Hoppe or titlist conversion, what is your preference?

[classiccues]

One thing I have noticed is that there are two distinct attributes to the style of cue that has been called the Hoppe style. One is the ivory ring and short butt plate, the second is the titlist point or blank.

What makes a Hoppe, a Hoppe?

The ivory ring, the short butt plate? The titlist points? Combination of both?

IMHO I think the ivory ring and short butt plate are the most obvious. The ivory ring above a standard 1 1/2" butt plate is just an ivory ring. Only in a short butt cap situation should it be called a Hoppe Ring.

I do not think a titlist blank is the deal breaker here. I see a few Hoppe style cues in no point or no veneer cues. Although the titlist is the only cue with and without ivory rings to bear the Hoppe stamp and sticker which is a little irony.

Examples...

BTW Both Bushkas. 38 years this past Thursday he has been gone...

JV

 

[classiccues]

2 Kleins in process

One will be a Hoppe ring... (Sold)

The other will be a smoking titlist conversion. I just put the pattern together and I am real happy with the layout. The titlist is some sort of quilted wood, really popped after the first turn. Also the blanks are as bright as any I have some across. (Available)

Joe

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

Nice

One will be a Hoppe ring... (Sold)

The other will be a smoking titlist conversion. I just put the pattern together and I am real happy with the layout. The titlist is some sort of quilted wood, really popped after the first turn. Also the blanks are as bright as any I have some across. (Available)

Joe

The Hoppe is yes the ring with short butt cap the ivory is against the wood for a true hoppe style. Some builders add a 1/8 black ring before that just to add strength then the ivory over that then the butt cap. Nice titlist cues by the way. I just picked up 2 more 1940s rosewood s all original I posted a teaser the other day I got lucky I was really nice to the lady that sold me the one I got an email saying I have 2 more you want them! I jumped on them like a fat kid to a cupcake! I really love the 2 you have in the 1st posting !!!!!thanks for posting

 

[classiccues]

A rare Mottey titlist with inlays and Hoppe Ring...

JV

 

[classiccues]

A rare Skip Weston.. I think he has only built two.

JV

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

Hard to beat the plain Hoppe ring style.....:thumbup:

The Howard cue used to have an ivory Hoppe ring but I had Rick change it to an ivory buttcap with the ringwork because the butt was an inch short.

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

Hoppe rings are sweet

If the cue is a one piece a true hoppe ring is the way to go on a titlist. But if your going to blow it out with inlays and a wrap just ivory butt cap. This one is in my shop right now I'm working on. The full Bowen out conversion will be ready for photos sometime next year. Love the photos guys

 

[nick serdula]

I like the titlist best.

Hop's are sweet too.





Titlist Bottom Cue



Nick

 

[mdavis228]

I've seen that Mottey Titlist somewhere before. Always loved it. Piloted joint, too, as I recall.
That is the epitome of uptown old school for me.

 

[classiccues]

Paul's protégé made this cue...

Yes it is ebony.

JV

 

[classiccues]

One more...

Initials... G.S.

JV

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

Ebony

Very sweet I have 2 that I just dint have the heart to cut! Would love to find one in rough shape and do a conversion on it. I know Gina Cues did a titlist conversion that it beautiful. Mike Webb did some wrapless ones with a hoppe ring. Beautiful cues!

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

Here we go

Take back to 2006 eBay

 

[Ken_4fun]

I have made a change in my thoughts in the last few years, I wouldn't cut up a titlist, the quality of what I have seen of titlist available is poor, and mostly overpriced.

If I was going to do a "titlist" I would just have a blank made. The quality would be much better and I wouldn't have to pay a premium for ebony or oak.

Lately I have moved to hoppe cues.

ken

 

[Ken_4fun]

One more...

Initials... G.S.

JV

Who is this GS guy, never heard of him.



Ken

 

[mdavis228]

Paul's protégé made this cue...

Yes it is ebony.

JV

Yeah... That one too. Love it!

 

[classiccues]

I have made a change in my thoughts in the last few years, I wouldn't cut up a titlist, the quality of what I have seen of titlist available is poor, and mostly overpriced.

If I was going to do a "titlist" I would just have a blank made. The quality would be much better and I wouldn't have to pay a premium for ebony or oak.

Lately I have moved to hoppe cues.

ken

Ken,
You should rethink this part of your cue experience a little bit.

A- There are very few if any, titlists that we have received Bushka, Boti, etc.. that have had any issues. What that tells me is that they are still as solid today as they were 50 years ago.

B- If the internet was available in the 70's and 80's. These guys could still have found good blanks to use, if they could search more than a 20 mile radius. The quality issues that they had were purely the fact that Brunswicks newer stuff was junk. Heck get on the net and find quite a few good ones in a few minutes.

C- I think you would be surprised if you had a good cue made from a titlist.

I think the key is keeping any additional material, or extension as far back as possible. Like Bushka did when he had to. I don't like rings above the wrap in a titlist, I also don't like the wrap so high the points become stubby. However on Szams and Bushka this is because they did try not to splice them and to achieve that, they shortened the points.

Personally I am not a huge fan of the colors of a titlist, I love the black outer veneer of a standard cue. BUT I have had some GREAT players come through and wouldn't hesitate to move into the right titlist.

Joe

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

I don't think so

I have made a change in my thoughts in the last few years, I wouldn't cut up a titlist, the quality of what I have seen of titlist available is poor, and mostly overpriced.

If I was going to do a "titlist" I would just have a blank made. The quality would be much better and I wouldn't have to pay a premium for ebony or oak.

Lately I have moved to hoppe cues.

ken

How can you say that the "Quality is poor"? Now I will say that there are some thin non one piece cues out there that can be converted into a sick conversion cue. And the reason you don't see the high quality ones is because people like me don't sell them. You could go have one made for 390-400$ go a head ill take my 70-80 years over that cue you buy any day sir. The best part about titlist cues is you may not think so but this is what started the cue boom! All and just about every cue builder in the world has made one at one point in their life times or a good % of us.
And still to say a new cue built today to outlast the the days of our masters I don't think ill be around in 70-80 years to find out if your blank holds up but I'm sure titlist will be around longer than a blank you go buy.

 

[Onecrazyplayer]

New to the collection

These are the hidden ones you have to hunt down! Pre1945 rosewood

 

[cuesblues]

These are the hidden ones you have to hunt down! Pre1945 rosewood

Here are some pre 1945 Titlist cues
The quality of there forearms look cleaner than the forearms on my Willie Hoppe signature cues.