Tascarella Cue questions...for owners and previous owners...

[HyperioN]

I've always liked the idea of having a Tascarella cue. The history with Balabushka, the classic style, very old school.

So I got a quote...nothing fancy, his classic 4 point, 4 veneer with stainless steel joint, a few notched diamond inlays with leather wrap.....$5,250!!!

The questions I have...

1. Is that worth that price or should I find something used?

2. Is it worth the hype? Does it really have a great hit and feel? I know its subjective but I do see a lot for sale.

3. Do you have one that you would never get rid of because you love it so much?

4. If you have ordered a custom from Pete, what aspects of your cue have you loved or not loved?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
John

 

[Bavafongoul]

You are paying a premium price because of the name and the question is whether it is worth it or justifiable?
IMO, it is. However, if the price seems too high, you just need to get quotes from other highly prominent names
in cue making for a fair comparison. You’ll always find a cue maker that could build you an equivalent design for
thousands less if saving $ was important. Just keep in mind it wouldn’t be from an esteemed name in cue making.

 

[Duane Remick]

I've always liked the idea of having a Tascarella cue. The history with Balabushka, the classic style, very old school.

So I got a quote...nothing fancy, his classic 4 point, 4 veneer with stainless steel joint, a few notched diamond inlays with leather wrap.....$5,250!!!

The questions I have...

1. Is that worth that price or should I find something used?

2. Is it worth the hype? Does it really have a great hit and feel? I know its subjective but I do see a lot for sale.

3. Do you have one that you would never get rid of because you love it so much?

4. If you have ordered a custom from Pete, what aspects of your cue have you loved or not loved?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
John

I've owned 2 or 3 Tasc cues in the past,
All were top shelf build quality and great selection of woods used in the cues.
I didnt get cues built, bought from secondary market,
I sent 1 cue to Pete for new tips and clean wrap...
I was treated really well by Pete Sr, and he made me feel like a valued customer.
In your circumstance, its Your Judgement call,
How much cash You like to spend.
The cue will certainly be an excellent example of workmanship, for sure.
Playability is subjective...
I recommend You choosing shaft Taper You prefer, Also tips and ferrule material,
That way the cue will be to your specs and liking and give you best chance of enjoying the cue.
The cues are built to be played .

 

[HyperioN]

You are paying a premium price because of the name and the question is whether it is worth it or justifiable?
IMO, it is. However, if the price seems too high, you just need to get quotes from other highly prominent names
in cue making for a fair comparison. You’ll always find a cue maker that could build you an equivalent design for
thousands less if saving $ was important. Just keep in mind it wouldn’t be from an esteemed name in cue making.

What’s justifiable always comes down to what price you’re personally comfortable with. I’ve been buying and selling cues for almost 10 years, but I’ve always tried to focus on getting the best bang for the buck. A big reason for that is I actually like to play with my cues. I have a hard time bringing anything over $2K out of the house because I’m always worried it might get damaged by someone else. Most people don’t know or care about cues the way I do or the way people on this forum do. So is $5K too much to pay for a Tascarella? I honestly don’t know. Is it absolutely amazing? I’m not sure.

 

[HyperioN]

I've owned 2 or 3 Tasc cues in the past,
All were top shelf build quality and great selection of woods used in the cues.
I didnt get cues built, bought from secondary market,
I sent 1 cue to Pete for new tips and clean wrap...
I was treated really well by Pete Sr, and he made me feel like a valued customer.
In your circumstance, its Your Judgement call,
How much cash You like to spend.
The cue will certainly be an excellent example of workmanship, for sure.
Playability is subjective...
I recommend You choosing shaft Taper You prefer, Also tips and ferrule material,
That way the cue will be to your specs and liking and give you best chance of enjoying the cue.
The cues are built to be played .

Playability is always subjective. I can always sell it if I don't like it of course. $5K does seem like a lot for his "basic" or "classic" style. The main question for you....you've owned 2 or 3....why did you sell them and not keep them?

 

[maha]

he is tops but you are paying a lot more for the name and his artful work. not a better playing cue. although it will play well. hopefully to your style since you will be buying sight unseen.

i could send you(i wont) a ten dollar junk cue that looks fine and hits as well as any other cue i have.
that's why you need to decide if you are looking for a playing cue or a look what i have cue.
you will likely get both with him.

anytime you buy a custom get extra shafts as they may never be offered again to you.

