Q&A Slices: Should you spring for a grail pen or try a diverse grouping of less expensive pens?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- You’ve probably been asked this before, but, if you can afford your grail pen but have a small collection, would you get the grail or focus on exploring more diverse, less expensive pens so as to not plateau?
- This is a really tough question, and surely will all come down to the individual
- It probably depends a lot on the situation:
- What kind of collection are you looking to build up?
- How expensive is your grail pen?
- If you don’t actually love your grail pen, how easy would it be to sell/recoup that money?
- Have you had a chance to actually hold/write with your grail pen first?
- Minimalists will likely want to pare down the collection and go after the grail pen
- Acquirers (like myself) will want to walk before running, getting less expensive pens first and building up to pricier models
- I started out with incrementally more costly pens like the Pilot Custom 74 and Lamy 2000, which were a stretch for me at the time and I loved them, still use them regularly
- I bought my first grail prematurely, and was disappointed because I didn’t have enough experience and bought something I didn’t know enough about (Pelikan m800 with 1.5mm stub)
- I waited a long time to get a Homo Sapiens and was able to try it first, and I’ve been using it very regularly since
- I personally like to build up over time, it’s given me a lot to appreciate as I’ve grown into higher end pens, but others may not want to commit nearly as much time, effort, or money into their pens as I have
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Every pen i own was once upon a time my grail pen, the darn obsession has no end👀
That's all too true. There's always a next pen! - Colin
+The Goulet Pen Company
Actually Colin, I know when I'm going to stop. Just eight more left to acquire, and I'm good. No, I won't be going into detail regarding how many I already have. Some of them I got from you guys. But eight is the magic number for me. My list of eight.... I shall methodically hunt them down, one by one, and make them all mine. Let's get say you guys are going to be shipping out more pens to my address before the year comes to a close. Take all my money!!! (Before the Government does!) :D
Truth!
One of my once-a-grail pens is a Platinum Preppy. 5$ is a bit over 100,000 VND. Most fountain pens in Vietnam are for elementary schoolers, so even a 70,000VND Platinum Preppy is like a new level ( not to mention the ink cartridges and converters are a few times more expensive than regular ones here). The normal price range for affordable and replaceable fountain pens for children here is under 50,000VND, under 30,000VND even. The high quality and more expensive ones are for executives or calligraphers (these calligraphers are usually elementary school teachers, because they have to teach children to write beautifully and there are calligraphy contests for teachers and children). My first Platinum Preppy was on sale and I used vouchers and shopping points to get it. Same for the second one. My grail pen now is a transparent TWISBI Eco.
@@haphuongle2920 Just turned in a lot of aluminum to get money for my Eco, I hope you were able to get it too!
I would love a holy grail pen, but honestly if I ever got it, that pen would never see the light of day. I need throw-around pens like the Pilot Kakuno or Kaweco Sport that I can pop into my bag and forget about, or lend them to whoever without breaking a sweat, or test new inks on without worrying. I think even if I got the most stunning Maki-e pen, I'd soon fall back on using an array of cheaper pens, precisely because they're more "usable."
It's all about personality, I guess. First, with pens that cheap, you can have both. And I've found that no matter what someone says, once they get a very expensive pen, they're forced to use it, and use it a bunch. Once you own it, using it becomes irresistible.
And there's nothing wrong with having a speial grail en that you only use in a safe, private place.
I wouldn't recommend a new driver get a Lamborghini as their first car, and that also applies to fountain pens. Start small, get a Jinhao or better yet a Lamy and all of their nib sizes from extra-fine to 1.9mm stub. Learn what works for you before you sink a lot of money into it. Fountain pens are really a hobby, and the journey is the best part.
Yeah, I agree with you here. I get some questions from people looking for their first fountain pen and it's between a Pelikan or Visconti.... Trial & error is half the fun when starting out. Finding the pens/nibs/ink that work for you. - Colin
I'd agree with all of this but have another reason. I am still a novice and am learning how to look after and service my pens. Better to learn my craft on some cheap Chinese clones. If I screw up then I will curse at myself and only be out of pocket slightly. I daren't Imagine how I would feel if I bought a several-grand pen and sprung its nib or trashed the feed. I'd have a lump of expensive scrap metal and plastic in my clumsy hands as well as a gaping hole in both my self confidence and bank balance.
Lime green 5nz$ Chinese copy of a Lamy writes beautifully,,,,,40nz$ is just too much for me to justify on a pen.....
