"Too nice to shoot with"

tk_it_ez

tk_it_ez

Bet against me
Silver Member
Let me start off by saying that I do not collect cues but I think it is something that I would enjoy and would like to start doing.

Now on to my question to all the cue collectors out there. What is the point in owning one of the best playing cues ever made if you are never going to actually shot with it. If people are going to go around collecting these cues and not use them because they're "too nice to shoot with", then why not just collect the most beautiful cues around and let the people that are going to actually use them collect the best shooting cues. The thread about the best cue collection got me thinking about this. This is not meant as an attack towards any of the people listed in that thread, but it does kinda piss me off. While everyone has the right to spend their money as they see fit, these guys hoard cues, increase the demand for them, lower the supply, and raise the prices so high that many people can't afford to buy a nice cue and use it for what it was made for. I understand not using cues that have history to them. If they were used by a certain person, were the first or last by a cue maker, had some historic value, etc. etc. But to buy a new, great looking and great playing cue and hide it away, never letting it enjoy the wide open green cloth, the power of the run, the thrill of victory and agony or defeat, just seems like a shame to me.

Secondly, don't you think it has to kind of aggravate some of the cue makers when something that they have put so much time, effort, and love into building is never used. I know these cue collectors appreciate the cues more than most people, probably including myself, ever will, but it still seems like such a shame to me. It's like buying that sports car you always wanted but just parking it in your garage and never driving it. Any cue I buy, will be played with.

Hope this does not piss any of you cue collectors off. I just really don't understand. Maybe you can change my mind, I'm always up for openly discussing issues, so tell me what you think.

Nathan
 
First off I have to say that I'm a collector wannabe and will probably never have a huge collection. That said, I completely agree with you that it doesn't make sense to not play with great playing cues. I currently have two players and two jump/breaks but I am on the lists of several cuemakers. I tend to have a regular player and then rotate the others every once in a while to give them a workout.

Once my "collection" gets into double digits I'm sure it will get harder to play with all of the cues. I love the art of a cue but also feel that it should be used for what it was built for as well.

That's my $.0199999999986
 
Anything that is in high demand and low in quantity will have the flippers, and the people that want to hoard them as part of their porfolio. Any investment advisor will tell you that some money needs to be invested in art, real estate and collectibles, etc to be diversified.
 
tk_it_ez said:
Let me start off by saying that I do not collect cues but I think it is something that I would enjoy and would like to start doing.

Now on to my question to all the cue collectors out there. What is the point in owning one of the best playing cues ever made if you are never going to actually shot with it. If people are going to go around collecting these cues and not use them because they're "too nice to shoot with", then why not just collect the most beautiful cues around and let the people that are going to actually use them collect the best shooting cues. The thread about the best cue collection got me thinking about this. This is not meant as an attack towards any of the people listed in that thread, but it does kinda piss me off. While everyone has the right to spend their money as they see fit, these guys hoard cues, increase the demand for them, lower the supply, and raise the prices so high that many people can't afford to buy a nice cue and use it for what it was made for. I understand not using cues that have history to them. If they were used by a certain person, were the first or last by a cue maker, had some historic value, etc. etc. But to buy a new, great looking and great playing cue and hide it away, never letting it enjoy the wide open green cloth, the power of the run, the thrill of victory and agony or defeat, just seems like a shame to me.

Secondly, don't you think it has to kind of aggravate some of the cue makers when something that they have put so much time, effort, and love into building is never used. I know these cue collectors appreciate the cues more than most people, probably including myself, ever will, but it still seems like such a shame to me. It's like buying that sports car you always wanted but just parking it in your garage and never driving it. Any cue I buy, will be played with.

Hope this does not piss any of you cue collectors off. I just really don't understand. Maybe you can change my mind, I'm always up for openly discussing issues, so tell me what you think.

Nathan
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i have about 6 cues.all i play with .it is addicting to collect..i don't have the money like alot of the people here ..but i sure enjoy my cues.you will enjoy the hobby too.even if you only have one cue.i say if u have em play with them..BUT only around people that appreciate how to act around them and never in a bar.
 
I recently have developed an interest in learning cuemaking. If my work ever were to reach a level that people would want to collect my cues just to have I would appreciate it and be flattered...unless nobody ever shot with my cues and they were only bought because they were pretty.

As long as I had a reputation for making a great hitting cue, if I made some high end cues that ended up in a display case owned by a collector I would not be distraught.

I have been a collector of sorts off and on. Coins, sports cards, and a few other things. I never made it a point to acquire a cue collection myself (other than what I have shot with over the years), but if I had the money to spend I certainly could see myself buying the right set of collectable cues primarily just to own and admire. I would shoot with them some, but just enough to really get to know them. The skill and craft that goes into some cues is worth owning them just for the art and beauty...(I would still sneak in some games with them though). People buy art all the time and put it on a wall for display and just look at it. Sometimes they spend a lot of money, and the artist might not be that well known or it isnt necessarily a good investment.
Kelly
 
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I have 15 high end cues from all the famous makers. I play with them all. I rotate them monthly. It's a lot of fun.

TommyT:D
 
tk_it_ez said:
Let me start off by saying that I do not collect cues but I think it is something that I would enjoy and would like to start doing.

