And While We're On The Topic Of Pipe Reviews...

[ohin3]

Chopz posted a question about the lower end Tsuges and I voiced my curiosity about the pipes as well. Now some other pipes that I have wondered about and looked at but never bought due to inexperience with that particular pipe maker:
Newer GBDs? I know that older GBDs have quite he reputation for being good smokers, but who has a newer GBD and what do you think about it?
Newer Chacoms? Chacom has been really catching my eye lately. Especially their army mounts. I am curious about their smoking characteristics and about this new bit syle:

Sebastien Beo? Love the Aesthetic but know nothing about the smoking qualities.
Neerup? Very well priced, but no idea about their smoking qualities.
Vauen? Also very well priced and aesthetically pleasing but no idea about their smoking qualities.
I'm sure there are more, but that's about all I can think of at the moment. If anyone has any experience with any of these pipe please offer up your opinions. Thanks all.
Cheers.
Ps.) If anyone would like to purchase that Chacom and send it to me so that I can post an official review for everyone's benefit, my address is .....

 

[pufferissimo]

Pure pipe porn there ohin...

 

[bigvan]

I know what you mean... there are so many interesting makers, where to start? Here are my two cents:
Newer GBDs haven’t really impressed me. Generic, factory made pipes. To me, they're nothing special.

Not much experience with newer Chacoms, but I agree about the stems. Very interesting.

Sebastian Beo pipes seem very interesting. A bit on the small side for my liking though, which is probably why I haven’t pulled the trigger on one yet.

Neerup pipes are an excellent value. I bought a Neerup about 5 years ago and his work, in my opinion, has only improved.

I have never been too impressed with Vauen. Most of the ones I’ve seen require filters, and to me they just seem boring.
As you can tell, I do have a bit of a bias against generic, factory made pipes.

 

[ssjones]

I haven't heard many favorable comments regarding the Chacom, but they sure look nice.
I have one newer GBD and it is an OK pipe, but a pale comparison to my older (70's era) GBD's.

 

[mluyckx]

Chacom: I had two. One old, one new. Got rid of it. They look fantastic, but haven't found them to be particularly good smokers.
New GBD: I've been looking at one and asked the same question a week or so ago (thread here http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/new-gbd-pipes-any-experiences). The reviews seem to be mixed out there. To summarize: Jaysin, PaPipeGuy and Igloo had good experiences, Al was so-so and HnryClay would stay away. In the mean time, I got sucked into a Lane era Charatan and the Pete Flame Grain. Perhaps next month the GBD will win out. :rofl:
No comments on the rest. Good luck.

 

[lordnoble]

I love my Neerups and will get more when I tame the TAD beast a bit. They both have huge chambers; big enough to fit my thumb in, and smoke wonderfully.
-Jason

 

[jchaplick]

I have a chacom, brand new, that I just smoked, not too great right now, but I feel like its getting better. Pm me in a few weeks and ill give you an update, im still breaking it in really, still doing half bowls, probably on my 20th half bowl.
Have been told new GBD's stink
Have been recommended Neerups several times by several people, so they cant be too bad

 

[lonestar]

Neerup gets two big thumbs up.

All the years he worked for Nording were well spent.

 

[arinbjorn]

Earlier up in this thread someone asked about Sebastien Beo pipes. I recently bought a sandblasted rhodesian from SP and have really been happy with it. Small chamber, but sturdy pipe. The tennon/mortise joint is really super tight... might take some super fine sand paper and just sand off a very light layer from the tennon.
It's one of the few pipes I've ever had that has just made virginia flakes taste fantastic from the first bowl, though. Says Algerian briar on the shank.
I would buy another one of these Beos. It's like a mix between an artisan pipe and a factory pipe. I'm too scared to take my really nice pipes outside of the house where they can be damaged and whatnot... so this is a fine compromise for me, in the end. Funnelled bit, 4 mm air way, chamfered tennon... aint half bad for the money, in my book.

 

[philip]

Of the pipes mentioned I only have a Vauen.

It is not as heavy as it looks. It has smoked very well right from its first smoke. It takes a 9mm filter, which will turn many off here. So I decided to dedicate it to Va/Per blends which in my experience tend to smoke a bit hot anyway, so I think the filter helps give a cool smoke.
It has always smoked right down to the ashes without any gurgle and without relights. I'm not sure how much of that is due to the pipe and how much to the tobacco I am smoking. I am finishing up a tin of Villiger 1888 After Dinner. It is well worth trying.

 

[maineyachtie]

Man, there's a couple of wicked sweet pipes on this thread.
@ohin3: I love the military mount with that prince shape.

 

[brass]

My little Sebastian Beo Rhodesian is probably my favorite smoker. It is my first choice for flakes and I plan on picking up a Beo bulldog next. The tenon on mine was a little loose on receipt but I was able to fix that following directions found on this site.

 

[mso489]

I have two recent Chacoms bought new, and I find them excellent pipes. I also like my other French pipes,

a Vuillard, two BC's, and a Jobey, plus the first pipe I ever bought that is 35 plus years old, a Tinder Box

St. Ives, that was a French-made house pipe, maybe also a Chacom. My Chacom zulu blast resembles

a Dunhill zulu in a pleasing way and smokes great; thin bowl gets hot, but not in a problematical way.