JT Cooke Yelled At Me
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Come to think of it, when I ordered a pipe from another Vermonter (not a native), I told him exactly what I wanted, down to stain and dimensions and weight, angles, etc. He politely told me that he could make something along those lines if I waited a few months or so. Anyhow, the months went by and I got the pipe in the mail -- it was absolutely gorgeous. I loved it and still do, but it was only vaguely what I had stipulated initially. Only later did I find out that he hates to make an exact copy of a pipe he's already made or follow exact specs like some kind of pipe robot. He had been so polite, gracious and great to deal with throughout the whole process that I felt like a bit of an ass reading his comments about making exact copies. But he was never the least bit rude or brusque about it all and I now have a pipe even better than the one I had "designed" myself. The pipemaker is Andrew Marks.
Pitchfork, you bring up a good point.
If I go to a decent restaurant, with a chef of any renown, I wouldn't tell him what or much seasoning to use. The most I would do is tell him what kind of dishes I like or perhaps mention any strong dislikes, e.g. anchovies. The chef is the artist and I want to taste his creations, not mine.
Even mentioning my dislike may undermine the experience. I hate anchovies but I've had some dishes that included anchovies that I loved.
I took a dislike to Latakia, after being blown over by a couple of Lat bombs. But now, two of my top favorite tobaccos are SG Navy Flake and GLP Quiet Nights, both of which use Lat in delicious proportion to other tobaccos in the blend.
Besides, who wants a copy, even of a classic, when they can have the original? I would specify basic size and materials, perhaps shape, and let the craftsman surprise me with a true one-of-a-kind.
Just thinking. . .
pax
If I go to a decent restaurant, with a chef of any renown, I wouldn't tell him what or much seasoning to use. The most I would do is tell him what kind of dishes I like or perhaps mention any strong dislikes, e.g. anchovies. The chef is the artist and I want to taste his creations, not mine.
Even mentioning my dislike may undermine the experience. I hate anchovies but I've had some dishes that included anchovies that I loved.
I took a dislike to Latakia, after being blown over by a couple of Lat bombs. But now, two of my top favorite tobaccos are SG Navy Flake and GLP Quiet Nights, both of which use Lat in delicious proportion to other tobaccos in the blend.
Besides, who wants a copy, even of a classic, when they can have the original? I would specify basic size and materials, perhaps shape, and let the craftsman surprise me with a true one-of-a-kind.
Just thinking. . .
pax
Oddly, I like to yell at Cooke.
Also, I'm having dinner with his wife this weekend.
In all seriousness though, I have always had great experiences with JT Cooke.
Also, I'm having dinner with his wife this weekend.
In all seriousness though, I have always had great experiences with JT Cooke.
It seems that the greater a carvers reputation, the less input they appreciate on commissions. I guess as kcghost points out, that's their artistic expression. One of the more legendary carvers interviewed by Brian Levine said all he wants is a shape, the rest is up to him. Another said he won't do commission work.
I've only completed one commission, with a fairly new carver. He was pretty open to some very specific suggestions (Royal Oak Briars/Kelly Adylott). He delivered exactly what I was expecting.
I hope to do another with Chris Askwith in 2015.
I've only completed one commission, with a fairly new carver. He was pretty open to some very specific suggestions (Royal Oak Briars/Kelly Adylott). He delivered exactly what I was expecting.
I hope to do another with Chris Askwith in 2015.
There is a certain luxury in meeting the carver face-to-face and seeing what he has on hand, without
committing to anything. Then if I see something I like, already completed and good in every respect,
bingo. No misunderstandings, no wait, there it is. At least, it might be good to keep things indefinite,
maybe send some drawings or pictures, to pin down the fine points. If I felt the carver were being
emotional about the craft and artistry, I might try to talk him down, but if it is just crap, I'd take my
business elsewhere. Anyway, good luck. I hope the pipe is beautifully behaved as its creator is not.
committing to anything. Then if I see something I like, already completed and good in every respect,
bingo. No misunderstandings, no wait, there it is. At least, it might be good to keep things indefinite,
maybe send some drawings or pictures, to pin down the fine points. If I felt the carver were being
emotional about the craft and artistry, I might try to talk him down, but if it is just crap, I'd take my
business elsewhere. Anyway, good luck. I hope the pipe is beautifully behaved as its creator is not.
I'm certain Cooke's a great guy, but the more I think about this interaction the more upset I get. After starting another commission with Parks who's so easy to deal with, I'm not sure I want to deal with Cooke. I sent him an email saying if he'd prefer to refund my money than deal with me, that's fine. No hard feelings. Who, as a customer spending serious cash, wants to feel taken for granted or talked down to? It was said earlier that customer requests, in spite of his mood, can still be dealt with politely. Truer words.... Were I to guess, he'll just refund. Either way, I'm finished feeling embarrassed. I wasn't making impossible requests nor was I changing my mind. The end.
Nate I"m on your side, after giveing him half upfront , Shitbird bows up when you ask a question. I"m civil to everybody from garbage man to people who annoy me. You want a Cooke, buy an estate and you don't have to put up with that crap.
After one email conversation with Cooke about my " off the website pipe " I decided to stick to other carvers. You are not wrong in rejecting Diva behavior on your dime. He is a talented pipe maker who does a legendary blast but there are many others in the US that are just as talented.
I have had the worst time getting just seven panels made . I have a list of carvers who never bothered to reply to emails. Lucky for us there are guys like Parks, Teipen, Layton, Weaver, Alden, and Nelson who make up for it .
I have had the worst time getting just seven panels made . I have a list of carvers who never bothered to reply to emails. Lucky for us there are guys like Parks, Teipen, Layton, Weaver, Alden, and Nelson who make up for it .
Well I sent him a link to this thread. We briefly chatted politely and he's refunding my money. No hard feelings. We simply weren't a good match.
Yeah Parks has been a real joy to work with!!! Our collaboration made me realize Cooke and I weren't on the same page. I already own two of Cookes pipes anyways. The smooth one is 25yrs old, a very early Cooke when he was working for Levine.
Yeah Parks has been a real joy to work with!!! Our collaboration made me realize Cooke and I weren't on the same page. I already own two of Cookes pipes anyways. The smooth one is 25yrs old, a very early Cooke when he was working for Levine.
I am a bit astounded by how the experiences of others with JT Cooke could be so wildly different than my own. I have had bad experiences with artisan carvers, but Mr. Cooke has simply not been one of them. I have always found him very responsive and quite interactive, suggesting changes to a commission that I ultimately thought made the pipe all that much better. I am not denying your experiences - I am just saying that my own have been wildly different.
Wow. Just, wow, lol.
I am just a Johnny Lunchbucket who likes pipes and I doubt Mr. Cooke even knows this forum exists!
I was lead to believe you were the J.Edgar Hoover of this site with secret files on the "Sinister Six". lol :worship:
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