How have you acquired your cue knowledge?

[skins]

their words?

Cue makers before they were known as such. Palmer, Balabushka and a couple of others were all friends of my uncles and as a child I had the advantage of seeing them and their work also being around my uncle and his friends i was privy to their discussions and evaluations of what to look for in a good cue ! I was too young at the time to appreciate it then but now many of their words have come into play!

could you elaborate on "their discussions and evaluations of what to look for in a good cue"?

 

[HIRUN526]

1) I have learned about cues starting in the pool rooms I've hung around over the years talking with players. Books,internet and cuemakers like Dennis Searing,Bob Manzino and others.

2) My analysis is derived from information I have gathered from speaking to cuemakers and cue dealers and what players look for in cues.

3) I have two areas of inspection players cue and collector cue.

Players cue real simple: I pick up the cue and feel the feel( I prefer a cue with a slight forward balance, I hit a force follow shot,draw shot and a slow roll. I don't even consider straightness tell after I try the cue. If I like the hit then I check straightness.

Collector cue: I start at the tip and check the ferrule match and at the shaft match. I sight the taper to see if it has any waviness or uneven areas and how straight is the grain, any sugar etc., I check the collar fit to the shaft and any inlays for uniformity and precision. At the joint I check the fit to the shafts. Is the joint pin polished? I check for fit of the joint to butt. I check all inlays in the rings up and down the cue for dimensional accuracey. I use a 10x to 20x loop and check the sharpness and of all inlays respective to the pockets, I check the points for height uniformity and veneer uniformity. I look for any signs of glue on the cue. I check the veneer widths for accuracey also any rings for their sizing. I check the height of the wrap versus the cue and the shoulders to the wrap ends. Is the wrap valley even? How well is the linen wound and finished, how well is the leather installed, does the cuemaker always install the wrap at the same location on the cue(where does the wrap line up).Check the inlays in the butt base for sizing and perfection of installation. How does the butt cap fit the butt base,how is the bumper installed, is the weight bolt polished? How clear is the finish and how smooth and uniform? I have some other things I check, it takes me quite a while to check a cue.

4) Dennis Searing has had the greatest influence on me and has taught me the most. Bob Manzino has also taught me quite a bit about cues. Inspecting cues by some of the greats: Gus Szamboti,Frank Paradise,Barry Szamboti, Joe Gold, Ginacue, South West etc.I have been influenced by others over the years in pool room cue talk.

5) Player cue: strictly playablity and I don't even care what the cue looks like.
"New Cue" Collector Cues: Precision of construction and design.
Other Collector cues: Workmanship,design,rarity.

Thanks to all that gave me there opinions, I'm always looking to learn more about cue construction and collecting. AZ is a great forum and all of you that post make it happen.

Scott

 

[skins]

1) I have learned about cues starting in the pool rooms I've hung around over the years talking with players. Books,internet and cuemakers like Dennis Searing,Bob Manzino and others.

2) My analysis is derived from information I have gathered from speaking to cuemakers and cue dealers and what players look for in cues.

3) I have two areas of inspection players cue and collector cue.

Players cue real simple: I pick up the cue and feel the feel( I prefer a cue with a slight forward balance, I hit a force follow shot,draw shot and a slow roll. I don't even consider straightness tell after I try the cue. If I like the hit then I check straightness.

Collector cue: I start at the tip and check the ferrule match and at the shaft match. I sight the taper to see if it has any waviness or uneven areas and how straight is the grain, any sugar etc., I check the collar fit to the shaft and any inlays for uniformity and precision. At the joint I check the fit to the shafts. Is the joint pin polished? I check for fit of the joint to butt. I check all inlays in the rings up and down the cue for dimensional accuracey. I use a 10x to 20x loop and check the sharpness and of all inlays respective to the pockets, I check the points for height uniformity and veneer uniformity. I look for any signs of glue on the cue. I check the veneer widths for accuracey also any rings for their sizing. I check the height of the wrap versus the cue and the shoulders to the wrap ends. Is the wrap valley even? How well is the linen wound and finished, how well is the leather installed, does the cuemaker always install the wrap at the same location on the cue(where does the wrap line up).Check the inlays in the butt base for sizing and perfection of installation. How does the butt cap fit the butt base,how is the bumper installed, is the weight bolt polished? How clear is the finish and how smooth and uniform? I have some other things I check, it takes me quite a while to check a cue.

4) Dennis Searing has had the greatest influence on me and has taught me the most. Bob Manzino has also taught me quite a bit about cues. Inspecting cues by some of the greats: Gus Szamboti,Frank Paradise,Barry Szamboti, Joe Gold, Ginacue, South West etc.I have been influenced by others over the years in pool room cue talk.

5) Player cue: strictly playablity and I don't even care what the cue looks like.
"New Cue" Collector Cues: Precision of construction and design.
Other Collector cues: Workmanship,design,rarity.

Thanks to all that gave me there opinions, I'm always looking to learn more about cue construction and collecting. AZ is a great forum and all of you that post make it happen.

Scott

sounds like we have allot in common. that's a good thing.

 

[zeeder]

1) Cue lovers and collectors, I was wondering how most of you have acquired your knowledge of cues...construction techniques etc.

I've acquired all my knowledge from this forum and purchasing cues...lol.

2) How do you make an analysis of what you consider quality construction?

I typically look at pictures of cues on the web and word of mouth reccommendations and go out on a limb and purchase.

3) What do you look for in your cue inspection.

Even points, tight inlays, limited or no gluelines, straightness, rings line up, etc.

4) Has there been anyone that has guided you or influenced you over the years?

The respected members and friends I've made on this forum.

5) Does quality of construction weigh more heavily on purchase or asthetics?

Yes and no. I highly value aesthetics but I also expect the quality of construction to be there when dropping $2k+ on a cue!

6) This is not a "playability poll".

Feel is in the hand of the cue-holder...lol.