How Many Cues Are Too Many To Own????

Actually, it depends on how anal you are. If you're not anal at all, two cues is one too many. That's because you're going to leave the second one alone in the closet, sitting at a bad angle. The finish will get a bit glazed where it's sticking to the case. The wood will separate a bit from the nickel rings, or buttplate, as the cue sees nothing but temperature and humidity rises and falls. All the shafts will warp. Some of this is fixable, some is not.

However, if you're really anal, and like to take three cues with you to the pool room, and play them at least every few months, you can do quite a few more cues and not subject them to neglet. Don't be fooled here. A 10 to 20 grand Szamboti, Tascarella, Searing, Gina, Hercek, what have you, will warp and separate throughout if placed in a closet for years. Standing up will help, but it's not a substitute for bringing it out, rubbing it and hitting balls with it.

It depends on how you do it. You can be a one cue guy, and you can't take care of another one. Or, you can take the effort to take care of quite a few cues, by playing them, and keeping them from deteriorating, separating, and warping.

Good luck to the closet queens and the safe havens. They're slowly deteriorating if you don't get them out and play them. I'll say at least every four to six months, depending on climate. Preferably more often.

By the way, don't give me any crap about "My 1,500 cues are stored in a climate-controlled environment. They're good forever."

No, they aren't.
 
I Beg To Disagree.........And Strongly Disagree Too.

WildWing said:
Actually, it depends on how anal you are. If you're not anal at all, two cues is one too many. That's because you're going to leave the second one alone in the closet, sitting at a bad angle. The finish will get a bit glazed where it's sticking to the case. The wood will separate a bit from the nickel rings, or buttplate, as the cue sees nothing but temperature and humidity rises and falls. All the shafts will warp. Some of this is fixable, some is not.
However, if you're really anal, and like to take three cues with you to the pool room, and play them at least every few months, you can do quite a few more cues and not subject them to neglet. Don't be fooled here. A 10 to 20 grand Szamboti, Tascarella, Searing, Gina, Hercek, what have you, will warp and separate throughout if placed in a closet for years. Standing up will help, but it's not a substitute for bringing it out, rubbing it and hitting balls with it.




Well, I have a cue that was made by Bob Runde while he was at Schon Cues. The cue was made in 1985......Hmn.......pushing 30 years old. I stopped playing with this cue many years ago.......and it sits in a closet in a cue case and the cue is perfectly straight together and apart and the finish is immaculate......except for the ferrules that are Micarta and so the original white finish has changed color over the years........I like the way the ferrules look after aging.

So I don't what you are basing your statement on and unless you mistreat your cues through atrocious handling and storage, or the cue was inferior quality, or the wood wasn't properly seasoned, it's a mystery to me. I play with my Runde cue every few years but it's taken out more frequently because others have asked to see it......it's a glorious one of a kind design Bob and I came up with....but I haven't played with the cue for the last 10 years which is when I switched to playing only ivory joint cues.

Matt B.
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Runde

My 1984 Runde/Schon 1of 1 is still straight as an arrow after 30 years
And both shafts still straight. Bob makes some of the best playing cues
money can buy.
 
My cues are "rescues"

First, I only have six cues, plus a breaker and a two piece jumper but...

I have a sincere appreciation for the look and craftsmanship of Ernie's cues and know that he feels his cues are built to be used.

So when I see a used, reasonably priced player for sale that strikes my eye I have a difficult time not trying to strike a deal for it with the intention of having him clean it up, add a new shaft or two and place it in a new home.

Anyway, and unfortunately, it's a little too easy to become attached to these "rescues" and have had difficulty parting with them as intended.

Feeling some guilt about not using all of them often enough I try to take the cues out on a play date from time to time and let my well mannered friends and family roll the balls around the table. Strictly social and lots of fun.

So how many are too many? More than I can use or share. I don't think I'm there yet but I might be getting close.

Tony C
 
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Bavafongoul said:
So I don't what you are basing your statement on and unless you mistreat your cues through atrocious handling and storage, or the cue was inferior quality, or the wood wasn't properly seasoned, it's a mystery to me.
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My cues are well-cared for, don't get atrocious handling or storage, and they're not inferior quality, unless you consider Joss, Scruggs, Black, and Rauenzahn to be inferior. I rotate them around and make sure they all get regular play. Long periods of storage without any play or movement will generally show up on a cue, which was the point you seem to have missed. This is something Tim Scruggs always told me in the old days, and in case you need a documented authority, this is also the opinion of Ernie Guttierrez as well, during commentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9UMQ8tKp4M
 

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I have a player and a break cue in the main 2x2 case plus a player I keep in a 1x2 in the truck in case an unplanned stop at a bar crops up. I have a home table so there are a dozen random cues for guests. I wouldn't feel put out if I had to use a few of them as a player, but most of them are just 1 pc house cues or 2 pc mid level production cues.