Now on to my question to all the cue collectors out there. What is the point in owning one of the best playing cues ever made if you are never going to actually shot with it. If people are going to go around collecting these cues and not use them because they're "too nice to shoot with", then why not just collect the most beautiful cues around and let the people that are going to actually use them collect the best shooting cues. The thread about the best cue collection got me thinking about this. This is not meant as an attack towards any of the people listed in that thread, but it does kinda piss me off. While everyone has the right to spend their money as they see fit, these guys hoard cues, increase the demand for them, lower the supply, and raise the prices so high that many people can't afford to buy a nice cue and use it for what it was made for. I understand not using cues that have history to them. If they were used by a certain person, were the first or last by a cue maker, had some historic value, etc. etc. But to buy a new, great looking and great playing cue and hide it away, never letting it enjoy the wide open green cloth, the power of the run, the thrill of victory and agony or defeat, just seems like a shame to me.

...snip...Nathan
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Depends on what you mean. I almost never shoot with my Hercek, because 80% of my playing is done in places where I don't feel safe with it (not a fear of being robbed, but a fear of a drunken clown damaging it). As a result I'm more used to my other cue, an older Schon with a Runde era shaft. So now, even in that 20% of the time where I'm in a nice pool hall, I'm more used to the Schon than the Hercek, so I still don't shoot with the Hercek.

But when I get my pool table, or start shooting regularly in a nice pool hall (i.e., not crowded with drunks), then I will start using it.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about having someone (possibly Mike Webb) take my Hercek, and build a butt that matches as close as possible the exact dimensions and weight of the Hercek, with the same wrap. The plan would be to always use the same shaft, and interchange the Webb and Hercek butts as needed.

Cory
 
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Nathan,

I think it all comes down to personal pref's. My normal playing cue is a Capone. It's not a "high end collectable" but it ain't a cheap stick either. I play it everywhere, with the exception of the local weekly race to one bar tourney.

Then again, I'm also the type of guy that spent a chuck of change customizing my Harley, then ride it all the time. There are a few rust spots and tiny chips in the paint, but I don't care. I want to use it, not look at it.

To each their own...


Eric
 
TheBook said:
Anything that is in high demand and low in quantity will have the flippers, and the people that want to hoard them as part of their porfolio. Any investment advisor will tell you that some money needs to be invested in art, real estate and collectibles, etc to be diversified.
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I do understand there are flippers in just about everything. If I saw something that I could buy for $1000 and turn around and sell it for $2000, I would buy it also. I think most people would. I could be wrong, but I don't think most people get into cue collecting as an investment. It may turn into that over time but I would think there would be many things that would be a better investment than cues.

As far as comparing the type of cue collector that I am talking about and an art collector, real estate investor, or other collector; these are totally different. What is the reason for art? Most is to look at, enjoy, capture a moment, or to make people think. Never shooting with a cue would be like buying a bunch of Vincent Van Goghs and never looking at them. Air and light will deteriorate a painting so why not lock them away in an airtight, light proof vault to protect them. The reason is because they were created to be looked at. An investor may lock them away but that would be sacrilegious to an "art collector". So if you own a bunch of great cues and will never shoot with them, are you really a "cue collector" or an "investor".

This is like the people that collect toys but will not take them out of the packages. If someone collects guns, they will probably not go out and buy a new glock, or any new gun and not shoot it. The ones that they may not shoot are the Civil War rifle, the WWI pistol or many or the others that have historical significance. But these historical guns are not the top of the line anymore. If they are not going to shoot something, it will be the old weapons, not the new top of the line ones. This happens with cues. People may not shoot with some of the best playing cues.

Save the historical cues, shoot with the rest.

Just my 2 cents.

Nathan
 
Cory in DC said:
Depends on what you mean. I almost never shoot with my Hercek, because 80% of my playing is done in places where I don't feel safe with it (not a fear of being robbed, but a fear of a drunken clown damaging it). As a result I'm more used to my other cue, an older Schon with a Runde era shaft. So now, even in that 20% of the time where I'm in a nice pool hall, I'm more used to the Schon than the Hercek, so I still don't shoot with the Hercek.

But when I get my pool table, or start shooting regularly in a nice pool hall (i.e., not crowded with drunks), then I will start using it.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about having someone (possibly Mike Webb) take my Hercek, and build a butt that matches as close as possible the exact dimensions and weight of the Hercek, with the same wrap. The plan would be to always use the same shaft, and interchange the Webb and Hercek butts as needed.

Cory
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I don't mean you have to shoot with them all the time. Most people will have their one main playing cue. I am talking about buying a great shooting cue and NEVER using it because it is too nice or too expensive.

I have two cues, nothing real nice, and I mainly shoot with one. I would like to buy a few nice cues and start my own little collection. I am sure I will always have my one main shooting cue. It will be the one that I feel the most comfortable with. I just don't understand buying a cue and just looking at it. Never shooting with it. I would rather someone else have it and shoot with it than to keep it hidden away at my house.

Nathan
 
Tk it ez U just brought up a great point..save the HISTORICAL cues.i do that on other items..just never heard it put that way about cues..great idea TommyT U with the 15 cues from famous makers that sounds like an extremly interesting post.now u have to tell us what some of the makers are and with pics if u can.PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE Great posts guys :)
 
While it may seem frustrating to some that the "best-playing" cues are collected for the purpose of owning/admiring them, I believe this not to be a bad thing. With so many of us wanting the sport to become more popular, this is a good way to bump up the value of the game. There needs to be a greater demand for the equipment that goes along with the game. As the best cue goes up in price, most likely the second-best cue will also rise in price and so on. This will also increase the drive of the cue makers to up the quality/performance of their cues. This is all imho, of course. I still think that if the cue is straight and has a half-way decent tip it won't matter as long as you can adjust to the small differences in play. And I don't mean to offend, but from all of the posts I've been reading regarding different cues and conditions of cues, it sounds to me that most of the play is just in one's own head. I just hope I've still got my cheap Schmelke when I'm running racks on you guys (and gals). ;)
 
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