How did you happen to become a cue collector or dealer?

[Snapshot9]

Let's hear some stories about how you became a cue collector or dealer?

1) Did you mean to when you started out?
2) Did it just kind of snowball on you later on?
3) What type of cues do you like to handle?
4) Do you try the cues, and decide if you want to keep as your player?
5) Do you make money doing what you are doing?
6) Are you an addict?

 

[GoldCrown]

I bought a Doc Frye in 1965 and a Meucci Original in 1980. Who the heck needs 2 cues? Anyway I buy a table....set up my basement....buy a wall rack....now I need to fill it. I went to the 1st (or 2nd) SBE and bought a beautiful Custom based on looks alone. I started to realize the beauty of cues custom and production cues. And the rest is history. I do not sell. I usually will buy a brand new cue if it appeals to me. Am I an addict?...No. I can stop anytime:killingme:

 

[Bill Yerd]

I started playing back the late 60's with a 42" green butt red shafted aluminum cue. I was only 6 or 7, but I knew that cue sucked even then.
My dad had a cheap gold colored aluminum cue that I would use when he wasn't home. It was definitely superior to mine and taught me that the feel of a cue was very importent.
I played casually my whole life and used whatever house cue that had a decent tip and rolled straight.
In the early 2000's I decided I wanted and could afford a decent cue.
I didn't know much about cues so I contacted Scot Shirbine of Proficient BIlliards. I asked him what was one of his best hitting cued that would appreciate in value if I took good care of it. He turned me on to an Ebony Perry Weston with Silver inlays for $1600. I asked him if he had any decent low priced cues that played well. He turned me onto a Demo Lucasi L-EL for $75. I liked them both, but thought the Lucasi played as well as the Weston. Different feel, but just as playable. I heard many good things





about Southwest Cues so I purchased one of the post Jerry cues for a
similar price for what I paid for the Weston cue. I figured it was a fair
comparison. I liked the SW better so I sold the Weston. I was hooked. I
decided to purchase another high end cue and compare the playability to
my SW and keep my favorite. About 50 cues and 40 or so cue makers later
is where I'm at now. My worst purchase was a 1968 Plain Balabushka for
$8,000. I only played 3 or 4 racks with it and sold it a couple years ago for
$5,900. Basicly it cost me $2,100 to keep the cue in safe storage for the
new proud owner. Plus the priceless hassle of selling it. Recently sold the
Lucasi and now I regret it. I'm currently looking for a cue under $100 to
replace it as my bar cue. Come to think of it, the Lucasi and the Balabushka had a very similar feel. After all, they were both about $140 brand new.