New to Forum - Szamboti owner

[pt109]

Had no input whatsoever in the cue, other than how much we wanted to spend. We told him to make whatever he wanted. My friend's cue had 4 maple wndows in the butt but no MOP inlays. His points had red, black, natural veneers. My cue had the MOP notched diamonds in the butt and point bases and my veneer colors were black, green and natural, as I recall.

Will post a couple pics of my current cue - this one is a plain Jane - plain ebony butt and four points with two original shafts - just how I wanted. No frills or fancy inlays - just a player Gus cue.

Al

No pics yet?
:crying::crying::crying:

 

[runscott]

New to the AZB Forum.

I have bought two cues in my life - the first as a Sophomore at Georgia Tech where I learned to play and the 2nd not too long ago.

Both are Gus Szamboti cues. The first cue my close friend and I ordered in mid 1980. We knew a local Atlanta player who owned a Szamboti and he gave us Gus' phone #. We were amateurs, but knew his cues were magic wands. Gus made us call him back after a year to make sure we were serious. We called him a year to the day in mid 1981 to tell him we were still serious about getting cues from him. He told us to call him back in a year to show again we were serious. Another year to the day in mid 1982, we called Gus and said, Yes - we are still serious about getting cues made by him. At that time he asked how much we wanted to spend. We told him about $400 each. Gus told us to call him back in 3 months. Three months to the day, we called Gus again and he said Ok. Never heard another word from Gus until one day in early 1983 Marcus and I each had US Postal parcel slips in our Tech mail boxes! Our cues had arrived.

Of course, we were seniors by then, but we had our Szamboti cues! I had to quickly buy a case since I didn't own a cue. Was told to call Fellini in Texas and bought one they had already made and ready to ship - a kind of ugly orange suede! But it was a Fellini and I had a Gus cue to put in it. Don't have one picture of the cue, but it had four notched MOP diamonds in the butt as well in the base of each of the four points. Two 13mm shafts with ivory ferrules. I never chalked one of the shafts.

I am quite sure I spent more hours playing pool the rest of my Senior year than I did in class or studying. I got a Lou Butera Tip Tapper and some Masters chalk and had a blast with that cue. I was smart to keep the original triangular shipping box and plastic sleeve the cue was shipped in.

Fast forward to around 1994 or so and was financially strapped living in Southern California and reluctantly parted with my one and only Szamboti. Sold the cue, case and original box to a Japanese collector for $3,500. Was sad to let go of it.

Gave up the game for about 20 years until I had the opportunity and funds to buy another cue. Wasn't much of a debate - had to be a Gus cue with a Fellini case.

So, trying to have a little fun and perusing this forum. Brings back some memories.

Al

Thanks for sharing that story. When I was in college in the late '70s I played pool any chance I got, and sneered at anyone who used a custom cue. I only played in a few places, and at each I had a house cue with marks that allowed me to easily identify it, so I was fine with that. But now I realize that I missed great opportunities like what you describe. Years later when I bought my first Burton Spain cue (used), I remembered Spain's name from the '70s, so I must have known someone who played with one. Same for Gus Szamboti. I never read literature related to pool, and we didn't have the internet, so I must have had a friend who played with one.

 

[TX Poolnut]

Great story new guy.

We need pictures to drool over please. :thumbup: