Got Me A Gamboni - - - PAD Attack!

misterlowercase · Dec 15, 2014

Lately, I've been deeply entrenched in traditional British pipes, and haven't varied too far off that course, but I still very much appreciate what I consider to be good design, and ever since I first saw a Gamboni rhodesian, I was kind of smitten with his unique shapings.

I wasn't lucky enough to get one of those -- the prices are usually outta my ballpark anyway, so I couldn't pass this up when I saw it at P&C on sale for $227, which is a good price relatively speaking.
There was only one photo and no specs, I didn't really know what to expect because of the odd picture angle and how sometimes Gamboni shapes can have a sort of optical illusion...

I poured over his website looking for the closet examples,

http://www.gianmariagamboni.com/gmg_pipes.pl

comparing apples to tomatoes, and bullcaps to diplomats, LOL, I couldn't figure it out and decided just to wait and see --- it got here today!
The closet match from his gallery is the Wales,

http://www.gianmariagamboni.com/gmg_pipes_zoom.pl?pipe_id=87&year=2013

and it's one of the shapes that I love, so I'm happy!

:D

misterlowercase · Dec 15, 2014

LOL

:P
Some of his stuff is out there fersure,

look through his gallery!
I got a soft spot for the organic art nouveau vibe and Becker-like traits.
It weighs 42g
I'm actually trying to evaluate if I'm gonna keep it or not, although it looks cool, I'm not sure I like smoking a pipe with such a forward canting bowl, and it seems a bit nose heavy for clenching, but, I'd probably never be able to find another at that price, so I'm weighing it all out...
edit!

Your comment went over my airhead ROTFLMAO!

You meant one of these!

:lol:

mso489 · Dec 15, 2014

Unusual in the best sense. Just the ticket to unfold a sophisticated English, Balkan, or one of those

down country C&D burley blends.

dottiewarden · Dec 16, 2014

She's certainly a head turner, and I'd say she's a keeper! I'd load her up with a slow burning flake and sip back and enjoy.
Congratulations!

toby67 · Dec 16, 2014

That smooth pipe has insane grain, absolutely stunning. I like the oddness on the blast pipe, almost looks like a piss bucket in shape. Very nice pipes.

easterntraveler · Dec 16, 2014

Not for me but I still appreciate the artistic craftsmanship

huntertrw · Dec 16, 2014

"Wow, that's an interesting shape. At first I thought you bought a hockey rink refinisher."
Well played, rsuninv, well played, Sir!

huntertrw · Dec 16, 2014

mrlowercase:
If you had purchased a Hamboni you could have made soup!

misterlowercase · Dec 16, 2014

I've decided to return this pipe,

it just won't be a comfortable functional smoker in my opinion,

at least for me.
It does look cool though,

and it's very well made.
It'll be back as in stock at P&C probably next week if anyone may be interested, compare prices for Gamboni pipes and you'll find that it's a really good deal for one of his.

peckinpahhombre · Dec 16, 2014

That is a fantastic looking pipe. What is the issue?

andya27 · Dec 16, 2014

Woah, it's a very nice looking pipe. Stunning work.

misterlowercase · Dec 16, 2014

The extreme forward cant, and it's a bit more bulbous than I would have liked, although it's not exactly heavy, the way it distributes that weight makes it a little uncomfortable for me, and I thought it'd regardless be a nice hand pipe, like a polished river stone, but it doesn't exactly want to embrace my hand in a comfortable way.
It just doesn't "fit me" I guess.
The interesting thing is that it's actually a Becker design called a "Galles",

Gamboni's interpretation of the shape is called both Wales and Galles it seems...

I haven't actually put it in the mailbox yet, was going to do that tomorrow, so it might yet remain, but I doubt that it'll win me over.

:|

misterlowercase · Dec 16, 2014

PS
Peck, if you like the pipe, I'd gladly trade it,

and this near mint Gainey,

http://instagram.com/p/k02-T0K6id/?modal=true

for a Michael Parks blasted billiard!

:D

:idea:

: puffy

:

misterlowercase · Dec 17, 2014

Well,

I decided to keep the damn thing.
Smoked it this morning.
Awkward to light as I expected, but delivered ultra performance.
I just couldn't let it go.
The way this thing draws is incredible.
After readjusting from being so used to super-comfortable English straight billiards,

this pipe has become surprisingly comfortable, and it actually clenches well too, though a bit different from what I'm used to.
It's good to have a couple of outliers in the rack,

and this one is a good one to have.
I also learned that "Galles" means "Wales" in Italian, so Gamboni ain't changing the name, just the language.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galles
Perhaps the Wales thang is named after a classic English clay pipe?

Kinda makes me wanna get another of his to keep it company,

this one would be perfect!

http://www.bisgaard-pipes.com/product.asp?product=33849&vat=false&lang=uk#.VJGhxnv54po
So,

I think it shall serve me well.

: puffy

:

laytonpipes · Dec 17, 2014

That is a really nice shape! It looks like the Rhodesian from above but then from the side its completely different. very cool

misterlowercase · Dec 18, 2014

That is a really nice shape! It looks like the Rhodesian from above but then from the side its completely different. very cool

I think so too,

it's definitely got eye appeal.
It was, however, a bit of a challenge to actually use it comfortably right off the bat because it's so outside of the norm for me - but I'm sorta glad that I warmed up to it and I think it'll end up paying good dividends on my smoking enjoyment.

peteguy · Dec 18, 2014

No idea why but the title made me think of this:

melvinsunsmokedcastello · Dec 18, 2014

Forward cant will grow on you..

fishnbanjo · Dec 18, 2014

I have one with not as severe a cant as yours but it's a fine smoker, I think yours will grow on you, enjoy.

banjo

misterlowercase · Dec 18, 2014

Thanks Banjo,

I've been impressed so far at how well it smokes,

it's growin' on me pretty damn quick!

Yours looks really nice, especially the cumberland stem, it's got a great contrast stain too!

: puffy

:

Got Me A Gamboni - - - PAD Attack!

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