I have had a 1992 Espiritu cue for about 15 years that I had planned to send to Russ to have refinished and a second shaft made. I waited too long, and took a few years off. Now I found Russ retired and sold the business to his apprentice Justin Craig.
So I Googled Justin Craig cues. Web site is down, and FB for JCraig cues has not been updated since May 2023.
Before I push on, does anybody know anything about this? About Justin Craig? I'll try to call the number on the FB site, but I am wondering if anybody knows what's up. Maybe I should skip it and go find someone else to re-do the cue for me? I am concerned about the signature and preserving it, of course.
The reason I ask is that I haven't seen anything online about his work, particularly about him refinishing Russ' work. I don't find him mentioned at all in a search of AZB either.
Obviously I can just call and see if I even get an answer (I don't use FB). But I would prefer to know something first if I can. Any input will be appreciated. Yes, I am a dumbass for putting it off so long.
If you are curious, this is the cue (old picture from my files). You can see the shaft tenon is off. There are saw marks, it was cut off clean when I got it, and a "slip on" tip was on it. Cue is straight and sound. Dirty with finish chips, no dents, nice figured woods, not the prettiest cue design. Very thick black veneers on the points, and the points are cut through a metal ring, I have never seen that before. Decorative ring at A joint lines up perfect with the points all around. From what I understand, it went through Hurricane Katrina, and it smelled like it when I got it.
Wrap is trash. I am thinking brown with white spec linen, or a brown leather wrap. Or maybe just black with white spec. Thoughts?
So I Googled Justin Craig cues. Web site is down, and FB for JCraig cues has not been updated since May 2023.
Before I push on, does anybody know anything about this? About Justin Craig? I'll try to call the number on the FB site, but I am wondering if anybody knows what's up. Maybe I should skip it and go find someone else to re-do the cue for me? I am concerned about the signature and preserving it, of course.
The reason I ask is that I haven't seen anything online about his work, particularly about him refinishing Russ' work. I don't find him mentioned at all in a search of AZB either.
Obviously I can just call and see if I even get an answer (I don't use FB). But I would prefer to know something first if I can. Any input will be appreciated. Yes, I am a dumbass for putting it off so long.
If you are curious, this is the cue (old picture from my files). You can see the shaft tenon is off. There are saw marks, it was cut off clean when I got it, and a "slip on" tip was on it. Cue is straight and sound. Dirty with finish chips, no dents, nice figured woods, not the prettiest cue design. Very thick black veneers on the points, and the points are cut through a metal ring, I have never seen that before. Decorative ring at A joint lines up perfect with the points all around. From what I understand, it went through Hurricane Katrina, and it smelled like it when I got it.
Wrap is trash. I am thinking brown with white spec linen, or a brown leather wrap. Or maybe just black with white spec. Thoughts?