I think no matter what the cost is of your grail pen, it's important to try one out in person (if you can) before you commit to it. Because like Brian said, you might not like it after all. But it never hurts to dream big
But it's so hard if you don thave a good pen store near you... or friends that are really into fountain pens :P
I live in Cleveland where there are no fountain pen stores
I apply the same mentality here as I have with my watches
STAY IN YOUR FINANCIAL LANE
It’ll come, when the price comes to the point where it’s within your range, then grab it
Spending on something that’s out of your range is not ideal for any form of hobby
Know what you’re getting into
I am a watch collector first before I got into this
I’ve been there man, and it sucks when you think you’re collecting but you’re just buying meaningless watches that cost a few hundred to a few grand
Biggest advice for any collector that’s on a budget
Don’t go in blind
Stay in your financial lane
Read read read and research before you buy
Amassing a lot of pens doesn’t really mean you’re getting “variety”
I think watch, pen and car collecting goes hand in hand
You gotta be smart about it, not just carelessly spend your hard earned money.
I agree. However, if an individual has the money to either have a small collection of pens and their Grail now, or go for a large diversified collection of many pens.... I say absolutely go with the former.
Also, as a fellow watch enthusiast; with ridiculously obscene price-hikes now the norm in that particular industry, I'd say if one can afford the monthly payments by a very comfortable margin, finance that one luxury time-piece you have your eye on for 12 months at 0% interest. Ironically, at the end of the year, you save significantly considering you'll avoid two major price-hikes in that time. Yes, there is depreciation. But by how much will depend on the brand. Also, if you love the watch and have no desire to part with it anytime soon.... screw depreciation!
Absolutely. All of this discussion is assuming you're within the financial capabilities of doing so. Spend $500 bucks on one pen or that money on 6-10 pens. That's where it gets tricky! - Colin
Another watch (and knife) collector here. I think the deliberateness required makes the transition to fountain pens a natural one. We're already considering the finer points before buying and using our tools.
That said, sometimes you just gotta take a chance. If nothing else, it's an investment in yourself and helps you figure out your wants and needs.
Yup, knives as well. But unlike my knife collection, my watch collection is small because I'm very picky there. Or, I just absolutely fall in love with a watch and buy it for that reason. One of those two. Due to that, my watch collection is incredibly small. unlike my knife collection. My fountain pen collection has really taken off though!
However, I need to be honest. Unlike my watches, knives, or EDC gear in general; I find writing with a fountain pen to be very calming. Almost therapeutic. I love a smooth, fine nib. The gentle way it glides across the page. I'm fortunate that at my job, I do more writing in one day than most people do in 2 weeks. Suffering from insomnia, literally anything that helps to relax me and keep me calm is worth it to me. That includes using fountain pens, watching ASMR on TH-cam, etc.
+1 on the relaxation from writing with fountain pens. Being deliberate in the writing and focusing on the flow of your letters is something I enjoy a great deal. If I need to write quickly, I'll break out the Fisher space pen.
My grail pen is Platinum 3776 and Vanishing point. It’s been years but I still love my Platinum preppy, pilot kakuno and pilot parallel pens.
If you have not bought it yet, then go to eBay and look out for a good deal!
How is the platinum working for you. I too am looking forward to buy one in M size. I have heard that it has lot of feedback. Is it scratchy? If it writes smoothly I don't care the feedback. The advantage I see in it is the slip n seal technology which will be useful to keep the pen in good condition especially when using a document ink like atramentis or color verse.
RN my holy grail is an Lamy Safari in Charcoal and I know it’s an silly holy grail but so far it’s the only pen that’s made me drool
I love mine.
The concern I have with a high end grail pens is the inability to try before buying, you are exceptionally fortunate in that regard. And it seems with a lot of these pens it’s in not possible or if possible expensive to change nibs. The section and/or nib experience is my most often reason for disappointment. My nearest pen store is about 3 hours away.
Great discussion, thanks
Earlier this year when I was trying to figure out which pen I wanted, I vacillated between the Sailor Naginata Togi and Pilot Custom 845. I spent hours researching and comparing not only how the two pens stacked up to each other, but with my current collection. Eventually settled on the 845, and I’ve loved every second of writing with it. Very glad I took the time to do my research, and it was a fun process in its own right!
I think this is very personal to each person. That special pen can change when a new, more amazing pen comes out. If “they” would just stop making cool pens it would be easier to stay with one grail pen. But, what would be the fun in that?
GO FOR THE GRAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO IT!
