Should you play with a collectible 100%er?

ScottR said:
Yeah, but you're a big cheater . . . . . because you know Danny and he lives in your neck of the woods!! :p

I'm just kidding, because I completely agree with you. Let the original cue maker refinish a cue, if possible. They LOVE it when a cue has been played enough that it needs a refinish. Plus, I think (deep down in their cue-loving heart) they really like to see how one of their "offspring" has "grown up". Don't we all???

I have a 1980 Richard Black, with a piloted ivory joint. I played, and broke (call me a dumb-ass!! :p ) with it for 9 years. Guess what? It is as sound as the day Richard shipped it to me. I sent it to him in 2003 because the 23-FRIGGIN-YEAR-OLD finish was was starting wear. Guess what his response to me on the phone was after he got the cue back? "Yeah, the cue looks 'alright', but the finish sucks!!" You have to laugh. :p

He refinished it, and re-signed it, and it looks like new. I don't give a shit that it doesn't have the original finish or the original hand-drawn signature . . . because it was made to be played with; and it HAS BEEN.

On the other hand, if I had access to a Balabushka, it would be tucked away. I don't care how good it plays . . . . "they ain't makin' no more of them!" :eek: But, if I had a Gus . . . . . I would play with it. I dunno. Call me stupid.

Damn.....what a fence sitter I am. Oh, well. ;)
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I know what you mean. I have bought cues with the intention of just putting them away and keeping them 100%. Then I ALWAYS end up playing with them. It's just too much....I HAVE to see how they hit. That's why I have an extra set of shafts made for them now, or at least make sure I buy cues with at least 2 shafts...so I can keep at least one shaft unplayed. I end up with a lot of shafts...I have a Tibbitts with 5 shafts, an Espiritu with 5 shafts, a Scruggs with 4 shafts...

As far as the 'Bushkas go...I don't think I would buy one anyway. I've seen a few of them and hit with one or two. I wasn't really all that impressed. I know that's probably going to rub some folks the wrong way.....and I know that Mr. Balabushka was working with what was available to him at the time...but I'm a whole lot more impressed with the workmanship, hit and build quality of Gus Szamboti, Palmer, Paradise and a few other cuemakers of that era. I was certainly not impressed enough with Balabushka to spend $12,000.00 or more (maybe MUCH more) for one. I would be much more likely to buy one of Bill Schicks cues or a Ginacue for that kind of money. I know that the 'Bushka is more collectible because George Balabushka is dead, but I'd still be more likely to buy what I like regardless of collectibility.
 
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GeraldG said:
...... or at least make sure I buy cues with at least 2 shafts...so I can keep at least one shaft unplayed.........

As far as the 'Bushkas go...I don't think I would buy one anyway. I've seen a few of them and hit with one or two. I wasn't really all that impressed. I know that's probably going to rub some folks the wrong way.........
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We have got to get together soon....we think too much alike!!

I always pick one shaft and play with it and keep the other intact. My exposure to Balabushkas has been limited, but I didn't think their hit was anything to write home about either.

Oh, man......are we setting ourselves for flames. :p
My fire-retardant suit on and buckled up. :D
 
GeraldG said:
I know what you mean. I have bought cues with the intention of just putting them away and keeping them 100%. Then I ALWAYS end up playing with them. It's just too much....I HAVE to see how they hit. That's why I have an extra set of shafts made for them now, or at least make sure I buy cues with at least 2 shafts...so I can keep at least one shaft unplayed. I end up with a lot of shafts...I have a Tibbitts with 5 shafts, an Espiritu with 5 shafts, a Scruggs with 4 shafts...

As far as the 'Bushkas go...I don't think I would buy one anyway. I've seen a few of them and hit with one or two. I wasn't really all that impressed. I know that's probably going to rub some folks the wrong way.....and I know that Mr. Balabushka was working with what was available to him at the time...but I'm a whole lot more impressed with the workmanship, hit and build quality of Gus Szamboti, Palmer, Paradise and a few other cuemakers of that era. I was certainly not impressed enough with Balabushka to spend $12,000.00 or more (maybe MUCH more) for one. I would be much more likely to buy one of Bill Schicks cues or a Ginacue for that kind of money. I know that the 'Bushka is more collectible because George Balabushka is dead, but I'd still be more likely to buy what I like regardless of collectibility.
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Just curious if you played with the Spain Tribute or tucked it away unchalked??
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
 
cueman said:
Just curious if you played with the Spain Tribute or tucked it away unchalked??
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
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:) I'm playing with it. I need to get you to make another shaft for me so I can keep one 100% and have a pair to play with. I LOVE the way this thing hits! I TOLD you I probably would end up playing with it....I SUCK!!!!! I have NO WILLPOWER!!!
 
