the band saw.
So he made another one and it came out just fine.
This Rosewood Gus cue has an Ivory insert in the butt cap with the name Gina in it.
I have no idea if Gina still has this cue or if it got sold.
So if you see a Szam with an Ivory insert with Gina in the butt cap now you know the rest of the story.
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I liked the ballroom. The place was huge and fast tables
 
Zerksies said:
I liked the ballroom. The place was huge and fast tables
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It was a converted old bowling alley and they covered the lanes with plywood and put the tables on it,solid as granite.
There were 36 Gold Crowns with room for about 10 more but that never happened.
 
Hungarian said:
Very interesting story!! But I agree with you PowerStroke. Not knocking them but I could never get used to the hit of Szam's. For me it feels like the butt is too large in diameter and hits strange. I also can not understand why Richard Black was nominated to the International Cue Makers Association fairly recently in 2017 after, in my opinion a slew of lessor makers. It's interesting to me how different folks rank things.

Hall of Fame | International Cuemakers Association

www.internationalcuemakers.com www.internationalcuemakers.com
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I've owned and played with the following Four point, SS jointed cues: Scruggs, R Black, Szamboti forearm Palmer, Jensen ( Mike Johnson), Dzuricky (DZ), Helmstetter, to name a few. Given equal total cue weight and shaft diameter and tip hardness - I do not a huge difference in the way any of these cues play.

Just talking the feel of the hit and the cue ball response. Where I find a bigger difference is how well the cue weight is distributed- cue balance, which, to me, is very important. I find Scruggs and R Black to be the most desired cue weight balance for me - with my present R Black to be my number one choice, with Scruggs and DZ close.
 
PickPocket said:
IMHO... As much as i can appriciate the history, (as-is just a early rare WICO Szam) or as "The Easter Szam", (cuz it was resurrected). It's a Szam and should be saved. Repaired (maybe not if there was some way to validate or link it to Gus's story in the BBOC. But that's now its past!

Show it, play it & Enjoy it!
Click to expand...
I didn't even consider that the cue was literally resurrected on easter 🤯 that is wild!

I would also like to point out the discussion of people not liking the hit of a Szamboti is irrelevant in this thread as it is a discussion of HISTORY and discovery of a cue that technically shouldn't exist based off the history that is written.
 
mikemosconi said:
I've owned and played with the following Four point, SS jointed cues: Scruggs, R Black, Szamboti forearm Palmer, Jensen ( Mike Johnson), Dzuricky (DZ), Helmstetter, to name a few. Given equal total cue weight and shaft diameter and tip hardness - I do not a huge difference in the way any of these cues play.

Just talking the feel of the hit and the cue ball response. Where I find a bigger difference is how well the cue weight is distributed- cue balance, which, to me, is very important. I find Scruggs and R Black to be the most desired cue weight balance for me - with my present R Black to be my number one choice, with Scruggs and DZ close.
Click to expand...
Well then, what are the balance points of those cues?
 
mikemosconi said:
I've owned and played with the following Four point, SS jointed cues: Scruggs, R Black, Szamboti forearm Palmer, Jensen ( Mike Johnson), Dzuricky (DZ), Helmstetter, to name a few. Given equal total cue weight and shaft diameter and tip hardness - I do not a huge difference in the way any of these cues play.

Just talking the feel of the hit and the cue ball response. Where I find a bigger difference is how well the cue weight is distributed- cue balance, which, to me, is very important. I find Scruggs and R Black to be the most desired cue weight balance for me - with my present R Black to be my number one choice, with Scruggs and DZ close.
Click to expand...
Long ago I had a Black Hoppe with Richards ivory ferruled shafts. Loved the hit and wish I never sold it. After that time I became a Cog player. Different stratosphere when it comes to feel. I guess you just become used to it and there might be a placebo effect if that’s the right way to describe it.
 
From what I recall reading (or hearing at some point), Gus ran his first cue through a band saw when he saw it in the pool room years later. And some other cues after that which he wasn't happy with. But you never know!! That's a nice one and the mystery of the story definitely has some appeal. Enjoy it sir!!
 
JAlan said:
From what I recall reading (or hearing at some point), Gus ran his first cue through a band saw when he saw it in the pool room years later. And some other cues after that which he wasn't happy with. But you never know!! That's a nice one and the mystery of the story definitely has some appeal. Enjoy it sir!!
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Dang, where the heck you been? You still have my tulipwood Schon? Hope all is well
 
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