Tascarella Titlest & Jim Buss Cue Values

[Mensabum]

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

Almost forgot... Got too much going on for my limited gray matter to handle at present. Lol.
PM me shooter and we can talk about Jim, if you're truly interested, or any other Missouri cuemaker for that matter. I'll be happy to pass on what I've learned over the years.

 

[Cornerman]

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

http://www.jimbuss.com/bio.htm

Rocket Scientist
Taught Josh Treadway
Great guy

 

[KenneyTran]

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.

This i believe. I acquired an older blank in the 50s. Having it build at the moment.
The exact blank was used by Pete sr. And he signed it.

 

[Benelli]

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 live in KC and no one I know in either league I play in has ever heard of Jim Buss, I'm constantly extolling his virtues but he is a ghost even here.

I feel like Jim was a cuemakers maker and outside hardcore collecting nerds he is not really known.

 

[jacob]

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.

My playing cue has been a Jim Buss for a dozen years now. I have only good things to say about my cue and the man himself. I was lucky enough to have him take care of my cue maintenance for over a decade. I am really not much of a cue guy so talking about the hit is hard for me to describe. The cue is built solidly. I am also not sure about value. I would not sell mine for anything.

I recall shortly after he retired, buying and selling of his cues in the St. louis area spiked. I have been looking for a replacement shaft or two for my cue. I have found a few people that had a match but were unwilling to sell. That speaks volumes.