Tascarella Titlest & Jim Buss Cue Values

[stomper]

Need some help with values on these two cues.

Tascarella Titlest from the late 70’s. Cue is in pristine condition except for a pretty small Knick on the leather wrap. Has the original matching shaft in excellent condition, thought I had pictures with the shaft but when I made the post realized I didn’t take one.

Jim Buss cue 2005. In excellent condition except for a small lift of finish by the joint as you can see in the picture. It’s not the straight line that is the lighting, it’s the small one that’s at a slight angle by the lighting. All the ring are gold in color, I am assuming brass but not sure.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Shooter08]

I talked to Pete Sr yesterday and a new 4pt w veneers and ebony or rosewood pts and butt sleeve w 2 shafts starts at $3600. I’m 99% sure that’s what he said.

 

[Mensabum]

Need some help with values on these two cues.

Tascarella Titlest from the late 70’s. Cue is in pristine condition except for a pretty small Knick on the leather wrap. Has the original matching shaft in excellent condition, thought I had pictures with the shaft but when I made the post realized I didn’t take one.

Jim Buss cue 2005. In excellent condition except for a small lift of finish by the joint as you can see in the picture. It’s not the straight line that is the lighting, it’s the small one that’s at a slight angle by the lighting. All the ring are gold in color, I am assuming brass but not sure.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3k plus on Jimmy's.

 

[mikemosconi]

Tascarella cues have gone up quite a bit if he is now getting 3600 for his plain 4 pointer with no inlays- a few years ago that cue was about 2500.

I would say about $2000 to $2300 on your older used Tascarella conversion cue - you can ask more and see what happens.

Jim Buss was a great cue builder, but I entirely disagree on someone's $3,000 value on that cue. - I would say that you would be lucky to get half that amount today. - so many younger players never even heard of Jim Buss- I know this as a fact.

I will add that I always price to sell quickly- I don't believe in posting cues to sit around - that is not selling to me.

 

[stomper]

Tascarella cues have gone up quite a bit if he is now getting 3600 for his plain 4 pointer with no inlays- a few years ago that cue was about 2500.

I would say about $2000 to $2300 on your older used Tascarella conversion cue - you can ask more and see what happens.

Jim Buss was a great cue builder, but I entirely disagree on someone's $3,000 value on that cue. - I would say that you would be lucky to get half that amount today. - so many younger players never even heard of Jim Buss- I know this as a fact.

I will add that I always price to sell quickly- I don't believe in posting cues to sit around - that is not selling to me.

That makes sense. On the Tascarella I always thought there was a benefit if the cue is an older model close to 50 years old especially in excellent condition, is that not the case? And being made from an old titlest that doesn’t help value over a regular veneered cue Pete would make?
Just don’t have much experience with Tascarella cues but have heard different things so wondering what is what.
Appreciate any insight.

 

[Mensabum]

Tascarella cues have gone up quite a bit if he is now getting 3600 for his plain 4 pointer with no inlays- a few years ago that cue was about 2500.

I would say about $2000 to $2300 on your older used Tascarella conversion cue - you can ask more and see what happens.

Jim Buss was a great cue builder, but I entirely disagree on someone's $3,000 value on that cue. - I would say that you would be lucky to get half that amount today. - so many younger players never even heard of Jim Buss- I know this as a fact.

I will add that I always price to sell quickly- I don't believe in posting cues to sit around - that is not selling to me.

You may be correct in your assumption of Jimmy's cue. I must admit to being somewhat prejudiced as I'm from St. Louis and knew Jim. Played w his cues and liked the hit. Josh Treadway has picked up the mantle cast to him in fine form. More than likely I value them higher than say, someone from Joisy. Lol. Or parts of the country where he isn't as well known. Jim's cues rock. Never saw or heard about a bad one. Quite the opposite. Anyone that has a Buss could chime in and help me out here. Talk about the hit and quality, perhaps?? My 2¢ Plain.

 

[Shooter08]

That makes sense. On the Tascarella I always thought there was a benefit if the cue is an older model close to 50 years old especially in excellent condition, is that not the case? And being made from an old titlest that doesn’t help value over a regular veneered cue Pete would make?
Just don’t have much experience with Tascarella cues but have heard different things so wondering what is what.
Appreciate any insight.

