Southwest

A

AK-Stick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
OK, lets say Southwest for easy math builds 100 cues per year and they have been building them 30 yrs, that is actually only 3000 cues. Lets say Barry makes 25 if he does 30 yrs thats 750 cues. They will be a rarer cue how ever with proposed ivory issues they maybe limited to the USA. The difference in the two from a future prospective is it is possible that Southwest could possibly continue after Laurie's tenure.
I admit I don't get to play in a lot of billiard halls but I do play and I can recall only seeing 2 Southwests over the years and the only Barry I have seen was the one I had. Both cues have a following. I understand that Barry's cues have many more options in design and many consider Southwest a semi custom rather than a custom cue. I actually did own a Southwest for a bit and I wasn't sold on the playability of it compared to some other cues I have owned, how ever I am not saying that is the case with all Southwests, they have a reputation for playing.I would venture to say that unless one is an avid cue addict or player most pool players won't even know what a Gina,Barry,Gus or Hercek is, but say Southwest and they know. As i mentioned earlier with most of the cues I just mentioned the Ivory in them may limit there movement around the world while very few of the Southwests I have seen have any ivory in them. I am just rattling here and throwing out some thoughts wondering as to the viability of the two different types Custom and semi custom in the future.
 
It's always great to try to guess what will become a highly sought after collector's item in the future, but it's a bit of a fool's errand. In cars, I've seen so many such lists that have proven to be dead wrong. Nobody really knows what new item today will be in hot demand in say another 25 years.

My suggestion is to buy what you like, and only worry about the future if you're lucky enough to get there.

I'm pushing 72...these days I wonder about buying green bananas. Future value of anything I own is the least of my concerns.
 
It's not 100 cues a year for Southwest, but over 300 cues a year for southwest. They are actually fairly common, if you look around large tournaments you will usually find a Southwest. Or more.
 
Ty Arnold said:
It's not 100 cues a year for Southwest, but over 300 cues a year for southwest. They are actually fairly common, if you look around large tournaments you will usually find a Southwest. Or more.
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I think you be right here. They have 3 folks turning out cues at SW, and if they don't build many "fancy" ones, so not thinking it would take as much time for a cue builder, let alone three of them ??
 
Nope...try again.

They built the perfect cue business model. I received cues 344-343 last year in late July. They start at 300 every year. I would venture to say that they built less than 100 last year.

Do you know why they can't build 300, or even a 100 a year? Because they have a new shaft replacement, new wrap, and refinish backlog that cue builders would love to have.

There was a time when I would occasionally see a cue in the 400's, but that was a long time ago.

They are common, but its not because they are cranking out 300 a year, its because they build less than 100 and have guaranteed 12 years of employment. Maybe Obama should call Laurie to fix the economy. ;)

JV

Ty Arnold said:
It's not 100 cues a year for Southwest, but over 300 cues a year for southwest. They are actually fairly common, if you look around large tournaments you will usually find a Southwest. Or more.
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Playability

AK-Stick said:
OK, lets say Southwest for easy math builds 100 cues per year and they have been building them 30 yrs, that is actually only 3000 cues. Lets say Barry makes 25 if he does 30 yrs thats 750 cues. They will be a rarer cue how ever with proposed ivory issues they maybe limited to the USA. The difference in the two from a future prospective is it is possible that Southwest could possibly continue after Laurie's tenure.
I admit I don't get to play in a lot of billiard halls but I do play and I can recall only seeing 2 Southwests over the years and the only Barry I have seen was the one I had. Both cues have a following. I understand that Barry's cues have many more options in design and many consider Southwest a semi custom rather than a custom cue. I actually did own a Southwest for a bit and I wasn't sold on the playability of it compared to some other cues I have owned, how ever I am not saying that is the case with all Southwests, they have a reputation for playing.I would venture to say that unless one is an avid cue addict or player most pool players won't even know what a Gina,Barry,Gus or Hercek is, but say Southwest and they know. As i mentioned earlier with most of the cues I just mentioned the Ivory in them may limit there movement around the world while very few of the Southwests I have seen have any ivory in them. I am just rattling here and throwing out some thoughts wondering as to the viability of the two different types Custom and semi custom in the future.
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I played for 30 min or so with one. I felt it hit very stiff, while that telegraphed a lot of feel I didnt care much for it. You can take a soft hitting cue and use a different tip, uncapped ferrule and get more information going up to your elbow. I wasnt sold but Ive just hit with the one but for my money I like my Southeast.
 
Szamboti - South West

Ty Arnold said:
It's not 100 cues a year for Southwest, but over 300 cues a year for southwest. They are actually fairly common, if you look around large tournaments you will usually find a Southwest. Or more.
Click to expand...


First off SW does not build 300 or more cues per year! The first cue of each year starts at 300 on the Pin. I think 100-125 per year is close.

Both cues will increase in value as they are top of the line playing cues.

Barry's cues with his timeless design and fancy inlay work are so special, and so few made. In my opinion Szamboti will always be at the top in value, and playability.

I think if SW continued to make what we call a " Fancy " with inlays, they would be very close in value. Since that most likely will not happen, they still will always be sought after, and still rise in value.

I am very fortunate to have a relationship with both Barry Szamboti, and Laurie Franklin that l consider an honor. I truly thank both parties for their friendship. Both Hall of Famers for sure, and rightfully so.
Please keep in mind that Mike Bunker ( Jerry Franklin's nephew ) and Al Lawrence are the makers of SW cues.

