Wouldn't it be fun to have a thread showing photos of professional players' pool cues? The current crop isn't that super interesting in general since many/most pro players have modern Predator cues, but I would like to see the pro player cues from earlier days. And even current players cues would be somewhat interesting. So if you've got pictures please post them. Thanks.
Pro Players' Pool Cues
- Thread starter Logandgriff
- Start date
older pro and very good players didn't agonize over their cue. if it hit well they kept it forever and didn't care what it looked like.
many got their cues for free from the handful of cue makers who wanted their cues to be seen.
most all were fairly plain. except ernie, made some very ornate ones for a select few.
if they ordered a cue they called up and said the weight, mm tip size and the wrap and maybe the taper and said make me a cue.
it wasnt until later on that some players started having all sorts of inlays and fluff. few of those were top players but collectors and those wanting show.
many got their cues for free from the handful of cue makers who wanted their cues to be seen.
most all were fairly plain. except ernie, made some very ornate ones for a select few.
if they ordered a cue they called up and said the weight, mm tip size and the wrap and maybe the taper and said make me a cue.
it wasnt until later on that some players started having all sorts of inlays and fluff. few of those were top players but collectors and those wanting show.
Well, not Cole Dixon
He pawned his cue regularly. He would just call Joss East and they would make another. They had his specs on file, just like the baseball bat makers. Each shaft is different even made to the same specs ( well with maple shaft). He had 6 shafts but only used 1. When I bought my cue from him , 6 months later he said, "I wouldn't be able to play with that cue now." But when he was in tune with his cue it was the Stradivarious of cues. Now it looks like a thrift store bargain but in the right hands it will make music. How does the saying go? "It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian." 
most times i just gave cole a 100 for his cue. they were basically billys standard cue nothing special as far as looks.
i dont ever remember him wanting it back. if he lost big he didnt want to see that cue again.
but those were also in his heavy drinking days.
plus he never asked me for money. as i think he knew i would say no when he was drunk and throwing off.
i dont ever remember him wanting it back. if he lost big he didnt want to see that cue again.
but those were also in his heavy drinking days.
plus he never asked me for money. as i think he knew i would say no when he was drunk and throwing off.
Not sure of the particulars of the Bill Stroud Danny Jane's cooperation and separation. However Bill's work was Joss West and Bill was the quality partner. Joss Wests with ivory joints and ferrules are incredible and do compare to Stradivarious ($1600 in the 80s.) Danny Jane's was the production guy that turned out the production line at good quality and affordable at $200. Joss East. When I bought mine from Cole he said it's Joss West. Later he admitted to Joss East. It didn't matter to me as I knew what it was worth to me.
he got them from both. but was friends with bill and used that lever as much as he could. bills basic one he sold also was 200 back then.
maybe 300. i always found joss cues were hit and miss as far as having a great hit. some just didnt cut it and i sold those off for what i paid.
my ivory joints and ferrels would usually crack from hitting balls before they had gotten warm enough from out in the cold.
or whatever. i stopped getting them for that reason only.
i still have an ebony rambo looking one bill made me around 1970 or before. i think i had him change out the joint to something else.
might have been micarter or melamine not sure.
maybe 300. i always found joss cues were hit and miss as far as having a great hit. some just didnt cut it and i sold those off for what i paid.
my ivory joints and ferrels would usually crack from hitting balls before they had gotten warm enough from out in the cold.
or whatever. i stopped getting them for that reason only.
i still have an ebony rambo looking one bill made me around 1970 or before. i think i had him change out the joint to something else.
might have been micarter or melamine not sure.
Lou Butera
He broke the cue that's now mine , when he was into the Stolies and was draping the cue over his shoulders with hands on each end. Something I have seen him do. I have never seen any display of temper and I saw him go busted a few times.
I also watched him win $25,000 playing one pocket at 1,000 per game. All night and till around noon on Sunday.
Not near what he made cheating at cards though. This is supposed to be a Joss West owned multiple times by Louie Roberts. Just copied it from another AZB thread. One of my favorites.
Well he got run out of Nevada. His words included, "there isn't a Casino in Nevada that I have Not run out of Or Been run out of.
He had a charge that his phone call didn't make it in time, so he was banned from gambling in Nevada.
His picture was on the most list, inthe entry where security check in and out.
He had stories if what it's like to live on the edge around certain people.
His one story of refunding all winnings and his as well......to leave. That was in the Deep South.
He had stories if what it's like to live on the edge around certain people.
His one story of refunding all winnings and his as well......to leave. That was in the Deep South.
The powerful call was to the MGM. As he told me as I drove his truck. His statement after we disconnected from the person that he needed 800 for. He said, "forget western union. I just left a message, I don't know if it will be there. Let's stop at the bar." For real, it was there.
He also spoke of a floor on a certain casino that people dis appeared from.
possibly just a roomer.
The person on the other end could get the charges dropped. It got one level above his grade as the call was late.
It got one level above his grade as the call was late.
Cicerone88
Well-known member
there were a couple, the horseshoe was one if you were really screwing them otherwise just a bad beating.He also spoke of a floor on a certain casino that people dis appeared from.