My "New" 60's Original George Balabushka

[islandracer]

I recently purchased this stick, an 100% original George Balabushka, Titleist blank. I saw it on a "popular auction site" and pounced. The seller was kind enough meet my conditions and sent it to Pete Tascarella first for his inspection and LOA. The sale was dependent on this and after speaking to Mr. Tascarella, he says the stick is the real deal and is in amazing original condition. The deal is done I should have the stick in my hands this weekend. I don't know much about Bushkas, so this was a leap of faith to own a piece of pool history. I'd love to get the opinions of the older wiser collectors on AZ Billiards, possibly what they even think it's worth. I'd prefer keeping what I paid for it private, so I'd appreciate if it stays that way for those who saw the listing on the "popular auction site".

Here's what I know about it:
- All original/unrestored
- The wrap was cleaned and waxed by Cadillac Joe
- Spare Paradise shaft
- New original "Champion Tips" installed by Cadillac Joe on both shafts. Was told these are the tips used back then and are hard to get. Never been chalked.
- Has a LOA from Mark Kulungian
- Now has a LOA from Pete Tascarella who has agreed with Kulungian's LOA letter.

I'm very excited about receiving it this weekend and am dying to feel the magic of the cue. I have no intentions of hitting with the original shaft but am also a little torn about chalking up the paradise shaft with the original Champion tip. Would this lessen the value of the cue? I only plan to use it every few months and keep it stored away safely. Mr. Tascarella says to enjoy the stick as it's also tough as nails...

Pics:

All opinions and comments are welcome and appreciated please. Thanks!

 

[Soldtonight]

Great find sir!

An amazing find! Enjoy and play the hell out of it!
Dan Z

 

[skierlawyer]

Congratulations!! That is certainly a piece of history. In my opinion if the original shaft has been played then I don't think chalking the new old tip and hitting some balls would affect the cue's value. Use it in good health.

 

[tikkler]

Wow

Great pick.......it doesn't get any more badass than that baby, right there

 

[bbb]

i am not a collector
so i beleive cues were meant to be played :smile:
how much could chalk on the tip decrease the value of this cue???
not a significant % of its value
icbw
if im wrong dont touch it
treat it as a fine bottle of wine that never gets opened but is bought and sold by the people who like to brag about the bottle i had (but never drank) so and so once

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

Nice pickup... Those cues were meant to be played. Though I would personally do so in my own home or at a pool room with very few people around to run into it, knock a ball into it etc......:angry: As they are rare and valuable of course.

I am sure George would be much like Gus (if they were with us today) and raise holy hell if his cues were sitting in some closet or safe...

 

[Chopdoc]

Two words: PLAY IT! :thumbup:


Oh, and congrats.....you get bonus man card points for now owning a real Balabushka. :smile:

 

[islandracer]

Anybody care to venture a guess of what it may be worth?

 

[skierlawyer]

Anybody care to venture a guess of what it may be worth?

$7500 would be a fair price if you actually wanted to sell it reasonably quickly.

 

[islandracer]

$7500 would be a fair price if you actually wanted to sell it reasonably quickly.

Thanks, I was hoping for that range if I needed a reasonably quick sale. But I'm guessing after I test drive her this weekend, it may take a bit more for me to think about parting with it.

 

[JAMSGOLF]

I'm in agreement with the majority (so far) that this cue was designed to be played...and I personally wouldn't hesitate to do so...if it were still YOUR cue!

Jason

p.s. I'd play with it EVERYDAY if it were MINE!

 

[nick serdula]

Price today?

