When to retire a cue?

Kid Dynomite

Kid Dynomite

Dennis (Michael) Wilson
Silver Member
I thought this an interesting topic! My black boar is skyrocketing in value, when does it reach a point that it is too valuable to cart around to pool rooms? I am sure some Balabuska owners and Szamboti owners experienced these feelings? I would love to here some thoughts on the topic/question!

I love the cue and play in the safety of my own home with it. Just starting to get uncomfortable with use as an everyday cue outside the home. Are these feelings justified??

I have been hitting with a player cue for just this reason outside the home and for just this type of concern. But, lately been thinking about reviving it back as my trusty sidearm because I love the cue.

Kid
Dynomite
 
A little more.

I had thought about this one a little, but when I went out to see Dick Abbott with his Szam that he plays with I asked him the question.

He said it has a few "battlescars" but loved playing with it.

IMO, with the availablity to refinish cues it is tough not to play with them. Obviously I play with $3K or less cues and I have a Rambow that a refinish would kill value, so to me it pretty easy decision who to "retire" and who to play with.

I know cuemakers cringe when they are told that their cues are too nice to play with. I play with all of my cues except the Rambow.

JMO

Ken
 
The only reason to have a cue is to get used to it!

In the past once iI was used to a cue the value of the cue to me was as a shooter regaurdless of value under of course $3,000.00! Would I retire a Szam or a Balabushka? As a player definately! It is hard to have a everyday driver over lets say $3000.00 for some. But for others it is just a thing. If you are used to it you should just wear it out! Decades from now you can worry! I wouldn't leave it laying around like bait. It will disapear. Would I drag it around in league? I don't know for sure because I never played league. But would I drag it out to bars,no. That might be a better place for sneakies!
Years ago one of my friends got a NFL footbal for Christmas in the early seventies. His was so happy until his dad told him ,"No you can not play with that ball you can't throw it or kick it. It is too good for that!" All he could say was "But dad it's a football!".
Nick :)
 
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I would say a cue needs to be "retired" when it gets to the point that you care more about the perfect condition of the cue....moreso than the game you're playing with it.

I haven't had many $3000 cues in my collecting career....but each cue I've owned, I've played with. If the cue presents more of a distraction than a pleasure while playing with it (due to its rarity or value), it's time to put it up.

That's not to say that it isn't fun to knock around some balls...on occasion...with a phenomenally expensive cue, but if I'm playing to PLAY, I don't want the cue's collectable stature and overall dollar value distracting me from what I'm doing.

Few things are more embarrassing than walking in with a $4000 cue, and not looking like you know which end of it to use.

My $.02
 
Right on!

8-ball Rat said:
I would say a cue needs to be "retired" when it gets to the point that you care more about the perfect condition of the cue....moreso than the game you're playing with it.
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Truer words were never spoken!!!

I agree 100%. There are cues that I would buy to collect or re-sell, but the next one I get will be my daily player, and it will be fairly plain.

I guess that's why they call the plain ones "Players Cues", as a player is only concerned with the function, and not the appearence.
 
I personally buy items I want to use. I don't care about resale value unless I plan on selling it. I never liked seeing people buy cars, boats, cues ect.. just to let them sit around. I think most cuemakers (IMO) want their cues to be played with not just sitting around in cases.
I could see not using a cue if you plan on selling it but otherwise why not use it. Enjoy it. Chris.
 
Ken_4fun said:
I know cuemakers cringe when they are told that their cues are too nice to play with. I play with all of my cues except the Rambow.
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Um... not much danger of him cringing, is there?

Ken (the other, smart-assed one)
 
Chris Byrne said:
I personally buy items I want to use. I don't care about resale value unless I plan on selling it. I never liked seeing people buy cars, boats, cues ect.. just to let them sit around. I think most cuemakers (IMO) want their cues to be played with not just sitting around in cases.
I could see not using a cue if you plan on selling it but otherwise why not use it. Enjoy it. Chris.
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You make a good point. I bought the cue when prices were reasonable. They have ballooned! Knowing what I know and Lucky's Prices it could be worth between 3 to 20K according to the BlackBoarCustomCues.com website and only going higher! They are more scarce and hard to find then ever. Plus, tony only makes for two people lucky and Craig!!!!

With that said, It was bought to use and has evolved into something else. I never collected anything just stumbled onto stuff that played good and I enjoy shooting with. Otherwise, I never bought it or it was liquidated very quickly!!!!

kid
Dynomite
 
What is the value? You bought the cue for $1000. It is now "worth" $5000. Does that make you treat it any different? When you paid $1000 you still protected it and didn't want anyone to steal it or damage it.

Most of the time no one knows what kind of cue I am playing with unless I tell them. I will look at someones cue if it is laying on the table other than that I don't really pay any attention. I may ask may ask someone as a conversation starter.

This reminds me of the story of a gambler. He started out with $5 and won $15,000. Placed it all on another bet and lost. How much did he really lose? He walked away feeling he only lost $5 but everyone else saw him losing $15,000.
 
I have a South West that I bought from Brad Simpson a few years back. It's as handsome as any cue I"ve ever seen.. imo. And, it has six long points which is quite rare.. and it 's on the cover of the first Blue Book. I just love this cue and I think it's worth a lot.

I play with it here but I don't want to take it out anymore. I now play with my Sailor or Blackheart. Seems kinda silly to have 5 South West cues and not play with them but that's where I'm at. They have become investments.
 