I dove off the deep end of fountain pens and bought my Grail pen (pilot E95s) four months after getting my first pen (pilot metro) and buying 6 more metros a month after my first fountain pen! And for Christmas I received my second Grail pen! A pilot vanishing point in crimson sunset 😍 & a twisbi classic in turquoise that I was eager to try out 😂
DON'T stay in your financial lane! Buy something awesome once and enjoy using it for the next 25 years instead of buying 5 cheaper things you'll throw into the drawer you never open because they bore you. Just do enough research to correctly determine what's awesome.
Yan Doroshenko Best advice I heard since my Grandpa
I can definitely appreciate that sentiment. I think that, barring the ability to try before you buy, you should experiment a little bit first with different nibs and such before you go into the high end pens. I think that, if one is fairly confident that they'll enjoy fountain pens as a broad concept, they should skip the entry level Safaris and Metropolitans entirely and go to a mid-tier pen with swappable nibs like the Lamy LX or the Conklin Duragraph.
wwbdwwbd But it’s worth it tho. Especially the Homo Sapiens. QC might be bad but customer support is pretty nice
youre write (pun intended) about the oob thing... but once tuned they are really nice.... or so I have heard from quite a few visconti owners.
I'm sure that once tuned any pen can be made to write well, dchevron. The problem is that, in my opinion, you shouldn't need to have a pen tuned in order for it to write well, and I think that's what a lot of the Visconti detractors think too.
A "grail pen" is probably not realistic, but a truly vast collection is not manageable. it's true that you should buy quality, but there's also such a thing as value for money. So it's probably best to assemble a modest/limited collection of carefully chosen pens that complement each other, probably having strengths that overlap, but certainly making up for each other's weaknesses. There will be a time and place for all of them, and while you may have a favorite one or two, they can all substitute for each other in a pinch.
I'm already starting to develop a system like this, using my self-purchased Pilot Metropolitan and my pair of gifted Watermans (a fountain and a ballpoint), to say nothing of occasional use for the Bics, Sharpies, and mechanical pencils I already had floating around. At most, I might seek to acquire a travel pen (Pilot Vanishing Point? A Rollerball?) and/or a flex pen for fancy stuff, but they'll all surely be used in ways that complement each other, from where I keep them, to the compatible or similar inks I choose to use.
I have a grail pen now, Pilot 823, and still enjoy my platinum 3776 and twsbi 700r and also my jinhaos with bock nibs. BUT some of the cheaper Chinese pens I have no time for for. I enjoyed the journey of cheaper pens but I do wish I'd spent less money on chaff and saved it for wheat.
N Dawkins how do you like 3776's nib in comparison with C823? I have C823, thinking about buying 3776
I just did a quick back to back of them. I have 'M' in both nibs. C823 is smoother. 3776 is less so, picks up paper texture, but is not unpleasant, just different. On copy paper 3776 nib feels hard, like a 4H pencil, the C823 is softer, like more luxury suspension on a car. On smooth paper, such as Apica CD Premium, both very pleasant, 3776 still has that bit of texture coming through, C823 feels like on glass almost. 3776 nearly a cm shorter and has a narrower section. i use 3776 posted, the c823 unposted. In the end I enjoy both for the different experiences the each offer.
If i could buy the 3776 again, I would go for the Broad nib, as I do prefer more of a western medium line, and i suspect it would be just that little bit smoother too, which is also more my preference.
Thanks! Does the C823's line width differ from 3776? I also have M on C823 and it's almost identical in width to my only western (american, actually) pen - Sheaffer Imperial 14K "M". The problem is nib width isn't really mentioned on the Sheaffer's nib, so it may be that the seller sent me "F" instead (I'm assuming that because by all thing said about japanese pens narrower than western ones by one size). I don't have anything to compare with because I'm still quite new to fp's
I'm finding the 3776 M finer than the 823 M. Goulet's own nib nock may help you out here: www.gouletpens.com/nib-comparison-tool, and also this www.nibs.com/content/nib-tipping-sizes
how do you like the 823? I am going to be getting one soon, just want to make sure it's the right choice...
Very cool! Thank you for your perspective on this! I’ve been turning this over in my head for quite some time. I’m a writer, and I want something inspiring that will last a lifetime, but have stuck to affordable workhorses... I still might get that new Pineider, though!
My holy grail pen is the Namiki Maki-e Dragon/Cumulus. I’m getting it for myself for my law school graduation
It's not exactly my grail pen, but I went in and got a Lamy 2000 and honestly, I positively adore pretty much everything but the nib. The nib is a beautiful Fine but that's the problem: it's a fine. I wanted to try something broader than my Pilot Metropolitan Fine, but the Lamy 2000 being so expensive I decided to play it safe and go for the Fine instead of the Medium.
