Your 1st Cue, 30 Years Later
- Thread starter Shooter08
- Start date
Man did this thread trigger some memories.
First real cue, Meucci. Must have been 1988-89 and I bought it off one of the jewelry hustlers that hung out at the Golden 8Ball in Phoenix. I worked down the street and hung out there all the time. That got traded for a McDermott and that probably got traded for music gear. Then in the late 90’s I bought this so it’s nearing 30 years.
Haven’t thought about the 8Ball in forever!! Oh to be young and dumb again…
First real cue, Meucci. Must have been 1988-89 and I bought it off one of the jewelry hustlers that hung out at the Golden 8Ball in Phoenix. I worked down the street and hung out there all the time. That got traded for a McDermott and that probably got traded for music gear. Then in the late 90’s I bought this so it’s nearing 30 years.
Haven’t thought about the 8Ball in forever!! Oh to be young and dumb again…
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I played in both Golden 8 Balls. Great memories.
Early 80's, my friend was selling his JW.... I'd always admired it... I asked if I could give it a try
first, played a couple sets with someone and won half the cost. Then it was mine. It's laying
on my pool table right now. Bill (R.I.P.) did a complete rework before he quit, and it's almost
as good as new.
Autopilot is now broken though....
td
first, played a couple sets with someone and won half the cost. Then it was mine. It's laying
on my pool table right now. Bill (R.I.P.) did a complete rework before he quit, and it's almost
as good as new.
Autopilot is now broken though....
td
Cicerone88
Active member
1st cue - Dufferin rainbow series (green)
2nd cues - Falcon VL-1 and AC-20 Jump/Break
2nd cues - Falcon VL-1 and AC-20 Jump/Break
In 1997 I joined the APA out of a bar in the east village in NYC, for my 25th birthday, my team mates bought my first pool cue. It was a Genuine pool cue which was a cheap series of cues made by McDermott, I guess similar to the Lucky series they have now. It was 20oz and came with this soft case. As you can see I still have it.
It had a black nylon wrap that burnt my hand and it was too heavy for my liking.
A few months later after seeing an ad at the APA magazine, I got a Predator 98-1 and a 2x2 Joe Porper case.
The Genuine cue became my break cue.
I kept the Genuine as an experiment cue, I practiced on it to install tips, I cut off the wrap wanting to learn how to install Irish linen but never got to it...
It had a black nylon wrap that burnt my hand and it was too heavy for my liking.
A few months later after seeing an ad at the APA magazine, I got a Predator 98-1 and a 2x2 Joe Porper case.
The Genuine cue became my break cue.
I kept the Genuine as an experiment cue, I practiced on it to install tips, I cut off the wrap wanting to learn how to install Irish linen but never got to it...
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MTfish
Registered
I had a good friend from high school (still one of my best friends) that had a business selling cues on the side. This was 1993. He helped me get my first cue, sent me a bunch of brochures to look at, etc. and I decided I really wanted a Huebler AS-H5. I'm no 100% the was the name of it then, but that was the designation in later catalogs. Anyways, it turns out the distributor he bought from just dropped Huebler so I couldn't get that cue. Of course that made me want it more. I ended up getting a Meucci Oldie Series 1, which was a pretty nice first cue but I sold it within a few months. Went through a few cues till I bought a Schon with I still have. It was my main player for years. I did end up finding a good deal on that Huebler AS-H5 at another friends pro shop and ended up buying it. Still a real favorite cue of mine. I tell people it was my first cue in an alternate universe. Wouldn't mind having that old Meucci back too.
I saw the moie the Hustler in 1961,along with several other guys from my area.
We were already playing pool, but none of us had a cue of our own.
I went to Brunswick in Dallas to buy a Willie Hoppe cue,but ended up with a Master Sroke
because they were in stock and cost $17 and some change,it was a snooker cue but I did not know the difference
Later on when the hoppe was in stock I bought one of those.
from then on I played with Hoppe style cues until i bought a Rambo,it was ebony into maple with green
Irish linen and a brass joint,it was thinner in the handle than the brunswick and made from an ebony into maple house cue
The Rambo wa so pretty to me,i paid $20 for it and I really loved it,when I was at Ntsu the students used to pay me $2 to play with it when they were gambling ,I carried it in an old card board circular case. I was very proud of this one
Later I TRADED SOMETHING FOR A PALMER WITH MOTHER OF PEAR INLAYS AND THEN ONE DAY i HAD Billy STROUD MAKE ME A MERRY WIDOW,EBONY FRONT AND BACK WITH AN IVORY JOINT
Next I ordered a Balabushka,but the joss played better
From here on out I bought from every good cue maker in the world,I still enjoy the box opening ceremony at my house every time a new cue arrives Right now I am awaiting an ebony into ebony fron Bob Rempe and a really fancy Ebony one with fancy silver work buy Larry Vigus
Cue buying can become an addiction
We were already playing pool, but none of us had a cue of our own.