So if you are lucky enough to own a Szamboti or a South West, you as they say are in good hands!

A big thank you to present Hall of Famers - Gus Szamboti & Jerry Franklin for their ingenuity, style, class, and everything they did to help create masterful pieces of playable art. And let's all thank Laurie & Barry for keeping the tradition alive!
 
Sure?

Ty Arnold said:
It's not 100 cues a year for Southwest, but over 300 cues a year for southwest. They are actually fairly common, if you look around large tournaments you will usually find a Southwest. Or more.
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Are you sure on that # of cues built per year. I know on the pin is a # but the # always starts at 300 followed by a number representing what cue for that year. 314 would mean that is the 14th cue for that year. I do not remember seeing any staring with 400 or 5or 600. Can anyone give anymore info on this.
 
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Sorry

franko said:
Are you sure on that # of cues built per year. I know on the pin is a # but the # always starts at 300 followed by a number representing what cue for that year. 314 would mean that is the 14th cue for that year. I do not remember seeing any staring with 400 or 5or 600. Can anyone give anymore info on this.
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Sorry wrote this before I read thru thread.
 
I do not mean to ruffle any feathers. I may be wrong, this is just always what I have heard. I know a local player who owns a Southwest and he and numerous others have always said around 300 cues per year. If you look in the blue book of pool cues it states annual production : approximately 250 cues. I really don't care either way. Just what I have always heard,I may be wrong. Please don't kill the messenger.
 
Ty Arnold

I'll bet you a $1000.00 they do not build 300 cues a year and we will go back 5 yrs, BET ME!!
 
Maybe Laurie will tell you about how many SW are produced a year if you ask her. She has always been very nice and accommodating when I have spoken to her over the years.

Not sure if SW starts 1st cue of the year with 300 or 301, since one way would throw your actual cue # off by 1.

My #459 SW arrived in Dec 1998 after 5 1/2 yrs,,,,, so that would lead me to believe they were only maybe around 165 cues that year.

Who knows,,, but I like my SW cues

Keep strokin
 
Ty Arnold said:
I do not mean to ruffle any feathers. I may be wrong, this is just always what I have heard. I know a local player who owns a Southwest and he and numerous others have always said around 300 cues per year. If you look in the blue book of pool cues it states annual production : approximately 250 cues. I really don't care either way. Just what I have always heard,I may be wrong. Please don't kill the messenger.
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via Imgflip Meme Maker
 
Well then I'm sorry fellas. I guess I am wrong. Definitely does seem like it is between 100 and 175 cues a year. Sorry again for any anger I have caused. I truly appreciate all the passion Southwest owners have about their cues. I believe they are truly top level cues and I hope to own one myself one day.
 
Ty Arnold said:
I do not mean to ruffle any feathers. I may be wrong, this is just always what I have heard. I know a local player who owns a Southwest and he and numerous others have always said around 300 cues per year. If you look in the blue book of pool cues it states annual production : approximately 250 cues. I really don't care either way. Just what I have always heard,I may be wrong. Please don't kill the messenger.
Click to expand...

I believe there were some years that SW made a few hundred
cues. Not sure how many times they acheived this, but your
friend wasn't totally wrong. Laurie Franklin probably has the
exact number, but I don't think she'll be chiming in to this thread.
These days the number is much lower and when ga9ball says
100-125, you can bet he's on the money or in the ballpark.

SW cues are awesome, I hope that's one thing that most of us
agree on.
 
Sorry if I was offensive to anyone. Three hundred just sounded high. I have never visited Southwest but they are highly respected and talking to the few people I have that sound knowledgeable Southwest follows some hard fast procedures building their cues. With 3 people in the shop they'd have to turn out abit over 5 cues a week. Many argue that Southwest isn't a custom cue, I'll compromise and say they are semi custom. You have a set types of wood, but you have choice of points, veneers, wrap,taper, ferrule material. That is pretty custom. Part of Southwest's belief in their cues stems from the belief of the play of a wood cue. I don't know if they use a weight bolt but I believe the only metal in their cues is the joint pin and probably the screw pins. I also haven't discussed this with any one at Southwest so I guess it's observation on my part. Still how ever a person personally views Southwest they are recognizable highly respected played sot after and collected. I have even read some comments in some threads about the inability of Southwest using Ebony at this time. I am sure it's hard for Southwest to inform those that come up that Ebony isn't an option at this time but I give kudus to Southwest for not compromising their quality.
 
I think one of the things that hard about owning a Southwest, Gina, TAD and or Zambotti is that you can't get cue work done in a timely manner. These cues are the most prized of any collection (not to disparage other cue makers) for their collect ability not necessarily play ability. The waiting list almost prohibits anyone from purchasing a used one and then sending it in for reconditioning. I had a chance to purchase a nice Southwest about a year ago for $1400 but it needed a total refinish with wrap and at least two new shafts and when I called them they told me a minimum of 3 years to get the work done. What has bothered me lately is the counterfeiting that has been going on with unscrupulous cue makers refinishing cues and counterfeiting shaft and butt rings and making the cue look like an original. For shame……..
 
I believe Laurie told me the most cues they made in one year was 240 or so..... and 150 a year average sounds about right.
 
It's known that SW starts their numbering at 3xx every year.

I heard that for special cues, like one-offs or collaborations etc. they tend to number them something like 5xx or 6xx. That may cause some confusion.

If they made much more than 200 in a given year I would be surprised.
 
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