8/6/07, From John, Regarding pipe 0718
Joel,
I have now smoked about everything in this pipe. It never lets me down. Smokes cool and I have yet to have any wet dottle in the bottom. I am definitely a satisfied customer. Great pipe! Thanks much for making it so nicely.
2/27/07, from James in Folsom, CA,
Regarding Pipe 0709
A bit of information and a review on JS pipes.
I began talking with Joel Shapiro here on SF a few months ago. He noticed
that we live near each other and we began PM'ing each other a bit and Joel
kept inviting me to attend a meeting at our local pipe club. I finally took
him up on that and met Joel at the pipe club a few weeks ago. Real nice and
personable guy! I had been eyeballing Joels pipes on his website -
jspipes.com - and had an idea of what his work looked like. He brought a few
pipes to the last couple of meetings and one thing stands out about his
pipes, they are very well put together. I have looked over many expensive
pipes by big name makers that were not as carefully built as Joels pipes.
His attention to detail is obvious when you scrutinize one of his pipes.
Quality lightweight briar, dead-on draft holes, stems that fit perfectly
into the tenons, beautifully executed blasts.
Many photographs of pipes do not reveal the beauty of a pipe, it must be
seen with the naked eye in real light to be appreciated. This too is
something I immediately noticed about Joels pipes. What appears in photos to
be a pipe bearing a modest pattern flowing through a stained canvas becomes,
in the hand, a sea of gorgeous features; bursts of razor thin grain; a flood
of birdseye; natural patterns in the briar that are manipulated in the
carving and shaping of the pipe. It is clear that much thought goes into
each pipe.
I had decided that a certain pipe on Joels website was what I was looking
for - a saddle bit blasted billiard - and I spoke with Joel about buying it.
He invited me to his home to pick it up and we spent a couple of hours in
his workshop where I watched him take a roughed out block of wood and turn
it into a fine dublin shaped pipe. It was quite an enlightening experience
that revealed a couple of truths about this pipe maker.
Back in the 70's there was a band many of you are familiar with. The singer
of the band Lynnard Skynnard was a fellow named Ronnie Van Zant. Ronnie
always performed barefoot and he claimed it was because he felt connected
with the stage this way; unencumbered and free to feel the vibe of the music
and the flow of the show and the creative heat of the performance.
Joel is the barefoot pipe carver
There must be some creative connection thing going on there like it was for
Ronnie Van Zant because in 50 degree weather on a concrete floor Joel
Shapiro was totally comfortable and immersed in his work, hands plying the
tools and bare feet grounded. Too bad Sara Eltang already uses the barefoot
logo, it would be perfect for Joel!
It is said that most people are either right brain or left brain dominant;
either creatively inclined or mathematically inclined. You have an artist or
an engineer. I believe pipe makers must be unique in that they excell at
both. In watching joel work over a two hour period I saw a guy who clearly
has tendencies towards both right and left brain functions. Meticulous
measurements and well thought out patterns of operation on lathe and disk
sander followed by a patient and careful shaping of a rough idea into a
graceful and fluid pipe done with a loving hand and a vision of what can be.
I was truely impressed. I could not forsee how each pass with sandpaper or
chisel would lead to the final lines of this pipe but Joel saw it before it
was there and these pipe carvers, those who build and craft a pipe one at a
time by hand, are true artists
The pipe I bought is pictured below. Smokes like a dream! About a group 4
bowl, thin pencil shank, extremely comfortable bit, gorgoeus ring grain
blast that flows from the bottom of the bowl. It's maiden voyage was Peter
Heinrichs golden slices. It burned slowly and sweetly for a good 90 minutes
while I hung out in Joels shop, never even hinted at a gurgle and a fluffy
cleaner run up the shank in mid smoke - just to have a look - came out
darned near clean as a whistle.
Honestly, with the wealth of fine carvers here in the states it seems silly
to buy a medium grade machine made turned-out-by the gross production pipe
when guys like Joel, Mark Tinsky and Rad Davis are putting out hand made
beauties for only a little more money. I encourage you all to take a hard
look at these craftsmen!!!
