Value of Cues for Current Cuemakers

[ApoDra]

How about overrated, over priced and overhyped lists

Joe

I would like to see that list..

 

[StormHotRod300]

OK,

Now i am suprised nobody has Balabushka on thier list? Now this is my list

1 JossWest
2 Balabushka
3 Szamboti
4 Nitti
5 Scruggs
6 Bludworth
7 Bender
8 Omen
9 Gilbert
10 Runde, Black Boar, Ginacue

Now the only reason i put JossWest above Balabushka is because your still able to get a Custom JossWest, even though you might be dead before you get it lol.

dave

my bad, i didnt see the part of where they hafta be Alive lol. But if he GB was still alive, he would be in the top 10.

 

[X Breaker]

All those cue makers are great, one other question i like to ask is these cue makers started off somewhere. What up and coming cue makers are gonna make the next 10 "greatest" list?

Attached are some snapshots of three Layani cues I have. Sorry about the poor quality of the pictures.

One cue was made with turquoise/ivory with a unique "hour glass" ivory ring work; the other with green malachite/ivory with an identical design. Three cues were built with this "diamond" design--there was also one more built with pink ivory/ivory. These three cues are called the "diamond trinity"--my favorite design from Thierry Layani so far.

I really like the way Thierry's cues play. His attention to details along with his desire to continuously improve his cues have convinced me that he is for sure one of the greatest...

Richard

 

[Banker Burt]

Bobby Hunter

I agree with general posts suggesting there is a lot more to a cue, and its value, than just the name.

Without question, all of the cuemakers names mentioned are very good at their skill. What might be considered is the number of cuemakers that are just as good, but somehow are maybe not as popular today.

Some 35 years ago I bought my first cue, it was a Viking and it played great, until it was stolen. Then I played a Richard Black, which was just as good (to my liking) before it was stolen also.

Now I'm playing with a Viking, handmade by Gordy Hart just before he retired. It was also stolen (so I am not too lucky or smart) but guess what, after years of losing cues I got this one back.

Too long a long story to tell, but on my way home from losing my Viking I was already thinking about which cue I would play with next. Since I do not have to worry about that today, my answer was -

A Bobby Hunter

I don't think he has been mentioned but when a World Champion makes a cue, just like Mike Sigel, there is something to be said about quality and resale value; especially as it ages.

 

[SplicedPoints]

Just some notable ones that hasn't been mentioned.

Fanelli
Barenbrugge
Padgett

I think Capone needs some more credit.

 

[MexPoolPlyr]

My list in no order;(living cuemakers)
1. Tad
2. Ed Prewitt
3. Ginacue
4. Capone
5. Keith Josey
6. B. Szamboti
7. Mottey
8. Josswest
9. Bobby Hunter
10.Tascarella

 

[merylane]

how can you mention tascarella when it is a very serious rumor he doesnt make his own blanks......i would really think you would list guys that trully build there own cues with exception to screw,bumpers, and tips.......just my thought......juston

whos making them? do you know anyons making blanks like that?

 

[classiccues]

All those cue makers are great, one other question i like to ask is these cue makers started off somewhere. What up and coming cue makers are gonna make the next 10 "greatest" list?

Probably the best avoided question in the thread.. Skip Weston, Paul Fanelli, Gilbert, Cory Barnhart, Tucker to name a few.

But with all the cuemakers that are out there I think it will be tougher to single out the next Balabushka.

Joe

 

[ajrack]

cue info

everything being equal?

1...gina and kershenbrock
3...tad
4...tascarella
5...joss west
6...schick
7...szamboti
8...black
9...
10...

i don't know where tascarella and szamboti goes, but allz i know is that they'r e expensive. all the cuemakers i listed have longevity. tad, schick, and kershenbrock don't make many. stroud will be cutting back this year(probably even stopping). tad makes only the high end ivory cues,,,,,his son makes the rest.

good list! ...
Kersenbrock...note spelling!
I have two!!!
...also of note... 2 Southwests ... & one old Gina
just sold my old Rambow...>>> to the Glenns

 

[Jack Madden]

good list! ...
Kersenbrock...note spelling!
I have two!!!
...also of note... 2 Southwests ... & one old Gina
just sold my old Rambow...>>> to the Glenns

ajrack
Is that the Rambow I worked on for you? Just talked to Denny yesterday - Pete's doing good - keeping busy.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com

 

[cueman]

Probably the best avoided question in the thread.. Skip Weston, Paul Fanelli, Gilbert, Cory Barnhart, Tucker to name a few.

But with all the cuemakers that are out there I think it will be tougher to single out the next Balabushka.

Joe

I think that with over 16 years experience that Andy Gilbert is well past the up and coming mark. Wouldn't you agree????
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[RSB-Refugee]

Just out of curiousity.........and if all of the designs were equal.........how would you rate the top ten cuemakers in order? ....................I am only interested in your opinion in current cuemakers not those of the past.

These are some interesting lists, that I have seen. Pretend that this is the year 2010, who do you see as being in the top ten. Take into account Johnny Q Maker may be old and either retired or possibly dead by then. I have not seen BCM, Gilbert or Skip listed yet. I am guessing they could be in the top ten, five years from now. What are your predictions?

Tracy

 

[RSB-Refugee]

How about overrated, over priced and overhyped lists

I'd like to see that list.

