Is playability over actual value of a cue most important?

I am curious about opinions on if you would trade a cue that is much less valuable (but hits much nicer) then the cue that you currently own?

Have any of you done this in the past (knowing that you would never get nearly as much money for a cue that you trade, but you do the trade just because you love the playability of the other cue so much more)?

Just curious if any of you have ever done a trade in the past (for a cue of less value, but better playability of your liking)?
 
I once traded a cue that I knew played better than the cue I was trading for but the other one was worth more, it took me a while to finally do it though. And it was actually 2 cues for one cue I had and both of them were worth more if I remember right. I ended up getting my cue back later on...
 
I wouldn't trade my playing cue for another cue just because it was more valuable, it would have to be something that otherwise was unrealistic to obtain in the future.
 
I just bought somebody's great playing pierce because he needed a little more cash to buy out an estate that included 4 Richard Blacks... There were no losers that day.
 
I think it would depend upon whether cue collecting is more important to you than playing. Your priority with this should dictate the decision you make.

With that said, if the money favored you enough, you should trade the great playing cue. There are a lot of great playing cues out there. If someone is crazy enough to pay you for that playability, take the profit and go buy another similar cue.
 
No, I meant to ask if the situation were the other way around? Lets say you had a very well known cue (that you knew you could get $500 for), and you found a cue (that was not as well known, or maybe not known at all) that you might only be about to get $300 tops for, but you really loved the way it played a lot more then your current cue (that you could probably get $500 for, because it is well known a popular among the entire pool playing world), would you take a $200 loss on value because you loved the hit and balance of the other cue so much more then your current cue? This question is for players out there that actually think that $200 is a good amount of money in price difference on a cue, because I know that when you get in to cues that go in the thousands, $200 is not much of a price difference.

I wouldn't trade my playing cue for another cue just because it was more valuable, it would have to be something that otherwise was unrealistic to obtain in the future.
 
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No, I meant to ask if the situation were the other way around? Lets say you had a very well known cue (that you knew you could get $500 for), and you found a cue (that was not as well known, or maybe not known at all) that you might only be about to get $300 tops for, but you really loved the way it played a lot more then your current cue (that you could probably get $500 for, because it is well known a popular among the entire pool playing world), would you take a $200 loss on value because you loved the hit and balance of the other cue so much more then your current cue? This question is for players out there that actually think that $200 is a good amount of money in price difference on a cue, because I know that when you get in to cues that go in the thousands, $200 is not much of a price difference.

Absolutely! A vendor at the BCA here in Vegas liked a Ginacue a lot that I had. He asked how I liked it. I said its great. We told stories back and forth and he found out that I play a lot and really love to play. Long story short he let me hit with a plain jane Ebony cue that he had for sale for $550. I was blown away on how it felt and the taper of the shaft and how it responded! I asked him if I could use it for the day and leave him my Ginacue as glue. I've had many many cues in the last 15 years and never had a cue feel that way. It was like an extension of my arm all in one. My Ginacue was beautiful and flawless but did not hit anywhere near that cue. Not even close. I came back the next day and He saw it in my eyes I was done! He asked let me have the Ginacue as I love this style so much I want it for myself - you can keep the Ebony Killer and anything you want in my booth. I said with conviction you can have that Gina! Throw in a custom break cue and it's yours.

I gave him the Ginacue that I paid $3200 for and got a $1500 trade value of the ebony killer cue plus a nice leather butterfly case and a break jump cue. He was happy but I was much happier. I still play with that cue til today it's my main player. Since then I have ordered 3 more cues from that cuemaker. :D

The icing on the cake is the most I ever spent with that cuemaker was $1400 which had a lot of work. It takes him 3-6 months to build a cue as his woods have been sitting there for over 10 years! For me Playability is everything! If you find it you can always ask that cuemaker to build a fancier one...
 
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As they say, everything is for sale or in this case trade.
 
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Collectibles are 5/10 percent of the cue market. There are a bunch of cues that are (great) players cues. They are most likely a cross section of cues available. Best cue hit is subjective.

High end cues are very much like the classic muscle car or antique furniture market.
After a while, who is left to give a damn? I believe if you have a classic. Hold it!
 
I hit balls for 20 minutes with a Searing in the late 90's,and not only never missed,but felt like I could split hairs with the cue ball as well,and I'm not even bullshitting.

The owner said he'd take 1300 for it with 2 shafts. I COULD have bought it with the cash I had on me,but I'd have been flat busted so I didn't.

If cash were no object,that cue would be worth 4k to me based on just the way it played. Tommy D.
 
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