Most expensive cue?
- Thread starter Mr.RS4
- Start date
A buddy of mine has a Franklin era South West in pristine condition, never been chalked. He told me someone offered him 7500 for it, but he'd sell it to me for 6, I just had to laugh. I'm of the belief that cues should really be played with and anything that I paid more than a several hundred to a couple of grand for I think I'd be afraid to play with.
There is that one The Celtic Prince, wasn't that 6 figure cue? and then I saw that ridiculous cue that I think McDermott came up with, it looked like something out of a Dungeons and Dragons video game, made of titanium,, or uranium, or irridium (or some other "ium") and reasonably close to the stupidest thing ever
http://luxurylaunches.com/other_stuff/most-expensive-pool-cue.php
But check out this thread for more fun:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=100316
There is that one The Celtic Prince, wasn't that 6 figure cue? and then I saw that ridiculous cue that I think McDermott came up with, it looked like something out of a Dungeons and Dragons video game, made of titanium,, or uranium, or irridium (or some other "ium") and reasonably close to the stupidest thing ever
http://luxurylaunches.com/other_stuff/most-expensive-pool-cue.php
But check out this thread for more fun:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=100316
I have hit some balls with the McDermott Intimidator, and have heard it has drawn blood.
theres a all ivory Gina out there..with all ivory handle, points, and i think the butt sleeve as well....forget who has it..seen pics of it before though..someone here should be able to shed some light.or pics of it
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Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
At the Cuemaker's show in KC some years ago, Marcus Dienst (sp?), of Arthur Cues, was showing a cue that he said he'd initially priced at $130k. It was awesome, to say the least. Left it in the US with Cornerstone Cues' Bill Grassley, I believe. Don't know what it actually sold for - none of my biz.
I saw it within inches, but would NOT touch it.
I saw it within inches, but would NOT touch it.
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There was an older guy who used to hang out and play at Airway Billiards up in Dayton who got the cue bug pretty bad. He kept coming in with more and more expensive cues. Finally, one day he shows up with a really nice Szamboti (points, veneers, maple windows in the butt) and insisted that I play around with it for awhile. I felt like I was walking around the table with someone's newborn baby in my hands. Don't get me wrong, I play with a pretty nice Nitti, but just knowing that I was toting around $5k+ worth of somebody else's cue was a little strange.
For the record, the cue played great. Nothing really special, though.
As far as the most expensive cue I've ever seen, it would have to be one of the cues I saw at the cue show at Airway or, possibly at the Derby back when it was at the Executive West. There were so many unbelievable cues. My favorite was probably the Hercek with the joker engraved in the ivory handle, though.
For the record, the cue played great. Nothing really special, though.
As far as the most expensive cue I've ever seen, it would have to be one of the cues I saw at the cue show at Airway or, possibly at the Derby back when it was at the Executive West. There were so many unbelievable cues. My favorite was probably the Hercek with the joker engraved in the ivory handle, though.
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Thomas Wayne's "Celtic Prince" sold for a six figure sum. As did the last Gus Szamboti. But given there was history/provenance behind the Szam, I'd give the edge to the Thomas Wayne cue.
And there are a ton of other Szams, Ginas, Richard Blacks, and Black Boars that sell in the mid to high 5 figure range. If the Silver Gina were to sell today, it would likely fetch a HUGE dollar amount.
As for the all ivory Gina, its possible. The one I remember seeing was an all ivory Richard Black. One solid piece of ivory from joint to buttcap. And it cracked in transit to its owner (or broker/dealer) thanks to weather conditions. lol
And there are a ton of other Szams, Ginas, Richard Blacks, and Black Boars that sell in the mid to high 5 figure range. If the Silver Gina were to sell today, it would likely fetch a HUGE dollar amount.
As for the all ivory Gina, its possible. The one I remember seeing was an all ivory Richard Black. One solid piece of ivory from joint to buttcap. And it cracked in transit to its owner (or broker/dealer) thanks to weather conditions. lol
Pechauer had one for $50,000. :grin:
I know bludworth built a cue for some big oil tycoon and his wife found out he was cheating on her and cut it up with a hacksaw. I never saw pictures of the cue but I would like to I even started a thread about it asking but no one could come up with any 
He also claims to be the First cuemaker to build and sell a cue for $100,000, and $25,000 I just wish there where pics. http://www.bludworth.com/bio.html
He also claims to be the First cuemaker to build and sell a cue for $100,000, and $25,000 I just wish there where pics. http://www.bludworth.com/bio.html
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Lesh...I hate to burst your bubble, but Jack NEVER owned a Balabushka (I did). That cue you're talking about was an old Adams, and it did not have any jewels inlaid in it. I've played with that cue at least 100x. He told everyone who would listen it was a Balabushka...it clearly was not. When I bought Jack's tour in 1994, I had the choice of buying either the Adams "Balabushka", or his personal Palmer with his name inscribed on the foil. It was a no brainer...I chose the Palmer. Sold it years later to Joe Salazar for twice what I paid Jack for it. Jack still has the old Adams cue. :grin:
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
I played with a original Balabushka cue George made in1969. It was a thick butt cue, 57", ivory ferrules, piloted steel cue joint, and a bit heavy......20.7 ozs.
I played with the cue which belonged to my neighbor's dad who brought it with him during a Christmas Holiday visit to his son who was my next door neighbor.
