wondering what is the top 10 nowadays on cues from most desirable on down . ive been out of billiards for over 10 years curious to what is considered collectable .
most popular and collectable cues ??
- Thread starter ericdraven
- Start date
Your question is not very clear. It all really depends who you're talking to, and what/why they collect.
If you want to know of the top tier cuemakers who are still alive and making cues, there is several on the list.
Here are a few living cuemakers that are highly sought after to make cues as well in the aftermarket, of course i'll miss some, but these guys are the best of the best:
Barry Szamboti
Dennis Searing
Joel Hercek
Pete Tascarella
Bill Schick
Joss West, Bill Stroud
Tim Scuggs, soon to retire
Black Boar
Tad, I believe his son makes most of the cues now unless your willing to shell out $20,000+, feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
Southwest, 8+ year waiting list
Cognoscenti, Joe Gold
Gina Cue
If you want to know of the top tier cuemakers who are still alive and making cues, there is several on the list.
Here are a few living cuemakers that are highly sought after to make cues as well in the aftermarket, of course i'll miss some, but these guys are the best of the best:
Barry Szamboti
Dennis Searing
Joel Hercek
Pete Tascarella
Bill Schick
Joss West, Bill Stroud
Tim Scuggs, soon to retire
Black Boar
Tad, I believe his son makes most of the cues now unless your willing to shell out $20,000+, feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
Southwest, 8+ year waiting list
Cognoscenti, Joe Gold
Gina Cue
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I will quote from an old post about the Smithsonian 12, Where Jim buss replied.
"I just read Dennis's writeup and it didn't happen quite like that at all.
First off all, there was a lengthy article in April, 1997 issue of Billiards Digest on cuemakers and cuemaking. In preparing this article, David Resh contacted the Smithsonian and found out that they had no cues on display. Mr. David Shayt, curator of The National Museum of American History knew that they had an antique rack, and some other stuff that had never been on display.
David contacted me about an exhibit using this stuff, but needed cues. He contacted me because I was the President of the American Cuemaker's Association at that time. He asked for recommendations of which cuemakers to contact.
I discussed it with the Board of Directors of the ACA, and we decided that we were in a no win situation. No matter who we suggested, other cuemakers would cry "foul", and ask "Why not me?". I finally sent David a copy of the First Edition of the Blue Book of cues and let him make the decision.
Their cue rack only holds 12 cues, so that is why they only selected 12 cuemakers. Since that initial selection, several other cuemakers contacted David and asked to be included. David said that he couldn't guarantee that their cues would ever be on display, but if they wanted to send one, then he would accept it in the name of the Museum. Actually, they never guaranteed that the original 12 cues would be on display either. They have had my cue for over 10 years now, and the exhibit is still not open. As I understand it, they are busy working on an exhibit for 9/11.
The 12 cuemakers initially selected are:
Thomas Wayne
Mike Bender
Rick Chudy (RC3 Cues)
Jerry McWorter
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Tad Kohara
Richard Black
Bill Stroud (JOSS West)
Bill Schick
Perry Weston
Samsara
and me (Jim Buss)
--JIM BUSS--"
Think any of that 12 would be a place to start a collection.
I would like to have from the Smithsonian Twelve list a,
Mike Bender
Rick Chudy (RC3 Cues)
Jerry McWorter
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Tad Kohara
Richard Black
Bill Schick
Than I would own 7 of the 12.
"I just read Dennis's writeup and it didn't happen quite like that at all.
First off all, there was a lengthy article in April, 1997 issue of Billiards Digest on cuemakers and cuemaking. In preparing this article, David Resh contacted the Smithsonian and found out that they had no cues on display. Mr. David Shayt, curator of The National Museum of American History knew that they had an antique rack, and some other stuff that had never been on display.
David contacted me about an exhibit using this stuff, but needed cues. He contacted me because I was the President of the American Cuemaker's Association at that time. He asked for recommendations of which cuemakers to contact.
I discussed it with the Board of Directors of the ACA, and we decided that we were in a no win situation. No matter who we suggested, other cuemakers would cry "foul", and ask "Why not me?". I finally sent David a copy of the First Edition of the Blue Book of cues and let him make the decision.
Their cue rack only holds 12 cues, so that is why they only selected 12 cuemakers. Since that initial selection, several other cuemakers contacted David and asked to be included. David said that he couldn't guarantee that their cues would ever be on display, but if they wanted to send one, then he would accept it in the name of the Museum. Actually, they never guaranteed that the original 12 cues would be on display either. They have had my cue for over 10 years now, and the exhibit is still not open. As I understand it, they are busy working on an exhibit for 9/11.
The 12 cuemakers initially selected are:
Thomas Wayne
Mike Bender
Rick Chudy (RC3 Cues)
Jerry McWorter
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Tad Kohara
Richard Black
Bill Stroud (JOSS West)
Bill Schick
Perry Weston
Samsara
and me (Jim Buss)
--JIM BUSS--"
Think any of that 12 would be a place to start a collection.
I would like to have from the Smithsonian Twelve list a,
Mike Bender
Rick Chudy (RC3 Cues)
Jerry McWorter
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Tad Kohara
Richard Black
Bill Schick
Than I would own 7 of the 12.
