A house cue. If you can’t walk in to a room and compete with a house cue your wasting your money.
Your 1st Cue, 30 Years Later
- Thread starter Shooter08
- Start date
Mario is sneaky good... Nothing seems to come easy for him, but always manages to get out.
I'm assuming you're using the Dunning Kruger definition of "compete".
peachgabba
Registered
My first cue stick was a Viking V39 priced at $150—a modest step above the range's base model, the V40, which was only ten dollars cheaper. But I wasn't foolish enough to purchase the very cheapest. The acquisition was nothing less than a medical necessity: struck down by the pool virus, I spent night after endless night practicing, wielding a plastic-shafted Cuetec that chafed my left hand raw. Investment was imperative if I were to continue clumsily knocking balls around the table. At least, I would do it with my own cue.
It served me faithfully for about a year, and at an amateur tournament a year later, I clinched one of the top prizes—a custom Viking worth around $500.
Regrettably, I was young and unappreciative of first experiences or gifts, and thus I sold both cues at a bargain price—a decision I rue to this day.
My current cue, a twenty-year-old Predator, weighted down by a rusty drill in the butt and sporting a thoroughly shattered bumper, will never be sold.
It served me faithfully for about a year, and at an amateur tournament a year later, I clinched one of the top prizes—a custom Viking worth around $500.
Regrettably, I was young and unappreciative of first experiences or gifts, and thus I sold both cues at a bargain price—a decision I rue to this day.
My current cue, a twenty-year-old Predator, weighted down by a rusty drill in the butt and sporting a thoroughly shattered bumper, will never be sold.
George the Greek
Well-known member
We took a few road trips and went to a few tournaments together. It was funny he went for $10 in a Calcutta and I went for $100.at one of the stops. At another stop pros paid $100 entry and amateurs paid a rated entry. I got dinged $100 even after Mario vouched I wasn't a pro. We are a couple old farts now lol
Wacky juju.
One of my first cues was purchased 50 years ago, an MO-7 Meucci, purchased at a pro tournament I attended as a spectator at the Jersey shore.
I played with it off and on roughly the next 20 years, before switching to other cues / shafts after opening our pool room 28 years ago, and for many years at it sat in our pool cue display case, as I’d set a high $ price on it so hopefully I wouldn’t sell it because I really didn’t want to due to it’s sentimental value to me.
About 5 years ago, I broke down and sold it to one of our regulars I really like, and he’s paired it with a Meucci carbon fiber shaft he wanted for it. Sometimes we play against each other in our weekly tournament and yes, it is kind of strange. However, I’m glad it is being used by someone I like and is not just sitting in a display case being neglected.
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Look at the original message. Must of been the day Bill Walton passed, light one up.Wacky juju.
The Old Jaybird
Active member
when I got into pool seriously at age 50 in the mid-1990s, I bought a couple cheap cues, then a Meucci which I think was about $300 or a bit less. Couple years later sold it and bought a Russ Espiritu stick for about $750 or so.
Then in Vegas for BCA or VNEA I hit a slot for $2500 and bought a Schon STL16 for a grand and sold the Espiritu. Couple years later, in Vegas, entered a drawing for a Schon STL9 and won it. Still have them with Predator 314 shafts.
Have picked up a couple break cues, and a shorty jump cue along the way, but that's my inventory.
Then in Vegas for BCA or VNEA I hit a slot for $2500 and bought a Schon STL16 for a grand and sold the Espiritu. Couple years later, in Vegas, entered a drawing for a Schon STL9 and won it. Still have them with Predator 314 shafts.
Have picked up a couple break cues, and a shorty jump cue along the way, but that's my inventory.
Boo!! Hiss!!
He put a CF shaft on a classic Meucci?? Oh the shame!!
No game.
Please tell me the original shaft was warped or something.
Gonna gimme bad dreams dude!!
I've been looking for an older Meucci original, a straight, clean, nothing fancy, daily player from the early 80s that isn't priced crazy. So far, no luck.
I promise I won't pair it w CF!!! Wtf??
Blasphemy!!!
Sacrilege!!!
