Help Needed With a Tough Decision

[shoutout33]

With all due respect, I would've gotten the DPK's certification and fixed or something. Especially if this a straight trade and NOT you paying for the cue. You could could've gotten verification and a some shaft's made from the same place. I'm pretty sure Ed Young could've hooked you up some kind of way by getting the cue verified and possibly made some shafts too. Not for sure, sure...just brainstorming.

 

[TATE]

With all due respect, I would've gotten the DPK's certification and fixed or something. Especially if this a straight trade and NOT you paying for the cue. You could could've gotten verification and a some shaft's made from the same place. I'm pretty sure Ed Young could've hooked you up some kind of way by getting the cue verified and possibly made some shafts too. Not for sure, sure...just brainstorming.

No, the JW was the good choice.

Home run, Hunter! I had no idea the JW would be that nice. I think it's worth more than the DPK. Plus it's a player - just look at it.

The newer ones are expensive - Billy charges at least $4,000 for that one.

Here's my playing cue - you can see what I'm partial to. ivory joint and buttcap, 60", ebony and pink ivory. It's about 2 years old. Wouldn't trade it for any cue.

Chris

 

[Hunter]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the input. Great cue you got there! I really like the way everything lays out on it. The pink ivory is a really nice touch, as well as the ivory on the joint and buttcap. They are great playing cues. I shot with it last night, and have nothing but warm and fuzzies...

Hey, congrats on the Palmer buy yesterday! Smokin' deal, man. Little fancier than the one you bought from me!

Take care,

Steve

 

[TATE]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the input. Great cue you got there! I really like the way everything lays out on it. The pink ivory is a really nice touch, as well as the ivory on the joint and buttcap. They are great playing cues. I shot with it last night, and have nothing but warm and fuzzies...

Hey, congrats on the Palmer buy yesterday! Smokin' deal, man. Little fancier than the one you bought from me!

Take care,

Steve

Steve,

Which one did I buy from you?

The one yesterday was something else. How often do you find a model "I" with a Szamboti forearm in basically a garage sale. I will cringe until I open the package and see what it's like.

Now I'm getting dirty e-mails from other guys - like "congrats on outbidding me. How many Palmers do you need?"

Chris

 

[Hunter]

Chris,

I'm shotgunnersteve on ebay. I just sold you one of the first/second catalog plainer models (can't remember the number) with non-veneered points and two red rings. I also sent you pics of a couple more that I had, but they were third catalog or newer. One in particular (you had me send pics of the butt screw) was a plain jane model with a black pearlized butt cap (with logo in decal form) and a red ring in the butt.

The reason I didn't bid yesterday was that I knew I had to be away from the computer, and didn't just want to put in a high proxy bid and run it up for the rest of you guys, and then get beat anyways... The Meucci was kinda scary, wasn't it? I hope the "I" is in better shape (it looks like it is). I figured the bidding could stay reasonable as most of the guys we generally bid against on these goodies are in Vegas. Once again, congrats! I don't think you could go wrong at that price...

Take care, Chris!

Steve

 

[TATE]

Chris,

I'm shotgunnersteve on ebay. I just sold you one of the first/second catalog plainer models (can't remember the number) with non-veneered points and two red rings. I also sent you pics of a couple more that I had, but they were third catalog or newer. One in particular (you had me send pics of the butt screw) was a plain jane model with a black pearlized butt cap (with logo in decal form) and a red ring in the butt.

The reason I didn't bid yesterday was that I knew I had to be away from the computer, and didn't just want to put in a high proxy bid and run it up for the rest of you guys, and then get beat anyways... The Meucci was kinda scary, wasn't it? I hope the "I" is in better shape (it looks like it is). I figured the bidding could stay reasonable as most of the guys we generally bid against on these goodies are in Vegas. Once again, congrats! I don't think you could go wrong at that price...

Take care, Chris!

