Titleist Conversions...What's the Big Deal???

[bflojosh]

The cue in my avatar is from Lee Peppers also. For me I watched a youtube video of an old US Open Straight Pool final between Joe Balsis and Irving Crane in which Mr. Crane ran 150 and out for the win. Looking at the crowd and hearing the way the announcer spoke made me realize that pool used to be something much different from what it is now. This nostalgia made me fall in love with older cues. I think the full splice design and aged wood give these cues a great feel.

From a quick search, these 1-pc house cues date as far back as 1939 and as such are becoming harder to find - eventually there won't be any left. Here's some good info: http://cuezilla.com/archives/676. The construction and nostalgia of the blanks for conversion make it collectable IMO. I have one converted by Lee Peppers and yes, hits great.

 

[Maxx]

Old stuff

I like titlist conversions because they have withstood the test of time.
When something that is old and still performs as good, or better, than ever, I think that is pretty neat.

I like functional antiques, be it motorcycles, furniture, or pool cues.
I really like shooting with an Hoppe Professional, with the big butt and the ivory Hoppe ring. It was made a long time ago (does have what I was told is an Ed Young shaft) and has a nice sold hit. It is like a war club, but still has a soft touch.

Now if i could still work as well as ......

 

[cueaddicts]

We can go back and forth forever on the quality of the Titlist product, after all they truly were production cues. However, the historical value of the Titlist product is undeniable, almost all of the great cue builders used Titlist blanks at one time or another. I'll name a few and I expect others will add:

Rambow
Paradise
Balabushka
Gina
Palmer
Tad
Schrager
Szamboti (both)
Showman
Scruggs
Tascarella
Searing

I'm thinking Stroud did not as I think he told me the only splices he ever used that were not his were a few Wicos
Spain maybe not
Hercek I don't know

Who did I leave out ?

Thanks

Kevin

A Couple More................

Schick
Black


WP

Couple more also just off the top of my head.

Petersen
Mottey
White
Gilbert

IMO, it's the nostalgia factor with Titlists....nothing more, nothing less. If they're structurally solid, they do produce some nice hitting cues.