Zamboni burl does hide cracks . Had a customer who bought his own woods. like 70 bucks for a cracked piece. Your piece looks good - where'd you get it. Mississippi, Expo . It is such an unstable wood. Mine was cored 4 ivory pts/ambonya butt ,joint protectors- and when the wind blew different it rolled different ,was faced etc. It was the best playing bar cue. had the 85 yr old bowling- alley-wood shafts. used bk H tips on the ivory ferrules. who's the maker? Shaftwood ,tip and ferrule choices make the cue mark