The Szamboti's of tomorrow: the future of cue making

Retail1LO

Retail1LO

Pass the sugar!!!
Silver Member
There are...without a doubt a couple cue makers today whose works sets the standard. You know who they are. You can't touch their cues for under $3000...assuming you can even find one at all. The Szamboti's, Tad Kohara, Pete Tascarella, Black Boar, Joel Hercek, Cognoscenti, etc.

Who's the future? If you could get in on the ground floor with a builder who would you chose based on anticipated appreciation in value? Based on early works...who do you see as having a ton of potential?


I have a couple of cue makers who I'm overjoyed with...whom I feel the sky is the limit. I'm curious to see if my thoughts are mirrored by others.
 
This Question Is Impossible To Answer. What You Should Ask, Is How Many People Have Been Burned By Trying To Figure Out Who The Next Is Going To Be.

If You're Just Asking, Who Is The Next Upcoming Guy Making Awesome Cues, Than That's Different. But With The Value Variable In There, It Is A Totally Different Question.

As Far As Just Young Guys Making Exceptional Cues, I Would Say Blackcreek, And Barnhart. Both Of These Guys Are Young, And They Make An Awesome Cue.

The Problem Is, Nobody Knows What Cues, If Any Will Continue To Hold Value.
 
I am not so sure they will ever be a cuemaker like a Szamboti or a Balabushka ever again.There are too many great cuemakers out there right now.There will never be a shortage of great playing cues again.They will be guys who start out at $1000 6 pointers whose cues might double or triple but that will be the maximum imo.
 
masonh said:
I am not so sure they will ever be a cuemaker like a Szamboti or a Balabushka ever again.There are too many great cuemakers out there right now.There will never be a shortage of great playing cues again.They will be guys who start out at $1000 6 pointers whose cues might double or triple but that will be the maximum imo.
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I would have to agree on that entire assessment. I don't think you can really expect anyone's cues to appreciate too much until they either 1) come into the twilight of their career, and there's a noticeable dropoff in prodcution, and therefore availability 2) get to the point where their waiting list starts exceeding the several year mark...meaning demand far outweighs supply.

What interests me...are cues that are worth good money not because of how ornate their details are, but because of the craftsmanship and playability. Seeing a Hoppe style Hercek, a basic four pointer with veneers and a linen wrap fetch $3000 is infinitely more impressive to me...than seeing some cue fetch the same amount because it's loaded with ivory, inlays, and other superfluous crap.
 
Both great points. IMO it's questionable about the long term value of many cues. Cues from many of today's cuemakers are honestly priced too high for the market to support now. Demand for the collectible cues seems stagnant at best for 75% of the wood out there in the market. And pool (and its image) does not seem to be positioning itself well here in the US like it is in other parts of the world. Many had hoped that the IPT would help spur interest, but it seems to have had an opposite effect. Poker has hurt, too.
 
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Tough question. It goes in cycles as we see certain cuemakers get hot for awhile until another one gets talked up and so on.

I like to look at those with "limited production / high demand" like Showman & Haley.
 
I'd honestly have to say that I'm looking seriously into purchasing a good number of Black Creek and Sugartree cues. I love damn near every one I've seen. Basic four point Black Creek's are in the $1000 range. The workmanship is incredible, they look great, and play jam up from what limited experience I have with them. Eric Crisp's stuff is just beautiful. Nothing more to say than that.
 
lenoxmjs said:
Ron Haley gets my vote.
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+1

For me, the cues I have personally seen are as good as ANY I have ever laid eyes on. Including Szamboti and Searing and even Ernie.

If I had a jones to drop $5k+ on a cue (which I don't) Mr. Haley would be on a very short list.
 
I Agree That Mr. Haley Does Awesome Work, He Is Working On Two For Me Right Now, But I Don't Think He Fits Into The "next Generation" Stigma. I Would Certainly Consider Him One Of The Best Cuemakers Of Today Though.
 
