Barling Pre-trans Stem Replacement

[alfredo_buscatti]

I bought this pipe knowing I might have to get a stem replacement; as it turns out the tenon is short, and it does.

I bought it from Marty Pulvers, and on my telling him that I meant to get a 2nd tier (he has three) replacement from George Dubos, which is $50.00 or twice the normal charge, who is Precision Pipe Repair, he said that he'd just recommend a $25.00 first tier replacement, that I didn't need the 2nd. My thinking was that I wanted to experience what a fine handcut stem was like; all the pipe gurus who smoke artisan pipes are always touting stem work as one of the most important ingredients of a well-made high-grade. As I don't own any high-grades, my thinking was that this was about the only way I could evaluate the high-grade stem-touters.

But Mr. Dubos didn't answer either of my emails. Any of you have luck in getting him to engage? Also, I still think that my thinking about the 2nd tier stem is accurate. Any thoughts on this?