My
GB-189 was delivered today, (as well as my Flowermate Vapormax V, but that's for a different thread). I'll take my own pics later when I can use sunlight, but below is a vendor pic. Arrived in just under 11 days, very quick to East Coast.
When
@Mr. Gweilo 420 reported it didn't function well I was prepared for it to be a lemon. Was I able to get it to vortex? Unfortunately, no. But the perc itself does function quite well, diffuses vapor well and it does spin things just slightly, but yes, no real vortex to speak of. BUT I STILL REALLY LIKE IT.
This piece screams quality. It is noticeably higher quality than my D020 and D020-D. Nice thick 5mm glass and the black trim around the base is very professional not shoddy at all, I don't even mind the fake RooR logo as it matches the black trim nicely. It just has a supremely solid feel to it, all of you with quality glass know what I mean.
The base of the piece is VERY wide, much wider than my D (~20%) so the piece is quite stable (yes, yes, I'll get comparison pics up when I can be home when there's sunshine).
I LOVE the SIDECAR MOUTHPIECE. I've always wanted a sidecar, this is my first one, I'm in love. It give such a better view of what's happening in the can. The very flat top of the 189 helps as well. The trumpeted mouthpiece is my favorite style so far of all glass, this one is much larger than the D and I just find it much easier to use.
I may be imagining things, but I'm sensing noticeably better flavor out of this piece than my others. More testing is required.
Although the turbine perc doesn't vortex, it diffuses very well, stacks bubbles as well as my D's tire perc. Plus in a mirror I can see the water swirl a little. I fill it to just barely above the perc, it does that great thing where it separates the water with the pressure of your pull and you can see both water and vapor jetting through it, I think this increases water contact and cools better by accelerating both as they pass through. So now I disagree that a turbine perc can't work without a subordinate supplemental perc.
Uh, oh, the D020-D is looking at me funny. It knows what happened to the D020-OG a month ago and it knows that there's room next to it in the cabinet. To be honest, it may have a legitimate concern.
YMMV but for me GB-189's a winner
Thanks for reading.