when did he die? anyone ever play with one of his cues, and what did you think? a buddy has one but never got around to trying it. what are they worth? any info would be appreciated!!
ray schular?
- Thread starter duke@neo.rr.com
- Start date
Ray Schuler died in November 2002. His company is still in business - see www.schulercue.com.
I have two of his earlier cues and never felt the need to buy any others. IMO, Schuler cues have a great hit, are very well made, and are great player cues (of course, like any statement on cues, you will probably find some who disagree). I don't think Ray ever had his heart in making artistic or collector cues - he was more interested in how they played and he didn't see much point in, as I think he would put it, cutting out holes and gluing in foreign objects. I think that's one reason he never developed exalted status among cue collectors.
Ray acquired a big following among billiard players and many three cushion pros (mostly in Europe) used his cues at one time. Ray was proud that he never paid any of them to use his cue. I think most big name 3 cushion pros now are paid to use one brand or another. I think another reason his reputation didn't rise as high as it should have was his identification with the billiard market rather than pool, and this was unfair. He offered many different tapers and made "pool" cues as well as "billiard" cues. I put the terms in quotes because I think Ray would have - he didn't think there should be a distinction.
You'll learn a lot from the schulercue website. They are probably making them just as well as when Ray was alive, though I have no direct experience.
Ray was a very nice guy as well as a great cuemaker, and I miss him. I hope others who knew him better than I will add comment.
Rich Klein
I have two of his earlier cues and never felt the need to buy any others. IMO, Schuler cues have a great hit, are very well made, and are great player cues (of course, like any statement on cues, you will probably find some who disagree). I don't think Ray ever had his heart in making artistic or collector cues - he was more interested in how they played and he didn't see much point in, as I think he would put it, cutting out holes and gluing in foreign objects. I think that's one reason he never developed exalted status among cue collectors.
Ray acquired a big following among billiard players and many three cushion pros (mostly in Europe) used his cues at one time. Ray was proud that he never paid any of them to use his cue. I think most big name 3 cushion pros now are paid to use one brand or another. I think another reason his reputation didn't rise as high as it should have was his identification with the billiard market rather than pool, and this was unfair. He offered many different tapers and made "pool" cues as well as "billiard" cues. I put the terms in quotes because I think Ray would have - he didn't think there should be a distinction.
You'll learn a lot from the schulercue website. They are probably making them just as well as when Ray was alive, though I have no direct experience.
Ray was a very nice guy as well as a great cuemaker, and I miss him. I hope others who knew him better than I will add comment.
Rich Klein
Ray Schuler died in 2002. His cues were and still are the best hitting and feeling cue I have played with. They are generally around $500+ and the "original" cues that were signed by him are worth more now.duke@neo.rr.com said: