What makes cues from purchased blanks sell for big $$$$

Great Exanple

Tap, Tap Craig...you nailed it. Its the basic question, why do some cues by some makers command more $$ than others (whether they are blanks or not). Either rarity / playability or both...in the case of Gus he made both a great playing cue and his cues are rare, if you want one, you will have to pay!!!

The same with Eric's cues, THEY PLAY no question! And they are rare. There was a thread not too long ago, to be done right, a conversion can sometimes take longer to complete "right", than a handmade blank. They need to be turned slow, fitted, etc.

I think your Gus is priceless, especially if you still have your shipping container, and letter! And the SW, about 12-1500+.


jazznpool said:
Craig, One factor I think you're missing is the work of some cuemakers is more valuable than others, even if the parts and raw materials are the same. This is true in crafts other than cues, like custom made guitars. I understand and sympathize to some extent with your general point of overpriced house cue conversions. In 1983, I bought an ebony Dufferin cue, sawed butt off at about 32 inches and shipped it to Gus Szamboti. In about 3 months I received an ebony sneaky pete with 2 shafts with ivory ferrules. The cue had 3/8-10 pin flat face and no joint collar. At the time I paid $300 for the cue. Same year I paid $235 for a new South West merry widow. What do you suppose the cue would be worth today and why? How many petes like mine do you think Gus made? It can't be the blank or the materials, they can still be bought.

Martin
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I guess the answer is...

I guess the answer for you is...sorry?

(*there is a big difference between what a cuemaker charges and the secondary market costs)

PEOPLE JUST DONT UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO FLAME ABOUT THIS AND I AM TIRED OF IT!

Here is an example, someone I know bought a Barry Szamboti cue 4 point, $2000 or so, he could sell that cue for 4000+, why demand.

Monopoly versus Competition, who monopolizes the secondary market, makers who have separated themselves from the competition...usually because their cues play the nutz.

patrickcues said:
I cant answer why a $60.00 blank from Schmelke would sell for $1000.00 or more. I don't price them like that. I would guess that you would need to ask the maker in question about that. I would assume in my opinion that people are just paying for the "NAME". As we know that there is a lot of us builders that build just as good quality playing cue as them for a better price. I personally can't see charging that kind of price for this. Example. I am having a full splice made out of certain exotic woods and I am only charging $550.00 But, I am also sending them the wood to build it out of.

Manwon:

I live in Hazelwood,Mo not far from you old area. I used to go over to Cue and Cushion years ago. Not so much any more. I can't seem to find the time to leave me shop enough to go out and play. Give me a call next time your around this way. We can get some lunch.

DOUG
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Kevin Lindstrom said:
I would like to know what makers are making 700 dollar sneaky petes as well as who the people are that are buying them. I have a very nice Tim Scruggs sneaky pete that I bet I COULDN"T sell right now for 700 dollars.

Thanks

Kevin
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i saw a sugartree on here for 900 yesterday. i haven't checked yet but i bet it's sold
 
Jazz said:
Cubswin called you out on this statement and you just brush it over???? So it's ok for you to make a mis-statement but not others???
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Martin you are right, I should have worded my answer better to another members post. No it is not alright, that I made an incorrect statement on the price of that cue. I may be wrong again, however, I pretty certain the current seller had it originally listed for $1050. However, another member called him out regarding the fact it not was new, and that it had been refinished and repaired, so the threads post was edited. The post has now been changed to offer the cue for $900.

However, as I have said, that cue was only an example and that cue maker is not the subject of this thread, only part of it.

Thanks for the correction Martin, I appreciate your opinion!!

Here is a copy of the original post before it was editied:

Originally Posted by pooldawg8
Got this cue from Eric Crisp in June 08. Signed in the butt section.
Spec for this cue; Gaboon Ebony 4 pointer, 3/8x10 brass pin
Butt wt; 15.36oz wt shaft#1 4.16oz wt shaft #2 3.84oz, superpro tips,
Cue has only been test hit. Total wt; 19.2oz or 19.52oz, 58 inches long,
Both shaft diameters 13.02mm, BEM forearm, points are not all even. The Gaboon Ebony has some real nice brown streaks through it. One thing to point out there is a small swirl mark in the black joint collar, its definitely under the clearcoat. It will not show up in any of my pics & you have to look close to find it. Just wanted to be honest about this.
Price is $1050 shipped, insured, USPS Priority mail with delivery conformation to the US lower 48 states. NO TRADES ON THIS ONE.
Paypal or USPS money order
I might be able to throw in a BRAND NEW 1x2 cue case in the deal.
Thanks & enjoy Jeff
 
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cubswin said:
I can't tell you why they play so well. What I can tell you is I've owned probably 60 sneaky petes. Probably 3/4 of them have been duffern conversions, and the rest blanks from prather and Shmelke. Three of them stand out the most in my mind. One was a sugartree, one is the Joey Bautista I'm playing with, and the other is the MasonH cue I'm selling. In the case of Mason's it was his wood that he had made into a blank.

I suspect the shaftwood, balance, and the tapers are why the play so well over the other cues. In my opinion those have been the best three. After that I'd go with scruggs sneaky's when you can find a good one that hasn't been sanded down over the years. Thats a challenge most of the time, and the mint ones bring in the 700 range now. Know from buying them when they were still making them that is a 500-575 dollar mark up depending on when they were new. Shoot we used to buy those cues as break cues and bar beaters.