This is why I would recommend to any beginners out there that you should probably experiment a little bit with entry level and mid-tier pens before you go in for your grails and such. I would say, get an entry level pen like the Pilot Metropolitan to see if you like fountain pens to begin with, and then later on get a decent pen with swappable nibs like the Lamy Al-Star or a Conklin Duragraph so that you can see which nib widths you like the most. After you've done that, then you can go in and get your more expensive grails like Lamy 2000 or a Pelikan or whatever it is your heart desires.
Only go for the high end pens immediately if you're extremely confident you'll like what you're getting or if you're okay with taking a bath on pens that don't completely satisfy you!
My vote is grail pen (well, grail pens), largely because you eventually buy it anyway, and if you are like me once you own it (them) the others just sit unused.
A great slice of Q&A.
I’ll be on eBay accepting all the grail pens turned prodigal sons at 65% off! ;)
+TheMartialist
Sorry for going off topic, but are you the same Martialist with that excellent website of the same name? If so, I was reading your articles years ago when you had a different format on your site. Just wondering if there's any place I can re-read some of your older articles as I can't seem to find them anymore.
If you're not the same individual, my apologies if I bothered you.
NGMonocrom Maybe, but probably not. The moniker is from The Book of Five Rings. I do happen to be a contemporary author of war literature. Jasonarment.com
+TheMartialist
Ah, I see. Not the same one I was thinking of. But thank you for the link. I checked it out. Looks interesting.
My grail pen is TWSBI ECO T. 😄
My 'grail pen' was the one my mother gave me. Sure I could replace the pen itself as the pen is still made, but it wouldn't be the one she gave me. Any other pen after all of that is merely a pen I'm interested in.
Very insightful. I got a grail pen without trying it first and it was anguish when it didn't work out.
hahaha the same concern applies to watches... should you get a bit of everything or save up for the grail. honestly i believe go with what makes you happy!
My Grail pen is a Namiki Maki-e pen, I really like the few Dragon ones. $10k is a lot of money though... I probably wouldn't use it much. For me its the art and how much the Japanese are dedicated to their craft. Being able to own something that was hand made by a dedicated craftsman is what sells me. I would probably put it in a display case or something as well.
As for a grail every day carry , It would have to be a Sailor 1911S Trinity. That about as expensive of a carry around pen as i want.
I used to collect watches but can't afford the high prices of them so switched to collecting pens. 300 to 500 pounds limits your choices in collecting watches but I've bought some really awesome pens in that price range.
My grail pens are the ones that have a combination of awesome appearance and performance at any price point.
I'm not sure I have a grail pen right now. I like modern, utilitarian designs, and you can get those for a modest price. My Lamy Safari and TWSBI ECO fit the bill for me right now. I think I would want to try out a Kaweco Lilliput, right now my "pocket" pen is a Pilot Petit1.
The Liliput is a fun pen but it is so tiny, even for a pocket pen! Something like a LAMY 2000 could fit into your style too? - Colin
weehawk I’m with you, this obsession is very parallel to my guitar addiction. Do I want the $5k Jimmy Page Les Paul? Sure I do, but my $500 LP Studio plays great, and I’ll never worry about it getting stolen, or chipping the finish, etc.
I’m curious to know where the sweet spot is, like what is the ceiling for the actual writing experience for the money, where anything more than that doesn’t get you a better pen, just frills (which are nice if you have the money, of course)
I’ll bet it’s much less than we might think.
NGMonocrom Yes, you are absolutely right, these pens are already stretching the boundaries of cost vs function just by being a fountain pen. I totally get your point, as well-the beauty of a piece of art is an intangible anyhow, so why fret over value? But I’m also going to check out the Parker you mentioned, because I love cheap stuff that works really well 😂
Thanks for your reply 👍🏻
I gave up on grail pens. Every time I buy a grail pen another pen suddenly becomes my grail pen. This even applies to Namki Maki-e and Chinkin pens.
That said, but your grail pen, if just to get it out of the way. After that, you can relax and buy whatever pens you want and can afford. Or save for a new grail pen.
I always have two fountain pen funds going, one for short term purchases, an done for long term. With my long term fund, I bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age, a Pilot Custom Heritage 823, and a Pilot 74 by saving ten bucks per week for two years. I also got a 3776 for just a few dollars more. Depending on your income, any of these could be a grail pen.