Tracy

 

[obrien714]

A few of my Favorites

I have seen all the list and a great cue maker has been omited, MIKE LAMBROS. another AWSOME cue maker i like is Capt Bob Manzino he made a titlest conversion for me. Its SWEET. A few others Mottey, Dennis Searing, and Black Boar.

A question for anyone that can help. Does anyone know how i can get a hold of Nat Green from SE cues. He has a cue of mine and i heard he moved shops. I cant get a hold of him.

pat

 

[cueman]

I have seen all the list and a great cue maker has been omited, MIKE LAMBROS. another AWSOME cue maker i like is Capt Bob Manzino he made a titlest conversion for me. Its SWEET. A few others Mottey, Dennis Searing, and Black Boar.

A question for anyone that can help. Does anyone know how i can get a hold of Nat Green from SE cues. He has a cue of mine and i heard he moved shops. I cant get a hold of him.

pat

Call the Night Deposit Sports Bar in Clarksville, Tennessee. He moved his shop there.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[Snapshot9]

depends ...

You know, at least half of the list will depend what part of the country
you live in. 30 years ago, I loved Joss cues, now I would not have one
because they hit entirely too stiff.

I have a good friend that has a Southwest, and it is okay, but I prefer
Shurtz cues more.

And you can not forget about Oliver cues either, they are pretty good too.

 

[classiccues]

I think that with over 16 years experience that Andy Gilbert is well past the up and coming mark. Wouldn't you agree????
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

Chris,
That would depend, I could say that Skip Weston who has been doing cue work since 1988 would also be past that. BUT there is a little thing called "exposure". Andy is benefiting from his exposure that came mainly through cueaddicts, as Skip has benefitted through his exposure through us. Plus throw in forums like these and word of mouth spreads faster than it did in 1985. Hey, I didn't handle my first Ginacue till 1992. Which really just shows how localized cuemakers were up until then.

Joe

 

[cuedoctor]

cue market

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else out there noticed the decline in the marketability of Joss West cues in the past two years? Perhaps it's a local thing, but Bill's cues have taken a fairly dramatic downturn as of late. Just wondering.?.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A SELL OFF OF THE LOWER END ONES AND THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF THEM FOR SALE SO THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND SAYS THAT THAT WILL LOWER PRICES BUT THE MORE FANCIER ONES STILL HAVE A GOOD MARKET VALUE.BILL HAS ALSO GONE OFF INTO A DIFFERENT SYTLE OF CUES AND THEY ARE NOT GOING OVER TOO WELL IN IMO SO THAT HASNT HELPED EITHER. BUT WHEN HE STOP'S MAKING CUES COMPLETLY THEN THAT WILL BRING HIS PRICES BACK UP. SOMETIMES WE JUDGE A CUES VALUE BY WHAT BARGAIN HUNTER OFFER ON EBAY BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT.JUST BECAUSE BIDDERS DONT MAKE CORRECT OFFERS ON A CUE DOESNT MEAN ANYTHING.I HAVE LISTED CUES THAT DID NOTHING 2 TIMES AROUND ON EBAY AND THEN BOOM,ITS GETTING TONS OF ACTION.THE SAME OLD BIDDERS ON EBAY ALL TRY TO GET A CUE AT A STEAL SO THEY CAN TRY AND TURN IT AND UNLESS YOUR DESPERATE YOUR BETTER OFF NOT SELLING IT UNTIL A REAL COLLECTOR SHOWS UP AND THEY HAVE BEEN COMING UP LATELY. JOSSWEST HAS BEEN AROUND A VERY LONG TIME AND THATS THE REAL TEST,NOT THESE NEW CUEMAKERS WHO HAVE A FEW HOT YEARS AND THEN DIE OFF.

 

[SSach]

My list has not changed

I went back to a previous post where I listed my top ten list and wanted to see if I would add/delete and of the cuemakers from the original list. I was not able to make any changes.


1. Tad
2. Gina
3. Schick
4. B. Szamboti
5. Tascarella
6. Joss West
7. Hereck
8. Southwest
9. D. Searing
10. DPK - David Kersenbrock

 

[cueman]

Chris,
That would depend, I could say that Skip Weston who has been doing cue work since 1988 would also be past that. BUT there is a little thing called "exposure". Andy is benefiting from his exposure that came mainly through cueaddicts, as Skip has benefitted through his exposure through us. Plus throw in forums like these and word of mouth spreads faster than it did in 1985. Hey, I didn't handle my first Ginacue till 1992. Which really just shows how localized cuemakers were up until then.

Joe

That is only a few years after Ernie started back making cues. He quit for many year. I saw him at a BCA expo and he told me he was about to start back making cues. I think he realized the market was ready to pay a price that made his cues worth building again. I wasn't sure when Skip started but have been friends with Andy for many years. Andy got his first big break at a couple of Super Expo's when he picked up a couple of wholesale customers from Japan and instantly went to being able to make his full living off of cue sales. I took Andy with me to his first Trade show ever in 95 which was the BCA in Vegas. Besides machinery I sold one high end cue and he sold 5 lower end cues. I got a little more for the one cue than he did for the other 5 together. I remember we compared hours involved and I had more hours in the high end cue than he had in the five. Andy is a very hard worker and paid his dues big time building a lot of lower end cues getting his name out there early on. I stuck to mainly building mid to high end cues and therefore built a lot less cues than Andy did. You are absolutely right about exposure. The web has really changed things now. I used to rarely sell a higher end cue except at the BCA Trade Shows, but have sold two cues priced over $3000 each in the last few months.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com