11/17/06, from Randy in Columbus, OH
Just a short note to commend you yet again on the fine smoking
characteristics of the JSP pipe in my rotation. Hands down, it is far &
away my best VA pipe (out of 60 pipes & a number of hi-grades). It smokes
them sweeter & with more detail than any pipe I've ever smoked. Is it the
briar that agrees with the tobacco's & my body's chemistry? The
engineering? Not sure. I do know that when both are of good quality, the
probability of a good smoke is greater than a pipe without these
characteristics.
7/21/06, Regarding Pipe 0615:
I have been smoking pipes off and on
for sometime now I started when I was in the Navy at 25.Now I am 41 I have
smoke clay pipes and meerschaum, church warden, Peterson and others. I
received my pipe today 07/21/06 at 730pm when I arrived home from work. I
found the pipe to be in a leather bag and divided into stem and bowl. I
removed it and inserted the stem and admired the shape and the over all
finish. I found it to be very pleasing to the eye, as well as smooth and
without flaw to the touch. The grain of the wood flows in a way that I am
use to seeing in old world woodworking. The fit and form flow well together.
It rest well in the hand. The craftsmanship inside the pipe bowl has almost
a machined finish as from a Mill. Smooth without dig or chatter from a bit
no dust inside from working, well cleaned. No oils or other leftovers from
the bench or finishing. I loaded the bowl with one of my loved tobacco (Torben
Dansk "Blue Notes" by Dan Tobacco C.A.O)packed it well light it off and
eased back into the chair on the back deck and admired the work that had
been done in the back yard early the same morning taking deep long slow
pulls from the pipe with no effort. The next thing I knew it had been 30 min
of R&R and NO RELIGHT! WOW! from top to the bottom a joy to smoke with no
problems!
Joel again Thank you for your fine work! I used to love my Peterson now I love my JSP 0615!!
Patrick
10/06/05, Regarding Pipe 020:
I received the new pipe with pearlized stem
in good order. I have finished 3 bowls and must tell you how pleased I am
with the pipe you crafted. The draw as well as sip/stream is effortless.
I sense no real break-in period. I collect hand made briars and in the last
two years have focused on American crafters. You have made a very nice
pipe. I look forward to your future work. And please add me to your
mailing list.
8/3/05, Regarding Pipe 015:
I recently had the privilege of purchasing a pipe from a new pipemaker on
the scene, Joel Shapiro who produces JSP pipes. Joel is a relative newcomer
to the profession, but his work is that of someone with much broader
experience. The pipe is about 6.5 inches long, a light stained bent Dublin
briar with a variegated gold colored acrylic stem. The flame grain is dense
and the smooth top displays a fair amount of birdseye. It rests easily in
the hand or mouth. Joel does not use any filler on the bowl or shank.
While there were two miniscule sand pits, they in no way affect the
appearance or smoking quality of the pipe. The engineering is outstanding.
The draw is the right size and it takes a pipe cleaner with absolutely no
resistance. The pipe has smoked smoothly, with no bite, from the first
bowl. I've now had six bowls and it just gets better and better. The
overall quality of the pipe is excellent and I highly recommend them. You
can't get a better pipe for the price. Joel also makes beautiful wooden
tampers with a canted bottom that positions the tobacco perfectly for an
enjoyable smoke.
6/8/05, Regarding Pipe 011:
In the last 10 1/2 months of smoking pipes, I
just had a very unique and wonderful experience! I filled my new JSP pipe
with the Virginia/Burley blend I have been smoking since the pipe club
meeting. I am therefore familiar with the characteristics of how this blend
smokes. I did the initial char light, puffed a few times, tamped and
relighted it. The new pipe smoked all the way to the very bottom of the bowl
without the need for another light! Never...ever...have I smoked a bowl all
the way to the bottom without some relights. The draw on the pipe was
flawless and even, and I just kept on puffing and producing smoke and more
smoke all the way to the very end!
To say that I am pleased would be a downplay of the word and emotion...I am downright thrilled!! You are the embodiment of artistry and skills with pipemaking!