I got to play with the cue on and off the better part of a week in the evenings on my pool table since my neighbor didn't have one. We spent many hours playing
pool that week and what I concluded is I would never want to own a Balabushka cue.....too heavy and too much forward pendulum for my stroke.......this was in
1994 so the value if the cue was pretty high...well over $10k......how much it was really worth God only knows.
Matt B.
I played with the cue which belonged to my neighbor's dad who brought it with him during a Christmas Holiday visit to his son who was my next door neighbor.
I got to play with the cue on and off the better part of a week in the evenings on my pool table since my neighbor didn't have one. We spent many hours playing
pool that week and what I concluded is I would never want to own a Balabushka cue.....too heavy and too much forward pendulum for my stroke.......this was in
1994 so the value if the cue was pretty high...well over $10k......how much it was really worth God only knows.
Matt B.
I believe Ernie till owns that cue. Apparently he has had 6 figure offers on it according to another thread on here.
Correction, I think it is the Silver cue Mia was talking about that I am referencing.
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Elite cues
I own and play with a Gus. A lot like the one described in an earlier post. 4 veneered points, maple dashes, maple windows (diamond-shaped). Both shafts have a beautiful honey tone to them and dead straight. Hits like a sledgehammer, got my high run (101) with it. Sweet! Not sure of value but I'll never get rid.of it
I own and play with a Gus. A lot like the one described in an earlier post. 4 veneered points, maple dashes, maple windows (diamond-shaped). Both shafts have a beautiful honey tone to them and dead straight. Hits like a sledgehammer, got my high run (101) with it. Sweet! Not sure of value but I'll never get rid.of it
I played with a Kenny Murrel cue, price for a similar new cue is around 2800$. Great design, but not the best hit I tried. Also played with a 1700$ Mezz Exceed, great looking and playing cue.
Don't paint Bushkas with too broad a brush. They are not all 20+ and forward weighted. Mine is 18.75 oz and has more weight in the grip hand than my previous cue, an 80's era Palmer. I'm not sure of the evolution of a Balabushka cue and if increased weight was a trend or not.
LOL yes, I also found that I would never want to own a Ferrari, to small inside and way to fast for my taste.
I was quite genuine with my comment about the weight of the Balabushka cue.
My '85 Custom Runde Schon......a really handsome cue......sits in one of my storage cases
because it weighs 20.6 ozs......back in the day,....60's, 70's & even most of the '80's, cues
just seemed to have a pronounced tendency towards the 20 ounce range. The Runde Schon
also has a thicker butt which is very noticeable versus other cues I have in my collection.
I only buy cues for personal play and not for the opportunity, if it were to present itself, to make
a profit, despite that I've been fortunate to have acquired my cues at great bargain prices. Look,
my Paul Mottey cue.....my Tim Scruggs cue......my brand new Bob Owen cue........and even the
Balabushka cue Jerry Rauenzahn is making for me right now.....each and every one of those
ivory joint cues weigh <18.5 ozs. so playing with a cue 2 ounces heavier does not have any appeal.
That weight difference is huge.....and don't give me that "better balanced" argument.....2 ounces is
a big change in cue weight .....and then add the fact my other cues have ivory joints versus a steel
cue joint.......that's why I don't play with my pretty custom Runde Schon any longer and that's why
I would not want to own a Original George Balabushka cue......I was dead serious when I wrote that.
First, it has the wrong type cue joint for my personal play & secondly, it would be too freakin' heavy.
I'd take the Klein Szamboti cue that JV has for sale even if a original George Balabushka cue could
be had for the same price.......I don't buy a cue because it's rare or made by a famous name.......the
sole reason is my personal play and George made very few cues with my specs. That's just how it is.
Matt B.
My '85 Custom Runde Schon......a really handsome cue......sits in one of my storage cases
because it weighs 20.6 ozs......back in the day,....60's, 70's & even most of the '80's, cues
just seemed to have a pronounced tendency towards the 20 ounce range. The Runde Schon
also has a thicker butt which is very noticeable versus other cues I have in my collection.
I only buy cues for personal play and not for the opportunity, if it were to present itself, to make
a profit, despite that I've been fortunate to have acquired my cues at great bargain prices. Look,
my Paul Mottey cue.....my Tim Scruggs cue......my brand new Bob Owen cue........and even the
Balabushka cue Jerry Rauenzahn is making for me right now.....each and every one of those
ivory joint cues weigh <18.5 ozs. so playing with a cue 2 ounces heavier does not have any appeal.
That weight difference is huge.....and don't give me that "better balanced" argument.....2 ounces is
a big change in cue weight .....and then add the fact my other cues have ivory joints versus a steel
cue joint.......that's why I don't play with my pretty custom Runde Schon any longer and that's why
I would not want to own a Original George Balabushka cue......I was dead serious when I wrote that.
First, it has the wrong type cue joint for my personal play & secondly, it would be too freakin' heavy.
I'd take the Klein Szamboti cue that JV has for sale even if a original George Balabushka cue could
be had for the same price.......I don't buy a cue because it's rare or made by a famous name.......the
sole reason is my personal play and George made very few cues with my specs. That's just how it is.
Matt B.
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What's the most expensive cue you know about or have seen or test / played with?
Mine is my own Predator P3 with z2 shaft(guess this in the low to mid end :rotflmao
Know about
Have seen
Test
Played
Those are four very different questions.
Freddie <~~~ well into the three figures