This, IMHO, is the right answer.Last thought. In today's environment, I'd be focused on buying more of my favorite blends to cellar, over buying an expensive pipe.
This, IMHO, is the right answer.Last thought. In today's environment, I'd be focused on buying more of my favorite blends to cellar, over buying an expensive pipe.
Yes, that’s it. I have sub- $100 pipes that smoke as well as my $300 Ardor or my Dunhill. But... those pipes are pretty nice just to look at without even smoking them!Yeah, the "smoking experience" is a broad thing, so the answer is a qualified "yes". Better pipes have better stems, and in some cases (but not all) better mechanics/engineering inside and better wood. There's a reason people line up for good pipes, and it's because they are, generally, more pleasant to smoke. Less gurgle, fewer weird flavors, and as noted, a more comfortable bit, sometimes by a wide margin. Smoking technique is still important, and a good pipe given to a rank beginner will probably not help them much. But someone familiar with pipes will see an improved overall experience, is my experience. One of the reasons I got into pipe making is that I had certain pipes that looked great and smoked terribly, and other pipes that smoked fantastic, and I wanted to understand why, or how that could be - they are pretty simple after all. And I think most of the people making pipes in any serious sort of capacity these days really do "get it" in terms of how to build them.
I find that after the $100 price point, the smoking qualities sort of plateau and you get more refined looks. My old GBD's that I paid $20-$40 for smoke as well as my Radices and Tinskys.
But would you rather find out then that it's not a good smoker and have it cast a shadow on the grand event, or smoke it fully broken in to better enhance the grand event? ?I think I'll save the Peterson Sherlock for some grand event worth celebrating.. it seems deserving of that.
But would you rather find out then that it's not a good smoker and have it cast a shadow on the grand event, or smoke it fully broken in to better enhance the grand event? ?
I've had nothing but positive experiences with Peterson, but man their critics are rough! I have a few pipes I keep just to look at. My wife got me an unsmoked Preben Holm Hallmark that I get out from time to time just to admire.I can wait
I doubt it'll be a bad smoker since it's a Peterson. But I have backup pipes if it ends up bad!
Don't forget the crazies that collect crystal and mineral skulls.In the end, a pipe is a piece of wood and plastic, in which a little bit of the maker’s heart and soul are sometimes captured. As long as the stuffy baccy and sucky wucky holes are both drilled right and the holdy end doesn’t get too hot and the bitey end is comfy in the pearlie-wearlies, it’s gonna smoke pretty much okay, regardless of whether it’s a $20 pipe or the $18,765 Exhibit A in divorce court.
The chief difference between the two is, I think, all in the I Feel So Pretty effect. You’re holding something that makes you feel like a million bucks and that gives you a little dopamine jumpstart, of course it’s gonna feel like it smokes better...until the novelty wears off, you get bored with it, and then realize it’s basically a fancy Dr. Grabow that costs more than an used Hyundai Prolapse, Ford Stercus, or Kia Shart.
I’m perfectly content with $150-$200 factory pipes and don’t begrudge the tastes of high-end pipe collectors. Some people collect glass eyeballs, some people collect baseball cards, some people collect expensive old paintings of delightfully zaftig ladies in the altogether, and some people collect high end pipes. It’s a beautiful world with room for all tastes!
This brings me to a somewhat sad realization. I bought a Peterson Sherlock some time ago and upon receiving it, felt it looked too nice to be smoked.. so it sits in a box while my $30-$60 pipes get daily use lol.
I think I'll save the Peterson Sherlock for some grand event worth celebrating.. it seems deserving of that.
This brings me to a somewhat sad realization. I bought a Peterson Sherlock some time ago and upon receiving it, felt it looked too nice to be smoked.. so it sits in a box while my $30-$60 pipes get daily use lol.
I think I'll save the Peterson Sherlock for some grand event worth celebrating.. it seems deserving of that.
In Eskisehir, in person, it is easy to buy a quality, decent sized meerschaum at €40-€55, directly from the artist. Anything above that is artistry. The reason we pay $250 is because of the sheer number of middle men, in and out of country, each with their own markup, not the cost of material.For morta and meer, which are more expensive materials, I would move the price point to 200-250$ for brand new unless you can find some closout deals.
As a bassist, I can follow the musical instrument analogy. For me, a cheap instrument does not sound or feel good under the hands. My hands are the ones that really pick up on the difference. After playing for over 30 years, I can feel the higher-end instrument play like butter in my fretting hand (obviously it's a setup issue but I've found the higher end instruments take to a much lower action than cheap basses). Maybe it's like this for pipe smokers too? It just feels differently in the hand and mouth and draws just a little differently???
my falcon isn't my best smoker, though it's the best smoker for the price. They're a great pipe. A pipe that smokes great, the gimmick actually works, they look kinda cool though also kinda lame, and it's a pipe that if you drop into a deep lake you won't have to cry about it and apologize to your bank account.I endorse everything you say. I've been a pipe smoker since 1972 and tried almost every popular brand and they have been a hit-and- miss affair. While this may be heresy, I've found that my falcons are the most consistently good smokers. My theory is that the good quality but small briar ebauchons are available to falcon. Any thoughts?