Steve

Yes, I remember. You're a great seller too. Tell me, what kind of antique cue did you trade for the JW?

Chris

 

[drivermaker]

He's sending the sticks out for me to try out (which is going to be the real test, of course),

Steve

I think the REAL TEST is whether you send them all back, of course. WOW....you two guys must have known each other since childhood and became blood brothers by cutting yourselves to draw blood and linking the bloody wound.

I can't imagine just packing those 3 cues in a box, going down to UPS and feeling confident about them not damaging anything. How much would he even have to insure the 3 for?

I also can't imagine packing those 3 cues and saying, "here...swat a few balls around with these old cues and tell me what you think. Just keep your favorite and send the other two back. Try not to get any dings in them or let the dog start chewing. Take your time...get them back to me whenever you can".

I'd have to think long and hard about doing that even for my own brother.

 

[Hunter]

Thanks Chris!

I traded him a really cool marquetry cue. It was made by John Thurston (The Father of British Billiards and the inventor of the slate table top), in approximately 1820. It was in great shape and was something he needed for a wall of cues that he has collected for some time.

You're right Drivermaker. I go back a long ways with this collector, and I have been cringing on and off through the whole process! I had to send him a one piece cue that was almost two hundred years old, which I sent in a three inch diameter PVC pipe with endcaps and packed to the hilt, and it's almost scary taking these cues down to the local poolhall, but now that I've made the decision, they're staying under lock and key until he gets back from Vegas! I have been playing with the JW ever since I made the decision, though, and it's a keeper.

Steve

 

[shoutout33]

Tate, I see your point, but I hope you are not being biased on this one. Yes, I DO LOVE DPK's stuff now more than ever, but Hunter was asking what would be the "best playing" and "MOST COLLECTABLE" of the three cues. I know that $4000 is nothing to scoff at, even if you DID have the money to blow; however, Kersenbrock's starting cue price is $15,000+!!! I've called his shop and verified this with Ed Young people!!! I'm NOT making this up!

You probably could've had the cue verified (possibly for no cost...), refinished and 2 matched shafts made to get the cue back to or close to it's original glory. Then had that verified to show it was fixed by the person who made it in the first place and possibly increase it's value. Worst case scenario, you'd probably pay...what...$800 to get everything done and mabey some patience too.

I mean, I honestly don't know, but I think that investing some money in that Kersenbrock would've been worth it to get the full potential out of the cue. These cues are supposed to be investments and that's one reason why people will pay so much money for them. So if this is the case, and you have a chance to get one of the BEST investments in the industry, why wouldn't you take it?!?

Hunter, I'm pretty much babbling right now, but congrats on your Joss West. Heck, I know I can't afford one now, let alone a Kersenbrock! Also, thanks for sharing the opportunity to help you with the selection of your future cue...it was fun to dream for a minute there. LOL!!!

 

[TATE]

Tate, I see your point, but I hope you are not being biased on this one. Yes, I DO LOVE DPK's stuff now more than ever, but Hunter was asking what would be the "best playing" and "MOST COLLECTABLE" of the three cues. I know that $4000 is nothing to scoff at, even if you DID have the money to blow; however, Kersenbrock's starting cue price is $15,000+!!! I've called his shop and verified this with Ed Young people!!! I'm NOT making this up!

You probably could've had the cue verified (possibly for no cost...), refinished and 2 matched shafts made to get the cue back to or close to it's original glory. Then had that verified to show it was fixed by the person who made it in the first place and possibly increase it's value. Worst case scenario, you'd probably pay...what...$800 to get everything done and mabey some patience too.

I mean, I honestly don't know, but I think that investing some money in that Kersenbrock would've been worth it to get the full potential out of the cue. These cues are supposed to be investments and that's one reason why people will pay so much money for them. So if this is the case, and you have a chance to get one of the BEST investments in the industry, why wouldn't you take it?!?

