Who is doing full-splice cues these days?
- Thread starter Cue Guru
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I am not sure when John Started, but I have spoken to him, and he was out of the game for quite a while. So, he 'seems' new, but in fact he is one of the legends...
Here's some neat info:
...In 1970, [Burton] Spain sold his cue business to tool and die maker, John Davis, who had been assisting Spain for a number of years. Balabushka continued buying blanks from Davis in lieu of Spain during the following year. In 1971 Balabushka met Penndel, Pennsylvania native Gus Szamboti at a tournament...
(Above from Wikipedia)
Now I have some conflicting information (first hand) that in the mid-seventies, Burton still had equipment in his basement, and was still doing cue work. Maybe he was bored with making blanks for George? Maybe he only did full cues of his own? Maybe just repairs? I cannot get any more detail that what I have from that angle.
So, for about a year, John was supplying George. There may well have been some overlap, say when Gus couldn't meet the demand of George. That is pure speculation on my part, but I can certainly find that out for sure. If I was George, I would want to have at least two sources of supply so I never end up with no blank to make a cue from...
As to full cue making, I do beleive John is capable of making a full cue, but it seems he has focused his efforts on making blanks only these days. I did not enquire about that in our last conversation, so it may be he will make a full cue if asked...
Here's some neat info:
...In 1970, [Burton] Spain sold his cue business to tool and die maker, John Davis, who had been assisting Spain for a number of years. Balabushka continued buying blanks from Davis in lieu of Spain during the following year. In 1971 Balabushka met Penndel, Pennsylvania native Gus Szamboti at a tournament...
(Above from Wikipedia)
Now I have some conflicting information (first hand) that in the mid-seventies, Burton still had equipment in his basement, and was still doing cue work. Maybe he was bored with making blanks for George? Maybe he only did full cues of his own? Maybe just repairs? I cannot get any more detail that what I have from that angle.
So, for about a year, John was supplying George. There may well have been some overlap, say when Gus couldn't meet the demand of George. That is pure speculation on my part, but I can certainly find that out for sure. If I was George, I would want to have at least two sources of supply so I never end up with no blank to make a cue from...
As to full cue making, I do beleive John is capable of making a full cue, but it seems he has focused his efforts on making blanks only these days. I did not enquire about that in our last conversation, so it may be he will make a full cue if asked...
Add Jerry Terbrock to the list.
Jerry told me that he is now making full splice cues from scratch.
(636) 861-3350
Jerry told me that he is now making full splice cues from scratch.
(636) 861-3350
As to full cue making, I do beleive John is capable of making a full cue, but it seems he has focused his efforts on making blanks only these days. I did not enquire about that in our last conversation, so it may be he will make a full cue if asked...[/QUOTE]
John is more than capable of making a full cue, and at this time that is what he is concentrating on doing. His blanks will be harder to obtain, and we have already seen several examples of his cues surfacing.
John is more than capable of making a full cue, and at this time that is what he is concentrating on doing. His blanks will be harder to obtain, and we have already seen several examples of his cues surfacing.
John has been making cues as well as selling blanks the whole time.
John Davis
This guy is phenomenal. He is so knowledheable yet humble. I ordered a blank w/o a wrap from John Davis about a week ago. It looks incredible. He makes cues but it doesn't seem to be as high on his priority list. I cannot believe how reasonably priced his blanks are and he doesn't ask for money up front. You don't like it, you don't pay. And on top of all this, he probably gave my father $200-300 of wood to use for making pens. I am going back for more blanks later in the year. He has buckets of blanks for sale at his shop as well and normal turnaround time is about 3 months.
This guy is phenomenal. He is so knowledheable yet humble. I ordered a blank w/o a wrap from John Davis about a week ago. It looks incredible. He makes cues but it doesn't seem to be as high on his priority list. I cannot believe how reasonably priced his blanks are and he doesn't ask for money up front. You don't like it, you don't pay. And on top of all this, he probably gave my father $200-300 of wood to use for making pens. I am going back for more blanks later in the year. He has buckets of blanks for sale at his shop as well and normal turnaround time is about 3 months.
Do you mean since the 70's as the whole time?
My understanding is that he was 'retired' for a while and fairly recently got back into it. Not sure where I heard that from, but it might have been from John or possibly Barbara...
Even if this information is accurate, one man's definition of 'retired' and another's are not necessarily the same...
John Davis
Thanks for the info, well I know he makes whole cues as I have one see attached link( http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/1f4203a8-7e63-1bdf-8428-12313b00d891/index.htm / http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/38a9f45c-8c1a-1b50-9363-12313b00d891/index.htm ).
I actually was wondering how many complete cues there are floating around as John and I started talking about this one early 2007 and well it was in my hands in 2008
( dont mean to hijack the thread )
Thanks
Din
Thanks for the info, well I know he makes whole cues as I have one see attached link( http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/1f4203a8-7e63-1bdf-8428-12313b00d891/index.htm / http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/38a9f45c-8c1a-1b50-9363-12313b00d891/index.htm ).
I actually was wondering how many complete cues there are floating around as John and I started talking about this one early 2007 and well it was in my hands in 2008
( dont mean to hijack the thread )
Thanks
Din
You may have read it somewhere. I certainly wrote it somewhere (InsidePOOL Magazine a couple of years ago).
He retired when Balabushka started buying blanks from Gus Szamboti. So, he went back to his machining trade. He still has a full-time job.
He re-started making blanks a couple of years ago when he found out that cue building had gained a popular following. He was still building up his cue building equpiment, but people were ordering a lot of blanks. I don't know where he stands today as far as percentages of blank sales vs. cue sales.
Fred
Thanks for the info, well I know he makes whole cues as I have one see attached link( http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/1f4203a8-7e63-1bdf-8428-12313b00d891/index.htm / http://www.imageloop.com/en/slideshow/38a9f45c-8c1a-1b50-9363-12313b00d891/index.htm ).
I actually was wondering how many complete cues there are floating around as John and I started talking about this one early 2007 and well it was in my hands in 2008
( dont mean to hijack the thread )
Thanks
Din
I would say 10 or less. I have an Ebony on Ebony, and there are a few members that have a Davis cue as well.
Whisler cues is making them, although his are recuts, not veneers. I believe his name is Scott Whisler.
http://www.whislercues.com/whislerfullsplicecues.htm
http://www.whislercues.com/whislerfullsplicecues.htm
