Modern Day Balabushka
- Thread starter Goose1972
- Start date
I don't know a ton about collector cues but I would venture to say Southwest. What is their waitlist now? 10 years?
A Dennis Searing cue.
Balabushka. the man, is what gave Balabushka, the cue, greatness. He had a loyal following of players of all levels, but especially pros, making his cues the most desirable of their day. They trusted him to make their most important tool - upon which their livelyhood depended - and he bent over backward to give them the best service possible. Even in his day Balabushka's were the most sought after cue by the highest level of player - before there were collectors paying crazy prices.
It would be tempting to answer your question with a name like Pete Tascarella who carried on the Balabushka tradition, but the fact is today the influence of the pro player has declined and given way to collectors and dealers.
There is no modern day Balabushka. As far as how cues play, in my opinion, modern day cues play wonderful but they are generic and lack individuality. Rambow, Balabushka, and Paradise cues had a sense of individuality lacking in today's cues. In terms of dimernsions, tapers, etc. today's cues are pretty much copies of a Balabushka.
the next balabushka
if balabushka's were known for their playability back in the day, and it's perceived that is what made the name what it is today. applying the same logic the answer is clear.
CUETEC!
mind you, i believe cuetec has more major tournament wins under it's belt than balabushka ever did.
if balabushka's were known for their playability back in the day, and it's perceived that is what made the name what it is today. applying the same logic the answer is clear.
CUETEC!
mind you, i believe cuetec has more major tournament wins under it's belt than balabushka ever did.
i don't know about that, there's nothing generic in the designs of today's cues, technology has made the construction heads and shoulders above what was possible 40 years ago. i think design wise the "basic four pointer" has gone by the wayside amongst most high end cuemakers.
there are plenty of cuemakers with original engineering and design work that rival that of the "basic 4 pointer". Mike Lambros, Ernie G, Drexler, Kersenbrock, Wayne, etc. the list goes on and on.
"Basic four pointer" is what I like! It pretty well describes my Josey..even and sharp points will never go out of style for me.
I know I'm going to get blasted for this, but:
I don't believe Mr. Balabushka ever built a cue! My understanding is he assembled cues. I'm not disrespecting him, I believe he put together a great cue. But, how much of his cue's playability is attributed to the great craftsmen who built the blanks?
I respectfully disagree with the person who said custom cues today are generic. I suggest you hits a couple of balls with one of Andy Gilbert's cues then hit with a Black Boar, Joss West, Southwest, Mottey, and several others. Each have a different hit. Now, with today's technology and the skill of today's cuemaker, can build what you want.
Steven
I don't believe Mr. Balabushka ever built a cue! My understanding is he assembled cues. I'm not disrespecting him, I believe he put together a great cue. But, how much of his cue's playability is attributed to the great craftsmen who built the blanks?
I respectfully disagree with the person who said custom cues today are generic. I suggest you hits a couple of balls with one of Andy Gilbert's cues then hit with a Black Boar, Joss West, Southwest, Mottey, and several others. Each have a different hit. Now, with today's technology and the skill of today's cuemaker, can build what you want.
Steven
Mind you, different era, the pros are sponsored and paid to play with cuetec. MEUCCI HAS THE #1 SPOT FOR MAJORS WON! SCHON IS UP THERE TO ON A NATIONAL LEVEL! ONLY CUE TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS CLOSE TO A BALABUSHKA IS A TASCARELLA CUE! THEY PLAY VERY WELL!! NOT MANY BUILT EITHER! MARCUS OF FAST AND LOOSE CAN SCHOOL YOU BOYS ON THIS!:wink2:
Actually I think Cuetec beats Meucci for titles won, especially when you factor in Johnny Archer's wins with Scorpion Cues made by Cuetec.
To answer the original question; in the context of a cue being ordered for it's playability first and it's decoration second then there are many cue makers today whose cues fit that description. Many cue makers have followed in George's footsteps and use good wood that's properly seasoned, turned slowly and have tight tolerances.
