Pro Players turned cuemakers

Snapshot9

Snapshot9

son of 3 leg 1 eye dog ..
Silver Member
I would like to start a discussion about Pro Players that have turned to cuemaking. Mike Sigel and Nick Varner are the two most noteworthy in my mind. Any others? They must be recognized FIRST as a player, then as a cuemaker.

Let's hear from some posters that have their cues. What do you like about their cues? How do they play? Do you feel they were able to inject some playing expertise into their cuemaking craft?

From what I have seen or know, they are, indeed, proud of their cues, as reflected by the prices of them. Are they worth it or not? Or are they just assuming too much because of their player status?

Besides normal playing cues, do they make break cues or jump cues?

How good are their inlays?
 
shag_fu said:
I dont think those guys actually make the cues, they just endorse them.
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I think Sigel actually makes his. He has a shop, if I remember right.
Mike Gulyassy comes to mind. Solid hitting, good playing cues. His jump/break: Sledgehammer-is well known.
Mike was right up there with the best at one time.
 
Snapshot9 said:
I would like to start a discussion about Pro Players that have turned to cuemaking. Mike Sigel and Nick Varner are the two most noteworthy in my mind. Any others? They must be recognized FIRST as a player, then as a cuemaker.

Let's hear from some posters that have their cues. What do you like about their cues? How do they play? Do you feel they were able to inject some playing expertise into their cuemaking craft?

From what I have seen or know, they are, indeed, proud of their cues, as reflected by the prices of them. Are they worth it or not? Or are they just assuming too much because of their player status?

Besides normal playing cues, do they make break cues or jump cues?

How good are their inlays?
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Here are a few!!!

Bill Stroud - Josswest Cues

Danny Janes - Joss Cues

Mike Sigel - Sigel Custom Cues

Rich Howard - Mace Custom Cues

Harvey Martin - Martin Custom Cues

I am certain there are more, but thier names escape me now.

Nick Varner however, is not a custom cue maker, unless he started very recently. He has however had a line of Asian cues produced with his name on them that he markets for around 4 or 5 years.

Manwon
 
manwon said:
Here are a few!!!

Bill Stroud - Josswest Cues

Danny Janes - Joss Cues

Mike Sigel - Sigel Custom Cues

Rich Howard - Mace Custom Cues

Harvey Martin - Martin Custom Cues

I am certain there are more, but thier names escape me now.

Nick Varner however, is not a custom cue maker, unless he started very recently. He has however had a line of Asian cues produced with his name on them that he markets for around 4 or 5 years.

Manwon
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Bill Stroud also told me George Balabushka could run 100 balls. I never knew that.

Chris
 
TATE said:
Bill Stroud also told me George Balabushka could run 100 balls. I never knew that.

Chris
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Gene Nagy was George's close friend. He was an average player, according to Gene.

To the question, add players:

Bobby Hunter
Jack Madden
 
Isn't Shawn Putnam a pro player who is venturing into the cuemaking side?
 
zeeder said:
Isn't Shawn Putnam a pro player who is venturing into the cuemaking side?
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That's exactly what I was going to say. I swear he ventured into cue making. I remember sometime back one of his first cues were stolen and he came on here to ask for help. My memory may be fading though:p .

To the best of my knowledge Nick Varner is not making cues. He has a line of cues similar to what Johnny Archer is doing. He designed the White Lightening cue, but I know it's made by Falcon.

Jim
 
Snapshot9 said:
I would like to start a discussion about Pro Players that have turned to cuemaking. Mike Sigel and Nick Varner are the two most noteworthy in my mind. Any others? They must be recognized FIRST as a player, then as a cuemaker.

Let's hear from some posters that have their cues. What do you like about their cues? How do they play? Do you feel they were able to inject some playing expertise into their cuemaking craft?

From what I have seen or know, they are, indeed, proud of their cues, as reflected by the prices of them. Are they worth it or not? Or are they just assuming too much because of their player status?

Besides normal playing cues, do they make break cues or jump cues?

How good are their inlays?
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I've not seen any of the cues NICK is associated with.

The "SIGEL" cues are not my cup of tea and the couple I've played with were,IMHO, average at best.

I,like most cue pimps, have flipped many cues made by STROUD, HOWARD, HUNTER, SCRUGGS, MOTTEY, etc. They are universally recognized as some of the best there is or has been.

Can't think of his name but there is a guy down in FLA who dabbed em right sporty that's real HOT. He's made all the cues you asked about. His inlay work is OK.:D
 
Road Player turned cuemaker

Not a pro but a road player who now makes cues (repairs and lessons) upstairs for players at the venerable Hardtimes Billiards in Bellflower, CA; Little Al Romero.
 
Pro Player and HOF Dallas West, turn cuemaker in late '80 early '90.
Also Pro Player Dave Bollman in Tidewater area of Virginia build some nice cues.
 
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Cornerman said:
Gene Nagy was George's close friend. He was an average player, according to Gene.

To the question, add players:

Bobby Hunter
Jack Madden
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He said he could run 100 balls. Maybe he meant he could hop, skip, and jump 100 balls. :p

Chris
 
LARRY NEVEl great player and cue maker. Also does a ton of leather wraps.Guy makes awsome cues I have had 3 of them.He learned to make cues from a great cue maker Jimmy Reeves of south carolina.All his cues are cored.
 
im surprised no one has mentioned dennis searing and jerry mcworter. both solid players and i think their cues speak for themselves.
 
jayburger said:
im surprised no one has mentioned dennis searing and jerry mcworter. both solid players and i think their cues speak for themselves.
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Well, in all fairness, Dennis Searing was referred to... :D :p

ribdoner said:
Can't think of his name but there is a guy down in FLA who dabbed em right sporty that's real HOT. He's made all the cues you asked about. His inlay work is OK. :D
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When I knew Joe Salazar he was a strong player in the DFW area. I saw him last yr at the US Open for the 1st time in 10 yrs and it appears he's a cue maker now... I've since seen him at Derby & VF working his booth.

Yes, Shawn Putnam also builds cues. I've never hit with one of Shawn's cues but he sold a custom cue to a local guy that really likes the hit and the former owner of a local pool room bought 3 or 4 of Shawn's sneaky pete's last yr. Shawn didn't have a lot of time in the past to focus on cue making too much because he was on the tournament trail. He recently told someone that is a mutual friend of ours that since being diagnosed with diabetes, he's staying home more and focusing on building cues.
 
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