The right start

Buddha's Belly

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi everybody, I learned so much in this forum. I don't know much about cues, but I just so intrigue and would love to start my collection. I read the article Chris wrote @ The Palmer's Collector website that cue collecting is a great invrstment as well! As any portfolios wrong picks on the stock would be "not so good" investment as well. Please help!
If I could start with five cues to collect. what would they be, why and around what price. Will I be able playing with those cues?
 
Well,,,

This is where I disagree.

Chris had some good ideas, but if investing is the main deal. I would suggest, JossWest, ANYTHING kersenbrock!

As always look for bargins, dont fall in love with any, and move up when opportunity present itself.

My opinion it is better to have fewer, better cues. This is true in coins, guns, and cues.

Szamboti or Kersenbrock is what I am talking about. Dont pay too much be get a good value higher end and I think you will best off.

Ken
 
The first and most important question is " how much money are you capable of and/or willing to invest" that will dictate the quality and quantity of your collection. Sometimes one, two or three is better than five.

Do you favor living and/or deceased cuemakers? Buying new or used or both. Traditional or contemporary?

How much is financial appreciation a factor? Some collect cues and pay big money for cues that do not appreciate in value, because they love the cuemakers style and workmanship which is cool. Everyone has different reasons for their collections and different goals. What is your reason for starting a "collection"?

Just some thoughts on you question.

I love Ginacues and I believe you will never go wrong owning a high end Gina. Heck ... any Gina is a great Gina.
 
My Advice is not to invest in cues, buy what you enjoy and play..........
Invest in the long term in the money market or real estate, there is a lot more money to make in other markets
 
These guys wont believe it.

I have made more money on Meucci cues than anything else. Dont let these guys lead you astray.

How you ask? I can turn a Meucci cue usually very fast. Again, looking at my previous post, it looked like I was suggesting something else.

So I will try again. Look for bargins. If I can buy a Meucci for $50 - $100 and sell for $100 -200, fairly quickly that is a good investment. Again that is an excellent deal. (NOW HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER GUYS TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THEY CAN DOUBLE THEIR MONEY ON CUES)

The other technique I use pretty often, is buying a good name custom cue that has had a rough life. I bought a very tired, Shurtz custom cue for $400. It came with 1 shaft. I had Bob Owen make another shaft, and refinish so I had $600 in the cue. I sold it for $1100 at the Derby City. Cues with only one shaft are a ***** to sell, and $100 refinish usually pays huge dividends.

To get to the Gina, Southwests, Omega/dpk, Tad, etc that I have now I got there by always trading up. While I think you get your best deals with cash, I can usually get nearly as good a deal with a trade up. How? Most cue dealers are cue rich and cash poor. This was especially true at DCC. Assume I was wanting a $2000 Gina. Again, looking at the Shurtz deal, lets assume I add $750 cash with the Shurtz cue for the $2000 Gina, I am telling ya, they will do it. That makes you have $1350 actual in the $2000 Gina.

THE POINT I AM TRYING TO SAY, IS THIS. YOU MIGHT BE BETTER OFF MAKING $500 ON A $600 INVESTMENT VERSES SPENDING THE $2000 ON THE GINA AND HOPING IT WILL INCREASE IN VALUE 25%.

This is how I do it. I have a collection of cues worth I guess near $25K with this technique and little real cash outlay.

I wish you good luck, your friend in pool,

Ken
 
Buddha's Belly said:
Hi everybody, I learned so much in this forum. I don't know much about cues, but I just so intrigue and would love to start my collection. I read the article Chris wrote @ The Palmer's Collector website that cue collecting is a great invrstment as well! As any portfolios wrong picks on the stock would be "not so good" investment as well. Please help!
If I could start with five cues to collect. what would they be, why and around what price. Will I be able playing with those cues?

Any cue you can't get is a good choice.

Jim
 
Buddha's Belly said:
Hi everybody, I learned so much in this forum. I don't know much about cues, but I just so intrigue and would love to start my collection. ...

Please help!
?
Easy. Collect what you like. Don't think about cues as investments. They're not a good investment (compared to real investing).

Fred
 
It depends on your motive for beginning and maintaining a cue collection. I personally love cues and collecting, I appreciate the craftsmanship by the cuemakers,the designs and playablility. Some may say that having a cue collection is not a good investment idea and to invest in other financial areas(bad news for cuemakers) but like any investment it's about your motive(s) and what you buy,how you buy,when you buy and what you pay and resale ability (popularity and rarity). There is no reason not to invest in cues as well as other financial areas. Collecting cues and making and collecting money is all good in my book.

Do your research there is plenty of info on collecting cues, this forum is one. There are individuals such as Bill Grassley @ Cornerstone, the guys at Cueaddicts and others that may be able to help in your research. Selection is paramount. After everything is said and done it will be up to you to decide on what cues and price ranges are right for you.

Collecting cues can be personally and financially rewarding.

If you have the desire to be a cue collector..."Do It".
 
