How to recognize fake cues from originals ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony0306
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Tony0306

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first of all hello to everybody here.
i ´am a new member to the board.

and my first question is:
i want to buy a new ginacue but i´m afraid to get a fake one because i heard that from balabushka cues there were a lot.

how can i find out if the cue that i hold in my hand is an original ?
and are there fake ginacues that are produced ?

can anybody help me.
 
you really only have to be concerned AFTER someone passes away. a cue can always be tracable when the cuemaker is still alive.

also,,,there aren't too many cuemakers who can match ernie. if you're THAT concerned, the best option is to have ernie verify the cue.
 
Oh, btw, I don't know if Ernie does this but some cue makers put some info under the wrap, e.g., name and date the cue was made. The next time you need a new wrap, have the person doing it show you what's under the old wrap before they put the new wrap on.
 
I don't think there are many "fake" Balabushka's! You might be refering to the new Balabushka's that are now made by the Helmstetter company. They bought the rights to the name Balabushka. Don't get me wrong, these are not the "Balabushka's" that everyone wants, but at the same time, they are not "fake", just new and not made by Balabushka himself (for obvious reasons). Pretty much all cuemakers leave their mark on their cues in some fashion or another. There are many respectable collectors and salesman that can identify pretty much any cue.
Best of Luck!!

Zim
 
what i read of your posts is that iam too concerned and that the chance to get a fake cue is low.

the reason why i was so concerned is that i never played with a ginacue before and i couldn´t make a difference.

and they are of course very expensive.

I live in europe and i have almost no chances to ask somebody except for you on this board.

and how can i verify the cue by ernie gutierrez.
i´m afraid that on the way to usa the cue could be taken away on the boarder because of the possible ivory.

and do you have any other advises for me before i should hand out the money ???

thanks for the help
 
Tony- where in Europe are you at? I was in Germany for 3 years, traveled back and forth from there to the US many times with my Espiritu cue (with Ivory) and nothing was said. You will be fine.

Zim
 
Tony0306 said:
what i read of your posts is that iam too concerned and that the chance to get a fake cue is low.

the reason why i was so concerned is that i never played with a ginacue before and i couldn´t make a difference.

and they are of course very expensive.

I live in europe and i have almost no chances to ask somebody except for you on this board.

and how can i verify the cue by ernie gutierrez.
i´m afraid that on the way to usa the cue could be taken away on the boarder because of the possible ivory.

and do you have any other advises for me before i should hand out the money ???

thanks for the help
Click to expand...

then the best advice is to buy from a reputable dealer, like classiccues.com

you can always call ginacue and ask if there are any "laying around".

there is ilovecues.com, but they are expensive.
 
I wouldnt ship the cue back to the states. I would take pictures and send them to Ernie. He has email. Make sure the pictures are clear and in sections of the cue from joint to butt cap.
 
"The Blue Book of Pool Cues" has good basic info about many cues. It shows the logos of past and present cues..well worth the investment.
Email photos to Ernie is a great idea!!!
I have been around LA a lot over the last 30 years and have seen many Ginacues. I have not heard of any "Fakes".

Heard about a few "Tads" and "Balabushkas"(not the Helmstetter version)...saw a couple in Texas about 10 years ago.
 
thank you all very much for the many posts and advices.
i feel really welcome on this board.

shipping the cue to usa is for me also expensive.
originally iam from turkey but i live in germany now.
sending photos instead by email to ernie is a very good idea.
i think i will do that.

i also checked classiccues.com but unfortunately there were not many ginacues but of course very other good cues too.

maybe i could order a new custom ginacue from classiccues but for sure you can understand me that i can´t wait anymore several months for my cue ;) :D

as soon i get my cue i will share the photos with all of you :)
 
Tony0306 said:
thank you all very much for the many posts and advices.
i feel really welcome on this board.

i also checked classiccues.com but unfortunately there were not many ginacues but of course very other good cues too.

maybe i could order a new custom ginacue from classiccues but for sure you can understand me that i can´t wait anymore several months for my cue ;) :D
Click to expand...

Tony,
Ordering a Gina from us would take the same amount of time as if you ordered one direct. You have gotten some very good info from this group. As rule of thumb, if the cuemaker is alive always check with him first, as far as deceased cuemakers check with a few sources. Everyone has their preferred "verifier" of cues, sometimes even the best have differing opinions. Thats when it gets sticky.
If you purchase a pre-owned cue, then you should go to a reputable dealer. Especially if thousands of dollars are going to change hands. If the seller has "papers" then you can feel a little safer.
I have not seen many fake Gina's, I have however seen cues that were Gina copies. Where a cuemaker likes a Gina pattern and does a copy of that pattern. Normally most cues are signed, so it shouldn't be to confusing.
As far as Zim and no fake Bushka's. Zim let me tell you there are some dynamite copies floating around. Some done unintentionally and I would bet some done very intentionally. A decent cuemaker with a machinists background could do a damn convincing cue, IMHO. A very good friend of mine, who is a collector, has a very funny saying.. George made 1200 cues... 1500 of them happen to be in Japan. LOL.

Joe
 
Then i think i should contact Mr. Ernie Gutierrez personally.
I hope he can send a Ginacue to Germany.

Does anyone have the Email or the Adress of Ernie Gutierrez ?

Thanks again in advance
 
GINACUE...
Ernie Gutierrez
5424 Vineland Ave
NOrth Hollywood CA 91601

818-509-0454
FAX 818-509-1231

sorry do not know about an Email address
 
Rickw said:
Oh, btw, I don't know if Ernie does this but some cue makers put some info under the wrap, e.g., name and date the cue was made. The next time you need a new wrap, have the person doing it show you what's under the old wrap before they put the new wrap on.
Click to expand...

On the new Gina cues (since at least 93) he has his mark on the butt and in the joint around the pin there is a small number stamped, it's the year made and the cue #, with this number Ernie can tell you ever bit of info about this cue as well as make a replacement shaft with out the butt that will match perfect. There are not many knockoffs because if you're able to do this quality of work you wouldn't need to use his name. Some high end Gina's have a signature and a silver Ginacue logo on them. These cues are easy to notice from across the room, they are the best cues made. My advice is to call him yourself and order a cue direct, the turn around time isn't long, but the price may be.

Jim
 
Zims Rack said:
I don't think there are many "fake" Balabushka's!
Zim
Click to expand...

LOL that's funny. Balabushka is the most copied cue ever, after TCOM the prices shot threw the roof and every cue was a bushka, many people got ripped off. One big problem is back then (60's-70's) most cues looked the same and nobody (other then Gina) was marking their cues, many old Joss and Blacks were often passed off as Bushkas by people looking to add a few dollars to the sale. On a side note I believe Southwest style is the most copied cues today, but that;s just a look and I don't see many people trying to sell them as SW's, but they are trying to piggyback on the "HIT". If someone tells you the cue "hits just like a SW" stay far away from them.

Jim
 
thank you very much ajrack.

meanwhile i received the email
and he also sent me a catalogue of some of his cues.

they are very beautiful but also expensive.
i will order one now but i hope it is possible to send it to germany.
 
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