When to buy a high grade pipe

[Ben.R.C]

I currently have 4 mid grade 100-150 dollar pipes. I’ve got my eye on a couple of lower end high grades but I know I still have a lot to learn with my current pipes. I’d likely trade in a couple of the mid grades and buy one in the 200-350 price range. My reasons for doing this are the pipe looks a lot better and it’s much bigger. I definitely want a bigger pipe. Also curious if it actually smokes better!

Thoughts on waiting or going for it?

 

[warren]

Your wallet ... your decision. If I find a pipe which meets my criteria, I buy it. But, I never go out and visit shops with the idea that I'm gonna purchase a pipe.

 

[anotherbob]

Some pipes smoke better then others, but that's more a matter of taste then a universally agreed thing. What makes a bigger difference (unless a pipe is junk) is the smoker. The price has little to do with how it will smoke. The price has more to do with standards (many just aesthetic, such as grain or obvious fills) and difficulties or time it takes to make the pipe. But the internals are pretty limited in how good they can make a smoke. I think if you're expecting the money to buy a better smoke you'll be disappointed, if you're expecting a pipe you like more because you like the way it looks or feels you'll be happy.
I've had one bad pipe ever. All my pipes smoke differently but none really better then the others just different.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

We have differing opinions on mid to high grade costs. But, the amount of money you spend on a pipe isn't going to keep getting you better and better smoking pipes. You do reach a point where the attention to detail in the button and aesthetics is going to be worth it, but then you plateau from there. When you buy high grade you are mostly buying the design, artistry, and pieces of history, but not necessarily climbing the ladder of better smokability. It may very well be that you can get a great smoker for $100-150. YMMV

 

[litup]

As Warren said, it's your money so it's your decision. But here are my two cents: it sounds like you've got your eye on a few pipes right now. How would you feel if one or more got purchased by someone else before you bought it? If that idea doesn't bother you in the least, then I probably wouldn't buy them. I'm trying to only buy pipes that check all the boxes for me: size, shape, and aesthetics.

Personally, if I had only four pipes right now, I don't think I'd trade in two of them for one higher-priced pipe. I value the diversity of choice.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

You can get bigger pipes that don't cost over $150. I've got pipes that cost less than $150 I consider high quality pipes that do their job just as well as pipes that cost more. Anything over that? Could be a really old estate that commands a higher price, a commission, impulse, aesthetics, Peterson sucks me in, who knows. So many things go into subjective decisions about "value".

I listened to Chris Morgan on the site podcast this morning and now . . . . a "Bones" pipe ($45) on the way. I predict it will smoke great and I'll probably have about 5 seconds where I question why I just don't have one $45 pipe, lol, but it will pass.

Buy what you like and if it is a bigger and better looking to you pipe, go for it. Smokes better? Only one way to find out!

 

[Ben.R.C]

Some pipes smoke better then others, but that's more a matter of taste then a universally agreed thing. What makes a bigger difference (unless a pipe is junk) is the smoker. The price has little to do with how it will smoke. The price has more to do with standards (many just aesthetic, such as grain or obvious fills) and difficulties or time it takes to make the pipe. But the internals are pretty limited in how good they can make a smoke. I think if you're expecting the money to buy a better smoke you'll be disappointed, if you're expecting a pipe you like more because you like the way it looks or feels you'll be happy.
I've had one bad pipe ever. All my pipes smoke differently but none really better then the others just different.

Some pipes smoke better then others, but that's more a matter of taste then a universally agreed thing. What makes a bigger difference (unless a pipe is junk) is the smoker. The price has little to do with how it will smoke. The price has more to do with standards (many just aesthetic, such as grain or obvious fills) and difficulties or time it takes to make the pipe. But the internals are pretty limited in how good they can make a smoke. I think if you're expecting the money to buy a better smoke you'll be disappointed, if you're expecting a pipe you like more because you like the way it looks or feels you'll be happy.
I've had one bad pipe ever. All my pipes smoke differently but none really better then the others just different.