Both Blackcreek & Sugartree, the time to buy was couple years ago.........
when the costs were LOW
 
Panhdlce said:
Both Blackcreek & Sugartree, the time to buy was couple years ago.........
when the costs were LOW
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"LOW"...is relative. I've gotten my hands on no fewer than 6 Black Creeks, with four points, veneers, inlays, ivory joints, lizard skin wraps, etc....for under $1100...in just the last month.

For me...getting all of that...for $1100 or less...is low.

Furthermore...getting one of Travis at Black Creek's Chicago style cues...for $2K less than you could get a similar Schick...is likewise a steel.
Remember...the kid hasn't even hit 30 years old yet. Lot of cuemaking ahead of him.
 
I am the only one in the world who doesn't like Eric's(Sugartree)taper.I first want to compliment his cues they are beautiful and his wood choice is the best.Shaft wood is also great.I have had 2 of them and both hit about the same and "hit" very good.I hear lots of people say "the hit" is great and I think it is,but most every cue mad these days has a good "hit" with a good tip on it.I wished i could have kept my Sugartrees b/c they were beautiful,but i could not play with them.I felt like the taper was too long and the shafts give too much.The taper seems almost as long as a Meucci.i like the stiffer parabolic tapers for my playing cues so i may not be the best one to judge his cues.it seems odd that no one else has ever mentioned his somewhat weak(weak as in long) taper here at AZ.I thought about ordering one with a Kersenbrock type taper but i was told he will not change his taper,and as for having one changed it is tough or impossible b/c his is so long.I am not criticizing his cues.i love his cues.i just don't like the taper and was wondering if anyone else did nto like the taper and knew how to get a Sugartree to have a parabolic type taper.is it possible.to do with his shafts.thanks to anyone who answers
 
masonh said:
I am the only one in the world who doesn't like Eric's(Sugartree)taper.I first want to compliment his cues they are beautiful and his wood choice is the best.Shaft wood is also great.I have had 2 of them and both hit about the same and "hit" very good.I hear lots of people say "the hit" is great and I think it is,but most every cue mad these days has a good "hit" with a good tip on it.I wished i could have kept my Sugartrees b/c they were beautiful,but i could not play with them.I felt like the taper was too long and the shafts give too much.The taper seems almost as long as a Meucci.i like the stiffer parabolic tapers for my playing cues so i may not be the best one to judge his cues.it seems odd that no one else has ever mentioned his somewhat weak(weak as in long) taper here at AZ.I thought about ordering one with a Kersenbrock type taper but i was told he will not change his taper,and as for having one changed it is tough or impossible b/c his is so long.I am not criticizing his cues.i love his cues.i just don't like the taper and was wondering if anyone else did nto like the taper and knew how to get a Sugartree to have a parabolic type taper.is it possible.to do with his shafts.thanks to anyone who answers
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I actually like his taper, and at least on the cue I play with. The shaft has very little flex, and hits stiff to me. It isn't overly stiff though, just about perfect for my game.
 
I give away my investing secret every time I post !!;)
Although I don't put all my eggs in one basket....
Bill
 
A couple years ago Eric's players went for $450 asnd his SP's for $250,

I presently see some new Black Creek's for $1,000
Also some new Kikel's for $1,050
 
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Panhdlce said:
A couple years ago Eric's players went for $450 asnd his SP's for $250,

I presently see some new Black Creek's for $1,000
Also some new Kikel's for $1,050
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I consider myself picky when it comes to anything and usually I can point out a flaw on just about anything......including my cases. I could not find a flaw in the finish on my new BlackCreek Titelist conversion.
 
I highly recommend looking in Olney cues. They are affordable and they play awsome! I believe he is a true talent.

dean
 
everything in cuemaking has already been done, unless these guyz get so nutso with their high-techie-machine capabilities that they start creating cues that require you to wear an italian shark skin suit.
 
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