Balabushka cues
Darren Volland
they thought of it.I am thinking of purchaseing one but no one in my area
sells them.Any advice would be appreciated,Thank you.
Dan Capestrain
Darren,
Unless you are prepared to pay over $5,000, you are getting an Adams brand
cue.
Dan C
"Darren Volland" <dang...@omnicast.net> wrote in message
news:8kdkeo$gpd$1...@news.cet.com...
Dan Capestrain
Rankin Johnson IV
named George Balabushka (What a coincidence!) That kind is very spendy, and I
don't think I have ever seen one, much less played with one.
The other kind is made by a cue company, Adam, presumably under license by the
Balabushka estate. Those are nice production cues, but not in the same class
as the originals made by Mr. Balabushka himself. Also, calling them
Balabushkas strikes me as inappropriate and mildly deceptive, so I wouldn't
buy one even if I otherwise liked it.
/s/ Rankin Johnson IV
--
Fighting for justice, but I'll settle for a reversal.
Patrick Johnson
[$5,000 Balabushka on Ebay...]
> ron<--hoping I'll hit the Lottery before the auction ends-->
Why? I wouldn't pay $500 for it.
What's all the excitement about Balabushkas? Do they play better? They
sure don't look that great.
Pat Johnson
Chicago
MarkO
At any rate IMO it's analogous to putting a Benz hood ornament on your Chevy
and claiming it's a Benz.
Mark0 <---thinks Helmstetter makes good cues, just not legendary ones.
"Rankin Johnson IV" <rank...@easystreet.com> wrote in message
news:396A6F43...@easystreet.com...
ed_zachary
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=379363692
ron<--hoping I'll hit the Lottery before the auction ends-->
Gary Ives
wrote:
>Aren't they made by Helmstetter?
>
>
I think they are made by Helmstetter for the Adam Cue Company. I've
seen some that were OK, most I would not recommend. There are better
production cues.
Gary
Ron Shepard
Yes, someone who made cues at the same time as Balabushka.
>At any rate IMO it's analogous to putting a Benz hood ornament on your Chevy
>and claiming it's a Benz.
Actually, it is like putting "Chevrolet" on a car that is made in a General
Motors factory (he was a Swiss race car driver in case you don't know). Or
"Oldsmobile", etc.
$.02 -Ron Shepard <-- Aren't Crysler' cars now all Mercedes?
Michael
said something about there seeming to be more of his cues on the market
today than he could have possibly had time to make. They then go one to
say to have an original cue authenticated and list a few people with the
necessary knowledge to do so.
I suspect the originator of this thread was speaking of current
production licensed cues.
Rauros20
to spend around $500 try a schuler, falcon, joss, or you can try getting a
custom stick made for you. Just be sure you do the research and have what you
really want befor you sell out $500.
Try http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/ for new production cues and semi-custom
cues.
Try http://www.billiardcue.com/TableOfContents.html for lots of USED custom
cues.
SHVNC
attractive to collectors. It is certainly not the fancy inlay work, or use of
exotic materials. It is also probably because he used blanks from Burton Spain
and Gus Szamboti in his cues. These seem to be more valuable. Like someone else
said, there are more of his cues floating around than he ever made. Fakes. Too
bad most of his original cues are in Japan now, and most will never be seen by
average folk, since they are locked away. Many cuemakers in that era made very
similar looking cues, from inexpensive, to expensive models, and many to this
day are confused and mis-identified. Good luck.
Joseph Van Buren
http://www.classiccues.com/ptm/bushka1.html
But please be sitting down when viewing. LOL
Joe
Visit www.classiccues.com for a vast selection of collectible cues New
additions weekly. Balabushka, Szamboti, Mottey, Josswest, and many more. Check
site for reduced prices and specials as well as updated pics!!! New Motteys
just added.
Todd R.
Patrick Johnson <REMO...@21stCentury.net> wrote in message
news:396A9731...@21stCentury.net...
> ed_zachary wrote:
>
> [$5,000 Balabushka on Ebay...]
>
>
>
> What's all the excitement about Balabushkas? Do they play better? They
> sure don't look that great.
I'm under the impression that the original Balabushkas don't play any better
than a modern Viking cue. What makes them so collectable are their rarity,
and the fact that they were made in a time where that equipment was better
than anything else out there.
Todd R.
et...@yahoo.com
>
> Pat Johnson
> Chicago
JSteele859
synthesizer keyboard.
Now, I'm not a musician. But I do know that for whatever reason, it is commonly
recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins ever made. The same
goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
rhncue
nearly all cuemakers use today. He was a little ahead of his time. For the most
part his cues were preetty plain and have a very stiff heavy hit. I don't believe
he made a set of his own points in his entire career. He started with brunswick
titalists butts, moved on to Burton Spains and ended up with Szambotis. The movie
the color of money did more to escalate the value of his cues more than anything
else. They used that cue name because it was more exotic sounding than most other
cues. To be truthful, if he was alive today and was building his cues the same as
he did during his hayday I would think he would have a very hard time selling them
at any price.
