Top tier cue makers.

Ok to me this is the "Dream Team" of living cue makers.

Black Boar
Joel Hercek
Barry Szamboti
Ernie Gutirrez
Bill Shick
Bill Stroud
Pete Tascarella
Mike Bender
Joe Gold
Dave Kikel

All ten of these guys have been making cues cues for 15+ years, are known for very good hitting cues and represent the best in Modern and traditional style design along with old tech to very high tech when it comes to materials and construction.

I know there are two people on here that you might wonder why, but if you have hit with their cues and seen what they can do and who taught them you would know why.
 
WOODDALE72 said:
Where's Mike Bender, Joe Gold, what about Southwest??????? Black,,,,,,,,Shirley you must be joking.
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There seems to be a lot of bias against Richard Black. I wonder why? Isn't he a hall of famer?

I think the elite list should be cue makers that has been recognized for their ability and influence in the cue making industry and not just people whose cue have been peddled frequently around here and sellers who has interest in increasing the value of the cues they own agreeing in unison....."4 legs good 2 legs baddd..."

still I think only a respected few make the top tier list. Bushka, Gus, Herman, Franklin. The followed by a larger list of cuemakers who are a cut above the rest. Boar, Stroud, Tasc, etc i think there would be about 50 names here......
 
Jim McDermott
Gordie Hart
Danny Janes
Bob Meucci
Paul Huebler
Richard Helmstetter

And any other cue maker past or present that builds or is responsible for building and supplying hundreds of thousands of players with equipment.
 
Mastercraft one thing is in the original post after his list he stated "sorry if I forgot any other Living Cue Makers". Trust me my list would be very different if we were looking at all cue makers living or dead. I forgot about Black myself I say i will take out Joe Gold and put Richard Black in to keep it to just ten..lol.
 
I've got to go with Brandon, by adding Andy Gilbert's name to the list, although the last time I talked to him I couldn't tell if he was living or not. :)
 
IMHO, Kieth Josey makes a "top tier" hitting cue. I've owned 3 of his cues and they all hit fantastic (and nearly identical). I personally don't believe that being recognized is an absolute necessity for being a top tier CM but rather your cues. Just my 2 cents.

Life-long Josey cue fan,

Ryan Malley
 
Some of you seem to be upset with the list.:confused:
In my original post i stated that i have omitted several hall of fame cue makers.
Almost all the CMs on my list have a super long waiting list or have stopped taking orders.That isn't my only criteria but it was one aspect for the list.Others include but not limited to playability, desirability, design, artistic contribution and construction.
The list was not intended to disparage any reputable cue maker out there.

BTW i did list black boar[Tony Scianella]
 
everyone has their favorites but from my perspective on collecting it seems to me that the demand and dollars seem to go to:

Searing
Showman
Hercek
Hailey
Gina
Szamboti
Black Boar
Tascarella
Southwest

All the other guys listed here make jamup cues, but they just dont seem to pull as hard for the collector dollars as similar cue from other guys.
 
What about Bobby Hunter?

I don't know much about his cues, but based on reputation alone, he should be on the list or on a short waiting list.

Also, can't imagine having a top-tier cuemaker list, without Tony Sciannella "Black Boar".
 
uwate said:
everyone has their favorites but from my perspective on collecting it seems to me that the demand and dollars seem to go to:

Searing
Showman
Hercek
Hailey
Gina
Szamboti
Black Boar
Tascarella
Southwest

All the other guys listed here make jamup cues, but they just dont seem to pull as hard for the collector dollars as similar cue from other guys.
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Great post uwate. There are alot of great cue makers out there & everyone has the own personal favorites as you have said. And its a shame that alot of these great cue makers don`t get top dollar for there cues but thats just the way the cookie crumbles so to speak. Supply & demand, it will probably always be that way to. Thanks for your post.
Jeff
 
Rockin' Robin said:
Jim McDermott
Gordie Hart
Danny Janes
Bob Meucci
Paul Huebler
Richard Helmstetter

And any other cue maker past or present that builds or is responsible for building and supplying hundreds of thousands of players with equipment.
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Quoted for truth. These men never get any play around here. Rep to ya Robin! I'd take a Moochie Road Runner anyday!

Josh
 
Top living cue makers IMO

For all around good looks and play, I would have to add Jack Madden from Montana and Jim Busse from Missouri.

Jack does beautiful inlays with Moose Antler. Less expensive than ivory and just as nice looking if not more so? Both make superb players.

Cross-Side-Larry

PS: I love my Gina also!
 
I think we're all learning two things:

1) There are way more than 10 living cuemakers that deserve recognition as "top tier" cuemakers.

2) Just like everything else in the world, everyone has their own opinion, and many people have differing opinions. Everyone mentioned in the 35+ posts thus far is worthy of recognition.
 
master_cueist said:
even though they are not real well known cue makers anybody who has ever played with either of their own respective cues will agree with me, Roland Becker and Ernie Martinez both of Colorado would always be on my list of best, im not sure about ernie but i know that roland is in the blue book of cues with his chess series that you can see online if you google roland beckers chess series. In fact there is a thread on here from someone who owns one of those chess cues talking about how much he loves it
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Ernie Martinez is in the 3rd edition of the Blue book of Cues. His cues are great looking and playing. I know I have a nice one and love playing with it. Great harmonics produced by precision construction. Truly a high level instrument at any level of cue creation. If he's not to be on this list he should at least be on his way to it:thumbup:
 
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