I personally would think a new build by Tasc, especially a full splice, would be much more valuable than a conversion, unless the cue being converted had some special circumstances or provenance. JMHO. I agree with the 2000-2300 Mike said for fast sale if only 1 full shaft. As far as the Buss, it's Greek to me, no idea on value. I know nothing about his cues personally, other than he may have a cue in the Smithsonian collection. Would love to learn more though. Shooter08

 

[Mensabum]

Whaddaya wanna know Shooter??

I personally would think a new build by Tasc, especially a full splice, would be much more valuable than a conversion, unless the cue being converted had some special circumstances or provenance. JMHO. I agree with the 2000-2300 Mike said for fast sale if only 1 full shaft. As far as the Buss, it's Greek to me, no idea on value. I know nothing about his cues personally, other than he may have a cue in the Smithsonian collection. Would love to learn more though. Shooter08

 

[Shooter08]

Whaddaya wanna know Shooter??

How much time do you have? If you have a bio, we can start with that. lol, "Knowledge is King".

 

[maha]

new price of a cue from a big maker determines the old cues price. only after they are no longer making cues does old help much or at all.

so yours is a great cue but just a used cue compared to a new similar one with one shaft. if that helps. but may be not what you want to hear.

my conservative thinking any used cue still in production is only worth 50% of the new price at best. and more for in demand cues with a long waiting list of course.

 

[Shooter08]

new price of a cue from a big maker determines the old cues price. only after they are no longer making cues does old help much or at all.

so yours is a great cue but just a used cue compared to a new similar one with one shaft. if that helps. but may be not what you want to hear.

my conservative thinking any used cue still in production is only worth 50% of the new price at best. and more for in demand cues with a long waiting list of course.

By in production do you mean "what is considered a production cue" ie McDermott, Viking, Predator? If so do you also include Schon, Jacoby, Pechauer and the like? Or any current cue builder producing cues currently?

 

[stomper]

I personally would think a new build by Tasc, especially a full splice, would be much more valuable than a conversion, unless the cue being converted had some special circumstances or provenance. JMHO. I agree with the 2000-2300 Mike said for fast sale if only 1 full shaft. As far as the Buss, it's Greek to me, no idea on value. I know nothing about his cues personally, other than he may have a cue in the Smithsonian collection. Would love to learn more though. Shooter08

But a Titlest is a full splice correct?

Pulled this from Recollection cue sight with regard to an Andy Gilbert.

“Made from an old Titleist blank, this cue gives the user to play with a full-spliced cue not normally available today. The original blank was made from rosewood and maple, and the wood being as old and well-aged as it is, shows great quality.”

I thought that was the hole point of the Titlest conversions, your getting a better blank wood wise then you could today. Or is that incorrect? Anyone chime in on this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Shooter08]

But a Titlest is a full splice correct?

Pulled this from Recollection cue sight with regard to an Andy Gilbert.

“Made from an old Titleist blank, this cue gives the user to play with a full-spliced cue not normally available today. The original blank was made from rosewood and maple, and the wood being as old and well-aged as it is, shows great quality.”

I thought that was the hole point of the Titlest conversions, your getting a better blank wood wise then you could today. Or is that incorrect? Anyone chime in on this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't buy that you are getting a better blank using a old Titlist. I will take a 2024 Vette over a original 1963 Split Window for performance any day. Probably not the best example but hopefully it gets my point across as far as quality, maybe I should rephrase that regarding cars, "performance".

 

[mikemosconi]

That makes sense. On the Tascarella I always thought there was a benefit if the cue is an older model close to 50 years old especially in excellent condition, is that not the case? And being made from an old titlest that doesn’t help value over a regular veneered cue Pete would make?
Just don’t have much experience with Tascarella cues but have heard different things so wondering what is what.
Appreciate any insight.

Only one way an old titilist conversion with no inlays, etc from Tascarella is going to - perhaps- be more valuable than a more recent Tascarella completely built from his own shop. Pete acquired some wood, etc. from George Balabushka, along with his machinery. If the cue was sent to Pete, and he attested to the titilist blank being from George Balabushka's original stock of titilist cue blanks, that may convince a collector to pay a higher premium for this cue.
You would probably have to send the cue to Pete and pay for a letter from Pete as an attestation of these facts.

 

[mikemosconi]

But a Titlest is a full splice correct?

