MIKE DURBIN
CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE BURL
FOUR POINT
"BROKEN CUE"
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Mike Durbin is primarily known for his player cues, and probably has more top players playing with his cues than any other living cuemaker. In recent years he has started making fancier high end cues, but they are all still great playing cues. Here's an example.
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There's a story behind the name, and design, of this cue. Mike has a lot of player-reps playing with his cues, and a few manage to sometimes unintentionally abuse and break them. So, he jokingly decided to design a cue that already looked "broken" so they wouldn't have to break them. Thus, a new and creative design that I would have rather called "avant garde." But, I'll stay with the original name. I guess it's appropriate enough.
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As you can tell. the name comes from the veneered boxes and veneered points that have interupted portions. Regardless of what this cue is named, it is an original and innovative design that has resulted in a beautiful cue. I was at the ICCS where it was introduced, and I can guarantee it was a show hit, especially among other cuemakers. It's a four point California buckeye burl cue with ebony points.
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This cue has very pretty "flame" veneers of yellow and orange. They would be typical, except that each point has "broken" area along one side of each point, and of course, the veneers in the rectangles in the butt sleeve, also "broken" in two spots.
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The rings are made up of a ring of ebony, sandwiched between two double rings of nickel silver, inlaid with smal bits of veneer matching the veneer in the points and boxes.
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Here is a good view of the veneers as they come to the end of the point.
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| The stone that is inlaid in the center of the rectangles and in the points is Lavastone, infused with aluminum. It's very rich and subtle, and is the perfect addition to the avant-garde look of this creative cue.
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He applies a nice looking black textured leather wrap, and as usual, he does it expertly. The seam if virtually undetectable.
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He adds a white LBM butt cap, and a matching joint. Great choice.
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As usual, Mike adds a nice set of fancy joint protectors with matching rings on the butt cap, and other extras.
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He builds it with a flat-faced joint and a 3/8 X 10 stainless steel pin. It comes with two 13mm shafts with LBM ferrules and LePro tips. It weighs 19.3 ounces.
This is a striking cue that is very unique in design. However, the best part is that it is a Durbin, and hits like one.
PRICE: $3300 PLUS SHIPPING
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