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qfancier said:
I would include Lambros in ANY cue discussion.
any cue older than 30 years old made by a real cue maker not a Chinese k-Mart cue I think is cool, i'm into older cues. Also any cue builder that has been making sawdust for more than 20 years is good with me. There are some new guys who make great stuff to but they arnt on the collectable list just yet, Sugartree is in that catagory and they will be collectable in time, for now they are great cues and the maker Eric is a great guy and will be a ledgend in time but that title isnt earned over night ask Ernie of Gina cue or Barry Szam they paid their dues. The Price of the cue is meaningless its the pedigree that counts.
I might be different but I'd rather own a Petersen than a Buska or BS.Fatboy said:
He made so few cues and from what I've seen and tried they were all beauts and hit great.
Bert Schrager...
I only say that because I have a bunch of them!!!
Russ....
I only say that because I have a bunch of them!!!
Russ....
10 Collectable Builders
This isn't an easy task at all. There are greats like Gus Szamboti or George Balabushka whos work will always be coveted. My list will only include cuemakers who currently make cues and will consider scarcity of their cues as well as talent. Listed alphabetically by first name:
Arthur Cantando
Barry Szamboti
Bill Schick
David Paul Kersenbrock
Dennis Searing
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Joel Hercek
John Showman
Pete Tascarella
Ron Haley
Sometimes I think these kind of listing ideas are not appropriate. They are too vague. To list under "best collectable cue" doesn't say enough to do the job right. Bill Stroud's work is superb, for instance...but I didn't list him because he has made so many cues. If I want a Stroud rectangle cue, I can think of at least two places where there is one for sale. Stroud is a master and deserves the highest status but to make something collectable, I think it is about scarcity rather than quality. There are so few Searing cues yet so much demand... I just find it frustrating to have to choose. How can I leave out Tad? Richard Black? Thomas Wayne?
Next time ask an easier question like how to make world piece or cure the common cold.
This isn't an easy task at all. There are greats like Gus Szamboti or George Balabushka whos work will always be coveted. My list will only include cuemakers who currently make cues and will consider scarcity of their cues as well as talent. Listed alphabetically by first name:
Arthur Cantando
Barry Szamboti
Bill Schick
David Paul Kersenbrock
Dennis Searing
Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue)
Joel Hercek
John Showman
Pete Tascarella
Ron Haley
Sometimes I think these kind of listing ideas are not appropriate. They are too vague. To list under "best collectable cue" doesn't say enough to do the job right. Bill Stroud's work is superb, for instance...but I didn't list him because he has made so many cues. If I want a Stroud rectangle cue, I can think of at least two places where there is one for sale. Stroud is a master and deserves the highest status but to make something collectable, I think it is about scarcity rather than quality. There are so few Searing cues yet so much demand... I just find it frustrating to have to choose. How can I leave out Tad? Richard Black? Thomas Wayne?
Next time ask an easier question like how to make world piece or cure the common cold.
poolhustler said:Bert Schrager...
I only say that because I have a bunch of them!!!
Russ....
Bert made a great hitting cue, and was a pretty good three cushion player.
ericdraven said:
well if it was my collection it would be something like this...(apologies in advance for the names I'm about to butcher)
Not all are collectibles, but I buy cues to play with.
Hercek
Sugartree
Scruggs
Cochran
Martin
Szamboti
Joey Bautista
Tucker
Haley
Southwest
Kershenbrock
and think I'll keep my current cue from MasonH as it hits very very well imho.
Bert is retired and sold his shop a while back. He and Pat live in Lake Isabella. I bought 4 of the last 6 cues he built, for a total of 5 Shragers.
If anyone knew Bert back in his heyday and want to say HI to him and Pat, I can forward his email or phone #. Only if its a legit reason....
No more Shragers to be built......bummer......
Russ....
If anyone knew Bert back in his heyday and want to say HI to him and Pat, I can forward his email or phone #. Only if its a legit reason....
No more Shragers to be built......bummer......
Russ....
JoeyInCali said:I might be different but I'd rather own a Petersen than a Buska or BS.
He made so few cues and from what I've seen and tried they were all beauts and hit great.
Joey, I've got a "plain" Petersen that I bought new and it's a keeper and what a craftsman he was with very crude equipment. It plays soooo good too! I also think Frank Coster made very few cues and was a perfectionist and great cue maker.
Curly
Living:
Dennis Searing
Barry Szamboti
John Showman
Bob Manzino
Joel Hercek
Pete Tascarella
Ernie Gutierrez
Ron Haley
South West
Tony Scianella
Tad Kohara
Past:
Gus Szamboti
Frank Paradise
George Balabushka
Eugene Balner
Jerry Franklin
Herman Rambow
Burton Spain
Brunswick
Dennis Searing
Barry Szamboti
John Showman
Bob Manzino
Joel Hercek
Pete Tascarella
Ernie Gutierrez
Ron Haley
South West
Tony Scianella
Tad Kohara
Past:
Gus Szamboti
Frank Paradise
George Balabushka
Eugene Balner
Jerry Franklin
Herman Rambow
Burton Spain
Brunswick
The man was superb.curly said:
Kinda sad both Petersen and Coster left us too early .