Dick
RHN Custom Billiard Cues
Leonardx3
practice shots if you get a clunk then you know you have an original. If it is
a smooth hitting cue then it is an imitation. I have an imitation Balabushka
made for me by Pete Balner of Palmer Cues. When I ask Pete if he could make me
an imitation he said of course I can make you a imitation I sell George his
parts but i will use my screw its thread is different from Georges.There was no
fraud intended because Georges cues were selling for $90. The same price I paid
for the Palmer. The reason I wanted Pete to make it was every time I tried one
of Georges cues there was the dread clunk. ####
Patrick Johnson
> it is commonly recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins
> ever made. The same goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
You've fallen for the hype, and you can't get up.
Pat Johnson
Chicago
Ron Shepard
>The movie
>the color of money did more to escalate the value of his cues more than
>anything
>else.
I'm surprised that none of the cue collectors have mentioned this already. If
Balabushka cues really were the "Stradivarius" of pool cues, they would have
been sought after collector cues before the movie. But they weren't. I've
heard that the movie caused the original Balabushka cues to increase in value
"overnight" by a factor of 50.
>> I would liken that to saying: A STRADIVARIUS doesn't play any better
>than a
>> synthesizer keyboard.
>>
>> Now, I'm not a musician. But I do know that for whatever reason, it is
>commonly
>> recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins ever made.
>The same
>> goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
Isn't this pretty much the line from the movie?
$.02 -Ron Shepard
Earl Timmons
and others.
JSteele859 wrote in message
<20000712025043...@ng-fh1.aol.com>...
Joseph Van Buren
prized before the COM came out. Also George wasn't stupid, as times changed so
would he have. But the cues play very well, but you have to like that style of
cue. I like steel jointed, traditional 4 point cues. I do not like cues that
have CNC "points" or flat faced joints. So give me a true Bushka any day of the
week.
Joe
> rhncue rhn...@fuse.net
>
> This statement is not quite true. Balabushka made a couple of inovations
>that
>nearly all cuemakers use today. He was a little ahead of his time. For the
>most
>part his cues were preetty plain and have a very stiff heavy hit. I don't
>believe
>he made a set of his own points in his entire career. He started with
>brunswick
>titalists butts, moved on to Burton Spains and ended up with Szambotis. The
>movie
>the color of money did more to escalate the value of his cues more than
>anything
>else. They used that cue name because it was more exotic sounding than most
>other
>cues. To be truthful, if he was alive today and was building his cues the
>same as
>he did during his hayday I would think he would have a very hard time selling
>them
>at any price.
> Dick
> RHN Custom Billiard Cues
>
>JSteele859 wrote:
>
>> I would liken that to saying: A STRADIVARIUS doesn't play any better than
>a
>> synthesizer keyboard.
>>
>> Now, I'm not a musician. But I do know that for whatever reason, it is
>commonly
>> recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins ever made. The
>same
>> goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Joseph Van Buren
probably have never handled one.
Joe
Hugh (Licking County Slim)
the show said it was a bushka..but it was a joss made cue..the original
balabushka was to expensive for them to toss around on the show!
Hugh
Ron Shepard <ron...@aol.comNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:20000712124244...@ng-fb1.aol.com...
> [...]
> >The movie
> >the color of money did more to escalate the value of his cues more than
> >anything
> >else.
>
> I'm surprised that none of the cue collectors have mentioned this already.
If
> Balabushka cues really were the "Stradivarius" of pool cues, they would
have
> been sought after collector cues before the movie. But they weren't.
I've
> heard that the movie caused the original Balabushka cues to increase in
value
> "overnight" by a factor of 50.
>
> >> I would liken that to saying: A STRADIVARIUS doesn't play any better
> >than a
> >> synthesizer keyboard.
> >>
> >> Now, I'm not a musician. But I do know that for whatever reason, it is
> >commonly
> >> recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins ever made.
> >The same
> >> goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
>
qnut
said Balabushka so that is how it was read. The prop
department gambled that the majority of viewers
would believe the illusion. They were right.
Look what Hollywood does to cars all the time.
The price of a true Balabushka in 1985 or 1986
would not have fazed them. They would buy 10 at
todays prices and burn them if they thought it
would turn a buck. Many champions played with
Balabushkas before the COM, many did not. It is
a matter of preference. One thing I know for sure,
the guy is dead and I would not speak ill of him.
Tracy
-----------------------------------------------------------
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
http://www.keen.com
Patrick Johnson
> the guy is dead and I would not speak ill of him.
I never understood this "respect for the dead" thing. Why does
somebody's memory deserve more consideration than the living person
did?
