Where is the "X Breaker" now?

Here's the basic scenario. Richard ordered cues from Samsara. Richard delayed payment. Samsara insisted on payment. Richard stalled. Samsara said, screw this--no more cues, no more deal. Coincidentally, Gulyassy had just designed a new break cue. He was looking for a quality manufacturer to make the butts. Perfect timing for Samsara and Gulyassy. That's what really happened.
 
You want the TRUTH? You can't HANDLE the truth!!!

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tedkaufman said:
Here's the basic scenario. Richard ordered cues from Samsara. Richard delayed payment. Samsara insisted on payment. Richard stalled. Samsara said, screw this--no more cues, no more deal. Coincidentally, Gulyassy had just designed a new break cue. He was looking for a quality manufacturer to make the butts. Perfect timing for Samsara and Gulyassy. That's what really happened.
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Probably a little too much info for the general masses but pretty close. :rolleyes:

For those that asked, China didn't deliver a high enough quality product for Richard.

The Gulyassy cue by Samsara is very high quality. You should check them out.
 
tedkaufman said:
Here's the basic scenario. Richard ordered cues from Samsara. Richard delayed payment. Samsara insisted on payment. Richard stalled. Samsara said, screw this--no more cues, no more deal. Coincidentally, Gulyassy had just designed a new break cue. He was looking for a quality manufacturer to make the butts. Perfect timing for Samsara and Gulyassy. That's what really happened.
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You left out that Richard still made good on the deal. Real nice to just throw that out there like that.:rolleyes: :(
 
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The Sledgehammer name was bought by McDermott. Not sure if they have started to produce a cue using this name as of yet.

Mike Gulyassy has his own line of jump/break cues out. Under the name Gulyassy. You should check them out. Mike will be at Valley Forge to demonstrate & show his new cues.
 
Whatever happened, I consider Richard a friend and always enjoyed his company at different events. And I hope to spend time with him in the future.

Sincerely, Jim Kissinger
 
Whether there is still a deal with Samsara in place or not they are still listed as a recommneded cuemaker on the Xtreme Billiards website.

I think what this all shows is that the market cycles with all products. Since 1999 jump cues and jump/break cues have been hot. Although Bunjee wasn't the first good jump cue, it was the first at a reasonable price point and in sufficient quantity to be snapped up by many players. Thus the Bunjee became the HOT item. Then with an influx of competing cues in the same price range the market diversified to everyone having their favorites. And each new one that came along was THE magic one. But the truth is that the Bunjee pretty much represented the pinnacle of what could be achieved with a jump cue. And so all others afterward just didn't have enough real differences to sustain any particular mass following or popularity. Each brand however has it's supporters who do believe that their favorites are the best. Same thing in all markets and with all products.

Same goes for break cues. Each one has the secret sauce that supposedly makes them the be all end all of break cues. The truth is though that if any of them did truly improve everyone's break signifigantly then either EVERYONE would be using them OR they would be on the list of things that "defile" the grand old tradition of the game and be targets of the "outlaw them" crowd.

Break cues have not nearly changed the game as much as jump cues have. Jump cues give the shooter a greater range of shots. Just as the leather tip with chalk did when it was introduced.

While break cues definitely help with the break they are a double edged sword. If the stroke they are amplifying is erratic then so too will be the results. The performance of all modern break cues is nearly identical in my opinon, and the only real evidence to the contrary is a series of ball speed tests done by Platinum Billiards and anecdotal accounts.

So it is no surprise to me to hear that the X-Breaker is declining in popularity. That doesn't mean that Richard doesn't have more orders than he can fill though. It just means that the X-Breaker is settling into the marketplace among it's cousins.
 
John Barton said:
Whether there is still a deal with Samsara in place or not they are still listed as a recommneded cuemaker on the Xtreme Billiards website.

I think what this all shows is that the market cycles with all products. Since 1999 jump cues and jump/break cues have been hot. Although Bunjee wasn't the first good jump cue, it was the first at a reasonable price point and in sufficient quantity to be snapped up by many players. Thus the Bunjee became the HOT item. Then with an influx of competing cues in the same price range the market diversified to everyone having their favorites. And each new one that came along was THE magic one. But the truth is that the Bunjee pretty much represented the pinnacle of what could be achieved with a jump cue. And so all others afterward just didn't have enough real differences to sustain any particular mass following or popularity. Each brand however has it's supporters who do believe that their favorites are the best. Same thing in all markets and with all products.

