Hey GC! If all goes as planned, I'm gonna pick up my first bong in the next couple weeks. After looking at options and reading reviews/discussion it looks like the SG Stemline is right for me. I've done some research, but I'm still new to bongs, and I'm wondering about a few things before I pull the trigger: 1) I noticed that the holes on the Stemline V3 face down, whereas the V2 holes face up...how does this affect the hit and is it better/worse/irrelevant? 2) Looking at the V3 on ALT, I see one with a 60mm step but a smaller bottom tube diameter...is that worth getting? 3) What are the differences between the regular Stemline and the King Stemline? 4) What's the best ashcatcher for a Stemline? I've read that Toro and 2010bc are great, as well as SG itself. Can't find any online to compare right now.
might i suggest getting the king which is what i picked up a couple months ago and got the 2010BC a/c for and it is absolutely sexy best hit of my whole collection
v2 Stemline owner here! 1) No idea why the new ones face down, but I was under the impression that holes up = better, which (I thought) was why they fixed it in the first place. Maybe someone else knows why they changed it for v3 2) Go for the 60mm if you can, bigger bore = more room for smoke = bigger rips! If you like normal sized rips just get the normal sized one (which I have - can still take pretty monster rips though) 3) King has bigger bottom, like this: 4) 2010bc a/c is the best from what I've heard. At one point I was planning on getting one, but then had financial issues. Still hope to get it! Hope this helps
The ones with the holes facing up obviously stack more but the ones with the holes facing down (at least in theory) provide more filtration due to greater smoke-water contact. I haven't hit both to compare though.
I would advise you to get the either the v2 50/60mm or the king stemline, both will perform flawlessly. I personally have the v2 50mm reduction to 38 and it hits amazing. I can taste the hit so well. The best ash catcher would either be a toro trashcatcher(circ/7 arm or w.e) a 2010bc circ or if you can somehow found one of these the best would be the sg 4 arm gridded ac
Why is this? I wanted to buy an 800 doller RooR when they were the shit then I just got myself a China Bong which is shit.
Damn that's pretty ballin for a first bong, my first bong was named RedEyeJedi and was $50 / starwars themed hahahahaha
If he understands that you need to keep these clean etc then it would be nice for him to start on something good I would say. It takes more pride to keep nice scientific glass up to par thats for sure.
Definitely nothing wrong with hittin' the ground running. The only person I wouldn't advise buying a nice bong would be a low-tolerance user who gets "too high" easily. Give it a few months of toking and then pick up the boro when you are capable of getting functionally zooted.
First off, thanks to all for the info. Very helpful! If this is what I can expect from GC all the time, I'll be quite happy. A quick question about stacking: is it mostly an aesthetic thing, or does it serve a purpose? I was looking at the stepped V3 because I've read the same thing. If he understands that you need to keep these clean etc then it would be nice for him to start on something good I would say. It takes more pride to keep nice scientific glass up to par thats for sure.[/quote] I wouldn't suggest a 320$ bong as your first bong at all ..[/quote] I definitely understand that you need to keep 'em clean. I own a few smaller pieces and keep them spotless. It's a point of pride to me, and it's what drew me to scientific glass in the first place. My friend got a bong for Christmas and has been keeping it at my place, so I know how to clean them. Some other friends started bringing me their glass to clean once they saw the work I did on his (it was FILTHY). As for tolerance, I've been smoking for 2 years and blaze daily (dank only), so I'd consider my tolerance high enough to handle this piece. Although I don't own a bong, I've hit them plenty of times, but I like to get opinions before making big purchases of any kind. For example, if I was gonna buy a new TV, I'd be posting on home entertainment forums. I haven't been able to buy my own bong until recently due to financial issues (paying for your own college is expensive), but things have eased up. I figure since I have the money, why settle?
The V2 will have slightly better air flow than the V3, the V3 -might- have better filtration. Stacking gives more time for smoke-water contact, which contributes to filtration, but the V3 will churn it around more and generally create smaller and more agitated bubbles, another form of improving filtration in its own right. Neither will be dissapointing for sure. One more thing: I'd err for a 50mm v2 or a 60mm v3, smaller bore will help the v2 stack better, but a larger bore will help the v3 be less draggy.
It's not just about keeping it clean but just to learn how to handle it properly .. Just some things you learn throughout the time you use it, like don't clean it when you're too high (well..that counts for me I always drop things in the sink).. But your money aint my money so go your gang if you want that to be your 1st one it'll probably be insane !
If cleaning is too much of a hassle for the piece you are using for whatever reason, I strongly advise investing in a Carbon Filter. Very impressive results.
Agreed, usually I wouldnt reccomend this type of setup for a first, but I think the OP has done some reading, enough to know what hes getting into. If he is comfortable with that, then more power to him! Grab a few bottles of Grunge Off I personally prefer the look of the bent neck stemlines.
plus these things are more resiliant when being banged around than some paper thin chinese piece of glass
I've knocked mine over multiple times (all on carpet luckily). But yeah, it's built like a tank. The base is INCREDIBLY thick. I've dropped countless things directly on the base, not a single nick on it.
My buddy has the stemline mini ( 18 inches with a tree perc style aschcather) with a toro 7 arm ashcatcher and the thing rips like a beast. I honestly can barely even handle hitting it with the toro ashcatcher and that was back when I was still smoking nice glass on a daily basis. With the toro I feel its almost too intense of a hit and it just makes me cough my brains out. In my opinion I wouldn't get a crazy ashcatcher, but instead opt for a decent diffused pill bottle style ashcatcher and save the money left over for a nice GonG bowl or more bud.
Im afraid of buying something in higher quality, cause Ill have to protect it constantly. unfortunately, one of my best friends is RIDICULOUSLY clumsy, and when he smokes he scares the shit out of me cause hes doesnt really pay attention to his surroundings -.-; well be smoking, and he'll take a bong rip, and just hold onto my bong for-fucking-ever. untill I literally snatch it out of his arms and put it somewhere safe At least with these stemless, you dont have to worry about those damned tiny dicks extending from the base my carbon filter makes my bong look silly >.>;