To the best of my knowledge, no Gus nor Barry did not. I think Barry has seen enough Balabushkas, but in the end, Pete is the man.
Freddie
Why is Tascarella the Bushka expert?
- Thread starter hang-the-9
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To the best of my knowledge, no Gus nor Barry did not. I think Barry has seen enough Balabushkas, but in the end, Pete is the man.
Freddie
For those that didn't hear...
You can always look at the Blue Book, but for here:
George started out with Titlist blanks. He then went to Burton Spain. After Burton quit (for the first time), John Davis (who already was making the Spain Blanks) continued supplying blanks to George. Then George saw Szamboti's blanks and used them until his passing.
Brunswick Titlist
Spain/Davis
Davis (which are exactly the same as Spain/Davis)
Szamboti
His cues were already being collected by the time The Color of Money came out.
Among cuemakers at the time, he was the one who really put machining quality into the build of cues.
He didn't like to do leather wraps, yet to this day, I've never seen a leather wrap put on better than Balabushka.
He was the innovator. I know people get on him because he didn't make his forearm blanks. I'm sure he could have, but it wasn't something he did or (as far as I've been told) never even wrote in his notes about wanting to make forearm blanks. Times were different.
Freddie
Better leather work.than Ernie?
Does one need an X-ray machine to authenticate a Buska?
those were indeed the two brands the serious players around nyc wanted.
the internet was awful back then :grin:
I even think what I've seen from Balabushka is better than Ernie. Of course, it's subjective, but when I saw a couple that George did, I was pretty blown away.
Pete Sr. and Pete Jr. don't need an X-Ray machine.
So what do you consider outstanding qualities of a leather wrap? I mean with a good jig and some experience you can hit a pretty good standard of work. So is this opinion in context of the times and the technology of the day?
1.
1. That is amazing considering Ernie had the Alien jig to do his incredible wraps that he does in minutes.
2. Meaning, if it's short splice and does not look too common, you would need one.
1. That is amazing considering Ernie had the Alien jig to do his incredible wraps that he does in minutes.
2. Meaning, if it's short splice and does not look too common, you would need one.
A jig and experience? IMHO is does not stop there. How the leather is finished matters a great deal. And AFAIK that has a lot to do with a Bushka leather wrap.
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Not for nothing, but the comparison was legendary George Balabushka vs legendary Ernie Gutierrez. If you're asking about jigs and practice, my answer won't fit your question. Certainly, jigs and practice don't even compare to Ernie (or Thomas Wayne or Jerry McWorter for that matter).
If you can answer that question (about comparing jigs and experience to Ernie's work) then the Balabushka answer becomes more understandable.
Balabushka didn't use leather blanks, and didn't use a leather wrap jig. And yet he put on wraps that seemed seamless, and he used leathers that just feel, in a word... yummy.
Freddie <~~~ stop squirming
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George didnt rush things. No "Jig" just a perfectionist...
Maybe for some but as Fred eluded, Pete doesn't need an x-ray...
Just in speaking to the pro players of that era,for example, Pete Margo and others, Balabushka's were highly prized by the top players. They held George in high regard, not only for the quality of his cues , but for his willingness and concern for them and their satisfaction with his work. Even small things like tips, ferrules, anything they needed - he worked with players and they respected him. Remember a miscue or a shaft they didn't like could cost them tournaments and thousands of dollars.
His cues were well sought after in his day. They were limited in numbers and always were in demand. Even today there is something special about the understated simplicity and balance of design in his cues.
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I've only got to play with a very few of them but, to me, there was definitely something special about the way they felt/played. You would have to play with one to understand what I'm talking about. I know someone who had three, kept losing them. I think when he got drunk. After the third George told him that was it, no more.
Freddie, thanks for adding so much good info to this thread. I have been collecting cues since 95 and learned a lot here from your post. Thanks again!