your playing cue?

[dukeboy1977]

I spend most of my time here in the buy/sell section and have seen some (to me) irrational purchases for X amount of $$, so I'm wondering because I have finally broke down and spent about 3 weeks worth of money on a playing cue thats going to be USED, not stored in a closet . So my question is: how much would you or have you actually spent on a cue that you're going to use, or are using right now? This will be by far my most expensive cue to date but I feel I deserve it for myself and how I'm finally playing...Not to mention I have been drooling over the way some people can just buy cues for thousands of $$, so I think I'm entitled to do it myself. I'll post pics after I get some, but its influenced by the older Scruggs cues I've seen and would LOVE to own, just will never afford to buy. The veneers will be very similar in the effect they will be (point out) natural, double green, black. I've always loved the look of the thick green veneer around ebony points . I also have found some "barbell" cues I liked, so I incorporated "barbells" into the points. I don't like alot of inlays, so I'm leaving the buttsleeve plain ebony/ no inlays, but it IS getting the all-important IVORY "hoppe ring". The shaft and tip will be exactly how I like them, so I know it'll serve me well. This cue is NOT an exact copy of any cue I've seen before, though its so simple I'm sure somebody has made one some-time...I just have yet to see it. I took trim rings from one cue, points from another cue, and "barbells" from yet another cue I liked the look of...And I'm having them all done in one cue. My wrap will also be done in the irish linen instead of leather, because I wanted an old style cue when I initially started designing this cue. I know this may not be a major accomplishment to some of you "money spending guru's" out there, but I thought I'd share a description at least of my (to date) most expensive cue I've ever had made. Pics will be available in about 4 months, unless I get some "in progress" pics...Maybe I'll post those if I get permission. Any ?? feel free to PM me or ask here for all to see the answer.

 

[cubc]

That was a huge wall of text so my eyes only allowed me to read part of it. I traded some fake reprints of old baseball cards for a brand new meucci to a pawn shop when i was 16 for my second cue (he was pissed a week later when he found out. oh well). My first cue was a cheap Players cue though. Then I took that meucci cue and learned with it for awhile.. eventually gambling with it vs another guys meucci which i won.. then gambled with that and ended up with a gambler 2.

I've did plenty of sets for money but it's more fun to win someones cue and leave with it. I would never spend more than a grand for 1 cue. I would generally go up to 800 if its "purdy" and does what I need it to.

As far as a break / jump cue I am trying to make sure I get the best one for me since the break is the most important aspect of the game.

 

[s'portplayer]

Norwela Playing Cue

My player is a Norwela with one more on the way. Can't wait to get the one, it will be a great looking cue with some unique wood and veneer combinations, let's just say it will have lots of ebony with amboyna, osage orange and very bright veneers. It should be ready in a couple months or so and you can bet that I'll be posting some pics.

 

[Jigger]

Good luck with the new cue. Is there a reason you left out the name of the cuemaker? DZ?

Must of bot and sold 17 cues before finally settling on my 2 favorites. Feel content with them now except for those long bank shots.

 

[dukeboy1977]

reason

Good luck with the new cue. Is there a reason you left out the name of the cuemaker? DZ?

Must of bot and sold 17 cues before finally settling on my 2 favorites. Feel content with them now except for those long bank shots.

My reason is simply this: I don't want nor do I need anyone contacting him and telling him how I'm "talking him up", or pushing his cues cause' I'm just describing my new cue, not trying to "push" his products...But yes, he is my cuemaker who's building this cue for me. Thanks for your ?? Jigger, Jeff

 

[cubswin]

Most I've spent on a cue is probably around a 1,000. I've had a couple hundred cues over the years, few of them were my playing cue. Just like to buy and sell cues.

Current cue is a sugartree sneaky I got new in january or so.

 

[150shot]

I would play with a cue that cost about $1000. I would first make sure it wouldnt be a collectible and appreciate over time.

I am in no way rich, but I've had a "garage queen" car a while back, that just sat there and looked pretty, I paid car ins. payments, and everything else for something I rarely drove. I finally opened my eyes and told myself everything expensive I have I will USE- such a waste sometimes unless money is not the issue and which isnt my case.

Its my theory, I do wear a high end swiss watch when I play, not that its worth 5k or anything like that, but at least Im getting my moneys worth for my "goodies".

 

[poolhustler]

My current player is a cue that no one here has probably ever heard of. It was made by a buddy of mine and he rarely makes cues anymore and has made very limited numbers.

The cue was made for another customer and they didn't follow through with the deal ($900) so I picked it for $300.00 It hits extemely well and it has actually improved my game.

I collect other cues, but don't play with them. Just admire!!

Enjoy your new one and post pics when you get it.

Russ....

 

[dukeboy1977]

same here!

I would play with a cue that cost about $1000. I would first make sure it wouldnt be a collectible and appreciate over time.

