ANDY GILBERT
FANCY EBONY SOUTHWESTERN MOTIFF
BOX STYLE CUE
WITH MATCHING WHITTEN CASE
|
Here is an Andy Gilbert masterpiece - a cue built with somewhat of a Southwestern design and among some of the fancier cues he has built. It is not quite a true Native-American design, but close.
|
This cue comes with a bonus - a specially made matching Whitten case with inlay work matching the cue itself. The case is hand-built by Joe Whitten, using large inlays made by Andy. It's classy, and just plain beautiful, and this matching case is about as good as it gets.
|
This is a one-owner cue, made in 2006 and still unchalked and unplayed. It's in immaculate condition and is a fine example of what Andy Gilbert can build when he sets his sights high. Andy made two cues like this, both sold to the same customer, who had the matching Whitten cases custom made to match the sticks. The design of each cue is very different, but both would be considered a "southwest" motiff, and both have matching inlays, inlaid into the case. I bought them both, and the other one sold quickly.
|
The other of these two sticks leaned a bit more toward a traditional design with points. The design on this one is very different. It's more of box cue. He uses three different woods - it's a solid ebony cue, with inlays of cocobolo, ivory, silver and black-lipped mother of pearl.
The handle is made from three solid piece of ebony, separated by two ivory rings, and overlaid with a long veneered ivory boxs, highlighted with silver, ivory and mother of pearl.
|
In the butt sleeve and nose, he uses an inlay pattern of of cocobolo, ivory and silver. It's a complex pattern, with a ton of work. I can't imagine all the time spent at the pantagraph by Vickie and Andy on this one. It's a beautiful inlay pattern and turns this into a magnificent cue.
|
Being a solid ebony cue, it hits solid, and with the resonance that you would expect. This is definitely a great playing cue. Andy built his reputation making solid cues for solid players, and fortunately never forgot that when he started building higher-end cues like this one.
|
These two patterns - the one used in the nose and butt sleeve, and the box pattern in the handle - while very different, complement each other perfectly. One common element is the use of the black-lipped mother of pearl used in the diamonds in both patterns.
| |
He uses two different sets of rings, one set in all traditional locations - at the butt, above and below the handle, at the joint, on the shaft ring collars and on the joint protectors. Then, to separate the three handle segments, he uses wide ivory rings wrapped in silver. As I said, lots of work in this stick.
|
The traditional rings are very pretty and complement the other woods in the cue. They're made up of an ebony ring sandwiched between two white rings of ivory or fiber, with small cocobolo and white veneer segments going all the way around.
|
|
As you would expect, he builds it with a solid ivory butt cap (matching the ivory joint). And, as with most of his sticks, he engraves his name and the date the cue was made.
|
There is a big, big bonus with this stick. The original owner had a custom-built Whitten case made as a home for this special cue. He had Andy build a separate set of inlays mounted in ebony specifically to be inlaid in a nice case. Then, he sent the inlays to Joe Whitten, and had them inlaid into a beautiful corduvan colored 1X2 Whitten case. (The original owner told me he had over a $1000 in each case.) The finish around the edges of the case inlays has slightly lifted, as I've tried to show in the pictures. However, it is a minor bit of aging on an older case, and really doesn't relate directly to the stick itself, which in excellent condition.
|
Whitten cases are considered to be the "Lamborgini" of cases today, of the finest quality and design. This one has an engraved brass plate on the top with the Gilbert name. (On the inside, the Whitten name is engraved.)
| |
This case is the absolute perfect match for this cue - brilliantly conceived and exquisitely built.
|
|
On the bottom is the Whitten logo, with silver brass studs for protection.
|
Below is a close-up shot of one of the large inlay pieces, show how the finish has slightly lifted around some of the edges. It's not a big deal, but I want to be totally transparent and be sure the next owner sees this in advance.
|
This cue, perfect in every way, is a fine example of Gilbert's work at his very best. The design and execution are about as good as you can get. This is a gorgeous cue by one of the grand masters of cuemaking.
|
You really have to see this cue in person to get a full appreciation of the intricacy of the inlay in this cue, and the proficiency and perfection with which it is all executed. And I think the use of the black-lipped mother of pearl in all of the diamonds is a very nice touch, and ties the different patterns together.
| |
| As you would expect, it comes with a very fancy set of matching joint caps, made with ivory, ebony and silver with matching inlays. He also adds a tip of ivory on the end of his bolt - just a special little touch he only adds on his very best sticks.
|
I love the inlays in the joint caps, especially the additional use of the mother of pearl diamonds.
| |
He builds it with a solid ivory flat-faced joint with a 3/8X10 steel pin. It comes with two new, unplayed 13mm shafts with ivory ferrules and the original LePro tips.
|
This cue is 58 inches long, and weighs either 18.9 oz, or 19.0 oz, depending on which shaft you use (B=15.3., S#1=3.6, S#2=3.7). Very surprising for an all ebony cue.
Finding a beautiful matching Gilbert cue and Whitten case like this, in immaculate condition after 15 years, is a rare find and an opportunity not to be overlooked. This is a gorgeous stick.
PRICE: $8600 PLUS SHIPPING
|
ANDY GILBERT AT HIS VERY, VERY BEST!
|
|