Just to keep this on-topic: ...oh, never mind. I can hardly tell
this group apart from ASP anymore anyway.
Pat Johnson
Chicago
SHVNC
The other thing that strikes me here is people who say they don't play well
probably have never handled one.
""
The main thing that strikes me here, is the biggest defender and praise singer
of Balabushkas, is the person who is trying to sell them for the price of a
car. Kinda makes you wonder where his priorities are.
suzanne
>
> I never understood this "respect for the dead" thing. Why does
> somebody's memory deserve more consideration than the living person
> did?
Because they cannot defend themselves.
Suzanne
Patrick Johnson <REMO...@21stCentury.net> wrote in message
news:396CB814...@21stCentury.net...
Patrick Johnson
>
> > > the guy is dead and I would not speak ill of him.
> >
> > I never understood this "respect for the dead" thing. Why does
> > somebody's memory deserve more consideration than the living person
> > did?
>
Well, that's what everybody always says, of course, but that really
only makes sense if you mean you'd only speak ill of someone *in their
presence*. Otherwise, what real opportunity does anybody ever have to
defend themselves?
Pat Johnson
Chicago
Blue Steel
> I would liken that to saying: A STRADIVARIUS doesn't play any better than a
> synthesizer keyboard.
Once you reach the top tier of musical instruments is is not playabillity, it is
the
tone that differentiates quality. Any first tier instrument that is set up
properly
will play like butter, but they will all sound just a little different, even 2
Strads
made in the same year from the same piece of wood will have subtle variations
in tone.
> Now, I'm not a musician. But I do know that for whatever reason, it is commonly
> recognized that a STRADIVARIUS is the best of all violins ever made.
That should be "some" Strads were the best violins ever made. as with all things
wood
there are some very mediocre sounding Strads out there and the are some lesser name
violins that have just as good if not better tone. Don't get me wrong Strads are
very good first
tier violins but more important is that they are rare and collectable, the
collectability is what
drives the price of a Strad and not always the tone.
> The same goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
OK I really don't know the first thing about pool cues, but I saw a Bushka once
and I thought it looked rather plain, with standard off the shelf MOP snowflake
fret board inlays you can buy from any luthier that were, well quite honestly I
thought
they were put in, in a rather sloppy manner. I did not get to hit with it, but then
I doubt if I could notice any difference because I'm just a pool hack. But giving
it the
benefit of the doubt my old 0017 Martin Guitar may be ugly but she sings like an
angle.
Regards,
Guy Smith
Head Tech
P.C. Professionals
1550 Old Henderson Rd.
Suite N-153
Columbus Ohio 43220
Smorgass Bored
somebody's memory deserve more consideration than the living person did?
group apart from ASP anymore anyway.
Pat Johnson
(*<~ I know exactly what you're talking Pat. It's not any fun to come
to RSB and have to read about insurance and such. I wish that the
participants here could simply stay ON TOPIC like you & I do. It's hard
to try to set an example when people don't follow it..... imo
eight in the corner,
Doug
~>*(((>< Big fish eat Little fish ><)))*<~
qnut
attack on their' reputation. It is akin to bullying. The
disparager is big and strong (alive), they are the weak(dead).
And some wonder why the sport of kings is now held in contempt
by so many. I am sorry I took this off topic with the dead part.
The rest of the post was on topic IMO.
Patrick Johnson
[re: does expensive mean better?]
> giving it the benefit of the doubt my old 0017 Martin Guitar may be ugly
> but she sings like an angle.
This is much more true (and more objectively so) for musical
instruments than for pool cues. While subtle differences in materials
and construction may make the same kind of subtle differences in a cue
as in a musical instrument, the difference in playing results are not
nearly so clear with a cue. Beyond being straight and having the
right shape, stiffness and balance, it isn't even very clear what
additional results you'd want.
Pat Johnson
Chicago
Joseph Van Buren
>The main thing that strikes me here, is the biggest defender and praise
>singer of Balabushkas, is the person who is trying to sell them for the price
of a
>car. Kinda makes you wonder where his priorities are.
>
This maybe true but I can at least make a call based on the fact I played with
one.
I play with many cues, some I like, some I don't. I also have played with cues
by
the same maker, some hit good, some didn't. But all in all playability and
"hit"
are pure personal preference. So to argue playability is a mute point. But you
should
experience it, before you knock it. To many "well I have heard's" here.
suzanne
For example, I never knew the guy, all I know about him is what others say
cause he's dead. If all I hear are bad things about him, in my mind he is a
bad person, whereas if he were alive I could base my opinion of him on more
than what others think. Without ever knowing that someone ever said a bad
word about him he could prove he wasn't such a bad guy.
That make sense??
Suzanne
Patrick Johnson <REMO...@21stCentury.net> wrote in message
news:396CC04C...@21stCentury.net...
