Articles by Gabriel Bass | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

Top Resources For Pipe Smokers

January 18, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

38 Comments

Pipe smoking, though quite traditional in some ways, is still an ever-changing hobby. From new tobaccos, to ultra-rare stampings or shapes, to the latest up-and-coming carvers, there's quite a lot to keep track of. How do we juggle it all? ... Read More

David Bowie and Pipes: The Mystery of The Bewlay Brothers

January 6, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

10 Comments

In 1971, David Bowie returned to the studio to begin work on a follow-up to The Man Who Sold the World. While many consider that album to be a classic today, it was a commercial failure on its release, and the pressure was on to produce a hit, or at least something that would make it onto the charts. Hunky Dory's ... Read More

Pipe-Smoking Holiday Gift Guide 2022

November 25, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

2 Comments

The holiday season approaches again, with its promise of family gatherings and the rush to find perfect gifts for our loved ones. Pipe smokers can be difficult to shop for, considering the sheer breadth and depth of the tobaccos, pipes, and accouterments on offer from the many purveyors of tobacco ephemera. ... Read More

Joe Bussard: The Pipe Smoking King of the Record Collectors

November 24, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

5 Comments

For most people, the name Joe Bussard is unlikely to be familiar, though many of us have been affected by his work. Anyone with an appreciation for early country and blues artists like Jimmie Rodgers, Charley Patton, and the Carter Family, has benefited from Bussard's obsessive passion for music. That passion led him to ... Read More

The Kiseru: An Overview of the Traditional Japanese Smoking Pipe

October 21, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

6 Comments

While Japanese artisan pipes are world-famous for their innovative design and smoking quality, there is a long tradition of pipe culture in the island nation that stretches back over four centuries. Tobacco was introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders in the 1570s and quickly became popular among the wealthy merchant and feudal classes. ... Read More

The History, Manufacture, and Use of Clay Pipes

October 19, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

21 Comments

Long before meerschaum and briar were utilized as pipe-making mediums, clay was the primary material used to make pipes. Clay pipes were at one time ubiquitous, often smoked in taverns, churches, and homes, and even after meerschaum became available, they were the choice of many because meerschaum was expensive. ... Read More

Top 10 Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobaccos for Perique Lovers

October 5, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

7 Comments

In 2022, Cornell and Diehl began an exclusive partnership with 31 Farms, operated by the Roussel family, who have been producing Perique tobacco since the 1700s. The Roussels have a deep connection with the growing and processing of this rare varietal and use the most traditional techniques. The tobacco ... Read More

10 Pipe Tobaccos New Smokers Should Try

September 22, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

10 Comments

For new pipe smokers, the vast number of blends available from today's blenders can be intimidating. On the other hand, it can cause what some refer to as Tobacco Acquisition Disorder, when one buys all the tobacco they can fit in their house. I experienced both in my early days smoking a pipe, going through periods of smoking only ... Read More

Cigars for Pipe Smokers

September 21, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

2 Comments

If you're primarily a pipe smoker like me, the world of premium cigars can be a bit intimidating. With so many different leaf varietals and configurations, not to mention vitolas, one could understandably be hard pressed to know where to start. Luckily, the cigar experts here at Smokingpipes have plenty of knowledge to share with us pipe smokers looking to expand our palates. ... Read More

Rhythm, Blues, and Briar: Stevie Ray Vaughan

August 26, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

13 Comments

Stevie Ray Vaughan's life and musical ability are the stuff of legend, as anyone with a passing familiarity with the blues is likely aware. The virtuoso guitarist mastered his instrument while still a teen, honing his skills in the nightclubs of his native Texas before encountering sudden success after his performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival ... Read More

Gabriel Bass