Just one guy's opinion

[sixmp]

philobeddoe maybe i misread your post but man does it read like a snob. You state that when you grew up that the stereotype of the yokel had a huge effect on you. Which made you keep away from them. You then state that they are not the equal to briar.

Also you describe the main difference of cob vs briar as one is smoked by a Yokel and the other is smoked by a debonair and stately person...
Seriously dude. If you kept away from them how would you know?

After rereading your post i cannot tell if you are being serious or not.

but please don't attack someone who was only looking out for the best interests of new smokers.

If someone is trying to help new smokers imo they would try and help new smokers make their own mind up in regards to what pipe to try. Rather than stating than one pipe is superior to the other. People are so different that the true disservice would be to turn them away from something they could like because YOU don't like it.

 

[sparroa]

Philo,
I don't think one person has knocked cigrmaster in this thread! I respect him and his opinion, but we differ and that is fine and dandy. Nor do I think that anyone has been attacked. I am sorry if you feel that way. This is what I would call a debate and that is what makes a thread worth reading instead of all hands just patting each other on the back and agreeing with one another...
No offense, but your example of the "difference" between a briar and a cob is pure snobbery. Literally, the textbook definition. From freedictionary.com, snobbery is defined as "the trait of condescending to those of lower social status".
And I quote: 'When I was a young boy and men still walked the streets smoking pipes, these men were generally well dressed and always smoking a briar, the only time I ever saw a corn cob pipe was on Hee Haw. The very idea of a corn cob pipe was seen as a marker of a yokel, all my life on television, if you wanted to brand someone as a yokel you dressed them in bib overalls, put a corn cob in they're mouth and a banjo in they're hands. As a young piper I wanted to be seen as debonair and stately so I picked up a briar Dr. Grabow at the local drug store, learned how to smoke it and never looked back. I'm not saying cobs are bad or unfit , but they are not now, nor have they ever been, the equal of the briar.'
That whole post outlines your negative preconceptions about the aesthetics and the image of the rustic corn cob pipe. It says nothing about their performance or their smokeability - it is all about looks. The implication is (though you may not have meant it that way) that all who smoke cobs are yokels.
Now, Philo, I hope you do not interpret this as an attack, because I do not mean it in that way - I am just calling it like I see it.
Once more, I agree that cigrmaster is looking out for other pipe smokers with his suggestion BUT I don't think that it is the right prescription for everyone - cobs suit plenty of people just fine, so I don't think it is a disservice to newcomers by recommending a cob. Perhaps we should all give them the information that each pipe material has unique properties, and that they all impart a different character to the tobacco.
That way, if their cob/briar/meerschaum experience does not work out then they should know that they have other options.
YMMV!

 

[ssjones]

As I mentioned earlier, the pipe has to be attractive by my tastes to enjoy it. For myself, a cob doesn't work. I have a cob, everyone should have at least tried one. I'm sure as mentioned, the cheap stem didnt help enjoy that experience. I never felt inclined to having a good stem made for it.

I usually recommend a quality estate pipe in the $40-$50 or so range. If that doesnt meet their budget, a cob with a good stem is next.

I think a new smoker who purchases an $800 Castellor or similar is probably wasting their money. Poor experiences smoking a pipe are almost always due to inexperienced technique. The best briar in the world wont help that situation. A new smoker should rather learn how to smoke properly. Find out what shapes and style pipes suits them and what blends they enjoy. Then, once those lessons are learned, go out and buy pipes that fit your budget.

 

[judcole]

Excellent posts by numbersix and msandoval858; the latter is especially thought provoking, since he worked in a B&M.

Who defines what a "high end pipe" is?

Well,if you are doing a general definition for the hobby, you are talking about hand made pipes that cost several hundred dollars,new.

Now, it may be that those pipes are out of the range of a lot of us here, but that's still what high-end pipe is. Things like Petes and Stans and Savenellis are good quality, mid-range machine mades, and that may be all most of us can afford. But I will bet that a lot of us could afford more expensive pipes if we kept our rotations smaller. Instead of buying 4 $100 Stanwells, we could buy 1 handmade, for example. That's what I would do, if I was younger and starting out in the hobby.

 

[brewshooter]

Pfft, you guys REALLY want to do good service to someone interested in starting, then ask them a few questions:
Do you enjoy the thought of constantly spending money on that next pipe you just HAVE to have?

Do you light your cigars with sawbucks, because that's the way you roll?

Regarding your other hobbies/interests, can you take 'em or leave 'em?

Do you ENJOY obsessing?
If they answer NO to any of these, you might want to tell them to reconsider. Can I get a witness from the congregation?! :wink:
Brewshooter Re-re-re-re-reverse snob!

 

[photoman13]

Smokindragon cobs! Everybody wins!

