Starting To Piss Me Off..Again.

[TheyCallMeDave]

[quote name='mustafabey' timestamp='1291502854' post='490309']
[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1291491986' post='490289']
The fact remains that the VAST majority of pipes in the Middle East either have no brand or brands you've never heard of. Guess what? They all smoke well!
[/quote]

[b]Hassouni has spoken many times about Elmas nargile and I've seen pictures.If they were marketed like KM's we'd all want one immediately[/b].There may be small shops making nargile in some back alley of Cairo or Damascus that produces works of art.
[/quote]


You're tellin me! Wish I could get my hands on one... Absolutely GORGEOUS.

[mitchard]

Oh, you are getting a KM?

Garbage I say. Get an Elmas instead.

[TheyCallMeDave]

[quote name='mitchard' timestamp='1291615675' post='490434']
Oh, you are getting a KM?

Garbage I say. Get an Elmas instead.
[/quote]


Well not all of us find small miracles in the middle of craigslist, mitch. I wish I COULD get one. Kind of an inopportune time and place to obtain an elmas, however.

[Arcane]

i think the elma's are rather ugly...

[TheyCallMeDave]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1291617979' post='490438']
i think the elma's are rather ugly...
[/quote]


Not a huge fan of the ottoman ifgures on them, especially the octopus (???)

but something like this [url="http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=35hn3fs&s=7"]http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=35hn3fs&s=7[/url] I would love to have.

[king_lunchb0x]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1291606818' post='490427']
-[u]what gets me is people saying get a KM when they have no basis for recommendation...nor have they compared KMs to other brands[/u]-... then again, i hate when people spout of information about products in ignorance... you can repeat techiques and tips you've heard of, but recommending (or not recommending) products, just because other people have said so is ignorant...
[/quote]

that first part sums me up, i cant compare cause i have nothing to compare to but i would recommend a km to anybody asking because i know how well it smokes. im sure i can't be the only one who has only ever smoked out of a km and would recommend it also...just my 2cents

[mitchard]

[quote name='TheyCallMeDave' timestamp='1291619218' post='490442']
[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1291617979' post='490438']
i think the elma's are rather ugly...
[/quote]
Not a huge fan of the ottoman ifgures on them, especially the octopus (???)

but something like this [url="http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=35hn3fs&s=7"]http://tinypic.com/v...pic=35hn3fs&s=7[/url] I would love to have.
[/quote]
Same. The more "complex" ones are a little much and kind of over to the top when it comes to the overall design. I love mine though. Its one of the more simplistic models.

[img]http://www.hookahforum.com/uploads/1287617536/med_gallery_8491_361_294259.jpg[/img]

[LIQUIDGSR]

I totally agree. After getting two a Tri metal and a Ice they don't smoke any better than my QT or my Stargate. Although it does tend to smoke a little better than my hobo that I am using a large Belvedeer bottle for the base.

[Josh Hamilton]

 it was never about the hookah....it was always about the tobacco and how you set it up

hookah is just for visual purposes...crucify me whatever if I have an Ed Hardy....ooo ....so If I say get an Ed Hardy that would be a whole different thread (cant wait for ih to comment on this...)

I dont think itll stop though..."get a KM" will always be an instinctual response since it has been introduced to many  

Edited December 6, 2010 by Josh Hamilton

[mushrat]

The really funny thing is watching what the "gotta hvae" hookah has changed to over the years. I remember when it was Stargates, and Myas, and Hookah Brothers, and then MZ's, and now KM's. And i think Ive bitched about the knee jerk fan following every time.

[Cp44]

I have always been a fan of KMs but I had really good experiences with Mya hookahs too. I recommend a product that I have success with and that is usually a KM.

[ryno]

[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1291813690' post='490643']
The really funny thing is watching what the "gotta hvae" hookah has changed to over the years. I remember when it was Stargates, and Myas, and Hookah Brothers, and then MZ's, and now KM's. And i think Ive bitched about the knee jerk fan following every time.
[/quote]

I remember when I first joined, it was Mya Vortex or gtfo... And I think I remember posting that in the last topic like this haha

[Canon]

It was all about the syrians when i came here. they were a big thing and now i think everyone has forgotten about them.

[Arcane]

i joined right before the KM explosion...back when you could get a good pipe for $80...

now, the prices went through the roof...i'm glad i got a majority of my pipes before the price hike...

it's one of the reasons why i don't recommend any pipes anymore...i still feel the KM's are better pipes than most, but not necessarily worth the price at which they're selling. i'm not a fan of the syrians coming out nowadays because of the ill advised construction. and besides the glass, mya's are just plain ugly to me.

