Any Castello Comparable pipes?

[LeafErikson]

Savinellis are my go to briars, which many have already suggested above but I’m not sure how similar they are to castellos. I can’t speak to Castello as they’re more than I’m willing to spend on a briar (I don’t purchase estates).

Morettis are pretty nice Italian pipes with a very wide open draw. I’ve heard Castelllos have a very open draw so maybe Moretti is a good place to look? Others can chime in on the similarities between Castellos and Morettis.

 

[Papamique]

Savinellis are my go to briars, which many have already suggested above but I’m not sure how similar they are to castellos. I can’t speak to Castello as they’re more than I’m willing to spend on a briar (I don’t purchase estates).

Morettis are pretty nice Italian pipes with a very wide open draw. I’ve heard Castelllos have a very open draw so maybe Moretti is a good place to look? Others can chime in on the similarities between Castellos and Morettis.

+1 Thats a great suggestion! I find them very comparable. Moretti pipes are also made from briar aged 10+ years and nice open draw with decades of experience and quality. You can get a nice new rusticated one on eBay (comparable to sea rock) for $160 or less too

 

[sasquatch]

Marco makes nice pipes, for sure, good call.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I've got a Talamoma (lower right pipe below). It is an outlier in my collection. The other two pipes are long gone, but that Talamona is going nowhere. I generally gravitate to very old Britwood and/or Meers. However, this Italian pipe is a superb smoker. I am into estate pipes ad picked it up for around $70. Estate pipes are not for everyone....

View attachment 296200

I almost pulled the trigger on a Talamona pipe when I was in Rome, but bought 2 Castello's which was enough $$ to spend at the time. They looked great and are much more affordable. Great to hear that it is a good smoker.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Savinellis are my go to briars, which many have already suggested above but I’m not sure how similar they are to castellos. I can’t speak to Castello as they’re more than I’m willing to spend on a briar (I don’t purchase estates).

Morettis are pretty nice Italian pipes with a very wide open draw. I’ve heard Castelllos have a very open draw so maybe Moretti is a good place to look? Others can chime in on the similarities between Castellos and Morettis.

Great suggestion. It very well may be that open draw and thicker bit that I like, Moretti has a good selection on LePipe.it as well. Thanks!

 

[Ahi Ka]

Can you get a forever stem made for a cob which is identical to one of your castellos stems you like?

A stupid answer I know, but a stupid answer that hadn’t been posted yet.

Edit: I’m not sure what your take on estate pipes are, but bolitto pipe sell estate castellos. They have one on eBay at the moment for around $200usd

 

[Chasing Embers]

Can you get a forever stem made for a cob which is identical to one of your castellos stems you like?

Not forever stems but artisan made ones, yes. I commissioned this one and a tamper for a friend several years ago.

 

[Ahi Ka]

That’s lovely!

 

[AroEnglish]

Not forever stems but artisan made ones, yes. I commissioned this one and a tamper for a friend several years ago.

View attachment 296350

Yeah I have 3 forever stems and hate each one but maybe I just need to go full custom like this.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Yeah I have 3 forever stems and hate each one but maybe I just need to go full custom like this.

When I said forever stem I meant this.

 

[captpat]

While I agree, the quest is to find a pipe with a similar bit, feel, smoke as a Costello. Cheap pipes are abundant, but sure don’t smoke like a Castello.

We haven't been provided one of two pieces of important information, what is your budget and how close to a Castello are you trying to get? I find Castellos to have a smoking style all their own that is approached only by other brands that are as equally expensive. If you are looking for "the Castello experience" for a budget price take a look at estate sales, there's been a few fine specimens showing up recently on this and other forums.

 

[Papamique]

Here is a video of Grenci cutting his own briar and making a pipe. It is in Italian but even if you don’t have CC it is worth watching. His pipes are made from high grade briar from Calabria. There are many pipes under $300 but none in the “under $200 range”. However, with that being said, the value is amazing. He has decades experience in making pipes from aged briar (mostly over 20 years now) and is a “one man shop” who sources, ages, cuts and works his own briar.

 

[mngslvs]

I have 4 or 5 Don Carlos pipes, all estates, which have been noticeably superior smokers for me. Not better than my Castellos, but very good. They are thin on the market these days, not sure why. Certainly less $ than Castellos. Have also had good luck with Ser Jacopos.

 

[Uguccione]

In my experience (I have both) the Radice pipes have the same smoking quality and construction as the Castello ones, but they cost half the price.
So I would definitely say Radice.

 

[bayareabriar]

2018 and up Ardor pipes. May not be any less money though.

 

[didimauw]

Yeah I have 3 forever stems and hate each one but maybe I just need to go full custom like this.

Not going to lie, I have 2 original brass dot forever stems, and I hate them too. Way too restricted. Look cool though...

 

[AroEnglish]

Not going to lie, I have 2 original brass dot forever stems, and I hate them too. Way too restricted. Look cool though...

For me it’s not the draw but the thickness of the stem. But yeah they look pretty damn sweet.

 

[Uguccione]

May not be any less money though.

Exact. I don't own Ardor pipes, but many say that it is on the same quality level as Castello and perhaps even better, but the prices are the same.

 

[Searock Fan]

Here is a video of Grenci cutting his own briar and making a pipe. It is in Italian but even if you don’t have CC it is worth watching. His pipes are made from high grade briar from Calabria. There are many pipes under $300 but none in the “under $200 range”. However, with that being said, the value is amazing. He has decades experience in making pipes from aged briar (mostly over 20 years now) and is a “one man shop” who sources, ages, cuts and works his own briar.

I watched this video and am not sure if I agree with everything he said....

 

[Searock Fan]

From all these complaints about stems, I get the impression some of you guys should learn how to "tweak" your own stems. By that I mean learn to work it to get it the way you want. With a few simple tools you can do wonders. A fine file, some sandpaper, compound a drill bit or two and a few other items and you can do wonders. There is quite a bit about this on the nets. Just a friendly suggestion....