Which Gold Crown to purchase?

Z

zumpa21

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Hello,
I've posted a few times in the past seeking help to guide me to the "right" table.
I think I have two finalists.....
The first is a $900 GC 1 or 2 (doesn't matter much to me) that came from a pool hall and the owner said its in very good shape. The pockets were replaced with non-maring pockets that won't get my balls dirty!
And the aluminum castings (that he referred to as pot metal...I kind of like the aluminum) were replaced with chrome something. Table still has the original Monarch cushions. Table will need felt and maybe cushions. If it doesn't need cushions, that would make the tables about the same price.

The second table is a GC 4 for $500. I have a choice of a few different ones but they all need cushions and felt and definitely have some miles on them. Looks like some were moved assembled as a few of the feet are cockeyed on some tables. They moved them to make room for some other project at the bowling alley.
I'm interested in what anyone and everyone has to say...whether you're a mechanic, owner or just a fan of the GC.
 
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Which Gold Crown to Buy...

Hi, zumpa21.

Pay attention to the formica. It's basically non-repairable. If it's dented, scratched, or damaged in any way, you'll have to live with it. Actually, it can be replaced, but there is a significant risk factor there. I would avoid that headache. As far as the rest of the table goes, all the wood and metal can be refinished very easily.

If it was me, I'd have an agreement with the owner that the deal isn't final until you have disassembled the table and inspected the parts. Even though just about anything under there can be fixed, sometimes, it just isn't worth it.

The underside of the rails and the outside edge of the slate liner may be chewed to pieces from multiple staple wounds. No problem, that can be fixed.

Again, if it was me..... and if in fact it is in good shape like the owner says, I'd get the older table for $900.00. You'll have some good bragging rights when you have a 40 or 50 year old pool table that looks and plays like a million bucks. :D

Joe
 
I have a GC4 but fortunately it is in excellent condition. The good news is you are getting a Gold Crown. But if the table is going in your house I would choose the table that is in the best condition, especially the rails, skirts, aprons and leg assemblies. Of course, this assumes the rest of the table (slates, frame, etc.) are sound.

Personally, I wouldn't want a funky beat up pool table in my home even if it played lights out. I'd want it to look nice. Of course it would have to play well, but that's a given. The right mechanic can make almost anything play well.
 
Gold Crown 1

get the gold crown one.... To me they are built like a tank i took the formica off mine and made real hickory veneer then custom made corian sights.. laquer black the legs polished the corners and artimis cushions Glen hancock helped me put the cusions on and did is tweeking to my rails... now i have a bad ass table..... takes time but you will have it forever then....
 
The Gold Crown 4's had some formica problems but I picked out one that had decent rails. Looks like someone beat the hell out of a few others. Not sure whether it came from play or someone installing the felt at some point. While I'd like the nostalgia of an older table, the leveling system for the GC4 slate is a selling point.
And as the GC4 is in black, I thought I could clean, polish and wax the rails to make them shine.
The GC4 in mahogany had copper corners and feet which didn't hold up as well as the chrome on the black one.
 
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I was pondering the same question as the OP. But from more of a "whats the major differences" between the models l ll lll lV?

I am planning on getting a GC but would like to know what to look for and what to avoid?

Thanks for any info in advance,Brad
 
The GC4 is a great choice. Really like the flush pockets, and they hold a ton of balls.

When you set up the table, it is a good idea to add angle irons under the frame to prevent any possibility of slate sag from the way the GC4 frame was designed. Don't freak out - it's an easy and quick fix devised by RKC for the GC4 and just beefs up the frame even more.

Here's a recent thread on it, with a link to the original thread with pics (post #2):

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=261591

You just got a great table, now get a great mechanic!
 
zumpa21 said:
Hello,
I've posted a few times in the past seeking help to guide me to the "right" table.
I think I have two finalists.....
The first is a $900 GC 1 or 2 (doesn't matter much to me) that came from a pool hall and the owner said its in very good shape. The pockets were replaced with non-maring pockets that won't get my balls dirty!
And the aluminum castings were replaced with chrome (that he referred to as pot metal...I kind of like the aluminum). Table still has the original Monarch cushions. Table will need felt and maybe cushions.