 

[mdavis228]

I've always liked the idea of having a Tascarella cue. The history with Balabushka, the classic style, very old school.

So I got a quote...nothing fancy, his classic 4 point, 4 veneer with stainless steel joint, a few notched diamond inlays with leather wrap.....$5,250!!!

If you were quoted a price by the Tascarellas, it's not off-handed. They're good as gold folks.

The questions I have...

1. Is that worth that price or should I find something used?
Worth every penny. Every aspect of their work excellent, as is the experience of working with them. The re-sale value of cues by them is extraordinary.

2. Is it worth the hype? Does it really have a great hit and feel? I know its subjective but I do see a lot for sale.

It's not hype, it's a richly earned legacy. This year is their 50th anniversary. Their cues' hit & feel is incredible. Will the standard taper on their shafts suit you? Who could know. Here's what you can know. Tascarella Custom Cues is, first & foremost, a top of the food chain master cue shop. If you know what you want, or can provide an example of it, they can almost assuredly make it happen. Will they do it for free? Why would they.
You do see quite a few for sale, but unlikely it's a dislike of the cue. People trade their investments up all the time. You could find a used Tasc you like, save some money, and have a really great cue. Understand though, what you pay for an older cue in good shape will probably be a large percentage of what it originally cost. That's important, and a good thing. This last fall I sold a merry widow that I'd bought new from a small dealer, and a 4pt Hoppe made in 2009 that I'd bought used. Owned them both about 3 1/2 years. Played with them, enjoyed them, kept them in good shape, and they sold for every penny I had invested in them.
I re-invested those funds into a brand new, highly inlaid, build from them, for me, that I just received 2 weeks ago. It's awesome.
It is a sibling to the Tascarella I ordered in fall of 2020 as my retirement gift to myself after a 41 yr career. Also awesome... trust me. Mid-year 2026, Pete will finish my inlaid Macassar Ebony Merry Widow.

3. Do you have one that you would never get rid of because you love it so much?

I have two now, and a 3rd coming. I designed what I wanted, and they always kill it.

4. If you have ordered a custom from Pete, what aspects of your cue have you loved or not loved?
Everything. My shafts are custom tapered to my liking - they play great for me! Working with the Tascarellas is an experience I very highly recommend. They are truly fantastic people, they've treated me incredibly well, we respect one another, and I'm happy to consider them friends.

Good luck to you. Chris

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
John

 

[HyperioN]

he is tops but you are paying a lot more for the name and his artful work. not a better playing cue. although it will play well. hopefully to your style since you will be buying sight unseen.

i could send you(i wont) a ten dollar junk cue that looks fine and hits as well as any other cue i have.
that's why you need to decide if you are looking for a playing cue or a look what i have cue.
you will likely get both with him.

anytime you buy a custom get extra shafts as they may never be offered again to you.

I agree. You are buying the name. Also the resale value. Hit and playability are subjective and I'm sure I could find a cue 1/100 of the price that hits as good. Why can't I just be happy with what I have? I feel like you go down this rabbit hole...what if this cue is amazing....sometimes I think its a sickness!

 

[skor]

I've always liked the idea of having a Tascarella cue. The history with Balabushka, the classic style, very old school.

So I got a quote...nothing fancy, his classic 4 point, 4 veneer with stainless steel joint, a few notched diamond inlays with leather wrap.....$5,250!!!

The questions I have...

1. Is that worth that price or should I find something used?

2. Is it worth the hype? Does it really have a great hit and feel? I know its subjective but I do see a lot for sale.

3. Do you have one that you would never get rid of because you love it so much?

4. If you have ordered a custom from Pete, what aspects of your cue have you loved or not loved?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
John

It's only worth it if you're going to sell it and make some money off it, if it's even possible...
If you're gona keep it until you die, it will be worth something to your kids, if they know that it's valuable and won't just throw it away.

Is it worth it for playability? probably not!
It might hit and feel great but so do so many other $500 cues...
It's like a Rolex, you can get other watches to do the same job and even better for a lot less but they are not a Rolex... thing is, if you want to invest, then Rolex will be a better option than a pool cue...

Bottom line, it's your money and you only live once, if you want a Tasc. and can afford it without taking food off your table, then just go a head.

I really like Tasc. classic style, I would probably hate to play with most iconic cues as they are usually too heavy for me.