I am in no way rich, but I've had a "garage queen" car a while back, that just sat there and looked pretty, I paid car ins. payments, and everything else for something I rarely drove. I finally opened my eyes and told myself everything expensive I have I will USE- such a waste sometimes unless money is not the issue and which isnt my case.

Its my theory, I do wear a high end swiss watch when I play, not that its worth 5k or anything like that, but at least Im getting my moneys worth for my "goodies".

I agree with your statement...I guess neither of us like having something we won't use. If I'm spending my hard earned money on something, dangit, I'm using it!! LOL

 

[bignasty]

Bender

i play with a bender! love the hit and its the most expensive cue ive owned, and the best hitting cue also! by the way its the last cue i will play with also!
if i have anything to say about it!

 

[tpdtom]

Well, I was away from the game entirely since 1982, and returned in late February of this year, so 25 years away without playing a lick. Prior to that I played with a JossWest that cost $235 in 1979. I had that cue refinished this year, added some ivory inlays and a new wrap, all at a cost of $650 ! I then later bought a Universal Smart Shaft for it here.

Simonis cloth was totally new to me, and at first I was searching for my lost stroke . I bought and ordered numerous cues. I've enjoyed buying many cues here and all have been in the $500-$1000 range. I paid $1250 for a Rambow style cue with old growth shafts and an ivory joint and ferrules which I ordered from Paul Dayton and it's the sweetest playing cue I've ever touched. I think it was a bargain at that price and actually worth much more. It's my everyday player. I have 2 Olneys and a Jensen Hoppe style cue that all have monster hits. Each a bit different, but all fabulous as individuals. Each has it's own signature characteristics. My Rauenzahn Balbushka Tribute cue plays great, and I have the most expensive cue I've bought yet ordered for a fall delivery from Jerry. That should say what I think about his skills as a cuemaker, to say nothing about the great value received in a Rauenzahn cue!

All these cues are players and none were disappointments. There are also a few jump/breaks and a Frey Sneaky in there. My Omen "Hoppe Howitzer" jump/break is particularly awesome ! There are a couple shafts that I plan to retaper, and a leather wrap to add soon, and it's all fun. My game has improved a bunch but not because of cues. Cues are a pleasure unto themselves, and for me, all made possible by the internet. If not for the sale forum here I wouldn't be aware of all these cuemakers. I've been introduced to them here by a lot of honest sellers! When I returned to the game, I wanted a high end Scruggs with an ivory joint. I still don't have one, but I've bought many sweet cues along the way and I don't regret a single one of them. I had a SouthWest bought elsewhere for a few minutes, but returned it. I think my Olneys have a better (similar) hit for 25% of the cost, but I'll probably have another SW too, and I'll play with it when I do. Life's too short not to...Tom

 

[JoeW]

I bought a good cue for $600.00 from a fellow who had to sell it. I have had it for about 15 years now and it is my playing cue. Recently I learned that it is probably worth a couple of grand. So what -- it is "my" cue. I take care of it and it is in like new condition but I have no need to sell it for any price. Now, I probably take a little better care, given it value in today's market. So my grand son will inherit and maybe make a buck or two.

My point is buy something you like for the way it plays, its style and becasue it suits you. Then keep it. There are very few things that remain constant in life and a good cue, like an old pair of jeans makes life good.

 

[ShaneS]

I'm playing with a Joey Bautista [we know him as JoeyInCali] bocote sneaky pete.

I've owned pretty much every flavor of custom cue under the sun, and this cue by far has provided me with the most satisfaction. I went from a $2000 gabon ebony SW to this sneaky pete. The construction is just absolutely flawless, and considering the minor details and subtleties of this cue, that really says a lot. The people that are familiar with the way a cue is constructed would really appreciate the way Joey crafts his cues.

I waited for years for a cue from Joey and I can easily say that it was definitely worth the wait.

-Shane

 

[cubswin]

I'm playing with a Joey Bautista [we know him as JoeyInCali] bocote sneaky pete.

I've owned pretty much every flavor of custom cue under the sun, and this cue by far has provided me with the most satisfaction. I went from a $2000 gabon ebony SW to this sneaky pete. The construction is just absolutely flawless, and considering the minor details and subtleties of this cue, that really says a lot. The people that are familiar with the way a cue is constructed would really appreciate the way Joey crafts his cues.

I waited for years for a cue from Joey and I can easily say that it was definitely worth the wait.

-Shane

everytime I see one I'm more pissed off I sold mine....

 

[chilli66]

The grand total of $150 got me my Dominiak & I love it. I don't know if I could spend hundreds on a cue, it'd have to be something I really liked. Mine does me fine, it plays well & looks beautiful & I take care of it as if were worth far more.