 

[pipeinhand]

I usually stay off threads that potentially turn into flame wars with someone telling everyone to FO and they are NEVER coming back and telling Kevin to delete their accounts, but there are some points here that need to be explored and here is my strategy to giving someone the gift of tobacco smoking.
1. When you are starting out the tobacco should be the star because no matter how well the pipe smokes if the tobacco is shit, so will the smoke be.
2. I always tell someone new to go to a B&M and hang out, or volunteer to take them there, to fondle the pipes ask questions about ones that catch their eye.
3. I always give out cobs, because they are so benign to the tobacco, see number 1 but, with that I show them, or explain to them what the hobby has, briar, meer, cob, woods etc.
4. When someone starts out his or her taste in pipes may not, and are probably not like yours, so a good briar may be lost on someone that would go towards a meer.
5. I never say ‘this is what you need’, because it may not be. See number 4.
6. I give samples or recommend English and Aro’s to them so they can choose.
I do give cobs, because of number 3 and if it is online I too would recommend a cob because of number 1, and a cob will not kill the nuances of tobacco the way a briar can if it is a bad piece of wood, an unknown factor in a cheaper pipe. Remember this is just a start into a world of different opportunities in our hobby, and by picking the lowest common denominator, it allows someone to explore them as they begin to love the tobacco.
I understand the comments about only being an opinion and the preceding are mine.
EDIT: I also have a few +$800 pipes, but it doesn't make me a better smoker. I read the cartoon in Kevin's post, it would crack me up if both were smoking Carter Hall.

 

[cigrmaster]

Wow, lot's of great posts and a great discussion.
Simenon, if you go back and read thoroughly, you will see definite attacks. One called me a cyber bully, another called me a snob, it is no big deal, I am a big boy and can handle criticism very easily. I certainly never expected everyone to agree or disagree. As stated before my intentions are to be helpful, some will thank me, others will think I am nuts.
Eric, I know how to smoke, I know how to pack a pipe, I know how to dry my tobacco perfectly so it burns perfectly, the cob I smoked was wet and hot. It took away the flavors of my favorite blends, I did not enjoy it. Your opinion is that cobs are better than briar, that is fine, you are entitled to it, but you continually state that opinion as fact, you continually state that a cob has a better airway than a briar, that is not true. I don't know what type of briars you have smoked but all of mine have great airways that allow me to enjoy my pipes. Just because a cob has a huge airway does not mean that it is better. I have sold briar pipes where the airway was too large. Just because it is big, that does not make it better. Now to your tastes bigger is better, and that is cool, but to continually state as fact that cobs are superior to briar because the airway is so huge, is in my opinion doing a disservice to new smokers. Just say I love cobs and if you try one you also might love them.

 

[crpntr1]

I was going to stay away from this post since my opinions arent very well recieved lately, but I just read another post by a brand new member here and how he picked up an aro blend and a MM on his way home from work and fell in love, and now hes waiting for his two "new" estate briars to show up. Would you say that he was wrong in the way that he started?? MY OPINION is that he was spot on, because it worked for him. I didnt start with a cob, not because I'd feel like a "yokel", altho I probly am one" I didnt start with a quality briar either tho..I couldn't see spending $70+ once I had pipe baccy tool cleaners and etc..then not even like it, so I got a el cheapo walnut wood pipe, PA soft vanilla, and a nail from my nail gun, then I fell in love with it. After that I found out how much better it could be with the right "equipment". I do have a cob, it does have a replacement stem since they are crap, but in gen I will suggest a cob to a new smoker simply because of my experience. A cob BTW would have been better IMHO than the walnut one I got.

I'm not sure how suggesting an inexpensive alternative is a disservice anymore than a "coolador" for good cigars frankly...if it works it works, if not chunk it in the trash.

 

[cigrmaster]

chris, you are right, no one cares about your opinion. Now shut up. :nana:
What idiot told you to keep cigars in a cooler, he doesn't know jack. You need a 5000.00 Prometheus if you want your cigars to stay pristine.

 

[spartan]

Everyone has a right to their opinion and I thank you for sharing yours CigrMaster.
In responce to your OP....

"recommending a cob is a disservice" to new pipe smokers

I think that information should be presented to a new pipe smoker in a way that gives them a general idea of the popular views of the pipe smoking community with as little personal bias as possible, and then let the new pipe smoker make their decision off of that information. Letting someone know that, whichever medium in which they choose to smoke pipe tobacco, a briar pipe is the most popular method is acceptable as long as they know the general pros and cons of each kind of pipe.

I believe their first few pipes should be quality briars

I agree. I also think that people should buy the best pipe they can afford. Not specifically a briar pipe.

Cobs are not a substitute for a quality briar or meer

I agree. Simple statement. A horse is not substitute for a car. They are merely diffent.

They can and do burn hot, they can and do smoke wet,

I respectfully disagree. Your experience with cobs was not my own. Cool, dry, and light was my experience.

a new pipe smoker is much better served buying quality briar as their first pipes so they can really get the full benefits of the blends they are smoking.

