Richard Black Cues

Richard

I will tell you that I move a tremondous amount of high end cues.and the ones i move the most of are richard black ,ernie gutirez,and jerry mcworter.and richards cues are the most cue for the money, when I arrived at valley forge ther were about 9 people in my room 5 of who are great cuemakers a couple dealers and jab here on az.and they were all checking out what richard came up with.and they were amazed at what he was able to accomplish with his designs,and more of them have told me that he is the one that pushed the envlope in cue making! and another made the comment that they hate that he puts soo much work into joint caps ,and now every one want them!and all the cue makers hate doing them! I have more cues than most of the big collectors and i play with one!also they are a staple in some of the biggest collections in the world!his best selling cues for me are over 6000.00 price
 
RB cue

I play with a richard black cue, it is as solid hitting a cue as I have played with more solid than some southwest's that I have hit with, IMO,
 
Matt_24 said:
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on this subject.
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Here are MY thoughts on the subject of RB:

Do you care about clean veneers? Do you care if inlays fit? Do you care if there are gluelines visible from arm's length? For that matter, do you care if a notched diamond is notched on three sides but left solid on the fourth?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you're taking a risk with Richard Black cues.

I respect the man for his creative talents, he's come up with some very innovative designs. But the execution is severely lacking, imo.

As to how his cues play? I've hit with a few and didn't like any of them. But hit is subjective, while the rest of my complaints are not. You can say you don't care about those imperfections, or that they're a sign of a handmade cue (convenient reasoning, if you ask me), but no one can deny the shortcomings in the precision department.

-Roger
 
I think a cuemaker will make a cue favoring his personal preferences as to how a cue should hit. So, assuming that the buyer made no specification of some sort, the cue will hit/play the way the maker perers it to hit/play.

But I also think that anyone can come up to a a world class cuemaker like RB and request that this shafts be this heavy or light... or be stiff or not etc. So if people have different experiences with an RB cue, it will not really matter. What would matter is if the owner likes the way the cue is built/designed and plays. And if something doesn't seem right with the cue, the owner can surely talk to RB about it.

Personally, I'd like to own one someday.
 
jhendri2 said:
I love my Richard Black. I think it plays great. Based on the one I own I would recommend him to anyone.
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Jim
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Jim: That is a sweeeeeet split diamond variarion of the Black Baron. I had a Red Baron that I sold last year and I am still kicking myself.
 
Thanks BY. It's really a beautiful cue and has a god hit. When I spoke with Mr. Black to have the cue made, I told him I wanted his split diamond cue combined with the black baron and an ivory joint and this is the cue I got.

I've had it almost 2 years now and still have no complaints. Cues are like artwork, everyone has their own favorite artist and some they despise. To each his own...

Jim
 
buddha162 said:
Here are MY thoughts on the subject of RB:

Do you care about clean veneers? Do you care if inlays fit? Do you care if there are gluelines visible from arm's length? For that matter, do you care if a notched diamond is notched on three sides but left solid on the fourth?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you're taking a risk with Richard Black cues.

I respect the man for his creative talents, he's come up with some very innovative designs. But the execution is severely lacking, imo.

As to how his cues play? I've hit with a few and didn't like any of them. But hit is subjective, while the rest of my complaints are not. You can say you don't care about those imperfections, or that they're a sign of a handmade cue (convenient reasoning, if you ask me), but no one can deny the shortcomings in the precision department.

-Roger
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Got my R. Black over the weekend .. and your post is closest to my opinion except for the hit.

Love the design and look ... inlays were alright but the one point could be sharper and even with others.

Hits are subjective .. I actually thought the cue hits good.
 
Jazz said:
Got my R. Black over the weekend .. and your post is closest to my opinion except for the hit.

Love the design and look ... inlays were alright but the one point could be sharper and even with others.

Hits are subjective .. I actually thought the cue hits good.
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That's nice to hear.... Now I'm startin to itch... Can you post a pic of your cue? Thanks
 
I have a nice new camera with macro function .. now just need time between work and cue purchase to take photos :D

will do so soon.
 
Richard Black

I just purchased my first Richard Black also, "Bushka" model, it was made in 1989. I have hit and owned soooo many cues from production to high end and a friend of mine that I play with and posts here also under the name "poolhalljunkie" (helmet cue avator) has a Black. From the first ball I hit with that cue I absolutely had to have one. IMO it hits the best out of all other cues I have played with from high to low. I now own a Tulipwood Scruggs and the Black is on its way. My advice to you is to play with one fist and see if its right for YOU. I have only owned a hand full of SS joint cues due to the "dead" feel that they generally have. The Blacks I have shot with are not like that at all. If you do get one let me know what you personally think.
 
Nineballchamp said:
I just purchased my first Richard Black also, "Bushka" model, it was made in 1989. I have hit and owned soooo many cues from production to high end and a friend of mine that I play with and posts here also under the name "poolhalljunkie" (helmet cue avator) has a Black. From the first ball I hit with that cue I absolutely had to have one. IMO it hits the best out of all other cues I have played with from high to low. I now own a Tulipwood Scruggs and the Black is on its way. My advice to you is to play with one fist and see if its right for YOU. I have only owned a hand full of SS joint cues due to the "dead" feel that they generally have. The Blacks I have shot with are not like that at all. If you do get one let me know what you personally think.
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Here is a guy that obviously GETS IT! I lucked into buying a RB as my first real cue after playing for only two or three years... They are just great hitting cues. I still have a nice one, but am thinking of getting another low-end one for banging the balls around.
 
His high end cues have show a painstaking attention to detail. That goes without saying. However, I have to say that most (not all) play like crap.

