So I really like my Hercek, but there’s one problem: I rarely use it. Between not being able to carry my pool case onto an airplane, play league in some iffy places, and the fact that my main pool hall is, on Friday and Saturday nights, crowded with drunks and bangers, I’m just not comfortable taking something that valuable around with me. So I do most of my shooting with an early 1990s Schon with a Runde era shaft (newly wrapped an re-finished, thanks to Mike Webb). In fact, because I shoot so much more often with my Schon, I’m actually more comfortable playing with it than with my Hercek. So the Hercek spends most of its time safely in a case on a shelf, which seems like a waste.
Lately, I’ve been pondering a new plan: sell the Hercek, pocket some money and use the rest to hire another cue maker with a shorter waiting list to make a matched pair of cues for me. I envision having 2 butts and 3 shafts, all completely interchangeable. The first butt would be custom made to my specs, a mid-range collectible cue (level 4-5 on the BB scale), perhaps even a bit fancier than my Hercek. The second butt would be either a zero point or plain 4-point cue. The key would be to have the two butts have the same dimensions, weight, balance point, and wrap – ideally, I won’t be able to tell, or will barely be able to tell, the difference without looking.
The idea would be that I could keep two shafts in my case at all times and then pick whichever butt I want for the occasion. If it’s league night, then I go with the plain butt (that I could replace for under $500 if needed). If I’m meeting an AZBer and want to show off my fancy cue, then I go with the six-pointer.
Any thoughts on this scheme? Any recommendations for who to go with? (I’m leaning towards Mike Webb) Am I nuts to even consider selling a Hercek? If I’m not nuts for considering it, does anyone want to buy a Hercek? I put some pictures up on Yahoo: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cappscory/album?.dir=/adb2&.src=ph. The pictures aren’t great, but they’re decent. I also posted scans of the original invoice, shipping label, and letter from Joel.
Here’s the quick specs: 2 shafts with Ivory ferrules, one 13 mm and one 12.75mm; leather wrap; Piloted SS joint; 58”, 19.4 oz; as goes without saying for a Hercek the points are dead-even and razor sharp (4 veneers). Ivory inlays, with a delrin butt cap. It’s definitely in 98% condition because, as I said, I don’t take it to many places so I don’t use it often. In fact, the tips are original – as the pics show, one tip has a fair amount of use on it and the other is barely played. (JoeyA from RSB and AZB has hit with it, in fact).
Thanks,
Cory
P.S. How accurate is the Blue Book? On page 343, it shows a level 4 Hercek that is comparable to mine in terms of the inlay work (but mine has a leather wrap and ivory ferrules) at $4000-$4300 for 100% condition and $3800 for 95% condition. That suggests a price around $4,000 to me – about right?
Lately, I’ve been pondering a new plan: sell the Hercek, pocket some money and use the rest to hire another cue maker with a shorter waiting list to make a matched pair of cues for me. I envision having 2 butts and 3 shafts, all completely interchangeable. The first butt would be custom made to my specs, a mid-range collectible cue (level 4-5 on the BB scale), perhaps even a bit fancier than my Hercek. The second butt would be either a zero point or plain 4-point cue. The key would be to have the two butts have the same dimensions, weight, balance point, and wrap – ideally, I won’t be able to tell, or will barely be able to tell, the difference without looking.
The idea would be that I could keep two shafts in my case at all times and then pick whichever butt I want for the occasion. If it’s league night, then I go with the plain butt (that I could replace for under $500 if needed). If I’m meeting an AZBer and want to show off my fancy cue, then I go with the six-pointer.
Any thoughts on this scheme? Any recommendations for who to go with? (I’m leaning towards Mike Webb) Am I nuts to even consider selling a Hercek? If I’m not nuts for considering it, does anyone want to buy a Hercek? I put some pictures up on Yahoo: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cappscory/album?.dir=/adb2&.src=ph. The pictures aren’t great, but they’re decent. I also posted scans of the original invoice, shipping label, and letter from Joel.
Here’s the quick specs: 2 shafts with Ivory ferrules, one 13 mm and one 12.75mm; leather wrap; Piloted SS joint; 58”, 19.4 oz; as goes without saying for a Hercek the points are dead-even and razor sharp (4 veneers). Ivory inlays, with a delrin butt cap. It’s definitely in 98% condition because, as I said, I don’t take it to many places so I don’t use it often. In fact, the tips are original – as the pics show, one tip has a fair amount of use on it and the other is barely played. (JoeyA from RSB and AZB has hit with it, in fact).
Thanks,
Cory
P.S. How accurate is the Blue Book? On page 343, it shows a level 4 Hercek that is comparable to mine in terms of the inlay work (but mine has a leather wrap and ivory ferrules) at $4000-$4300 for 100% condition and $3800 for 95% condition. That suggests a price around $4,000 to me – about right?