Eric's cues are very fairly priced from him, the problem is its hard to get one from him so in the secondary market the prices are higher. For the first couple years I knew about his cues I saw one for sale, and then people realized they could charge a premium and they started popping up for sale. I sold mine because I needed some cash, and I wasn't playing at the time because of my back. I didn't hold out for the best deal, just sold it for a slight mark up over the cost of new. I figure if I charge 100-150 over new cost on something you can't even order new anymore then thats fair. I'd gladly pay the same premium for one now if I had the change.
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Thanks very much for your explaination, I think you have broughtout some points that I have missed before.

I appreciate you taking the time, and I respect your comments!!

Thank you very much!
 
Sorry

paulybatz said:
I guess the answer for you is...sorry?

(*there is a big difference between what a cuemaker charges and the secondary market costs)

PEOPLE JUST DONT UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO FLAME ABOUT THIS AND I AM TIRED OF IT!

Here is an example, someone I know bought a Barry Szamboti cue 4 point, $2000 or so, he could sell that cue for 4000+, why demand.

Monopoly versus Competition, who monopolizes the secondary market, makers who have separated themselves from the competition...usually because their cues play the nutz.
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Pauly:

What do you mean I guess the answer for you is sorry?
 
paulybatz said:
I guess the answer for you is...sorry?

(*there is a big difference between what a cuemaker charges and the secondary market costs)

PEOPLE JUST DONT UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO FLAME ABOUT THIS AND I AM TIRED OF IT!

Here is an example, someone I know bought a Barry Szamboti cue 4 point, $2000 or so, he could sell that cue for 4000+, why demand.

Monopoly versus Competition, who monopolizes the secondary market, makers who have separated themselves from the competition...usually because their cues play the nutz.
Click to expand...


(*there is a big difference between what a cuemaker charges and the secondary market costs)

PEOPLE JUST DONT UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO FLAME ABOUT THIS AND I AM TIRED OF IT!

Paul, thanks for your opinion but, please explain the above a little further, so for I have seen no flames, Gasoline, any other negative comments. The question from my perspective has nothing to do with the secondary markets cost of a cue.

Thanks for your thoughts!!!
 
manwon said:
I have been thinking lately about all the cues I have been seeing that are selling for $700 + that are made from purchased blanks. To be clear, what I am talking about specifically are simple Sneaky Pete / non-veneer pointed cues. Cues that fall into this category have basic points like house cues, possibly rings in the collars at the joint, with a butt cap and rings possible at that location. In most cases these cues come with a single shaft, but even if they have two, I just can't justify why these cues cost what they do. When for the same money cues built with blanks made by a good cue maker can be purchased for a similar price and in some cases cheaper.

Could the problem be that people buy impulsively without truly understanding what they have purchased. Or are certainly cue makers being tight lipped and intentionally putting the perception out there that they are making these cues themselves and not using purchased blanks. Now what would be a good way for buyers to access cues they are buying so they really get what they think they are getting without being deceived.

Everyones ideas and comments are welcome and certainly could be helpful to all forum members.

Thanks in advance
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Two words

OVER E-CUE-CATED :D
 
IMO it's insane to pay 500 plus for a sneaky. I would be interested in seeing what some of these makers charge for these cues new. I think about half of the people buying these don't really understand what they are buying. The other half are people looking to make a quick buck.

Manwon I do have a few questions. Do you think a PJ is much different? Do you think a PJ from a "hot" cuemaker should bring the prices we are talking about here? Or does it take mitered points and/or inlays to obtain these prices? Little of topic but I am wondering what you think.
 
Mike Stacey started building his own sneaky blanks. Yet his later cues when built with his own blanks fair no better in the new or secondary market. I have owned two of his cues that he built the blanks and two that he didn't. The ones he built were very good quality. Points were even and no glue lines or other imperfections. You would think they would be more desirable but people could seem to care less. I think most people are not paying attention to what they are buying.
 
hoosier_cues said:
IMO it's insane to pay 500 plus for a sneaky. I would be interested in seeing what some of these makers charge for these cues new. I think about half of the people buying these don't really understand what they are buying. The other half are people looking to make a quick buck.

Manwon I do have a few questions. Do you think a PJ is much different? Do you think a PJ from a "hot" cuemaker should bring the prices we are talking about here? Or does it take mitered points and/or inlays to obtain these prices? Little of topic but I am wondering what you think.
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South West Satin cues have been selling for over a 1000 dollars for awhile now.
 
Jazz said:
What do you think folks .. does this deserve a neg rep?????

Jazz <---- IAMHO!!!
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Is this code "Jazz <---- IAMHO!!![/QUOTE" Because I do not speak that langauge, is it Alien;)

As for negative rep be my guest, I dont know what I did but if you think I need it, no reason to ask anyone else, just do it until your satisfied!!!!!:smile:
 
manwon said:
Is this code "Jazz <---- IAMHO!!![/QUOTE" Because I do not speak that langauge, is it Alien;)

As for negative rep be my guest, I dont know what I did but if you think I need it, no reason to ask anyone else, just do it until your satisfied!!!!!:smile:
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Greg, I'm just messing with you. :)
 
:thumbup:
Jazz said:
Greg, I'm just messing with you. :)
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Thanks, I have been getting negative rep from my wife all day, so I figured what the hell, I may as well get it from everyone else.:thumbup:

Take Care
 
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Hey Ho...don't go flame my arse just because Craig can't keep us straight!:D

Martin


Jazz said:
What do you think folks .. does this deserve a neg rep?????

Jazz <---- IAMHO!!!
Click to expand...
 
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