 

[HyperioN]

If you were quoted a price by the Tascarellas, it's not off-handed. They're good as gold folks.



It's not hype, it's a richly earned legacy. This year is their 50th anniversary. Their cues' hit & feel is incredible. Will the standard taper on their shafts suit you? Who could know. Here's what you can know. Tascarella Custom Cues is, first & foremost, a top of the food chain master cue shop. If you know what you want, or can provide an example of it, they can almost assuredly make it happen. Will they do it for free? Why would they.
You do see quite a few for sale, but unlikely it's a dislike of the cue. People trade their investments up all the time. You could find a used Tasc you like, save some money, and have a really great cue. Understand though, what you pay for an older cue in good shape will probably be a large percentage of what it originally cost. That's important, and a good thing. This last fall I sold a merry widow that I'd bought new from a small dealer, and a 4pt Hoppe made in 2009 that I'd bought used. Owned them both about 3 1/2 years. Played with them, enjoyed them, kept them in good shape, and they sold for every penny I had invested in them.
I re-invested those funds into a brand new, highly inlaid, build from them, for me, that I just received 2 weeks ago. It's awesome.
It is a sibling to the Tascarella I ordered in fall of 2020 as my retirement gift to myself after a 41 yr career. Also awesome... trust me. Mid-year 2026, Pete will finish my inlaid Macassar Ebony Merry Widow.

I have two now, and a 3rd coming. I designed what I wanted, and they always kill it.

Good luck to you. Chris

Thanks Chris! Great info! I love that you are a die hard fan. You make me want to get one for sure. What kind of taper did you get?

 

[HyperioN]

It's only worth it if you're going to sell it and make some money off it, if it's even possible...
If you're gona keep it until you die, it will be worth something to your kids, if they know that it's valuable and won't just throw it away.

Is it worth it for playability? probably not!
It might hit and feel great but so do so many other $500 cues...
It's like a Rolex, you can get other watches to do the same job and even better for a lot less but they are not a Rolex... thing is, if you want to invest, then Rolex will be a better option than a pool cue...

Bottom line, it's your money and you only live once, if you want a Tasc. and can afford it without taking food off your table, then just go a head.

I really like Tasc. classic style, I would probably hate to play with most iconic cues as they are usually too heavy for me.

Thats what my sensible side says....you don't need a Tascarella! You won't take it out of the house. You'll worry about it as an investment. It will be a closet queen that you'll take out seldom and you'll sell it 5 years from now when you realize its just sitting there. I just did that with about 6 cues I don't play....narrowed it down to two cues I play and 2 cues that are worth more to me personally than they are worth monetarily. Bam! Sell 'em all!

 

[maha]

get the joint you want and the taper you prefer. i always get 5/16 14 and all cues. the same joint diameter so all my shafts fit perfectly or almost on all my real playing cues.

 

[skor]

Thats what my sensible side says....you don't need a Tascarella! You won't take it out of the house. You'll worry about it as an investment. It will be a closet queen that you'll take out seldom and you'll sell it 5 years from now when you realize its just sitting there. I just did that with about 6 cues I don't play....narrowed it down to two cues I play and 2 cues that are worth more to me personally than they are worth monetarily. Bam! Sell 'em all!

I'm not a big collector, I have a few cues, nothing that expansive, but I play or played with them all. and all came out to the pool halls, I don't have a table at home... I won't buy a cue if it's not going to be used. I won't buy a Rolex and not wear it (Timex is just fine for me )
Nobody needs a Tasc. you just want one and that's a good enough reason for me if one can afford it. Again, life is short, enjoy the things you like.
I hate it when people buy cues as investments, it's stupid... they just raise the prices for players while there are much better routes to invest in and make more money.

 

[Duane Remick]

Playability is always subjective. I can always sell it if I don't like it of course. $5K does seem like a lot for his "basic" or "classic" style. The main question for you....you've owned 2 or 3....why did you sell them and not keep them?