Just kidding.
Hope your friend is enjoying the cue.
Yes, the shafts were warped and even the replacement Meucci shafts I got for it years later had also warped.Boo!! Hiss!!
He put a CF shaft on a classic Meucci?? Oh the shame!!
No game.
Please tell me the original shaft was warped or something.
Gonna gimme bad dreams dude!!
I've been looking for an older Meucci original, a straight, clean, nothing fancy, daily player from the early 80s that isn't priced crazy. So far, no luck.
I promise I won't pair it w CF!!! Wtf??
Blasphemy!!!
Sacrilege!!!
Just kidding.
Hope your friend is enjoying the cue.
Mr Machine
Well-known member
#1- first cue, fifth or sixth grade- ‘67-68. We had an inexpensive table in the basement. A Christmas gift from my brother.
21 stamped on the side.
Pin is in the shaft.
Thick like a baseball bat.
The shaft warped like a broken finger in the vinyl case.
Never had the heart to throw it out.
After living a year near the Long Island Sound, it is back to straight. Only took 55 years lol.
That's sad, but not surprising given quality control issues I've heard about. Bummer dude.
My first real cue was a Viking given as a present from my parents for my 15th or 16th birthday in '86 or '87. I have no idea on the model number. This was my main stick for 25 years until I got a new Pechauer in ‘12.
It was a good cue; I got miles out of it. I just decided I wasn't into the wrap and it seemed to be forward heavy, or just heavy in general. I honestly don't know the weight but all my 19oz 'Peaches' feel lighter.
Anyway, it stays in the case and only gets pulled out for occasions such as this. It will always remain a keepsake.
It was a good cue; I got miles out of it. I just decided I wasn't into the wrap and it seemed to be forward heavy, or just heavy in general. I honestly don't know the weight but all my 19oz 'Peaches' feel lighter.
Anyway, it stays in the case and only gets pulled out for occasions such as this. It will always remain a keepsake.
Attachments
My first REAL cue was a Huebler H1.
I sold it to a friend after getting a Huebler H4. He took it home set it in a corner without being in a case. Had to go somewhere for a while. He came home and found his dog had discovered the cue and used it as a chew toy! So that was the end of that. He never got to hit a ball with it after he bought it!
My first ever cue was given to me for Christmas back in 1973 by my 1st wife before were married. It is a department store or sports store cue. No wrap with butterfly type of butt and a Ramon wood shaft. It had a replaceable screw on ferrule and tip which was later replaced by Pat McKernan. It hits really terrible but I still have the cue. After talking a lot with Pat at his shop, I knew much more about what to look for in a quality cue. Boy, that was a long time ago!!
I sold it to a friend after getting a Huebler H4. He took it home set it in a corner without being in a case. Had to go somewhere for a while. He came home and found his dog had discovered the cue and used it as a chew toy! So that was the end of that. He never got to hit a ball with it after he bought it!
My first ever cue was given to me for Christmas back in 1973 by my 1st wife before were married. It is a department store or sports store cue. No wrap with butterfly type of butt and a Ramon wood shaft. It had a replaceable screw on ferrule and tip which was later replaced by Pat McKernan. It hits really terrible but I still have the cue. After talking a lot with Pat at his shop, I knew much more about what to look for in a quality cue. Boy, that was a long time ago!!
So this response might also go with the introduce yourself. But you wanted a story about first cues.
I started playing in 97,98. A small poolhall called Hotshots in downtown naperville, Il. A small poolhall with mostly 9 foot tables and a few 7s in the back maybe. no food no drinks, just pool. 7 bucks an hour and the place had a line out the door pretty much every night till 1 in the morning. Didnt take long before i wanted to play with something other a house cue.
I cant remember exact price but i think it was around 90 buck. a mostly black cuetec with silver markings. I became a poolhall junkie shortly after that. A regular till they closed. Playing and learning bca rules and everything else that amazing players there could teach me.
took me a few paychecks to save up and i bought a 750$ meucci model 97-25. my memory is hazzy but i think they charged me more. i probably paid 8-850.