Pulled this from Recollection cue sight with regard to an Andy Gilbert.

“Made from an old Titleist blank, this cue gives the user to play with a full-spliced cue not normally available today. The original blank was made from rosewood and maple, and the wood being as old and well-aged as it is, shows great quality.”

I thought that was the hole point of the Titlest conversions, your getting a better blank wood wise then you could today. Or is that incorrect? Anyone chime in on this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A titilist blank is, indeed a full spliced cue. Most vintage cue collectors enjoy having titilist cues in their collection. I have had several over the years- they all seem to play very well, but there really is no premium today on their playability vs. a short splice forearm based cue from a current or past well known and respected cue maker.
The older woods are more dense than today's woods- from my experience, but most of the shafts from the old titilist cues are long gone due to warping, etc. AND a lot of the desired playability ( the hit, if you will) is actually derived from older growth shaft wood - almost all Titilist cue conversions are done with new shafts being made by the cue maker.
Again, if Pete Tascarella used a titilist blank from Balabushka's old inventory or the shaft wood was from that same inventory - and Pete attested to this fact- then a premium could be called for on this cue.

 

[mikemosconi]

You may be correct in your assumption of Jimmy's cue. I must admit to being somewhat prejudiced as I'm from St. Louis and knew Jim. Played w his cues and liked the hit. Josh Treadway has picked up the mantle cast to him in fine form. More than likely I value them higher than say, someone from Joisy. Lol. Or parts of the country where he isn't as well known. Jim's cues rock. Never saw or heard about a bad one. Quite the opposite. Anyone that has a Buss could chime in and help me out here. Talk about the hit and quality, perhaps?? My 2¢ Plain.

I knew Jim Buss. Even though I am from NY- I met him at the Billiards show at SBE Philly area in 2001. He did some cue work for me on an old Brunswick cue of mine. Jim's work was top shelf- his cues played very well, also. However, he is not considered, in terms of market value, in the same dollar range as a Tim Scruggs, Bill Stroud, Jerry Franklin, etc.
I'm not saying that Jim was not top shelf in cue construction, he certainly was all that, but the popularity of certain cue makers from Jim's era and the resultant market value today of their cues, do certainly surpass the current market value of Jim's cues.

 

[maha]

unfortunately quality doesn't correspond to its value as much as rarity and who made it. and if the maker is still making(producing) cues or not.

 

[stomper]

A titilist blank is, indeed a full spliced cue. Most vintage cue collectors enjoy having titilist cues in their collection. I have had several over the years- they all seem to play very well, but there really is no premium today on their playability vs. a short splice forearm based cue from a current or past well known and respected cue maker.
The older woods are more dense than today's woods- from my experience, but most of the shafts from the old titilist cues are long gone due to warping, etc. AND a lot of the desired playability ( the hit, if you will) is actually derived from older growth shaft wood - almost all Titilist cue conversions are done with new shafts being made by the cue maker.
Again, if Pete Tascarella used a titilist blank from Balabushka's old inventory or the shaft wood was from that same inventory - and Pete attested to this fact- then a premium could be called for on this cue.

Everyone has provided good information. Thanks for the input on the cues. Greatly appreciated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ivicafranic]

I

I personally would think a new build by Tasc, especially a full splice, would be much more valuable than a conversion, unless the cue being converted had some special circumstances or provenance. JMHO. I agree with the 2000-2300 Mike said for fast sale if only 1 full shaft. As far as the Buss, it's Greek to me, no idea on value. I know nothing about his cues personally, other than he may have a cue in the Smithsonian collection. Would love to learn more though. Shooter08

I have the Jim's cue that was in Smithsonian Gallery.

 

[Cornerman]

Need some help with values on these two cues.

Tascarella Titlest from the late 70’s. Cue is in pristine condition except for a pretty small Knick on the leather wrap. Has the original matching shaft in excellent condition, thought I had pictures with the shaft but when I made the post realized I didn’t take one.

Jim Buss cue 2005. In excellent condition except for a small lift of finish by the joint as you can see in the picture. It’s not the straight line that is the lighting, it’s the small one that’s at a slight angle by the lighting. All the ring are gold in color, I am assuming brass but not sure.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Old Tascarella, but it doesn’t look like Titliest veneers. Plus I would expect to see the points meet at top of the wrap.

But maybe the photos are misleading.