The 1st cue I liked...But a cue seller- RIP Joe Salazar ....Joe Had a customer for a Tasc,
Joe traded me Brand New SW Cue for the Tasc.
Joe over the years, Sold and traded many cues with me here in Tulsa. So I did the deal with him as a favor.
I got an fancy, Inlaid Tasc. cue from ebay.
I sent the cue to Pete for new tips and I think clean the wrap...was a superb cue all around, except the butt was oversized in diameter,
I asked Pete about it, Said he built that cue according to Old Bushka specs for a customer in the Orient...
the 3rd Tasc cue I got from az forums. was standard 4 pointer that I also sold to a regular cue friend here on az as well.
5K is a lot of $$ for a cue for some people, but if you have the cash, go for it.
Try to say in the 29 x 29 specs...if you decide to sell later thats typically what most want in a cue, not too heavy either.

 

[HyperioN]

I'm not a big collector, I have a few cues, nothing that expansive, but I play or played with them all. and all came out to the pool halls, I don't have a table at home... I won't buy a cue if it's not going to be used. I won't buy a Rolex and not wear it (Timex is just fine for me )
Nobody needs a Tasc. you just want one and that's a good enough reason for me if one can afford it. Again, life is short, enjoy the things you like.
I hate it when people buy cues as investments, it's stupid... they just raise the prices for players while there much better routes to invest in and make more money.

I agree and disagree. I don't see them as a pure investment but they are in a sense, if you take care of them. Especially cues from famous and desirable makers. If you can take care of them and treat them right, you can sell them for the same or even more than you paid for them. I buy them to play with 100% of the time but when I find myself not playing or enjoying them as much as I should, up for sale they go! Let someone else give it a shot.

Have you ever thought about a cue as a "soulmate." There may be that one cue out there that is IT for YOU? You love it and don't want any other cue? HAHA!

 

[HyperioN]

The 1st cue I liked...But a cue seller- RIP Joe Salazar ....Joe Had a customer for a Tasc,
Joe traded me Brand New SW Cue for the Tasc.
Joe over the years, Sold and traded many cues with me here in Tulsa. So I did the deal with him as a favor.
I got an fancy, Inlaid Tasc. cue from ebay.
I sent the cue to Pete for new tips and I think clean the wrap...was a superb cue all around, except the butt was oversized in diameter,
I asked Pete about it, Said he built that cue according to Old Bushka specs for a customer in the Orient...
the 3rd Tasc cue I got from az forums. was standard 4 pointer that I also sold to a regular cue friend here on az as well.
5K is a lot of $$ for a cue for some people, but if you have the cash, go for it.
Try to say in the 29 x 29 specs...if you decide to sell later thats typically what most want in a cue, not too heavy either.

Its great to hear the buying and selling stories. But none of the 3 Tasc cues were right for you! Now you know what you like if you were to order one from Pete. I agree on the specs for resale. Or maybe buy one shaft specific to what you like and another one "stock" taper and 13mm to keep for resale value.

 

[bbb]

Thats what my sensible side says....you don't need a Tascarella! You won't take it out of the house. You'll worry about it as an investment. It will be a closet queen that you'll take out seldom and you'll sell it 5 years from now when you realize its just sitting there. I just did that with about 6 cues I don't play....narrowed it down to two cues I play and 2 cues that are worth more to me personally than they are worth monetarily. Bam! Sell 'em all!

why post your thread if thats your attitude
askin for a friend....

 

[xianmacx]

I think it's very fair price but I enjoy all aspects of having a cue built by Tascarella.

I get to design a cue, have it built by one of the most famous names to ever touch a lathe and the cues play great. The classic cues are my preference and for that style no one else is in the conversation.

On top of that, they are such great people and deliver as promised. That alone is rare with cue builders.

The more I type this, it's actually a steal in my opinion. If you change your mind they hold their value well.

I've had 9 cues built by Tascarella over the last 20+ years and should have cue 10 in the next few weeks.

 

[Benelli]

I have three Tascrella's in my collection and did play with one for just under a year but have since pushed it down the play list as other more exceptional 5/16-14 steel jointed cues have come in.

That 29.5" Tasc sits behind two Richard Blacks, a Josh Treadway and Joss West on the preferred shooter list.

Nearly grabbed it to take on spring break in California but decided to go with a John Bender Szamboti tribute cue.

You should absolutely get that Tascrella. But.... If you can only get one cue I would take that same amount of money to Josh Treadway or Shelby Williams and get significantly more cue without loosing one iota of playability.

 

[maha]

i have a bal. and a stroud that both have spent many a day in pool rooms getting played with and even breaking.
although both were 100 bucks. but back then few had 100 bucks.