Hunter, I'm pretty much babbling right now, but congrats on your Joss West. Heck, I know I can't afford one now, let alone a Kersenbrock! Also, thanks for sharing the opportunity to help you with the selection of your future cue...it was fun to dream for a minute there. LOL!!!

I know what you mean but these older DPK cues come up for sale regularly enough and fetch prices similar to Southwest. Here's an example of a comparable one for sale right now - this is retail at a good dealers site:

http://www.cueaddicts.com/omega.htm

He probably is only working on commissioned cues at the moment - so $15K gets you a show cue.

The later model JW cues are expensive and hard to get. They are the best cues Bill Stroud has ever made. The workmanship on mine is the most perfect I have ever seen on any cue. Also, face it - the DPK looks like a million other cues out there. Hunter's JW is just gorgeous.

Chris

 

[shoutout33]

Ok...you win...I concede.


Man...don't you just LOVE a good debate!

Shoutout<---- reluctantly knocks over king chess piece.

 

[TATE]

Ok...you win...I concede.


Man...don't you just LOVE a good debate!

Shoutout<---- reluctantly knocks over king chess piece.

OK. In that case, I give up. You win. I hope you're happy now.

 

[classiccues]

With all due respect, I would've gotten the DPK's certification and fixed or something. Especially if this a straight trade and NOT you paying for the cue. You could could've gotten verification and a some shaft's made from the same place. I'm pretty sure Ed Young could've hooked you up some kind of way by getting the cue verified and possibly made some shafts too. Not for sure, sure...just brainstorming.

If Steve is happy, thats all that matters. But logistically speaking the DPK if real, was the better choice.
Here is why: Stroud has made alot of cues, no one can deny that. The man has been making them since 1968. What that means is he has made more cues than probably anyone alive, with the exception of Richard Black and Kohara, maybe.
DPK has made very few cues in comparison. His plain 6 pointers are fetching anywhere from 2.5k to 3.8k depending upon condition. But the cues must be DPK, not Omega DPK or any other off shoot he may have been a part of. They must be DPK, and pure. Also my reference comes from actually having to sell both cues. I know I can get the $$ quickly for a DPK without alot of stock time. I know that isn't the case with JW's, and thats not because of Bill, or design, its because of there are alot out there in a plethora of price ranges.
Ponder this.. if Balabushka made 5000 cues in his lifetime instead of 1200 or so, would they still be worth as much?
One last note, a marquetry cue from the 1800's if fancy.. could be in the 8-12 even 15k range.

Joe

 

[shoutout33]

HA! I knew I was right! Tate game on man...game on!

Shoutout<---- Sets king chess piece back up to fight till all pieces fall of chess board. (Man I need to quit! )

Just kidding all! I was just anal about this because it's one thing when you are hard pressed to find a cuemakers cue when he's passed away. But when you can't get one from someone who is still alive...jeez!

 

[TATE]

HA! I knew I was right! Tate game on man...game on!

Shoutout<---- Sets king chess piece back up to fight till all pieces fall of chess board. (Man I need to quit! )

Just kidding all! I was just anal about this because it's one thing when you are hard pressed to find a cuemakers cue when he's passed away. But when you can't get one from someone who is still alive...jeez!

What you do is buy up all the examples and then take out a contract on the guy.

 

[classiccues]

HA! I knew I was right! Tate game on man...game on!

Shoutout<---- Sets king chess piece back up to fight till all pieces fall of chess board. (Man I need to quit! )

Just kidding all! I was just anal about this because it's one thing when you are hard pressed to find a cuemakers cue when he's passed away. But when you can't get one from someone who is still alive...jeez!

Simmer down teapot.. simmer down

There is a Kersh I sold last year, listed on another website. To protect that individual I won't mention the selling price. But in comparison I have a few JW's. One has infinitely more work, and the price is relatively close and its still not sold after about 6 mos, its in MINT condition. One we have has more work, not as fancy as the other, but at 1350.00 you would think it would move. But thats just the nature of those cues.