my 2 cts, 3 of my picks are oldtimers that belong to same draft pick as buskas or Szambotis...or earlier..
Jim Buss, Bert Schrager, Gilbert, Jensen, Horn, Rich (Abe Rich)
(in no particular order)
Jim - Tremendous work enthic and nice guy. great work but his price is still
puzzling reasonable.
Schrager - Hall of Famer, but his cue prices still far far below that of his
contemporaries which are actually Szamboti, Bushka, and Ernie!!
the next couple of years will change that i think.
Gilbert - Great work, Geat prices.
Jensen - oldtimer who cues are puzzling cheap. i had a couple and cant and
never could find any fault with them. Generally my recommendation
to frens looking for a 1st nice custom playing cue.
Verl Horn - Painful experience. bought 5 of his ivory prong cues at 1300us, in
2000... sold them in 2002-2003 for 900-1100... only the ebony
forearm ivory prong made some loose change..
My experience is, stay away from the gold letter Horn in
buttsleeve cues, hits like a bat. they were made wholly by his 2
apprentices 1994-1999. Real Horn-made cues that hit nice are
inscribed on the buttcap, or have absolutely no labels/markings
Many of his Bushka copies with Spain forearms, ended in Japan...
his good works are never recognised...
Rich - Rich Cue Company made some nice cues... old tech but nice
woods IMHO. Abe Rich is, well a legend, but his cues are simple
and not easily found.