The second table is a GC 4 for $500. I have a choice of a few different ones but they all need cushions and felt and definitely have some miles on them. Looks like some were moved assembled as a few of the feet are cockeyed on some tables. They moved them to make room for some other project at the bowling alley.
I'm interested in what anyone and everyone has to say...whether you're a mechanic, owner or just a fan of the GC.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as a bad Gold Crown, only Gold Crowns with some problems related to each table built. The main problems with Gold Crowns is finding someone that really knows what they're doing when they work on them. Any Gold Crown can be made to play at its very best, if the person working in them knows what they're doing, and there is the problem at hand. If you buy any Gold Crown based on it's looks, that's great, but looks don't make the table play right when it's set up and ready to play on...the mechanic you hire is responsible for that...so keep that in mind.

Glen
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
I have a GC4 but fortunately it is in excellent condition. The good news is you are getting a Gold Crown. But if the table is going in your house I would choose the table that is in the best condition, especially the rails, skirts, aprons and leg assemblies. Of course, this assumes the rest of the table (slates, frame, etc.) are sound.

Personally, I wouldn't want a funky beat up pool table in my home even if it played lights out. I'd want it to look nice. Of course it would have to play well, but that's a given. The right mechanic can make almost anything play well.
Click to expand...

I nominate GC2 , rail calibrated by RKC, Donny and Zack with Artemis K55.
 
I'm sure I could enjoy either table but I'm also thinking about value.
The GC 4 is usually more expensive than the GC 1 so a $500 table should be a much better table, value-wise.
I intend to probably do the move and initial set up my self but hire a mechanic for new rails and felt.
 
Rails

I highly reccomend that you do a search for the right person to do your rails. Letting just any mechanic put new rubber on and shims will leave you wanting for a better playing table. I have always liked gold crowns and have played on some rediculously tight ones and let me tell you that after having my rails redone by SDBILLIARDS that there is a difference my table is tight but fair at 4 1/2" corners when I miss I know it was because I hit it bad not because it hit the facing of the short rail and died in the pocket. A Little extra now pays dividends later.

P.S get a recommendation from here for the guy to do your install if one is close, otherwise you might end up in the hack work section.

PHJ (Very happy gold crown owner)
Thanks to guys on this forum!! You know who you are
 
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perfectpocketz said:
You may have left my name?????? I'm the one that got the rail work started around here.......and do the work right on GC tables.

Mark Gregory
Click to expand...

Look, you tree hugging, backyard ex-rodeo clown, I didn't see you working on them rails of his, and there was NO shipping box around anywhere to be seen:D:rotflmao1:
 
I just picked a GC1 on New Years eve, it been a privately owned its whole life, table is in really nice condition. It will be getting Simonis 860 and new cushions and rail calabration by Mark Gregory or RKC if he would happen to be in Wisconsin in the next month or two. I spoke with Mark by phone and he told me to just box up rails and u.p.s. them his way for rail calibration. I pmed RKC and was kinda hoping he would answer back soon, I know he is a busy guy. Enjoy your table zumpa, Im sure you will be very satisfied with either choice. Everytime I go to shoot a few games I look at my table and cant believe I have a Gold Crown in my basement, Im sure you will feel the same.
 
fastone371 said:
I just picked a GC1 on New Years eve, it been a privately owned its whole life, table is in really nice condition. It will be getting Simonis 860 and new cushions and rail calabration by Mark Gregory or RKC if he would happen to be in Wisconsin in the next month or two. I spoke with Mark by phone and he told me to just box up rails and u.p.s. them his way for rail calibration. I pmed RKC and was kinda hoping he would answer back soon, I know he is a busy guy. Enjoy your table zumpa, Im sure you will be very satisfied with either choice. Everytime I go to shoot a few games I look at my table and cant believe I have a Gold Crown in my basement, Im sure you will feel the same.
Click to expand...

Hey buddy, been working on a GC3 and not paying to much attention to AZ lately:grin: as I'm working my way back to the Diamond factory. To answer your question about getting up to your area any time soon, I really don't know where I'm going to be from one week to the next. I know I have some things I have to get done up in Canada as well as in NY, CT and VA, and if I have a delivery run down to the south east, FL as well. I also have to come back to TX asap too, so...it's going to more than likely be sometime this summer before I get up your way. Mark is like my brother in this business, and trust me, Mark knows what he's doing as I can't rebuild rails any better than Mark does, you can take that to the bank. So at this time all I can say is ship your rails to Mark, he'll get them done a long time before I'll get the chance to work on your rails, so that means you'll be playing pool a lot sooner too.

Glen
 
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