> suzanne wrote:
> >
> > > > the guy is dead and I would not speak ill of him.
> > >
> > > I never understood this "respect for the dead" thing. Why does
> > > somebody's memory deserve more consideration than the living person
> > > did?
> >
Joseph Van Buren
roof. You can thank the movie for every overpriced piece of wood you come
across. It wasn't until the pool boom that cue prices became what they are. But
for the record, when I worked a pool room in the early 80's Bushkas still
couldn't be had for under $1,000.00 to $1500.00 in the NJ area. Palmers were
under 300.00 most of the time though.
Patrick Johnson
> if he were alive I could base my opinion of him on more
> than what others think.
The only difference is if you could meet him while he's alive.
Otherwise you could know as much about him dead as alive.
> Without ever knowing that someone ever said a bad
> word about him he could prove he wasn't such a bad guy.
Again, the only difference is if you could meet him. By the time he
dies, he's already proved it or not and you'd have the same
opportunity to know that after he's dead.
Anyway, thanks for commenting. Back to pool (theoretically).
Pat Johnson
Chicago
Ron Shepard
>probably have never handled one.
This is probably true for both the originals and for the current (Adam)
production cues.
$.02 -Ron Shepard
Jimbo Ct
praise
>singer
>of Balabushkas, is the person who is trying to sell them
better cue, although Bushka's hit as solid today as the day they were made. I
have to agree with Joe that most who are posting have no clue and no right.
Unless you shoot with one or have in the past I feel you should refrain from
opinions. Opinions are like assholes but without anything to back them up with
you can't fart. I guess if it makes you happy to bad mouth things you can't
obtain then go right ahead and trash them, chances are you'll never own one and
if you do you'll be the first to change your tune. They are collectible items
and supply and demand sets the value, if you don't care to own one then don't
but why try to trash the cue?? There is a group of hacks out there today
building 1000 cues a year on computers and charging $700-$2500 and people are
paying it, and you people are talking about if a bushka is worth $5000. Rethink
and tell me who the Fools are!
JIM <---Owns a few and they are NOT for sale.
Joseph Van Buren
hints that my post was all business related, when people in here know that I
never turn away when someone asks me to ID a cue, I am alway helpful on the
older stuff because that is what I know. Who the hell are you to question me?
Did I attack a cuemaker I never heard of cause he slammed Balabushka? No, I
only offered a counterpoint.
Wyo.Stick
>JSteele859 wrote:
>
>> I would liken that to saying: A STRADIVARIUS doesn't play
any better than a
>
>> The same goes for a "true" BALABUSHKA.
>
>OK I really don't know the first thing about pool cues, but I
saw a Bushka once
>and I thought it looked rather plain, with standard off the
shelf MOP snowflake
>fret board inlays you can buy from any luthier that were, well
quite honestly I
>thought
>they were put in, in a rather sloppy manner. I did not get to
hit with it, but then
>
>I doubt if I could notice any difference because I'm just a
pool hack. But giving
>it the
>benefit of the doubt my old 0017 Martin Guitar may be ugly but
she sings like an
>angle.
>
>
>Regards,
>Guy Smith
>
>Head Tech
>P.C. Professionals
>1550 Old Henderson Rd.
>Suite N-153
>Columbus Ohio 43220
>
>
>
>
Hey Guy! Im just an old pool hack too... , but gotta tell ya Im
not too much into how my Stick "sounds", as much as I am into
how it "hits." Rather than compare the difference in "singing
like an angel/angle"??(..is this a test..ya all know I cant
spell??) How the heck does one of them Stradivarius sticks
compare too the Double O Martin cue ,or the Balabusha?
Just ..from all the above coments...,and the way it sounds..; I
think I'ld really like to HIT with a Stradivarius ,,,,just
once.. course, I'ld probly fall in love with the "hit" and have
ta hock my life savings to buy the sucker.
Paul <...havin alittle fun..>
Blue Steel
> How the heck does one of them Stradivarius sticks
> compare too the Double O Martin cue ,or the Balabusha?
Dem Strad sticks be very rare, I thinks there be only 50 of so
of dem babys in the world. But dem Martins is purdy plentyfull
mine don't hit to good but she makes da loud thump. she be
more fer making music then fer whack'n balls.
> Just ..from all the above coments...,and the way it sounds..; I
> think I'ld really like to HIT with a Stradivarius ,,,,just
> once.. course, I'ld probly fall in love with the "hit" and have
> ta hock my life savings to buy the sucker.
Da last Strad I member going at auction sold fer just bout
2 mill smakkers. Ifens I member corektly, and da po pre-war
Martins gets about 150K-250K fer dem special ones but
ifens ya like yous can gets yo self a new 00015 fer bout 700
clams or da top-o-da-line D-45 fer bout 8K.
Wyo.Stick
Paul