Kid Dynomite said:
I thought this an interesting topic! My black boar is skyrocketing in value, when does it reach a point that it is too valuable to cart around to pool rooms? I am sure some Balabuska owners and Szamboti owners experienced these feelings? I would love to here some thoughts on the topic/question!

I love the cue and play in the safety of my own home with it. Just starting to get uncomfortable with use as an everyday cue outside the home. Are these feelings justified??

I have been hitting with a player cue for just this reason outside the home and for just this type of concern. But, lately been thinking about reviving it back as my trusty sidearm because I love the cue.

Kid
Dynomite
Click to expand...


I would say the time to retire a cue is when it is very collectible and not likely to be replaced if lost, stolen, or destroyed. In the case of a Bushka or a Gus, it's just silly to shoot pool with a $10,000 cue. What if someone trips over it and snaps it in two? I've had cues stolen from my car, snap in half by getting caught on something, etc. Why risk it?

Chris
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I am of two minds also, but my cue always get the best of me..... "Oh this, it is just one of them Bushka knock-off's made in Japan by Adams." ;)
 
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Passion for cues

I have had all of the above feelings on this subject. But, one thing is for sure, alot of people that post on this site, like 8ballrat (hey Mark) with his BB addiction and myself, love this hobby so much and spend so many hours on this stuff. Why not play with whatever cue you want? For lack of a better way to put it, we all deserve it. We all work hard and if this hobby is something we can enjoy after we do what is most important (taking care of our family), than so be it. Bill Stroud and I have had this conversation several times. He has always said that he can fix almost anything I screw up. He is currently making me a masterpiece that will be very expensive and I intend on playing with it.

All I can say, to finalize, is that for those of us that have such a passion for cues, life is short (pretty cheesy, I know) and so if a guy wants to play with a cue, no matter the $$$$, than go for it.

Sincerely, Jim Kissinger
 
i enjoy taking my custom (about $4,000.00) and playing with it in halls and at home .i just won't play with drunks around at the bars..i say if you have them play with them and enjoy them ..just be careful.:)
 
I think I'm going to use TooManyBugs line lol, and just say my cue is a cheap knock off.

Which in reality, i think most people wouldnt think twice about it, if you told someone that about the cue your using. unless it has some nice wood in it like Burl, bacote, snakewood and other stuff.

But I think the only time i would get leary of bringing my cue out to play with is if i had like a Bushka, Guz, Gina, BlackBoar, or say a type of cue that is not made anymore like the Scruggs SP.

I will say, i generally get a someone askin me about my cue and i just say, oh its just a Gilbert.
 
> Maybe the guys we need to be asking are the ones with more than 1 cue in that price range. Like how often does Simon play with the Tangerine Searing? Or Branpureza,doesn't he play with a super high-end Gina that probably cost 8k or more? Tommy D.
 
Hi.

I purchased Brandon's Gina from him a little while ago. Although I haven't played with it yet, I have used my other Gina which is in a similar price range. It is listed for sale, but not because I am afraid to play with it regularly. I actually took it to my Monday night league a couple of weeks ago. My third cue is a McDaniel that was in the 5000.00 range and has been my primary player for the last two years. Although the shafts have some light staining on them, they are still smooth, full diameter, and the butt is like brand new.

I have no intention of retiring any cues of mine until I, myself, retire from playing. I feel there will always be great cues to buy, from a number of makers, so I try not to get caught up in the "what if I put a ding in it or stain the shafts?" mentality. I couldn't count the number of times I thought if I didn't buy "this" cue or "that" cue, the opportuntity to purchase such a beauty would never present itself again. It always has, and usually within a week or two. I also feel that truly collectible cues will always sell well, played or not, so I want to enjoy what I have worked for and let the chips fall where they may. Personally, I love buying and playing with expensive cues. My money has to go somewhere. After all, I have driven the same Honda Civic for years.

Ryan
 
I have a friend who had a $25,000 Balabuska. He played with it at our pool league many times. Also has a fantastic SW with ivory points... ivory everywhere and played with it at league for several months, maybe still does. Brought them to and from in Fellini cases.

He enjoyed those possessions by using them. More power to those who do this.
 
I think the key is this: When you start to think about the cue as more than a tool, it's time to put it down.

Now grant it I'm not just talking about having enough common sense to not abuse it. A sniper takes care of his rifle, but he USES the rifle, and taking care of it makes it function better for what he uses it for.

You could elect to retire a cue for a variety of reasons, like it going way up in value (becoming an investment), being from a cuemaker no longer living (investment/not able to replace), or maybe even sentimental reasons of having a cue, say, that you would want to pass on to somebody else in good condition.

The bottom line is that when the reasons in your mind of NOT playing with a cue outweigh the reasons FOR playing with it... it's time to put the cue away.
 
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Dakota Cues said:
I think the key is this: When you start to think about the cue as more than a tool, it's time to put it down.

Now grant it I'm not just talking about having enough common sense to take care of it. A sniper takes care of his rifle, but he USES the rifle, and taking care of it makes it function better for what he uses it for.

You could elct to retire a cue for a variety of reasons, like it going way up in value (becoming an investment), being from a cuemaker no longer living (investment/not able to replace), or maybe even sentimental reasons of having a cue, say, that you would want to pass on to somebody else in good condition.

The bottom line is that when the reasons in your mind of not playing with a cue outweigh the reasons for playing with the cue, it's time to put it down.
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Great post, well thought out.

Chris
 
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