I must politely disagree yet again. I don't enjoy one type of pipe over the other, but instead appreciate the differences they bring to the table. I would never tell someone that a briar is the better medium, but I would inform them that it is the most widely used.

I believe we will get more people who stick with their pipes if we recommend a quality pipe for them to enjoy their blends in.

I agree. A quality briar, cob, meerchaum, clay, etc.
I do believe it to be common sense that when doing anything, you're experience will be much more enjoyable using quality everything. As long as the message is quality, and not "briar is the best of the best".
All this being said, I started with a brair pipe because when one thinks pipe...one thinks briar. 8)
Thank you for spurring the interesting discussion CigrMaster.

 

[cigrmaster]

Spartan, great post, looking at how you broke down my post, I could have communicated my opinions differently. You make some good points. Thanks for adding to the discussion.

 

[crpntr1]

What idiot told you to keep cigars in a cooler

just a yokel I know in Florida..

 

[taerin]

You misunderstand Cigarmaster, I never ment to state anything as fact and never do, everything I say is only my opinion. Also even GL Pease has stated that he didn't know the best way to pack a pipe... I was simply implying that something you were doing resulted in a sub-par performance of your pipe, not that you couldn't pack a bowl, who would say that? It would be insulting, I don't go around insulting others. Mabey your packing method works better on a briar with a smaller opening, who knows. Just saying the performance seems to improve a lot because of the better draw. I have never heard of a briar being that open, which seems like it could be fact (of course there's some exotic designs out there) My others pipes was a Prerepublic Peterson Kapet (1930's) and is a Peterson Standard System 305. the System without a filter has excellent draw, but nothing can really compare to a good cob in that department. So anyway cigar take it down a notch, don't assume I am out here to feel right, important, or to take something out on you; that is not something I would do. I'm not offended by you as I do not believe you have any bad intent towards me, I just wanted to let you know that I am not here to upset others.
What I am really interested in is trying out a good Meer and seeing how that compares to a briar/cob.

 

[cigrmaster]

Eric, no offense taken and I am sorry if I came at you too strong. Castello is a company that is known for their wide open draws. I had 2 GG's that were so wide open that no matter how hard I packed them I could get no resistance, I did not like the way they smoked. I did however love many other of my Castello's because the wide open draw was just right. I love a wide open draw, but not too wide, I get a much better smoke out of a pipe like that than with a small opening. I would be willing to bet that your old Peterson has a very small airway, pipes of that era are known for that feature. I think you would love smoking a Castello because of their wide open draws. I am not very knowledgeable on meers, but the two I have are pretty small airways wise, which maybe one of the reasons I rarely smoke them.
It could very well be that the cob I purchased is not good for flakes. There are other pipes in my collection that I do not smoke flakes in for one reason or another. I think certain blends go better with certain pipes and maybe if I try an aromatic in the cob I will get a better result.

 

[photoman13]

Both of you might like storient's meers. Good wide open draw. But that is another story. So after reading this thread there is a 50 50 split pretty much.

 

[crpntr1]

since you're now dicussing blends in cobs...the only thing I do really like to smoke in a cob is burley. McBs London Burley Blend especially, or just good ole PA or CH. The corny flavor that a new cob adds to these, again IMO, is great

 

[taerin]

@cigarmaster I think with me, since I've smoked so much open draw cobs, I'm the other way around, I have had more trouble packing the briar than the cobs and seem to get more out of the cobs as a result of knowing how to pack them better than the briar. Your guess was dead on the money on the older Pete, I would have sent it to Walker Briar Works to have it opened, but I found out rather quickly I hate straight pipes and just sold it instead. The brair that made it though seemed very high quality.
Next briar I get will be custom made for a real good draw, Oom Paul sitter design with an ebonite stem, I definatley do not hate briars at all for sure. As for the flakes, I have yet to have much experiance with them. I am just starting to get into them and lack the experiance to comment in this area in any meaningful way. All I can say is the cob does a fine job on the PS Luxery Bullseye Flake, but then it is not much of a traditional flake design.
I smoke everything in cobs: Aros, VA, English, you name it... Haven't found a tobacco that doesn't work well in it so far.

 

[brewshooter]

since you're now dicussing blends in cobs...the only thing I do really like to smoke in a cob is burley. McBs London Burley Blend especially, or just good ole PA or CH. The corny flavor that a new cob adds to these, again IMO, is great

Uh, Chris, I think you were warned once, shu-ut u-u-p!!! :P :wink:

 

[bigvan]

"I look for ease of use and an unaltered flavor most of the time. Meerschaum and cobs do this better than briar in my opinion"
"The corny flavor that a new cob adds to these, again IMO, is great"
So a cob both adds flavor and unalters it?