I have a older gentlemen in his late 60 coming over tonight to bring his claimed balabuska that has never been played he was in the military during the time he received it. My question is what do I look for to identify this? I will post pictures when he brings it over.
How to identify a true balabuska
- Thread starter GAtexas1978
- Start date
A signature under the wrap.
If you can't check, send it to the Tascarellas for authentication
How do I go about contacting him?
You can never be sure without an authentication, usually from Pete Tascarella, who's recognized as the go to man...that said, if I saw a four point, four veneer cue with a straight grain maple forearm (not BEM or fiddleback/tiger), points a little shorter than you'd normally see in modern cues, white/green spec Cortland wrap, a brown bumper, SS 5/16x14 joint and maybe a Bushka ring at the A-joint (just ahead of the wrap), I'd get a little excited. Brightly colored enamel rings in the butt sleave are pretty unique to fancier Bushkas, but tribute cues use these, too. Verl Horn made many that passed for Bushkas in seconary market, and were jam up cues in their own right. But there are thousands of contemporary and later made cues that fit this description. They are typically a little fatter in the butt and 57" long.
Oh, and if it's signed on the forearm, then try not to hurt the old fella's feelings when you laugh...
Why would I laugh if it's signed on the forearm? I've never seen a balabuska .
If it's signed on the forearm, you still haven't seen a Balabushka...it's an Adam. :smile: I ran into a guy about 60 yo in North Carolina who proudly proclaimed he had a Bushka...from across the room I thought so, too. I asked to see it, and when I saw the signature I congratulated him and handed it back...he wouldn't have ever believed me if I told him it was made in Japan.
Ok thank you that helps.
lol i ran into a guy in a room awhile back, same situation. It was hard to keep from laughing but i didnt want his balloon all over me
You can never be sure without an authentication, usually from Pete Tascarella, who's recognized as the go to man...that said, if I saw a four point, four veneer cue with a straight grain maple forearm (not BEM or fiddleback/tiger), points a little shorter than you'd normally see in modern cues, white/green spec Cortland wrap, a brown bumper, SS 5/16x14 joint and maybe a Bushka ring at the A-joint (just ahead of the wrap), I'd get a little excited. Brightly colored enamel rings in the butt sleave are pretty unique to fancier Bushkas, but tribute cues use these, too. Verl Horn made many that passed for Bushkas in seconary market, and were jam up cues in their own right. But there are thousands of contemporary and later made cues that fit this description. They are typically a little fatter in the butt and 57" long.
Oh, and if it's signed on the forearm, then try not to hurt the old fella's feelings when you laugh...
I thought it was 5/16x18?
I could definitely be mistaken...but I always thougtht it was 5/16x14. Come to think of it, what few photos I've seen of the pin did resemble 5/16 x 18...