I'm annoyed that I skipped on a lot of amazing affordable pens cause now my "grails" are too expensive for my budget lol. My first pen was an Aurora Magellano back in junior high, then my next pen in college was a CP1(opted for one that didn't stand out), then a Lamy 2000 after college for work. I look at Lamy Safaris, TWSBIs and Metropolitans as awesome pens but I just don't have the need to purchase them. Now, all i'm saving up for is a KoP Urushi, an M1005 demonstrator, a Meisterstück Solitaire(any), a Namiki Emperor, a Wancher Maki-e, and also an Edison Beaumont and a Franklin-Christoph no 2 & 3. I just don't like the feeling of having a pen just sitting inside the case or box and not being used, unless it's a big collector's or has sentimental value. Currently, I love every pen that I have, it's a total of 8, but they're just wonderful and I used them all in my rotation. At the end of the day, it's all about that feeling of joy, excitement and love of writing that a particular pen gives you, no matter what the price is.
I use every pen I buy, and treat my grail pens as if they were Pilot Metropolitans. I don't see the point of owning something I won't use, or that I'm afraid to take out of the house. Besides, they're insured against theft and fire.
I'm an FP noob. At the moment I'm at the Preppy/Jinhao level, though I have other pens coming. I just spent ~£30 on a Parker IM premium because I like the 'Big Red' anodised orange colour, but I had to think about it a couple of days and now I'm half-kicking myself for spending so much on a _pen_ , even though it's cheap at 2/3 the price. And even though others might shake their heads and smile at my idea of an 'expensive' pen. I'm still shaking my head at the idea that's an entry-level price.
At the moment my grail pen is a Sailor Trident, just because the nib looks so funky. (And because I already have a sonic cleaner. See - research!) It reminds me of a TIE Defender from old Star Wars computer games I played as a kid. The ~£100 that resellers are asking is getting close to my limit for collectables that I obsess on. (I've spent that much for a couple of OOP art books [far apart]) £150-200 is where I say 'nah' and click away. Four-figure pens are so far outside my budget, my sense of value, my very comprehension, that you might as well be talking to me about weekend breaks to Mars.
But we'll see how I feel a year or two from now.
Warren JB just so you know, i have been using fountain pens on and off since about 15 years.. Started early in school and 20 pence ink dropper was my go to pen.. Later changed it to a hand me down pilot cavalier marbled.. Been on that for 9 years now, and now have all 4 colors.. But thats the costliest one in my collection... Find an ok pen and go for ink variety instead.. You'll enjoy it even more
+vivek subhash True, I've heard that £100 is a 'sweet spot' for pens, but I've got some £3-6 pens that seem to write very nicely, to my untrained eye; and I'm unlikely to go higher than £30 for most pens anyway. Although I admit my upper limit just stretched a bit when I discovered the Trident came in red...
+Animous Well, you have to look at it from the front and squint a bit. ;) It's the way the three V-shaped tines come together.
Warren JB the thing is those cheap pens are a hit or miss thing.. You might end up with a butter smooth nib or a scratchy one.. On the other hand you could always guarantee on a consistent performance from a costlier pen, and get the pen replaced even if it doesn't meet production standards... You could always grind the nib over ground glass or adjust the tines of a cheaper pen to get that smooth effect.. If you look at Brian's top pens for beginners.. Most of them are of the moderate pricing.. Like the pilot metropolitan... Currently i have a lamy extra fine nib or pilot prera fine nib.. Somewhat toothy but not scratchy
Granted, 'grail' pens are very subjective, as mentioned, but I've recently found mine (or at least my first). I need to find a way to acquire a Pilot 845 Custom in Vermillion. There's only one source for them, and they've been backordered for 2 years, but I find that pen's aesthetic simply perfect. I've not seen anything else that even comes close - that pen is awesomely gorgeous to me. It's not a super expensive pen, but it's literally not for sale anywhere I can find. It has to be second hand acquired, and I don't have time right now. *sigh*
But I guess based on my above ramblings, I'd say go for the grail pen if you get the opportunity - you might not get a chance later if it becomes unavailable.
My grail pen Montblanc 149 :-) I already have a Pelikan M1005 black but miss one.
My wife gave me a Meisterstück 149 for our tenth anniversary (18 years ago). It has never disappointed me.
Don’t know if a Pilot Falcon can be counted as a grail pen - it is the one most expensive I own. Then I enjoy a collection of moderate to cheap pens. The cheaper ends of Pilot’s fountain pen are still very good and I sometimes prefer them over the more expensive ones.