[ih303]

IMO the best pipes on the market now are the solid brass Temsah's. I think the quality of KM's has gone down over the years while the prices have gone up. The way I see it, though, there's really not much else to go off of to base quality on other than name when it comes to hookahs. When you order a KM, Temsah, Mya, Nammor, or MZ, you know what to expect. With all the other ones it's just a shot in the dark. And that's important to me since I have no interest in selling junk at my lounge. It seems that every time I stray from those brands and take a chance with something else I'm disappointed.

As far as the Nours go, I'm split - on one hand I always like to see something emerge, new or not, as an alternative to the big names. However I have concerns about their quality. I've heard conflicting opinions about them so I don't really know what to think. I'm intrigued by the Elma's pieces. Does anyone have a good source for getting those here in the states?

[ih303]

[quote name='Josh Hamilton' timestamp='1291652395' post='490487']
hookah is just for visual purposes...crucify me whatever if I have an Ed Hardy....ooo ....so If I say get an Ed Hardy that would be a whole different thread (cant wait for ih to comment on this...)
[/quote]

Man I better never get into politics. Someone would probably find out about this and destroy my career. I should have gone with something more respectible like gay porn.


In all seriousness, though, you're right when it comes to aesthetics. I always tell people (at least when buying a hookah from me) to just pick out what looks good to them. Of course there's the whole quality thing, but of course that's all relative. I have yet to see an Egyptian/Syrian hookah that I would consider high quality. In fact, the majority of the hookahs we use in-house at my lounge are KM's and we've had loads of quality issues. In fact, the only hookahs we haven't had issues with quality-wise have been our Mya QT's. So as far as quality goes, I'd say Mya gets top marks. Granted, using a hookah in a lounge is very different than using one at home. I consider it to be a "trial by fire" of sorts; if a hookah can survive the stresses of lounge life, I'd say that's a pretty good indicator of overall quality.

What I would like to see is a new manufacturer of hookahs that fuses the look and feel of Egyptian/Syrian style hookahs with the quality standards and control of Mya. I mean come on, when I have ten "identical" KM bases and ten "identical" KM stems, shouldn't I be able to mix and match? And shouldn't the tray from one KM Amer fit the stem of another? YES!! But I can't tell you how many times I get stuck trying to figure out what stem goes on what hookah. It sucks! Come on Egypt, work with me!

[king_lunchb0x]

[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1291813690' post='490643']
The really funny thing is watching what the "gotta hvae" hookah has changed to over the years. I remember when it was Stargates, and Myas, and Hookah Brothers, and then MZ's, and now KM's. And i think Ive bitched about the knee jerk fan following every time.
[/quote]

quick question what the hell is hookah brothers...any links or pics? ive never heard of em

[Chreees]

[quote name='Canon' timestamp='1291825823' post='490648']
It was all about the syrians when i came here. [b]they were a big thing and now i think everyone has forgotten about them.[/b]
[/quote]

No, they actually haven't... Not since John found some Nour and Nawras hookahs... buuuut, he just sold out of the Nawras, and is selling out of the Nours, so they're about to fade out again.

I was surprised there wasn't more talk about them on this forum.

[mushrat]

[quote name='king_lunchb0x' timestamp='1291849425' post='490672']
[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1291813690' post='490643']
The really funny thing is watching what the "gotta hvae" hookah has changed to over the years. I remember when it was Stargates, and Myas, and Hookah Brothers, and then MZ's, and now KM's. And i think Ive bitched about the knee jerk fan following every time.
[/quote]

quick question what the hell is hookah brothers...any links or pics? ive never heard of em
[/quote]

Well, back in the day, Hookah Brothers was the pipe to have. Egyptian with styles that are now some of the industry standards like the Pear. I forget when the company went out of business but I believe they came back as Magdy Zaiden. Which were also very well constructed pipes and a decent price. Im not sure if in a side by side comparison based on looks and construction you could tell the difference between a HB,MZ, and a KM. I'll see if i can remember to take a picture of mine on monday when i see it again.

[mushrat]

of course even then there were dissenting opinions.

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/752-hookah-brothers-up-in-smoke/page__p__6877__hl__%2Bhookah+%2Bbrothers__fromsearch__1#entry6877

[Hassouni]

[quote name='ih303' timestamp='1291839460' post='490664']
II'm intrigued by the Elma's pieces. Does anyone have a good source for getting those here in the states?
[/quote]
There is nowhere to get them in the states. Every source is either in Turkey or their retail site in Germany. I'm awaiting shipment of one from a Turkish site , will prob get it after new years (long story, will post when I get it). From what I hear, Elmas build quality toasts everything else.