Maybe 5K. Used to be hot now not so much. I am sure my guess is low but that is a selling price. Too many imitation Balabushka's out there are falsely represented by dealers and authenticators alike.
The only person on the planet that I would trust to authenticate a Balabushka won't do it any more. So really their value has been killed by crooks in the industry. Insead of big money collectors shy away. Once burned so to speak.
Your Cue is a low level Balabushka but still in demand. Just not like 4 to 5 years ago. And although this can be said about almost everything for Balabushka Cues especially so.
Thanks for sharing,
Nick

 

[islandracer]

Much thanks for all the input. I got the stick saturday and went straight to the pool hall. I honestly have no clue what one of these should look like up close so I was a little surprised when I examined it for the first time. Interesting how you could see the handmade points as opposed the newer cues. The more experienced players were really impressed by it. As for the hit, I'm embarrassed to say it's not for me. I thought angels were going to start singing, light was going to come down from the heavens and I was going to run a few racks. None of this happened (?!). Of course, the more experienced players said it felt awesome. I did prefer it with a 13mm Joss shaft as opposed to the 12.5mm but I don't plan to go through the trouble of making one for it. My original reason for buying it was just to own a piece of pool history and enjoy playing with it every few weeks/months whatever - but I honestly really don't love the feel or hit. I don't really need to, but I would entertain offers if anyone is interested. I know this stick could be better appreciated by a true Balabushka aficionado. Was cool to say I had one for a while, albeit a short while. If I end up sitting on it for a few years, I guess it's still a good investment.

 

[nick serdula]

Wow

Missed that buttsleeve. A Balabushka like that $6500 would be stealing. Should play lights out one hole and straight.
Nick

 

[islandracer]

Missed that buttsleeve. A Balabushka like that $6500 would be stealing. Should play lights out one hole and straight.
Nick

Thanks Nick - one of my really experienced friends who knows his cues said he's never seen those rings before. I'm sure it plays lights out, just not in these hands!

 

[JB Cases]

Not going to offer a price opinion but the cue as described was in mint condition and unplayed? That right there would have been worth a lot to collectors I would think.

Someone asked about why Balabuska has a legend status. Well for a cue made in the 60s to be dead straight after 50 years is pretty amazing to me.

Earlier today I saw a drop dead gorgeous cue made by a friend of mine in 2010. This cue wasn't super fancy but it had CREATIVITY out the ass. BUT - unfortunately the shaft is warped and the butt is warped. Now who knows what the cue has been through in this Oklahoma climate to get it that way? But the point is that Bushkas and Szambotis are known for staying straight no matter what climate they go through.

So to me this is what makes a Bushka special. Cues built to be played with that stay in great condition.

P.S. if Pete Tascarella verified it then that's about the best you can get at this point. Looks like you own one of the real ones! Congratulations.

 

[islandracer]

Not going to offer a price opinion but the cue as described was in mint condition and unplayed? That right there would have been worth a lot to collectors I would think.

Someone asked about why Balabuska has a legend status. Well for a cue made in the 60s to be dead straight after 50 years is pretty amazing to me.

Earlier today I saw a drop dead gorgeous cue made by a friend of mine in 2010. This cue wasn't super fancy but it had CREATIVITY out the ass. BUT - unfortunately the shaft is warped and the butt is warped. Now who knows what the cue has been through in this Oklahoma climate to get it that way? But the point is that Bushkas and Szambotis are known for staying straight no matter what climate they go through.

So to me this is what makes a Bushka special. Cues built to be played with that stay in great condition.

P.S. if Pete Tascarella verified it then that's about the best you can get at this point. Looks like you own one of the real ones! Congratulations.

The cue was definitely used, the previous owner decided to stop using it and put the champion tips on both shafts never to be chalked again. The Tascarella LOA states, "Cue appears all original, is sound and straight, and in exceptional condition given it's age..."

I did chalk up the Paradise shaft on saturday to hit with it though. Not going to touch the original Bushka shaft though.

I actually live in Jamaica and decided to leave the stick in Miami, where I travel to often. I don't have ac in my house in Jamaica so I decided the cue would be safer in an ac'ed house in Miami. I didn't want to put your theory to the test, seeing if stayed straight in any climate. Pete Tascarella did stress to me that Bushka's are real hardy sticks, beat somebody over the head with it and go back to playing!