This one is interesting and quite thought provoking. I am an uncontrollable hoarder who already has well over 100 pens, primarily cheap Chinese but a few mainline brand low to intermediate consumer grade ones - safaris, al-stars, vistas, a couple of Pilot MR2 animals (apparently the closest we will get to a true metro in the UK) and one or two others. Aside from a practical application of doing all this because I am training myself to write left handed, I look at this as a way of finding out roughly what the real pen may be like by trying out a number of knock-offs first. For the price of a Prera I can get several clones; ditto a Twsbi versus some Wing Sungs or PenBBS. I know that's of limited benefit as the "real" one may have a different weight, nib and writing characteristics than the clones. However I am a very visual person. Because of my hoarding though, I actually find myself falling in love with quite a few of the cheap ones such as Jinhao 51a or 992. That all means my holy grail today may be totally different by tomorrow. Gaah!
great job. personally, its personal lol. i love the fact that no matter your taste, there's a fountain pen for you. i started with jinhao, as my first pen, then sailor 1911's clear caught my eye. next pelikan m200 with double broad, still love that pen. then pelikan m800, m805 all demonstrators with 3b nibs, and i love them...albeit, they're fragile. each upgrade was a grail pen to me at the time. now i'm seriously looking at your visconti homosapiens midnight in florence, or the blue lagoon. i would like to think it will end there, but it probably won't lol.
I'm new to the hobby, yet. Still at 'entry level'. Got a safari, al star, some metros, and the usual jinhaos. A bunch of stuff in the $5 to $35 range, basically. My 'grail' at the moment is probably the Pilot Falcon. Everything I've seen of it looks fantastic but breaking through to next level pens is still pretty difficult for me. Also I fully expect not to stop there, anyway... :) some of those higher end pens on goulet are already tempting me slightly.
Well, that's definitely a worthy grail pen! It's a lot of fun to write with, so who knows, it could stop there. :) - Colin
thank you so much I am excited to try lots of different colors of inks
A holy grail pen for me would be a pen to replace the beautiful green Conway Stewart that was stolen !! when i was 10 years old at primary school.....
Personally I’d go for my holy grail pen, but my holy grail is a basic Meisterstuck nothing too stupid I want it to be attainable and something that will allow me to keep my sonnet.
Ok I lied, I just heard about the Craft of Traveling Duofold. Being a geologist and a traveler this would fit me perfectly.
My holy grail must be a NOS Pelikan P20 CT with a gold nib. Not particularly an expensive Pen; I just love the looks and the fact that the series is reputed to be a peak of the brand. Unfortunately, It is hard to find one of those in perfect conditions. Nice overview and interesting considerations. Thx!
Long long ago (1977) I graduated from law school and bought my grail pen. Montblanc 149. There weren’t nearly so many pens available back then, but I knew what I wanted. Very shortly thereafter I lost it. So I cold-bloodedly went out and bought another one.
I managed to hang onto this one, and it traveled with me through the years until about five years ago, when I realized that it had taken quite a bit of damage as the years went on. So I sent it to the pen repair, and they found that the only part worth saving was the clip.
Is it still the same pen? Metaphysically perhaps. It still writes magnificently as of old.
this was a great talk you did. Loved it
I started with Pilot Metropolitan - black a little over a year ago. Then got plum green and gold for different ink colours. I also picked up the Pilot Parallel set for highlighter ink and calligraphy. Many cheaper pens - all lovely. Watching fountain pen vids I fell in luv with the Viscomti Homo Sapiens pen - several steps above what I already had price wise. Should I settle for less expensive step up pens I didn't Luv? Or splurge for my Grail pen. I went the latter course and got my WONDERFUL AMAZING LOVELY Homo Sapiens pen - Bronze Age from the Goulet Pen Co. I love it! I am so happy with my decision. For me, looking for less expensive stepping stone pens just seemed wasteful and actually more like throwing money away instead of getting what I really wanted. I have not regretted my decision. I Love my Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age. Would I like a London Fog too?... Lol Maybe down the road. For now I am very content.
i'd personally go for variety and quantity before going straight to a grail pen especially since I still have a small collection, though it's always a back-and-forth whenever I purchase pens. My current grail pens are Pilot Falcon and Visconti Homo Sapiens
In my experiences, there's always a next pen. The grail pen isn't going to put a stop to it, so I think a variety makes more sense. - Colin
Hey !! I see you are almost at 100k subs sooooo close!!! I've learned so much from your videos!! Thank you very much !! I'm new to foundation pens and have fallen in love with them!! Need more money to get more! Haha 😂 Hugs💜💜
Thanks, keeping a close eye on the subscriber count for sure! Glad to hear you're loving fountain pens. :) - Colin
I have 5 pens, none of which cost me more than $50. They look good and all write fine.