 

[ChrisOnline]

over the years.. i have owned several 200 to 600 dollar cues.. mostly schons, a nice gold letter joss, a helmstetter..

a few years ago.. i had this awesome schon.. nicest cue i ever owned.. i paid $1400 for it.. man that was alot of scratch at the time.. i loved it..

UNTIL, i learned all about custom cues and saw some sweet Paul Motteys.. after that day, i knew i had to have one.. my friend sold alot of them so i saw all kinds.. and one day he had an amboyna mottey, i drooled over it every day and just had to take it out of his case and look at it and admire its sweetness... then he sold it.. i could have cried..

then one year at valley forge 2003, he had a booth and i helped out and who was to stop in.. Paul Mottey the mater himself.. he had a hand full of cues, about 6 of them all in their own plastic bag.. i said hello to him, and he said.. here.. take these.. i stuck out my arms with a big grin, i thanked him.. and thanked him and thanked him..lol.. anyways, after he left, me and my friend took out each cue to display them in his booth for sale, and low and behold, there was this amboyna mottey.. i just knew at that moment, i was going to do anything to own that cue..

went around valley forge, and i sold my 1400 dollar schon, a sledgehammer (one of the first 10 ever made) a cheap meucci sp, and my 3x6 case and two shafts made by paul mottey that i used on my schon.. one was a 6 piece spliced shaft that paul made himself and the other was a predator shaft.. both had the fancy wrings on them modeled after that really nice snakewood and pink ivory gina cue.. to this day, i really regret selling those shafts..

anyways.. i sold the whole package for $1000... to me that day, it didnt matter.. i had to buy this Mottey.. honestly it was the best $2700 i ever spent.. that same day, i went over to pete omen and found a sweet break cue.. who would ever have thought about spending 300 bucks on a breaker.. best part is.. pete sells them for $400 now.. lol..

and then.. after that..the real sickness began.. i bought my tammrin madden cue, another mottey and then the scruggs, then a jensen, then another madden cue, and another mottey..

yeah.. i know.. its a shame. most of them sit packed away in a nice 12x24 case.. i pretty much play anymore with a plain 4 point mottey.. but i am deffinatly not afraid to play with any of them.. thats what i have them for.. i love them all.. thought about selling a few of them to make my collection better.. but now, i find it so hard to part with any of them..

and i find the best part about owning them all.. is the satisfaction..

chris

(all my cues that i currently own and play with are in my signature, only the ones i keep stay there.. the rest that are for sale pretty much never make it there)

 

[Fatboy]

I paid just over $12,000 for my daily player a Barry Szam. or a Gus I have that is worth about $9,000. They come to the bath room when I go wash my hands every 15-20 minutes. I dont let them out of my sight I might set them down once in a while, I usually play with very basic cues, I played with a plain jane Tad for years, a joss east for years. I just bought the Barry cue because of any cue I have seen in my life I liked it the best, I had to have it, I use all my cues. When I first played with it, I knew it was for me and now I use it full time. Its a little flashy for a daily player but it plays so good I had to use it. When I'm travelling I'm use a Sugartree and thats a great cue it right in there with the Szams in the hit dept.

The best hitting cue I own is a Bushka(it plays just a little tiny bit better than the B szam), but I dont use it as a daily player because it cant be replaced and its so close to the Barry it isnt worth the risk, the other Bushkas I have played with dont come near the Szams. But the one that hits good is a 9/10 then the Barry Szam is a 8.9/10, its that close and God forbid something happens to it Barry can fix it.

I have been blessed to have access to such good cues over the years, I perfer to play with a simple looking cue-so playing with the Barry Szam is new to me, but no one has said much about it, so thats cool. I dont like attention like that.

 

[ridewiththewind]

I'm playing with a Joey Bautista [we know him as JoeyInCali] bocote sneaky pete.

I've owned pretty much every flavor of custom cue under the sun, and this cue by far has provided me with the most satisfaction. I went from a $2000 gabon ebony SW to this sneaky pete. The construction is just absolutely flawless, and considering the minor details and subtleties of this cue, that really says a lot. The people that are familiar with the way a cue is constructed would really appreciate the way Joey crafts his cues.

I waited for years for a cue from Joey and I can easily say that it was definitely worth the wait.

-Shane

I gotta agree, Shane...Joey makes a humdinger of a cue, that are supremely playable...from what I hear. I also agree that bacote is a fantastic playing wood for a cue.

I, too, have had some nice, relatively expensive cues....everything is now gone, and truthfully, I have not been able to even think about picking up another cue besides this one cue I now currently own...in fact, I cannot seem to put it down!! If this were the last cue I could ever own, I would be indeed, quite satisfied. And, I, too, have been waiting years to get my hands on one!

I am guessing that mine would compare quite favorably with your Bautista, both in quality of craftsmanship, and playability.

Lisa

2006 Bacote Full Splice (this ain't no sneaky!) Tucker: