Original Balabushka bumper

[Chopdoc]

I’ve been in the position of having a Balabushka restored that needed a new bumper.

At the time, I would have paid $100+ in the blink of an eye for an original KU.

I priced mine at $65. I guess I was a little high.

I don't think it's high.

We pegged them at $50 in 2018, so it's easy to figure they are worth more now.

 

[maha]

gee if you have a balabuska spend 50 or even a 100 and get it original. whats the big deal.

some go out and spend 100 on a half oz of pot and balk at paying for their cue . maybe the pot has destroyed their ability to reason.
either that or mine is off.

 

[Chopdoc]

gee if you have a balabuska spend 50 or even a 100 and get it original. whats the big deal.

Pretty much.

And that's what it's down to with things like these bumpers and original Cortland.

People that have them don't want to waste them. Don't be surprised if a cue maker has Cortland and won't install it or sell it to you unless you have the "right" cue for it. Heck, there are a couple friends that have practically made me swear an Oath not to say what they have.

What do you do if you end up with a crack in a pearlized plastic part? A ring? A butt cap? Not just Balabushka cues. I saw a nice cue restored that had to have the A joint repaired. The rings had to be replaced. They were replaced with modern materials and now don't match. It wasn't a tremendously valuable cue so, OK. But if it was something worth 10k or 20k, it might be a challenge to match it. And when the cue maker has the material or can get it, what should they charge? It could be the last piece on Earth for all we know.

In some cases, you might have a better chance of sourcing weapons grade uranium.

If you have a real Balabushka, $100 to have the correct original part on it is almost nothing. It should barely be a decision. It's a screw on part. You don't even need any skills to do it.

So, these KU bumpers are still around, and although pricey compared to an average bumper, they really aren't expensive.

If you want a brown bumper on a modern build, there are cheap ones available that will look great.