I’m good ( for now). Knowing myself I’m sure a $200 pen is in my future.
I have a few cheaper pens, but I did go for a Sailor 1911L Stormy Sea early on. A Pilot 823 is my current “grail”.
A small critique: I don't think the ending music on this video matches what I associate with the Goulet brand.
To me, Goulet is fun and playful. This song was just too log-cabin-on-the-lake for me. Not bad music, just not the right kind here.
I am glad to see this question, your thoughts on it, and your mentioning of tools on the Goulet website. After buying a couple pens and inks, I have found them indispensable.
I would echo what you've said before: do your research; try what you can; consider your wants, needs and purpose for the pen; and factor in any additional costs necessary to make the pen function in a way that best suits your writing style. I would only add that you can't always play it safe. Experimentation is the only way to truly understand what you want and need.
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go buy some new inks.
Everyone and a while a random older video pops up on my feed, today it was this one. I has to laugh because the Homo Sapiens is my "grail" pen. I got a chance to hold it at a brick and mortar store, I actually hoped I would hate it and could cross it off my list.. but alas, that was not the case! They now come with the 18k Gold nib, but I hear sooo much about the older Dream touch palladium nib. I'm needing to find a pen show to determine if I'm buying new or looking on eBay for one with the older nib.
My grail pen a Pilot E95s but they don’t sell them in South Africa apparently… and I don’t feel comfortable dropping that kinda money on eBay. I’ve been burned by eBay before and I don’t trust it anymore!
It would be nice to have that stunning little pen as my first gold nib pen. I love pocket pens so much 😍
I keep changing grail pens which is a problem but luckily I have never found one I wanted that was more than 300 dollars.
My grail pen is Monteverde Regatta Sport Fountain Pen - Northern Lights, This could be my pen for the rest of my life but I can't afford one yet 😭
It's a great one if you haven't already picked one up seeing as how this is an older video I just watched
better to build SLOWLY a curated collection of pens that do something for you (i.e., "grail pen") rather than being a pen accumulator where quantity is more important than quality. Therefore, I prefer to save for that special pen that will be a special addition to my collection.
I'm still in the cheap phase of this hobby. My dream pen is a waterman expert with a precious finish. It is litterally cheaper than the Lamy 2000
Like everything "it's subjective". I have a mix of pens in my collection (some from my university days) and some newly purchased ones.
The problem with this "hobby" is that once you get the latest there is always the "next" one.
At the end of the day, for me what is important is how does it write or perform? I have two Cd'A's which were dismal, but I hung onto them, and after I discovered a nib meister here in Canada, and he did his magic they are now wonderful pens, and are now in the rotation.
Of course now the problem is ink, I seem to be purchasing a lot lately and the GPC samples are not helping!
I'm sixty-seven, but I'd have to live another hundred years to use all the ink I have, and I have a LOT. I can't even remember a great many of the inks I have, and have to check a list before buying more. It's ridiculous. I could buy Maki-e for what I've spent on ink.
My grail pen was the special edition conklin duragraph, but the nib was too broad even as an ef and it didn't feel nice in my hand... Very disappointing, but I gave it to my boyfriend who absolutely loves it and uses it all the time
You must really love fine lines. I find the Duragraph medium a little thin. I love a line wide enough to display all the properties an ink has, which means at least a very wet fine, or a wet medium. The problem is that my natural handwriting is very small, and it's taken a lot of practice to use these wider nibs without closing in an O a P, etc. But I've managed.
My grail pen is a Visconti Homo sapiens skylight or magma .
"You've got a long, long life ahead of you enjoying fountain pens. So I want to try and shorten that life." -Brian Goulet, 2018 (8:33)
XD
I’m happy having multiple cheaper pens rather than a grail atm... I’m sure that’ll change later on 😂
My holy grail pen has “Edison” stamped on the barrel.
Good call! Any particular model? I love the colors on the Pearlette. - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company my first was Fireball Premiere. After that I got a Menlo Pump Filler. Later a Beaumont Pneumatic. The two most recent are a Menlo Draw Filler and a Glenmont Bulb Filler. One each of the Edison filling systems.
Edison pens are awesome. I have a Collier.