[quote name='ih303' timestamp='1291842382' post='490666']
[quote name='Josh Hamilton' timestamp='1291652395' post='490487']
hookah is just for visual purposes...crucify me whatever if I have an Ed Hardy....ooo ....so If I say get an Ed Hardy that would be a whole different thread (cant wait for ih to comment on this...)
[/quote]

What I would like to see is a new manufacturer of hookahs that fuses the look and feel of Egyptian/Syrian style hookahs with the quality standards and control of Mya. I mean come on, when I have ten "identical" KM bases and ten "identical" KM stems, shouldn't I be able to mix and match? And shouldn't the tray from one KM Amer fit the stem of another? YES!! But I can't tell you how many times I get stuck trying to figure out what stem goes on what hookah. It sucks! Come on Egypt, work with me!
[/quote]

Man don't get me started on Egyptian quality - it SUCKS - everything Egyptian I've had has broken or fallen apart far too easily. I hear Temsah's are really great and if I HAD to have an Egyptian pipe, it'd be one of those, probably the Shakil. I have an all-purpose boycott on KM though.

[mushrat]

I think part of the problem many people have with your average Egyptian pipe is we expect everything to last for years. Now, I've not been to Egypt so I can only base this on what I see, hear, and read, but Hookah smoking in the middle east is a different kinda thing. There, a hose is used for a few weeks, a month perhaps, then they are switched out because they are dirt cheap. Same with Hookahs i believe. They are made to be used for a while til they wear out then easily and cheaply replaced. They are not built to last nor are they expected to.
Here in the U.S. on the other hand, we expect our hookahs to last for ever. Especially when we pay $100 plus for one. The problem is these hookahs we get here are often the same hookahs built to be discarded after a while there.
So tell me, how many of you change phones every 12 months when your upgrade is available? And you pay how much for a new phone? $200-$300? Why do you complain when your $100 hookah only lasts a year of steady use? or your $20 hose only lasts a few months? They are disposable items, built to be replaced regularly, just like your phone or MP3 players.
Just my take on the whole thing.

[Hassouni]

[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1292161743' post='491034']
I think part of the problem many people have with your average Egyptian pipe is we expect everything to last for years. Now, I've not been to Egypt so I can only base this on what I see, hear, and read, but Hookah smoking in the middle east is a different kinda thing. There, a hose is used for a few weeks, a month perhaps, then they are switched out because they are dirt cheap. Same with Hookahs i believe. They are made to be used for a while til they wear out then easily and cheaply replaced. They are not built to last nor are they expected to.
Here in the U.S. on the other hand, we expect our hookahs to last for ever. Especially when we pay $100 plus for one. The problem is these hookahs we get here are often the same hookahs built to be discarded after a while there.
So tell me, how many of you change phones every 12 months when your upgrade is available? And you pay how much for a new phone? $200-$300? Why do you complain when your $100 hookah only lasts a year of steady use? or your $20 hose only lasts a few months? They are disposable items, built to be replaced regularly, just like your phone or MP3 players.
Just my take on the whole thing.
[/quote]

Because phones exploit ever-improving technology and R&D - that costs money. Nargiles have been static for the last several hundred years - keep in mind NOBODY in the Middle East has even heard of a funnel bowl. The single change to occur since nargiles developed into their modern form in Turkey has been the purge valve - that's IT. The fact remains that KM's wholesale cost for a single pipe ranges from about <$20-$35, and vendors in the US flip them for literally five times that. I find it disgusting.

Although I've never smoked from a Temsaah, I hear the solid brass ones are made like tanks, and I wouldn't be surprised if they lasted a lifetime. KMs on the otherhand, I've smoked out of a lot, and they just don't impress me - now which costs more from online vendors?

[mushrat]

Dats called Marketing. I wonder what woudl happen to the price of a unknown type of hookah if we suddenly started talking about how great they were?

[thehelios]

[quote name='king_lunchb0x' timestamp='1291849425' post='490672']
[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1291813690' post='490643']
The really funny thing is watching what the "gotta hvae" hookah has changed to over the years. I remember when it was Stargates, and Myas, and Hookah Brothers, and then MZ's, and now KM's. And i think Ive bitched about the knee jerk fan following every time.
[/quote]

quick question what the hell is hookah brothers...any links or pics? ive never heard of em
[/quote]

I have a Hookah Brothers Hookah and it's fantastic. From what I've seen, most of the HB hookahs were rotators with the typical MZ "bulb" thing on the stem.

Did MZ officially leave the hookah world to make tea sets yet or is that still speculation?