Guys thank's so much for all invaluable inputs ( my head still spinning ;))
But I guess you all right, I should enjoy and appriciates the workmanship.
I have started with four cues :
1 meucci Limited edition 28b
2. Jacoby cocobolo/holy custom (what i shoot with)
3. Custom Linds (philliphines)
4. Jacoby just finished me a custom that I haven't seen ; )
By my collection I guess everybody can see I need some pointer.
I guess my question is WHY GINA? what is so good about that cue? Why HERCEK, SOUTHWEST, KIKEL, and so on. What is the importance of this particular cue maker historicaly? Why Southwest cue is so high in demand?
Anybody familliar with Tim Padgett or Zlyr cues?
Please let me know
 
Buddha's Belly said:
Guys thank's so much for all invaluable inputs ( my head still spinning ;))
But I guess you all right, I should enjoy and appriciates the workmanship.
I have started with four cues :
1 meucci Limited edition 28b
2. Jacoby cocobolo/holy custom (what i shoot with)
3. Custom Linds (philliphines)
4. Jacoby just finished me a custom that I haven't seen ; )
By my collection I guess everybody can see I need some pointer.
I guess my question is WHY GINA? what is so good about that cue? Why HERCEK, SOUTHWEST, KIKEL, and so on. What is the importance of this particular cue maker historicaly? Why Southwest cue is so high in demand?
Anybody familliar with Tim Padgett or Zlyr cues?
Please let me know

The simple answer to SW is supply and demand, but what dries up the supply is consistant workmanship and a great hitting cue. As far as asking why Gina, well you'll need to look at more cues and you'll start to notice differences, it starts with the designs, although many here don't like to give them credit for being part of what builds a cuemakers name and rep and it runs right through to exicution, fit, and finish. The real good cuemakers just exicute flawless workmanship and they do so over and over, good work is never a misstake with them. And again supply and demand, more people want to buy the cues then the number being made by the cue maker. We've all heard of Zlyr and Padgett they don't belong on the list with Gina and Hercek, but then neither does Kikel IMO. One thing you may have to take into consideration is that in forums such as this is that people speculate and want to find the next great thing and they talk it up. If a person has a 5 year wait there is probably a good reason and it may be a good sign that his cues are in demand.

Jim
 
OMG I agree with Jimbo...kinda

JimBo said:
The simple answer to SW is supply and demand, but what dries up the supply is consistant workmanship and a great hitting cue. As far as asking why Gina, well you'll need to look at more cues and you'll start to notice differences, it starts with the designs, although many here don't like to give them credit for being part of what builds a cuemakers name and rep and it runs right through to exicution, fit, and finish. The real good cuemakers just exicute flawless workmanship and they do so over and over, good work is never a misstake with them. And again supply and demand, more people want to buy the cues then the number being made by the cue maker. We've all heard of Zlyr and Padgett they don't belong on the list with Gina and Hercek, but then neither does Kikel IMO. One thing you may have to take into consideration is that in forums such as this is that people speculate and want to find the next great thing and they talk it up. If a person has a 5 year wait there is probably a good reason and it may be a good sign that his cues are in demand.

Jim

I tend to agree on most points. Southwest cues do have a long wait, but I dont think the reason is that they build a far superior cue than others. I am starting to sound like Jimbo on stealing cue design, but Southwest cues have a long wait because they dont take a deposit, and alot people resell as soon as they get the cue for a profit.

I recommend you go to DCC or another tourneyment and see several cues laying side by side. It is obvious to even the most casuel observer a premier cuemaker's work verses production.

The cues you have listed I would never consider collectable cues. IE cues that will increase in value.

JMO

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
The cues you have listed I would never consider collectable cues. IE cues that will increase in value.

JMO

Ken

my opinion 13 years ago was that ebay was gonna be a flash in the pan. who da thunk it! it's the same way with some cues. sometimes ya just never know.
 
Ken saz : OMG I agree with Jimbo...kinda

Ken since you seemed shocked that you agree with me on something I'd love to hear what I post that you don't agree with. You can PM me if you wish to keep it out of the public eye, but I'd really love to hear what you feel is wrong with what I post most of the time. I'm not looking for flames.

Jim
 
Ken_4fun said:
I tend to agree on most points. Southwest cues do have a long wait, but I dont think the reason is that they build a far superior cue than others. I am starting to sound like Jimbo on stealing cue design, but Southwest cues have a long wait because they dont take a deposit, and alot people resell as soon as they get the cue for a profit.

I recommend you go to DCC or another tourneyment and see several cues laying side by side. It is obvious to even the most casuel observer a premier cuemaker's work verses production.

The cues you have listed I would never consider collectable cues. IE cues that will increase in value.

JMO

Ken
so Ken what about:
Richard Black
RC3
Ariel Carmeli
Dayton
Apart from collectability, which is the most PLAYABLE ?
 
Buddha's Belly said:
so Ken what about:
Richard Black
RC3
Ariel Carmeli
Dayton
Apart from collectability, which is the most PLAYABLE ?
Playability is subjective, anyone willing to answer this part of your question is pretty much clueless. What plays good to you may feel like crap to another. As far as your list go back and reread my post. I'm not trying to be rude but you seem to miss the point. If you are talking about an investment then maybe playing with the cue isn't your best option.

Jim
 
Jimbo ...no flames...just giving you a hard time

JimBo said:
Playability is subjective, anyone willing to answer this part of your question is pretty much clueless. What plays good to you may feel like crap to another. As far as your list go back and reread my post. I'm not trying to be rude but you seem to miss the point. If you are talking about an investment then maybe playing with the cue isn't your best option.

Jim


Shocked!! I agree with the above too. Jimbo, my friend, I was just giving you a hard time. You have good points, I guess my error was not including a LOL somewhere. This thread, as in most of your posts, you are right on the mark.

Ken
 
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