Your Cue Stick History?

[jay helfert]

My first cue was house cue that a brass joint was added to. Cost me $5! It got stolen in Richmond, IN.
My next cue was an Adams cue. Played with it for a few years. I really learned how to play with this cue.
Then I got an early Tad, my first real custom cue. Used that for the next few years until,
Ernie made me my own Gina which I played with for over ten years. Won a lot with that cue! It was stolen right out of my poolroom.
Next cue was a Schrager. Lost that cue when my car got stolen. Had it close to ten years also.
Bought a Josey in the mid 90's from a broke pool player in Reno and loved that cue. Still have it.
Then I got a Crown cue about twelve years ago that I really liked. Played with it until it got broken, thanks to Spirit airlines.
Tried a Starkey off and on for awhile and now playing with a Schmelke custom (made to my specs) that feels good in my feeble old hands.

 

[tom haney]

I have about 25 cues including a very nice Mottey, a Bender, a one of a kind Scruggs, and a SP Scruggs, a Josey, but, for quite a while , I have been mainly shooting with a Jackson. It's just felt right lately.

 

[philly]

Bought my first stick in 1965 or thereabouts.
I think it was a Viking and I paid $20 for it.
If I remember correctly the Viking had a yellow wrap.
Someone stole that one.
In 1968 bought a Willie Hoppe 21 ounce that
came with a Brunswick huslter case with a flip top.
Paid 50 bucks for the Hoppe and the case.
Sold that for $50 when I went to college in 1970.
School, family, work, yadayadayada.
After 43 years got back into the game and bought a new entry level Joss.
Had Dan Janes make me a custom that we both designed in 2017
and is my everyday player now.

 

[dnschmidt]

First was an all aluminum clue which was manufactured by Tony Morolla in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. He also owned a company that made aluminum baseball bats.
Second was Schmelke (very poorly balanced - the joint weighed a ton)
Then came a McDermott - OK
After than I started up a friendship with Ray Schuler. I have several of Ray's cues with various tapers of shafts. That was it for me. Ray's sadly gone.

 

[Johnny Rosato]

Starting in 1976. Not counting junk cues and a few lesser known brands.
1 - Huebler ~ stolen
2 - Meucci Originals x 5 or 6 ~ 1 stolen, others sold. Regret selling Jimmy Rempe JR-1 and a sneaky.
3 - McDermott D series x 4 ~ D-1, 2, 3, & 5. All sold, Regret selling D-5
4 - Schon STL-1 ~ sold. Didn't like the hit.
5 - Keith Josey, Bocote True Sneaky ~ sold. I need to let everybody I know kick me in the ass for selling this.
6 - Andy Gilbert JB ~ sold. Same feelings as above concerning the Josey.
7 - Schmelke x 3 ~ all sold. Plain sneakies. Good bang for the buck.
8 - *** Pechauer x 2 ~ Sneaky. Sent it in for warped shaft after using for 10 years. They informed me the butt was also warped and they gave me
a credit $80 over what I had told them what I paid for the cue in 2010. They didn't care, told me to pick out what I wanted & they would apply $370 credit. I chose the Naked Break Cue w/ Black Ice shaft. Still new, haven't used it but I did test it. I posted the story when this happened. Incredible company and the sneaky was a great player. AAA+ experience w/ Scott @ Pechauer.
9 - Rick Howard 2001~ Still own. Full ivory joint, 1 Ivory ferrule, 1 old Westinghouse Micarta. Words fail me to describe how this cue plays. AAA+
10 - Mali Silver logo ~ Still own. Great playing bar cue or breaker. Can leave it in the car. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another of the same era.
11 - McDermott EB-5 ~ Still own. Plain Merry Widow still in pristine condition. Plays the same as all 4 of the D series I've owned. AA+
12 - Dzuricky Fancy Sneaky 2021 ~ My most recent purchase, past September. Built using MVP Cues full splice blank. Unsurpassed quality build. Playing great and it may be equal to my Rick Howard. I haven't had enough time with it yet. A bit of a different hit because of the materials.
Bought on this forum in Sept from member "phreaticus" A fantastic guy to deal with and the cue was exactly like he described, (new).