I still have it and love it, still in great condition with both red dot shafts. I am not sure why there is a decent amount of dislike and trash talk online about meucci. the flexibilty of the shafts and the amount of control you can exert with masse shots. insane amount of draw. I am sure quality and craftsmanship has advanced over the past 25 years, but what i bought, and the game i have gotten out of it deserves no disrespect. gave the cuetec to my brother in law after they bought a house, and i had the meucci.
next cue i bought a few years later was a players 120$ but i paid 20 because they mislabeled it in the sales bin. lol. no regrets. i asked the kid if it was damaged or just a cheap cue. he said nope just cheap. i said gimme.
Thats been my break cue ever since.
Alright, thats probably enough story time shooter.
Dan
I started playing in 97,98. A small poolhall called Hotshots in downtown naperville, Il. A small poolhall with mostly 9 foot tables and a few 7s in the back maybe. no food no drinks, just pool. 7 bucks an hour and the place had a line out the door pretty much every night till 1 in the morning. Didnt take long before i wanted to play with something other a house cue.
I cant remember exact price but i think it was around 90 buck. a mostly black cuetec with silver markings. I became a poolhall junkie shortly after that. A regular till they closed. Playing and learning bca rules and everything else that amazing players there could teach me.
took me a few paychecks to save up and i bought a 750$ meucci model 97-25. my memory is hazzy but i think they charged me more. i probably paid 8-850.
I still have it and love it, still in great condition with both red dot shafts. I am not sure why there is a decent amount of dislike and trash talk online about meucci. the flexibilty of the shafts and the amount of control you can exert with masse shots. insane amount of draw. I am sure quality and craftsmanship has advanced over the past 25 years, but what i bought, and the game i have gotten out of it deserves no disrespect. gave the cuetec to my brother in law after they bought a house, and i had the meucci.
next cue i bought a few years later was a players 120$ but i paid 20 because they mislabeled it in the sales bin. lol. no regrets. i asked the kid if it was damaged or just a cheap cue. he said nope just cheap. i said gimme.
Thats been my break cue ever since.
Alright, thats probably enough story time shooter.
Dan
Wow, when I went to Whitewater college in 95, my best friend was from Naperville, she drive a BMW as a graduation gift. Got ostracized by the ‘Kraft’ at Missou for an abortion.
Renegade4006
Member
My Joss was my first cue. Still have it. Third cue in this picture. Still play with it occasionally.
I got the Joss in 1985 with two shafts in a Fellini case...for $35. It belonged to a guy called Pittsburgh Phil if I remember correctly, road player. He died and left it in a bar. Phil had a pauper's funeral at county expense, no known family, unmarked grave.
My buddy managed the bar and ended up with it. Playing pool in his basement, he was into me for some money, so I took the cue for $35. If someone shows up at my door and can prove they are Phil's grandchild or something, I would give them the cue if they wanted it. Otherwise, bury me with it. That cue changed my life.
I got the Joss in 1985 with two shafts in a Fellini case...for $35. It belonged to a guy called Pittsburgh Phil if I remember correctly, road player. He died and left it in a bar. Phil had a pauper's funeral at county expense, no known family, unmarked grave.
My buddy managed the bar and ended up with it. Playing pool in his basement, he was into me for some money, so I took the cue for $35. If someone shows up at my door and can prove they are Phil's grandchild or something, I would give them the cue if they wanted it. Otherwise, bury me with it. That cue changed my life.
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Almost looks like Wico points? Cool story and glad you are back.My Joss was my first cue. Still have it. Thirst cue in this picture. Still play with it occasionally.
I got the Joss in 1985 with two shafts in a Fellini case...for $35. It belonged to a guy called Pittsburgh Phil if I remember correctly, road player. He died and left it in a bar. Phil had a pauper's funeral at county expense, no known family, unmarked grave.
My buddy managed the bar and ended up with it. Playing pool in his basement, he was into me for some money, so I took the cue for $35. If someone shows up at my door and can prove they are Phil's grandchild or something, I would give them the cue if they wanted it. Otherwise, bury me with it. That cue changed my life.