Right, it may be enough of a reason just for getting a significantly bigger pipe. I definitely see that most of my issues are due to smoking too fast or drying or packing tobacco quite right. It’s getting better though.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Just remember that scarcity/collectibility is almost the entire driving factor in pipe prices.
Good pipes don't necessarily cost a lot, expensive pipes aren't necessarily good (of course what makes a "good" pipe is a huge bag of worms on its own).
If you're just experimenting with the idea of smoking larger bowls then it would be hard to go wrong with the Rossi Lucca series.
There are always a variety of large pipes coming and going at Smokingpipes.com, the pipe finder is your friend:

The Pipe Locator

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[greysmoke]

FWIW at the price range you're considering it's possible to commission a unique pipe to your specifications. I've purchased four such over the past couple of decades, beginning with this one from Paul Bonaquisti. (He now spells his name "Bonacquisti," but as you can see from the pipe sock that wasn't always the case.) A friend of mine owned an Ashton prince that I admired but he wouldn't part with it. So I asked Paul to make a prince with a similar bowl shape and size, but an oval Canadian stem. I don't remember what I paid for my "Canadian Prince," but the last custom pipe I ordered was from Mark Tinsky for somewhere in the $275 range. Prices can vary for different shapes, sizes, and finishes. Just something more to think about.

 

[Ben.R.C]

Just remember that scarcity/collectibility is almost the entire driving factor in pipe prices.
Good pipes don't necessarily cost a lot, expensive pipes aren't necessarily good (of course what makes a "good" pipe is a huge bag of worms on its own).
If you're just experimenting with the idea of smoking larger bowls then it would be hard to go wrong with the Rossi Lucca series.
There are always a variety of large pipes coming and going at Smokingpipes.com, the pipe finder is your friend:

The Pipe Locator

www.smokingpipes.com

Honestly, I just want go up enough to get pipes I like size wise and esthetically, and hopefully they smoke well. I’m looking at an estate Ser Jacobo for 285

 

[jaytex1969]

If you feel like you've mastered the basics and are unlikely to damage a "nice" pipe through neglect or poor technique, then buy whatever pipe you feel will satisfy you.

You have a Savinelli, a Peterson, a Moonshine and a Neerup, that I can see just on a quick review.

Those are all well regarded makes. All of my Savinelli pipes and most of my Petersons smoke well.

Spending more won't guarantee a great smoke, but, in general, a higher price usually lowers the odds of a dud.

If you are buying new in the "higher end" market, most will stand behind their product. You should confirm their policy for return if you are dissatisfied.

Most of my smokes are quite satisfactory in pipes costing $50-150.

If you are wanting something "special" consider a commission, as mentioned above.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jaytex1969]

Also, check the forum sponsors in the links on the left side of this screen.

I've had very good luck with several of them.

 

[FLDRD]

FWIW, my experience benefitted tremendously by getting lots of different styles and sizes of estate pipes closer to the $40-70 (and even less when possible. I recall an $11 win on Ebay) range and learning the differences each pipe provides, and then, to the best of my ability, determining why.

Straight/bent; chamber size; draft hole size; filter/non-filter, "dry" systems, etc. Lots of subtle variations to learn about. Sometimes you learn you hate something, sometimes you're pleasantly surprised about what seems to work for you.

At the same time I was able to notice that different blends functioned quite differently in these pipes.

I personally feel it was the variety of pipes that helped me learn how to become more proficient in my process so that I was able to "overcome" some of those little variables and to better master my tobacco.

The end result being that the pipe now has less effect on me, and I have more effect on the pipe. But I'm continually honing in on what I prefer.

For example, I found that I truly enjoy a P-lip. A controversial topic to say the least, but controversial because it has an effect. You only learn what that effect is, and whether or not it is for you, by trying it.

I would not have wished to learn all that on the $ pipes you're referencing, but that's just me.

Good luck.
Oh, and cobs. Cheap-ass cobs were in the mix as well.