 

[SSDiver2112]

Since I only began playing for real in late 2017 my history is short.
1. Cuetec Fiberglass - Given to me by a team mate when I joined the league.
2. Minnesota Fats Graphite - Given to me by my Dad and made the Cuetec my breaker.
3. McDermott - Decided it was time for a better cue since I got the pool addiction.
Note: It didn't feel right and when I did some research and found out the guy I bought it off ripped me off. Got my money back luckily.
4. Pechauer JP12-Q Wrap-less - Great cue, but after trying someone's Linen-wrap I found that I liked the feel better due to shweaty hands (Florida humidity)
5. Pechauer P10-G Pro+ LD Shaft (custom purple stain) - This is my player now.
6. Pechauer JP09-N (custom purple stain) with Black Ice Shaft - This is my break cue.

I do have some old wall art cues and a few collector types like Willie Hoppe etc.
Also because they were good deals and I really like Pechauer's cues I have:
Pechauer P12-K (link shows this one plus cue #1, 2 and 4 above)
Pechauer Prototype for Kid Delicious LTD Hollywood Edition

 

[rexus31]

1. Adams Lue Butera Cue - Sold
2. DanBuilt (Dishaw) - Still have
3. Carmelli Sneaky House Conversion - Sold
4. Bob Frey Titlist Conversion - Sold
5. Tiger Ice Breaker II Jump/Break - Still have
6. Rauenzahn Double Full Splice - Still have; my player

DanBuilt:

Carmelli:

Frey:

Rauenzahn:

 

[mikemosconi]

HA Ha my first jointed cue was a ramen shafted cue with those silver metal weight donuts in the wrap are that you could add or remove. I used to carry it in the plastic sleeve that it came in from the store - no money for a case at that time!

I "graduated" to a Brunswick cue and case, then to a Huebler, a Helmstetter, and over the past 25 years I have owned and sold about 100 or more custom and some nice production cues, as well as some terrific vintage cues pre 1960, as well some really nice cue cases. What you see below it what I own today - that may not change much going forward from my current age.

My involvement with the cue and case end of billiards has been a great source of enjoyment within the game of billiards.

I will add that almost every time I go through a list of current custom cues being offered for sale- I get tempted - it is certainly addictive, but, for me, it has been in a very good way, it never affected my finances, and I had very good buying and selling experiences 99% of the time.
I will admit that "finding" some great cues at pawns, garage sales, thrifts, etc. was always a special treat

 

[Danny 314]

Adam (gave away)
Kerella (stolen)
Schon (stolen w/Kerella)
Unknown cue w/ predator shaft (gave away)
Predator Sneaky Pete w/steel joint
Schon STL8 w/predator shaft
Tim Scruggs early 80s
Tim Scruggs 80s, refinished with leather wrap. I still use today.

My collection
Schon cx03
Scot Sherbine Sneaky Pete
Bob Frey Sneaky Pete
South West predated 91
Dennis Dieckman 93
Dennis Kepley Sneaky Pete
Willie Hoppe Brunswick Titleist one-piece. Soon to be a conversion cue.

My dad's cues
Rich
Predator SP wood joint
Unmarked cue looks like a Mali or Hubler

 

[johnnysd]

1. Joss East (stolen)

2. Lishan

3. Mali Green logo (17 oz) $100 hit great

4. Loaner real GB for 6 months( best cue I have ever played with)

5. Back to Mali

6. Judd Fuller (17 oz) for 20 years (traded Mali partially for Judd). ( Bothers me every day

7. Richard Black Balabushka for collection (sold when unemployed)

8. Paul Mottey (sold back to original seller for $1000 profit, big mistake, was gorgeous)

7 Judd stolen ( Bothers me every day..was perfect cue for me)

8. Joss Custom (traded, regret it...cue was nice)

9. Dominiak (terrific cue, friend loved it more than me so he bought it)

10 Gilbert JB (awesome)

11. Judd JT-1 (sold) too heavy, removing weight bolt ruined balance

12 Treadway Bubinga Merry Widow

13. David Brainard 17oz Merry Widow (refunded)

14. Treadway 4 pointer (review in reviews section, fantastic cue) Current player

15. Coming:: -R- 4 pointer (this week, used...Titlist colors)

16. Coming: Mike Lambros Cocobolo/Waterfall Bubinga Merry Widow (Long story but could turn out to be one of most upgraded Merrys ever made)

17. Coming: Jeff Olney Bocote Merry Widow

18. Coming: "Experimental" Schmelke reverse Rosewood sneaky with custom shaft taper and thin butt taper, 17oz, leather wrap (trying to duplicate Judd I had)

