Brigham Pipes

Yes, you CAN smoke without the filter, but I wouldn't suggest it. Just like any other pipe with a filter system, you will learn to smoke it to get the best out of it. If you are cleaning your filters (or rotating them out for fresh and allowing the old to dry out), then you will find that the pipe just needs getting used to. I personally love the Brigham filters (it is the only filter that I actually WANT in my pipes), and I find that it sucks up a lot of moisture that you don't even realize accumulates. The Brighams are designed to smoke with the filter (and does not advertise that you should or should not smoke with/without it...unlike the Savinelli balsams which say you can smoke without if you wish). You'll quickly adapt to smoking with the Brighams. If you do a quick search on Brigham Filters in the forum search function, you'll find a lot of info on how to clean and maintain your filters.

Enjoy!
Shutterbug

Maybe its just me but for some reason when im breaking in new pipes I always seem to notice the smoke isnt as flavorful as it is once its broken in a bit. I just recently bought 2 Brighams, a volcano like yours and a billiard and I will say that you must let the filters dry completely out to get the best tasting smoke. I have a pack of the filters to take around if im going to smoke more than once for this reason and usually leave the used ones out over night at least and put them back in right when im about to fill the bowl.
Congrats on your new pipe, they are very good cheap smokers as the others have said on this forum. ::

I've never had a problem with my filters

Hi csquared. The Brigham insert isn't actually a filter in that the smoke passes freely uninterrupted from the bowl to the receiver. The Rock Maple is natural and untreated. The ID of the insert is large enough to pass a pipe cleaner through so as such shouldn't restrict the draw. As someone has mentioned it will absorb moisture as well as tars and acids that cause tongue bite. It was for this reason the insert was developed.
The lack of taste you describe might be the absence of tongue bite that you may have grown accustomed to. Give some time to acquaint yourself with the new pipe and insert. As for the question of smoking a Brigham without the insert - no problem. You'll get a little extra draw than you might be accustomed to as the ID of the chamber will be a little larger than the average.
No rules for smoking pipes - to each their own - enjoy!

I have quite a few Brighams since they are pretty much all I smoke. I smoke some blends with the rock maple filter and some without. Sometimes I will have a bowl without just to have more of a concentration of flavors. All the filter does is absorb moisture from the tobacco and decreases tongue bite. I found as well that once I opened the draught hole in the pipe to 5/32" the pipe stayed lit better, was easier to draw from and didn't take so much effort to smoke. I have the exact pipe you have and once I opened it up (and all my other Brighams) they smoked SO much better.
roth said it right, 'Brigham makes fine pipes' and indeed they are. Just take your time to get to know the pipe and the pipe maker. However I do suggest opening the draught hole, it will give you more smoke in the mouth with less effort and less bite.
Happy smoking! ::