 

[briarblues]

As a pipe seller, I'd ask .... are your current pipes smoking well for you? If so then sit back, relax, and enjoy what you have. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Pipes in your current collections price range are good well made pipes, I assume. Price does not mean it will smoke "better". Maybe what you're looking at has nicer grain, but grain means nothing as far as how well a pipe smokes.

Mike

 

[Ben.R.C]

FWIW, my experience benefitted tremendously by getting lots of different styles and sizes of estate pipes closer to the $40-70 (and even less when possible. I recall an $11 win on Ebay) range and learning the differences each pipe provides, and then, to the best of my ability, determining why.

Straight/bent; chamber size; draft hole size; filter/non-filter, "dry" systems, etc. Lots of subtle variations to learn about. Sometimes you learn you hate something, sometimes you're pleasantly surprised about what seems to work for you.

At the same time I was able to notice that different blends functioned quite differently in these pipes.

I personally feel it was the variety of pipes that helped me learn how to become more proficient in my process so that I was able to "overcome" some of those little variables and to better master my tobacco.

The end result being that the pipe now has less effect on me, and I have more effect on the pipe. But I'm continually honing in on what I prefer.

For example, I found that I truly enjoy a P-lip. A controversial topic to say the least, but controversial because it has an effect. You only learn what that effect is, and whether or not it is for you, by trying it.

I would not have wished to learn all that on the $ pipes you're referencing, but that's just me.

Good luck.
Oh, and cobs. Cheap-ass cobs were in the mix as well.

I think this si sound advise and it might be good

FWIW, my experience benefitted tremendously by getting lots of different styles and sizes of estate pipes closer to the $40-70 (and even less when possible. I recall an $11 win on Ebay) range and learning the differences each pipe provides, and then, to the best of my ability, determining why.

Straight/bent; chamber size; draft hole size; filter/non-filter, "dry" systems, etc. Lots of subtle variations to learn about. Sometimes you learn you hate something, sometimes you're pleasantly surprised about what seems to work for you.

At the same time I was able to notice that different blends functioned quite differently in these pipes.

I personally feel it was the variety of pipes that helped me learn how to become more proficient in my process so that I was able to "overcome" some of those little variables and to better master my tobacco.

The end result being that the pipe now has less effect on me, and I have more effect on the pipe. But I'm continually honing in on what I prefer.

For example, I found that I truly enjoy a P-lip. A controversial topic to say the least, but controversial because it has an effect. You only learn what that effect is, and whether or not it is for you, by trying it.

I would not have wished to learn all that on the $ pipes you're referencing, but that's just me.

Good luck.
Oh, and cobs. Cheap-ass cobs were in the mix as well.

i need to get used to buying on eBay, if I decide to branch out in more pipe types that seems like the way to go. At the moment, I like the idea of finding a few nice ones I like and focusing on tobacco, not pipes.

 

[Ben.R.C]

As a pipe seller, I'd ask .... are your current pipes smoking well for you? If so then sit back, relax, and enjoy what you have. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Pipes in your current collections price range are good well made pipes, I assume. Price does not mean it will smoke "better". Maybe what you're looking at has nicer grain, but grain means nothing as far as how well a pipe smokes.

Mike

Yep, I don’t really like how my pipes look compared to the fancy ones but they all smoke great honestly

 

[Grangerous]

I definitely want a bigger pipe. Also curious…

Aye. We all want a bigger pipe, Lad.

 

[dcicero]

I've never smoked a $150+ dollar pipe, but I've owned a couple in the 100 range. Today, my most expensive is 80, the rest under 50. To me, it's not the cost but if it works for you. I'm happy cheaper ones have given me great smokes. I smoke 2008 Jersey in a $10 cob and damn its great.

 

[Grangerous]

I’d say purchase one immediately after buying a $48 Rossi. (Rossi is owned by Savinelli). Then, compare a $400 pipe and try to convince yourself that it smokes any better.

 

[Ben.R.C]

Aye. We all want a bigger pipe, Lad.