Balbushka Cues

[sonnic]

I am sort of in the market for a new cue. I just bought the viking vm34 witch is a good cue but certainly not top of the line. I spent about 200 bucks on it and am having second thoughts about it and am now wondering if i should of spent a bit more to get a quality cue that will last me years and will be to my liking. Now Balbushka ive heard makes the best cues but like the moori tips are very expensive. Does anyone have any personal experiance with this brand of cue?

[parrothead]

Disclaimer: I now shoot with a Joss cue

Now that that is out of the way... Viking cues are great. I wouldn't hesitate getting one or playing with one. I did recently get a Joss cue that I love and think it has great feel, but for the money I don't think you can beat Viking. The VM 34 is a good looking stick and I think you will be really happy with it. Give it a chance before you worry about it. You made a good choice.

[dhammis]

Viking makes a great cue. I shoot with a VM25 and love it. I know many people that have Vikings that are very very old (15+ years) and still shoot well. A Predator shaft and/or a replacement for the LePro tip is recommended for any cue, no matter who makes it, so Viking is a great choice.

--Damon

Richard Helmsetter of Helmsetter cues has the rights to the Balabuska name which he puts on a high end production cue made in Japan. It is a fine cue. FYI Richard is one of the founders of Callaway Golf Clubs. He designed the Big Bertha clubs.

[parrothead]

Good for him, but this ain't golf

[wobster]

I have a viking vm40, the cheapest made with a predator shaft and a moori tip. It plays extremely well, and it plays better than any other cue I have ever used, except for the custom cue I just had made. I have played with MANY different cues, and I like my viking the best. Many people have told me that my cue is the best one they have used.
Just my experience.

[skor]

the Balbushka that you'll buy is an o.k cue for the same cost you can get a great viking or predator.
the real Balbushka cues are collector items and the go for $10,000 and up and they are very hard to find, and I'm sure if you had one you wouldn't use it for shooting pool.
but again it's up to you :)

[New Kid In The Hall]

Yeah, the real deal was made before George passed on in the 70's or 80's. The cues today are made using his name only.

[sonnic]

ok but are they still good quality? How do they stack up against viking or mcdermmot? It would be pretty cool to have a new balabuska cue. just as long as its not like shooting with a bar cue.

[dags_lax]

If my memory serves me correctly the Balabuska tend to run more than a lower end McDermott or Viking. In fack I think you are getting into the range of the lower cost Schons. And if indeed that is the case I would get the Schon.

[Rick]

They are imports!!!!!

[sonnic]

which brand are you talking about Rick?

[dags_lax]

Balabuska. I believe Helmster also has the Adam line which used to be a Japanese manufacturer. Perhaps that's where all the Helmsteter lines are manufactured.

Schon Cues are made in Milwaukee, right in your back yard Sonnic.

[sonnic]

really i have to check that out. thanks dags

[audiopro]

Actually I have a Balabushka GB4 ($500) and recently purchased a Viking VM-9 ($520). The Balabushka is a decent cue, the hit is fairly solid and the cues general construction is good. I am a bit of a perfectionist though and did find it to have some flaws. I baby my cues and take very good care of them, however the Balabushka chipped quite easily in a couple spots, and you can feel the inlays under the clear coat, meaning they were not sanded smooth before coating, or the butt and inlays took differently to the coating.

The Viking I just purchased is a great cue. As for the butt of the cue, it seems much cleaner and more durable than the Balabushka. I think in general the Viking is a much more superior cue. I have however had some problems with the shaft, I have posted to these forums before concerning that but the query has gone mostly unanswered.

If I had to do anything different, I would have bought my Viking with a different joint, probably metal to metal.

i've seen some vikings with the same problem... so i guess its pretty much down to luck... have seen high-end falcons with badly aligned inlays, and joss cues with defective inlay parts as well...

bottom line i guess is dat there are bound to be some bloopers floating around every now n then, so make sure u can replace them if u get them online, and to be nit-pickingly thorough wen buy them at a store...

[New Kid In The Hall]

If you like it...go with it. Otherwise, all of the lines Seyberts sells are decent cues, some are exceptional.