Same goes for break cues. Each one has the secret sauce that supposedly makes them the be all end all of break cues. The truth is though that if any of them did truly improve everyone's break signifigantly then either EVERYONE would be using them OR they would be on the list of things that "defile" the grand old tradition of the game and be targets of the "outlaw them" crowd.

Break cues have not nearly changed the game as much as jump cues have. Jump cues give the shooter a greater range of shots. Just as the leather tip with chalk did when it was introduced.

While break cues definitely help with the break they are a double edged sword. If the stroke they are amplifying is erratic then so too will be the results. The performance of all modern break cues is nearly identical in my opinon, and the only real evidence to the contrary is a series of ball speed tests done by Platinum Billiards and anecdotal accounts.

So it is no surprise to me to hear that the X-Breaker is declining in popularity. That doesn't mean that Richard doesn't have more orders than he can fill though. It just means that the X-Breaker is settling into the marketplace among it's cousins.
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Good post John!

Are you still in China? How are things going?
 
John Barton said:
Whether there is still a deal with Samsara in place or not they are still listed as a recommneded cuemaker on the Xtreme Billiards website.

I think what this all shows is that the market cycles with all products. Since 1999 jump cues and jump/break cues have been hot. Although Bunjee wasn't the first good jump cue, it was the first at a reasonable price point and in sufficient quantity to be snapped up by many players. Thus the Bunjee became the HOT item. Then with an influx of competing cues in the same price range the market diversified to everyone having their favorites. And each new one that came along was THE magic one. But the truth is that the Bunjee pretty much represented the pinnacle of what could be achieved with a jump cue. And so all others afterward just didn't have enough real differences to sustain any particular mass following or popularity. Each brand however has it's supporters who do believe that their favorites are the best. Same thing in all markets and with all products.

Same goes for break cues. Each one has the secret sauce that supposedly makes them the be all end all of break cues. The truth is though that if any of them did truly improve everyone's break signifigantly then either EVERYONE would be using them OR they would be on the list of things that "defile" the grand old tradition of the game and be targets of the "outlaw them" crowd.

Break cues have not nearly changed the game as much as jump cues have. Jump cues give the shooter a greater range of shots. Just as the leather tip with chalk did when it was introduced.

While break cues definitely help with the break they are a double edged sword. If the stroke they are amplifying is erratic then so too will be the results. The performance of all modern break cues is nearly identical in my opinon, and the only real evidence to the contrary is a series of ball speed tests done by Platinum Billiards and anecdotal accounts.

So it is no surprise to me to hear that the X-Breaker is declining in popularity. That doesn't mean that Richard doesn't have more orders than he can fill though. It just means that the X-Breaker is settling into the marketplace among it's cousins.
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John,
Now this is the type of post that shows your value. Nothing to pick at here as I agree with your assessment of j/b cues. I have a 650.00 custom j/b by a very respected maker and a 60.00 J&J. I really can't tell you which I prefer. Good post.
 
<-----Absolutely loves his Xbreaker. I put down a Bender break/jump and passed on a Predator BK in favor of my Xbreaker.
 
watchez said:
No, shinobi. The facts have been stated.
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I meant in regards to the thread title "Where is the 'X Breaker' now?" and this question in the first post:

"Where is this going to leave the Xbreaker as a product and ultimately as a company?"

I'm still wondering what happened to Richard posting on here, what happened to the product/company, if it's still being produced, etc.
 
Icon of Sin said:
You left out that Richard still made good on the deal. Real nice to just throw that out there like that.:rolleyes: :(
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Here is something to ponder and see if you can come up with the answer----How do you pay for something without really paying for it?
 
watchez said:
Here is something to ponder and see if you can come up with the answer----How do you pay for something without really paying for it?
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No idea... give it back?
 
Icon of Sin said:
No idea... give it back?
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And change the logo?:D ?:D

Seriously, after watching RC in action I predict he'll run to daylight....kinda like Fran Tarkenton on a broken play:)
 
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