19. Coming Kim Walker fancy custom (Build gallery here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1135358106500303&type=3 Looking awesome

20: Coming (18 months): Unique high end Treadway custom

21 Coming: (30 months) Custom Treadway Coat of Arms Cue

22 On list for Barenbrugge (year in 3 to go), SW (might still be alive when name comes up) Dennis Searing

Future wants: Judd, Omen (design set), Guylassy, Tascarella, Gilbert, Hulsey, Terbrock, new Dominiak from John Davis blank

Yes, I like 17oz cues

Wow, 5 years later and there has been an incredible amount of turnover.

Only cue I still own on that list is the Schmelke and that cue is essentially unusable without a new shaft. Butt came out nice though.

Continuing on:

15. Coming:: -R- 4 pointer (this week, used...Titlist colors) Nice cue, did not like hit and sold it

16. Coming: Mike Lambros Cocobolo/Waterfall Bubinga Merry Widow (Long story but could turn out to be one of most upgraded Merrys ever made) Was a very nice cue but ultimately it was a Coco/Honduran Rosewood Burl Cue. Solid it because I liked #17 more....

17. Coming: Jeff Olney Bocote Merry Widow (sold it for no apparent reason, REALLY regret it)

18. Coming: "Experimental" Schmelke reverse Rosewood sneaky with custom shaft taper and thin butt taper, 17oz, leather wrap (trying to duplicate Judd I had) Failed, Schmelke screwed up shaft

19. Coming Kim Walker fancy custom (Build gallery here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1135358106500303&type=3 Looking awesome Cue. Cue was delayed so long I ultimately did not get it

20: Coming (18 months): Unique high end Treadway custom Still waiting. Had Merry Widow built to test titanium joint

21 Coming: (30 months) Custom Treadway Coat of Arms Cue No longer planned

22 On list for Barenbrugge (year in 3 to go), SW (might still be alive when name comes up) Dennis Searing Barenbrugges 4 year estimate will be off at least 3 years.

Since then:

Too many to list. Will edit when I get time

 

[Kentucky Rack Man]

Dufferin - 1970’s one piece house cue I bought for $12. It was a money maker
Viking - first stab at 2 piece SOLD
Huebler - Gift from my Superiors for Sales Achiement - Still have
Ballabushka - 314 low defection 314 shaft - first Experiment with Low Deflection - Positive
Predator Roadline - 314 shaft - with Low Deflection - Positive - Gave to my Brother
Predator Unilock with 1 Revo and 1 Cynergy - First Experiment with Carbon Fiber - First Experiment with Carbon Fiber - Positive - Gave to Best Friend - He played so well with it on first time he ever hit carbon fiber that I had too
Chris Nitti - Cutec Cynergy Carbon Fiber - Radial Pin - Victory Tip - Current Player - Final Choice and Satisifaction
Southwest Pacifier BEM 2 shafts - Just wanted to see what the hype was - Still undecided - Love my Nitti

Just an Old Man with the ADDICTION, PASSION and LOVE for a simple yet complicated game.

 

[skiergd011013]

left to right
*unknown schmelke given to me in 2007 by a relative. I dont use it. Just sentimental.
*mcdermott G series red dymondwood. Christmas present from my father in 2010. This cue was produced 2010 to 2013. Tons of miles and dings on this cue, and was my main player from 2010 to present. lots of memories. I will never get rid of it.
*custom Pechauer, purpleheart wood, 12.4 rogue shaft. Got it this spring. Long story, but here is the shortened version. I played allison fisher last fall at a connecticut meet and greet. I really liked her cue she was using. I tried figuring out who made it, and pechauer told me it was their cue. I even sent them photos. They made me this cue, and it wasnt it. I dont know how they goofed when I sent them pictures of the actual cue. Im not knocking them though. I used it for a few months and it plays wonderful. It may be for sale with some prodding, but may just keep it.
* custom OB cue. Burgundy stained Birdseye maple, 12.4 rogue shaft. 54" with black linen wrap all the way to the butt, with a 4" extension piece to enable full size. Just got it a few days ago after nearly two month wait. This is my new main, and the exact cue that allison fisher played me with that I liked. OB got a good laugh when I told them pechauer said it was their cue.
The birdseye maple on my OB is stunning. I love it.