I believe I used up all my Mantle rookie cards on my bike, Hell I was a kid and they wernt worth anything tnen.
 
Hunter said:
. . . I can't imagine having a Ferrari just sitting in a garage not being driven. . .
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My brother stopped letting me drive his Ferrari a long time ago. He rarely drives it himself anymore. He figures just backing it out of the garage costs him hundreds, if not thousands. Wear-and-tear AND things often break. (A clutch replacement after 7,000 to 10,000 miles costs a few thousand.)

If an $8,000 cue lost value to $7,000 after playing just 10 racks, few people would play with high end cues.

I bang my Gilbert around all the time. How much could I be losing?
 
Hi All,

Just wanted to let you know I played with the 100%er over the weekend. I'm glad I did! It played very nicely. The Michelob label is still intact, and is no worse for wear. The finish is still new looking on the ramin wood shaft and I just screwed on a new tip...

Seriously, thanks for all your input!

Steve
 
Here's the cue I was actually asking about. It's the Tim Scruggs cocobolo and ivory box cue...

Steve
 

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Guru said:
Collect memories. Some things you must use to appreciate. You don't marry a hottie just to put her in a glass case do you?
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I would trade my Mottey for a hottie.
 
Steve,

I think it depends on what you focus is with regard to cue sticks. If you are trying to build an investment-grade collection, the answer is clearly not to use it...not even to chalk it once. If you are that serious, make sure to save any shipping box it came in, and any/all receipts, correspondence with the cue maker, etc.

If you invested good money in a cue that plays as well as it looks, then I would encourage you to use it. After all, the price itself doesn't make the cue a collectible per se. If the cue is truly from a collectible cue maker, I would suggest this if you are really struggling with the choice. When there is a cue maker I like for his artistic work, and his craftsmanship, I like to get more than one cue. I might buy a lower-end cue with which to play, and keep the higher-end cues unchalked. That way, you can beat one up a little without having to lay out serious cash, while keeping the investment cues at all original and 100% condition. I have a large collection, much of which you can see at the link below. I like fancy cues as much as anyone, but my main playing cue is a ten year old Lambros with five points and no inlays. Despite keeping it in really good condition, I have never once worried about getting a dent, ding, or scratch on the cue from playing.

With regard to the cue you are thinking about, without having seen it, it is a difficult call. However, I would say this- if you are so worried about it, you should probably keep it unchalked and think about picking up a lower-end model of that cue maker's work.

Deno Andrews
http://www.3cushion.com/On Line Collection/Tools of the Game.htm
 
Hunter said:
Here's the cue I was actually asking about. It's the Tim Scruggs cocobolo and ivory box cue...

Steve
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Ohhh, Steve, you dirty dawg. I love that cue! I've always had a fondness for the floating box style. If I can dig it up, I'll send you a pic of a Josswest that used to be Bill Stroud's playing cue. He showed it to me a long time ago and I ran across it on one of the dealer sites. It's made from pink ivory and ivory - just sick.

I WILL own that cue some day!! Yeah, right. :rolleyes: :D
 
Hi Scott,

Thanks for the comment. I'm a big fan of box cues, too! I had kind of an interesting thing happen a couple of weeks ago concerning box cues that I got a kick out of. I was shooting some stick at my local poolhall and a guy was shooting about three tables over with what looked like a really fancy cue. I was going to go over and see what he was using, but all of the sudden, he came over to my table. I was using an ebony and ivory Mc Daniel box cue (the one in the Bluebook - Szamboti model). He asked me what kind of cue I was using, and when I told him, he said he wondered because he owned the original Szamboti. Come to find out, I was talking to Del Glenn, whose family probably owns one of the biggest Szamboti/Balabushka collections in existence. The fancy stick he was using was the most ornate Southwest I've ever seen.

I would definitely like to see your pics of the JW box cue, as I usually use a JW! It really sounds nice. Take care...

Steve
 
I have had the same quandry. I have a couple high end cues that I havent played with. Its a tough call - I know a guy that has 5 Gus Szambotis that have never seen the light of day (the freaking things are still in the Original Box). As far as resell value goes how do you put a price on that? He made Gus take pictures so I guess he enjoys them.

Tough call.
 
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