I went to Brunswick in Dallas to buy a Willie Hoppe cue,but ended up with a Master Sroke
because they were in stock and cost $17 and some change,it was a snooker cue but I did not know the difference
Later on when the hoppe was in stock I bought one of those.
from then on I played with Hoppe style cues until i bought a Rambo,it was ebony into maple with green
Irish linen and a brass joint,it was thinner in the handle than the brunswick and made from an ebony into maple house cue
The Rambo wa so pretty to me,i paid $20 for it and I really loved it,when I was at Ntsu the students used to pay me $2 to play with it when they were gambling ,I carried it in an old card board circular case. I was very proud of this one
Later I TRADED SOMETHING FOR A PALMER WITH MOTHER OF PEAR INLAYS AND THEN ONE DAY i HAD Billy STROUD MAKE ME A MERRY WIDOW,EBONY FRONT AND BACK WITH AN IVORY JOINT
Next I ordered a Balabushka,but the joss played better
From here on out I bought from every good cue maker in the world,I still enjoy the box opening ceremony at my house every time a new cue arrives Right now I am awaiting an ebony into ebony fron Bob Rempe and a really fancy Ebony one with fancy silver work buy Larry Vigus
Cue buying can become an addiction
My first cue was a blue Viking merry widow, my friend who doesn't really play pool bought it from me because I bought a new D-11 McDermott, he wont sell it back to me for some reason. I do have the exact same Viking in green though and I still have the McDermott. Both cues are from the mid 80's.
My first real cue was a McDermott D-3 (I believe). I purchased it new at a flea market back in the late 80's.
sudocrushms
Well-known member
First was a Players. Don't remember the model, but it was one of these:
Solid cue, but eventually traded it for a J&J Jump/Break.
First good cue was a Predator SP 4-point I bought in 2010. The cheapest Predator I could get with a 314 and wrap.
I'll never part with it and still play with it occassionally.
Solid cue, but eventually traded it for a J&J Jump/Break.
First good cue was a Predator SP 4-point I bought in 2010. The cheapest Predator I could get with a 314 and wrap.
I'll never part with it and still play with it occassionally.
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.
Similar story with mine.... this JOSS was my first "real" cue. In 1983, I traded a classmate my $35 two-piece bowling supply pick up.
Still straight as an arrow and plays great, to this day!
Joss- 1968-1979- Post your Pictures Please!!!
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i cant even keep 1 cue for a year
Mine was only about 25 years ago or so and was a simple grey stained Viking with a grey pearl butt sleeve. Very similar to this:
www.vikingcue.com
I was in my early 20's, getting ready to start going to college alongside my now ex-wife. There was a small pool hall downtown in our little college town and one day we just decided to go play and we really enjoyed it. After a few weeks we went out and bought ourselves a couple Viking cues. Only played with it a lot for a year or so maybe before life got in the way (she was in the Guard and 9/11 happened). Some good memories of first learning to play the game with that cue though.
When I got back into playing 10 or so years later I started back up with the Viking but quickly upgraded and ended up selling the Viking. Do kinda wish I had kept it now but oh well. Some good memories and some bad tied to that one so it's okay.
Viking Storm ST0711
Viking ST0711 A285 B2801 pool cue featuring VPRO shaft, smoke stain, pearl sleeve, quick release joint, Irish linen wrap and LePro tip. Made in the USA. LIFETIME WARRANTY
www.vikingcue.com
I was in my early 20's, getting ready to start going to college alongside my now ex-wife. There was a small pool hall downtown in our little college town and one day we just decided to go play and we really enjoyed it. After a few weeks we went out and bought ourselves a couple Viking cues. Only played with it a lot for a year or so maybe before life got in the way (she was in the Guard and 9/11 happened). Some good memories of first learning to play the game with that cue though.
When I got back into playing 10 or so years later I started back up with the Viking but quickly upgraded and ended up selling the Viking. Do kinda wish I had kept it now but oh well. Some good memories and some bad tied to that one so it's okay.
billiards_watch
Well-known member
Over a 30 year span;
My first cue? Stolen.
2nd? Drunk and left it at the bar.
3rd? Left it on a table. Gone.
Last year, I bought an entire rig with a break cue in a JB case. Today, I am waiting for my 5k cue being built. What a ride and thinking back on it I wish I would have plopped down the money and bought a fancy cue. The cue I am having built would have been a tad under 3k at the time.
My first cue? Stolen.
2nd? Drunk and left it at the bar.
3rd? Left it on a table. Gone.
Last year, I bought an entire rig with a break cue in a JB case. Today, I am waiting for my 5k cue being built. What a ride and thinking back on it I wish I would have plopped down the money and bought a fancy cue. The cue I am having built would have been a tad under 3k at the time.
When my back and shoulders didn't hurt like they do now and my eyes could see much sharper I used to hang out at a local bar and fell in love with a 16oz bar cue that was on the rack. I had the owner keep it behind the bar for me so it wouldn't get beat up any worse than it already was.
I gave him a 10 dollar tip for doing so and he said I could have the cue.
Unfortunately the cue got left at one of my old GF house that was not a very amicable separation and I was too scared to go back to retrieve it!
She was a stalker for a period of time.
First cue I ever paid for.
Still have my McDermott I picked up in the late 70's-early 80's. $300 seemed like a lot of cash for a plain cue back then. Unfortunately I wasn't as up on changing tips as I am today and I let some hack grind the shaft and ferrule down to pencil size. Was not happy when I returned to pick it up!
I guess we know where "billiards_watch" came from. Watch your cue!