Lest we forget Gina Cues, Bert Schraeger and many others were building cues at the same time as George Balabushka. At the time he was well known but was probably not the premier cue maker around during the time he was making cues. Sure people knew he built a solid and dependable cue but I imagine that during his active career he was a cue maker much like most decent cue makers today, just a guy doing a job without rock star status or ego.
Like a lot of great artists George's work never really gained true legend status until long after he left us. So who will be the working cue maker who quietly goes about his business building solid players for working man's wages who gains reverence and notoriety after he is gone?
Maybe no one in this age of information and hype. But in the context of what I believe George was about, which I think was building very solid cues that stay straight and true and play lights out there are dozens if not hundreds of cue makers who fit that definition.
To answer the original question; in the context of a cue being ordered for it's playability first and it's decoration second then there are many cue makers today whose cues fit that description. Many cue makers have followed in George's footsteps and use good wood that's properly seasoned, turned slowly and have tight tolerances.
Lest we forget Gina Cues, Bert Schraeger and many others were building cues at the same time as George Balabushka. At the time he was well known but was probably not the premier cue maker around during the time he was making cues. Sure people knew he built a solid and dependable cue but I imagine that during his active career he was a cue maker much like most decent cue makers today, just a guy doing a job without rock star status or ego.
Like a lot of great artists George's work never really gained true legend status until long after he left us. So who will be the working cue maker who quietly goes about his business building solid players for working man's wages who gains reverence and notoriety after he is gone?
Maybe no one in this age of information and hype. But in the context of what I believe George was about, which I think was building very solid cues that stay straight and true and play lights out there are dozens if not hundreds of cue makers who fit that definition.
not to mention Allison Fisher, and SVB is far from hitting his peak.
Interesting question.
Gus Szamboti made blanks for Balabushka as did Burton Spain or so I'm told. Thus the present day Bushka would be Barry Szamboti or Joel Hercek, both of whom continued the traditional approach of their predecessors.
Tascarella, Richard Black and Bill Schick understand Balabushka's construction as they have all studied his work extensively and all three build cues of surpassing quality and playability.
Barry is top of the list in my opinion though.
Gus Szamboti made blanks for Balabushka as did Burton Spain or so I'm told. Thus the present day Bushka would be Barry Szamboti or Joel Hercek, both of whom continued the traditional approach of their predecessors.
Tascarella, Richard Black and Bill Schick understand Balabushka's construction as they have all studied his work extensively and all three build cues of surpassing quality and playability.
Barry is top of the list in my opinion though.
:thumbup:
The only thing that remains to be seen is if one of them grows larger than life at some point, like GB did.
Could it happen the same way again? I dunno...different times.
needs another big budget pool movie for this:thumbup:
i wonder though, which one of the cue makers/manufacturers could afford the product placement?? predator?
There is a big difference between now and then. I heard that even when a champion wanted a Bushka, they paid. To me that speaks volumes when you think of all the players that had them. But on the flip side, there was no one giving sponsorship at that time, especially cuemakers. So he had no competition, like Meucci, or Fury, Predator, or Cuetec giving players cues as sponsorship benefits.
But still they paid. Would a champion today PAY for any of the above cues.. not likely. Are cues today better? Well a Bushka can be 50 years old and still playable. Whats the benchmark? I have hit balls with a Brunswick 360, could I play with it on a regular basis, not likely, it would take some serious getting used to. At 55" it would be a tough cue to get used to. However, if someone wanted to go back and play with a Bushka, outside of an LD shaft, I don't think it would take that big an adjustment.
The Balabushka of today? In terms of the quality of the cue, there are very many. With todays equipment and the availability of knowledge out in public, well you see how many cuemakers there are. Heck I see guys that haven't made 125 cues and their 4 point basic cue is 3500. Really? IMHO that makes a plain Bushka...priceless.
JV
The above statement say it is the INDIAN behind the ARROW, not the Arrow that hit the Bulls Eye!