I am not a collector unless you count the rolling rock beer stick among the house cues.... so any more would be one too many for me.
 
I have a hundred and fifty or so in the shop. I just need to live long enough to build all of them!

Sorry guys, I couldn't resist. I play with a cue i built in 92 and also carry a fancy cue for folks to look at if they are interested in me building them a cue.
 
I wanna tell you about a friend of mine, Robert. He's a great player and has been for as long as i've known him. He doesn't even own a cue! He always uses a house cue when he goes to a bar or on league night. I've asked him "why don't you buy your own cue?" His answer makes sense, he says "Why buy one when there's one laying around everywhere I play? Seems like a waste of money to me!"

He's a very good player…and he's never owned his own cue. Ever.
 
my 2 cents...

When the accumulative total resale value of all cues you may be willing to sell, is exceeded, by the total investment into the collection.
 
1 break, 1 jump
1 player cue with a backup shaft
a cheaper backup cue with 2 shafts so you can carry to bars

2-3 collection cues for hobby.
so 6-7 cues seems to be normal to usual players around.
 
phil dade said:
Just like guns... If you know how many you have at any time, you do not own enough!
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I like this way of reasoning.
As Kenny Rogers would say, There will be time enough for counting when the dealings done. Collect and enjoy what you can afford. Happy trails
 
hotrod said:
Collect and enjoy what you can afford. Happy trails
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It's all fun & games until the collection becomes a logistical nightmare.

Affordability of pool cues can cause series mental problems, and may lead into a full blown addiction.


:smile:
 
I have 6 or 7 cues, no high end cues, the most expensive one I have a little more than $1K invested. I would love to own a Tasc or a Sering, but I do not buy cues for the name on the forearm or buttcap, I buy cues because I like the way they hit/feel. All of my cues were at one time my regular players until I found one I liked better. I don't want to own a cue for the name on it if I do not like the way it hits/feels.So I guess that means if you enjoys playing regularly with all of your cues you can never have too many.
 
fastone371 said:
I have 6 or 7 cues, no high end cues, the most expensive one I have a little more than $1K invested. I would love to own a Tasc or a Sering, but I do not buy cues for the name on the forearm or buttcap, I buy cues because I like the way they hit/feel. All of my cues were at one time my regular players until I found one I liked better. I don't want to own a cue for the name on it if I do not like the way it hits/feels.So I guess that means if you enjoys playing regularly with all of your cues you can never have too many.
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fastone.......I think you hit the nail on the head.........buy what feels the best for your pool stroke.......experiment with shaft sizes, taper, cue weight, etc. and settle on the best combination which doesn't have to cost a lot .....$1100-$1300.....which is just a bit more than what you mentioned........but it is well worth it.

Let me explain why .......it goes without saying that Tim Scruggs was a tremendously talented cue-maker and his cues nowadays can cost a lot. It also is a fact that some Ed Prewitt cues are also very expensive and besides, he only makes a few and the wait is years. I own cues from both cue-makers and admittedly, both are really expensive cues which play incredible.......just the purest of vibration on hard struck shots and none on a soft stroke.....amazing cues. Now that might initially come across as bragging about those cues but I'm not really.

My Scruggs & Prewitt cues play great but know what........so do my Bob Owen and Jerry Rauenzahn custom cues I ordered. Both Bob and Jerry made me cues that play every bit as good and I know that both cue-makers can build you a custom player in the price range I mentioned. The trick is ordering a cue with specs that are fitted to what you like the best........you'll play more consistent matching the cue to your own customized specs. I am so impressed with the way my Owen & Rauenzahn cues play that this month I ordered fancy custom cues again from Bob and Jerry both.

I've never had two custom builds taking place concurrently......I just have a weakness for great cues and you need not buy the name to get what you like. In fact, I'm debating selling my Prewitt cue so I could add a fancy Joel Hercek cue since my Owen and Rauenzahn cues compete head to head with my Prewitt cue. Since Joel happens to be my favorite all time cue-maker, I might as well pursue getting a Hercek cue instead. So I know for a fact you don't have to buy a Ginacue, Tascarella, Searing, Prewitt, Haley, Mobley, Scruggs, etc. brand name pool cue. There are great cue-makers out there and the two I mentioned make cues that play as great as any you'll find and I'm basing that on my real world experience.

Matt B.
 
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