As for his lower end cues, his lack of attention to detail has resulted in some serious mistakes. And I don't just mean crooked inlays or gluelines. Lets just say that I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who purchased a Richard Black and, upon delivery, some of his diamonds were notched and some weren't. ....And most of his lower end cues (not all) also hit like crap.

In short, they hit like crap (for the most part) and it seems like he is only giving 100% to those being built for high end collectors.
 
I somewhat agree. I dont think he takes his time into everything he builds. I have seen some of his lower end cues with alot of problems like crooked inlays, uneven points etc. Unnacceptable IMO.
 
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pharaoh68 said:
His high end cues have show a painstaking attention to detail. That goes without saying. However, I have to say that most (not all) play like crap.

As for his lower end cues, his lack of attention to detail has resulted in some serious mistakes. And I don't just mean crooked inlays or gluelines. Lets just say that I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who purchased a Richard Black and, upon delivery, some of his diamonds were notched and some weren't. ....And most of his lower end cues (not all) also hit like crap.

In short, they hit like crap (for the most part) and it seems like he is only giving 100% to those being built for high end collectors.
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well this is where i will agree to dis agree!I just sent one of my customers a RB cue and he sent me his Ivory joint black boar, "because it didnt hold a candle in playability".his words!also a friend of mine and purdys has about $750,000 in cues(paul)some of the biggest names in the world and he states"there are none that play as good as richards cues!and I have chose to play with one and I have alot to choose from!!!!all of the cues that i have gotten in the last 3 years have been great in detail/design/and playability! thank you for letting me share my opinion
 
BillYards said:
As I stated before, I have owned 4 and they all played like a dream.
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BillYards, there are alot of players who like his cues. Around here you see alot of older players who play alot of straight pool play with a Black. Legendary New Jersey straight pool player Jack Colavita (RIP) played with a $4,000 Richard Black for almost 20 years. From what I have seen those who like his cues REALLY like them. I dont care for them personally.
 
cornerstone said:
well this is where i will agree to dis agree!I just sent one of my customers a RB cue and he sent me his Ivory joint black boar, "because it didnt hold a candle in playability".his words!also a friend of mine and purdys has about $750,000 in cues(paul)some of the biggest names in the world and he states"there are none that play as good as richards cues!and I have chose to play with one and I have alot to choose from!!!!all of the cues that i have gotten in the last 3 years have been great in detail/design/and playability! thank you for letting me share my opinion
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Yeah!!

I think the hit is different enough that you need to own one (and shoot with it) to really GET IT. Just banging a couple of balls around the table while comparing the hit to your usual cue won't tell you anything.
 
BillYards said:
Yeah!!

I think the hit is different enough that you need to own one (and shoot with it) to really GET IT. Just banging a couple of balls around the table while comparing the hit to your usual cue won't tell you anything.
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I couldnt agree more. First impressions are suspect. The first time I played with a Cog I loved it. I thought it hit great. The more I played with it the less I liked it. I have played alot of pool with a Black. My friend owns one. They just arent for me. I couldnt get used to it. I much prefer my Black Boar. It hits alot stiffer.
 
BillYards said:
Yeah!!

I think the hit is different enough that you need to own one (and shoot with it) to really GET IT. Just banging a couple of balls around the table while comparing the hit to your usual cue won't tell you anything.
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Again, I respectfully disagree. I never understood the logic that "You have to own one to pass a judgment". What O'm saying here is that I haveplayed with a bunch and have seen a bunch more. Some are pretty but most have some trouble in the consistancy department when it comes to craftsmanship and even moreso in playability.

Your logic would be to essentially roll the dice and make the purchase, try to get used to it, and then make a judgment. Now suppose there was a car company that had problems with wheel alignment directly off the manufacturing line. Some cars had bent frames before they eve got to the dealer. And many agreed that the performance of the car was substandard. Now, suppose you test drove one and you agreed. Are you telling me you would then by that car anyway and try to adjust to it?

I have banged more than a few balls around with a Richard Black and I know enough to know that I don't like them. The way I see it, there are other cuemakers who are more consistent in terms of quality craftsmanship and playability. Those are the cuemakers who get my money.
 
cornerstone said:
well this is where i will agree to dis agree!I just sent one of my customers a RB cue and he sent me his Ivory joint black boar, "because it didnt hold a candle in playability".his words!also a friend of mine and purdys has about $750,000 in cues(paul)some of the biggest names in the world and he states"there are none that play as good as richards cues!and I have chose to play with one and I have alot to choose from!!!!all of the cues that i have gotten in the last 3 years have been great in detail/design/and playability! thank you for letting me share my opinion
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Mr. Grassley-
I've seen some of your collection and agree that it is rather impressive. You have some fine cues. And this is in no way an insult to you so please, do not take it as one. This thread was started ebcause someone asked for feedback on Richard Black cues. Now, I may not have owned dozens as I am sure you have. And the reason for that is simple... because I have tried many and looked at many. And from what I have seen, I am better off spending my money elsewhere.

This is a tough thread to respond to because it is a matter of taste. And everyone's taste is different. I'm sure you and Purdman's friend both feel that none hold a candle to Richard in playability. Well, I've hit with a Bender in recent weeks that sent chills down my spine as it plays better than any cue I have EVER picked up. And as far as my money goes, I'll never spend another dollar on anything other than Mottey and White. But again, that's my opinion. That doesn't make me right and you wrong. But it also doesn't make me wrong and you right.

Remember, opinion is subjective and not a matter of fact. That being said, seeing as how you own so many cues and you like Richard Black cues the best, can I have your ebony window, burl Mottey? :D
 
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