How good are Balabushka cues?

[flyvirginiaguy]

The Adams Balabushka cues seem to have changed a bit over the years. Originally, these were made in Japan (early-mid nineties is I believe about the time the first ones come out?) and were quite good cues that I would easily compare to Schon, McDermott, Viking, or any other like maker. The newer line of GB Adams cues do not seem to hold the same weight imo. I also noticed the most recent GB Adams cues, I have seen pics of, seem to have a thinner nickel ring at the joint collars.

 

[wontonny]

I have a Adam Balabushka replica GB-04. I find it to be a good, solid cue. All components are seemingly of high quality. Although on my particular specimen the rings near the buttcap are raised above the finish and you can even hook a fingernail on them. It doesn't seem to affect play, as there is no rattling I can detect. It's a great platform to expand your quiver of shafts since the 5/16x14 pin is used by many great cuemakers. i have hit it side by side with an Adam cue of similar styling. The GB cue hit more solidly in my opinion than the regular Adam cue.

 

[kvinbrwr]

I have a Adam Balabushka replica GB-04. I find it to be a good, solid cue. All components are seemingly of high quality. Although on my particular specimen the rings near the buttcap are raised above the finish and you can even hook a fingernail on them. It doesn't seem to affect play, as there is no rattling I can detect. It's a great platform to expand your quiver of shafts since the 5/16x14 pin is used by many great cuemakers. i have hit it side by side with an Adam cue of similar styling. The GB cue hit more solidly in my opinion than the regular Adam cue.

That's "ring pop" and it probably wasn't built that way and can happen as components age or dry out and has been known to happen it some pretty high quality cues.

 

[measureman]

That's "ring pop" and it probably wasn't built that way and can happen as components age or dry out and has been known to happen it some pretty high quality cues.

that's true-it has happened on my Lucasi
I think the new Adam Buskas are made in China now.
Funny thing the price is still the same as the ones that were made in Japan.
So probably not as well made and still the same price.
Smart move for them.

 

[kvinbrwr]

that's true-it has happened on my Lucasi
I think the new Adam Buskas are made in China now.
Funny thing the price is still the same as the ones that were made in Japan.
So probably not as well made and still the same price.
Smart move for them.

I think they are made in China now and I think the better ones were Japanese product.

Has the company just moved production to China or was Adam bought by a Chinese company?

Those ring pop Lucasis are collector items, keep it original.

Kevin

 

[wontonny]

that's true-it has happened on my Lucasi
I think the new Adam Buskas are made in China now.
Funny thing the price is still the same as the ones that were made in Japan.
So probably not as well made and still the same price.
Smart move for them.

Yeah this cue was discontinued in 2008 and purchased around 2009. I'm glad I snagged one of the Japanese made cues.

 

[ctyhntr]

I find this forum has many knowledgeable people who will be happy to give you advice if you ask with respect. Kvinbrwr is simply trying to be helpful by clarifiying whether the OP is referring to an Adam licensed cue, or George Balabushka made cue.

For cue collectors, the difference could be thousands of dollars especially if the licensed version was misrepresented as an original. As for playability of a Adam Balabushka, I assume it would comparable to other Adam cues.

Here is a review on Schon's Balabushka tribute cue, since the OP asked how Adam Balabushka compared to Schon.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=263817

When you say "obviously" would that mean "clear to everybody" or "clear to everybody that was in your head"? If you'll take a look at the OP's post #14 (in response to your post #13), you might be able to see that the point you were making to the OP was obscured by his lack of understanding about which older Balabushka you were speaking of. Which is why I suggested what I did.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I know original Bushkas are worth a ton, but I'm not afraid to say they're nothing impressive to play with. I hit balls with two, and walked away thinking...is that it?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[kvinbrwr]

I know original Bushkas are worth a ton, but I'm not afraid to say they're nothing impressive to play with. I hit balls with two, and walked away thinking...is that it?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Yeah for sure its not like an old George will hit balls 10 times better than a PJ Tad. Its probably not the superior hit that holds the cache (although I've seen guys try to claim it).

Kevin

 

[measureman]

Yeah for sure its not like an old George will hit balls 10 times better than a PJ Tad. Its probably not the superior hit that holds the cache (although I've seen guys try to claim it).

Kevin

The appeal is there are only so many made and there will be no more made.
Kind of like a '57 Chevy.If you want one bad enough you will pay the price asked.
And courtesy of Skierlawyer I had the pleasure of playing with 2 of his original Buskas. Do they play 10 times better then a good modern cue? No. But they sure play real good.
I think the main thing I took away from them was the balance was perfectly neutral with good solid hit.

 

[kvinbrwr]

The appeal is there are only so many made and there will be no more made.
Kind of like a '57 Chevy.If you want one bad enough you will pay the price asked.
And courtesy of Skierlawyer I had the pleasure of playing with 2 of his original Buskas. Do they play 10 times better then a good modern cue? No. But they sure play real good.
I think the main thing I took away from them was the balance was perfectly neutral with good solid hit.

Sure, and like your example of the 57 Chevy, what they were to the market and culture back when they were made. Nobody would try to argue that a 57 Chevy drives better, safer, more efficiently, etc than a modern car, but still people line up to own one (and pay far more than they would for a brand new, fuel efficient, safe, tight tolerance, starts right up, modern auto).

Same with a Gus or a Balabushka, these guys set the standards for the craft in many ways and those that collect them collect them out of respect for that. Trying to see their value in their playability is missing the point a little.

Kevin

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

YUGO is a Name also, like You Go Buy a Cue.

 

[BBC]

Balabushka

How good is a Balabushka is like saying how good is a Brunswick Titlist Full Splice Cue...

Back in the day most Pool halls were equipped with Brunswick Full Splice Cues and they hit pretty darn good when properly maintained, Tip, Shape, etc.

What I am trying to say Balabushka used a Full Splice Veenered Blank as a foundation, with enhanced features for Feel and Balance, combined with the correct woods his cues were perfect.

Sounds familiar, Rambow started it, Spain, Szamboiti and many others carried out this tradition and today the tradition comtinues, some of the best hitting cues on the planet are Full Spliced Cues!

I don't own a Balabushka and will probably never will, why I say this is because of the stories I hear of counterfeits, collectors that got burnt, etc...

Don't get me wrong, a Balabushka Cue is Fantastic cue, I am a Chicago guy and my heart is with Chicago Cue makers, Rambow, Spain, Hercek, Davis, Petersen.

Regards,

Joe

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

I know original Bushkas are worth a ton, but I'm not afraid to say they're nothing impressive to play with. I hit balls with two, and walked away thinking...is that it?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

You must also take into account what cues you hit with too. George custom made all of his cues to pretty much exact specifications of the customer (even more so than is done today in most accounts). If someone ordered a cue from Geroge with a 12mm shaft, I would hate it myself. So that's the dilemma of playing with a cue made for someone else, in a lot of cases. Weight, balance, shaft taper, shaft thickness etc.....

I have hit with quite a few of them over the years, and some were awesome, and some not taken very good care of. One in particular, which is one of the later cues George would have made, is the best cue I have played with. The tone of the cue is phenomenal to say the least.