A grail pen should be able to define you, not a status symbol (defines class structures,) or going through the motions of buying & selling (defines merchantiles.) For me, in the tradition of machinists, I have a toolbox of fountain pens, focusing on functions, and activities. Know what your instrument can do for you. My grail pens will be the handful, as I am a multifaceted person, never one pen more than a few days of wages.
I have a very low grip and because of this, I have paid a lot of attention to the Lamy 2000. Is there a less expensive pen with a similar hooded nib and lower grip section?
I'm not super familiar with other hooded nib options out there, we just carry the LAMY 2000. You may be able to find others out there. That said, I've found the other LAMY pens (Aion, CP1, Logo) could all be good options. - Colin
Try looking at a Pilot Vanishing Point, if you haven't already.
My grail pen is my pilot metropolitan.
Anyone want to loan me their Namiki Emperor Maki-E to see if I like it? 🤣
Pm me your address. Although, shipping is on your side!
My grail Pen would be any of the recent Namiki Maki-e 100 year Collection. However if money were no object I'd have a Custom Designed and Made Namiki. 🤞my 🎰 come up on the lottery.
Spring for a Rotring Core: the Knight they send to win the Grail
Brian, can I refill my empty cartridge with any ink using ink syringe and use this on my pen if I don't want to buy a converter .l am a big fan of yours .I like your videos very much because I get good information from your videos.
Yes, that's definitely an option! The cartridge won't last forever but it'll work in a pinch without a converter. - Colin
I had my grail pen, then Platinum released their #3776 Century 10th Anniversary... 😖
OMG Really? :31 into this. How can you really appreciate your plateau? if you go right to it. You have the money, go for it. That's you!
Grail pen... what a joke. Like telling an alcoholic to buy a better bottle of wine.... Once you are looking for "grail" you are done with. Just open up the wallet and hand over the money. I thought my "grail" would be the TWSBI 580.... that is the cheapest pen I have bought in the last three months.... Now I am looking for pen storage on the Goulet bottom shelf page every day.... Heck, I long for the days when my little Cross fountain pen was all I had, when I did not know about the world of fountain pens. ---- But damn, I really want a MB 149.....
Its sad . That we don't have goulet pens in india . I always come to get a review of pen before buying and related stuff . Shipping cost bites a lot . If possible open in india brain . Its a huge market where there is no online retailer like goulet .
There's a pen that is one of a kind and it looks really beautiful. However I dont think I will enjoy writing with it. It costs £100 and I dont want to spend that on that pen but on something else. What should I do?
What pen is it and why wouldn't you enjoy writing with it? That's a good amount of money to spend on a pen you wouldn't use so it might be better served elsewhere. - Colin
I think i wouldn't enjoy writing with it because is looks heavy and wide and I like lighter, smaller pens.
Just buy every pen
How big is your collection?
Does the Ashland location have will call?
We unfortunately no longer offer local pickup, but if you're within the Richmond area we may be able to waive shipping costs in lieu of that. Just leave an order comment! - Colin
I am using a fountain pen that cost like 40cents , i will buy a ebonite flex pen costing 20 dallor , then lamy safar but here in india safari is like 50 dallor 😂😂 grail idk 😂
So many grail pens out there 😢
I like to call myself a maximalist 😂
it's called "obsessive hoarder" and frankly i'm sure there will come a time where you will come to see it was unnecessary.
Or not. I bought my first pen almost sixty years ago, and I've bought so many pens there's no way I can remember half them, but I've never regretted a moment it.
I learned that only the poor are called hoarders because they don't have the space and the money to keep what they buy neat and organized. Those with money are called collectors, even if they have tens times the number of something as a poor person.
Hoarders have trash piled up everywhere. Even expensive things are trash, if treated as such. Collector have drawers, pen cases, shelves, safes, etc., and there is no trash. Most people pity hoarders. Most people admire collectors.
Another option is to steal pens.
You are an outlier. Not everyone can get any pen they want for their collection at cost. It's hard to compare a regular person to you.
We've all seen part of your collection. It's fabulous but it is also not attainable for us "regular" buyers. That being said you used a lot of "I"'s in your answer. It made the video a little arrogant.
Cosmic Slop 76 He's giving a subjective opinion to a subjective question. His perspective requires "I" to be repeated a lot. Relax.
Drew I quite understand but it's almost impossible for a regular person to completely relate to his point of reference. He even mentioned that he didn't buy a certain pen until Goulet Pens carried it. Again allowing him to get it most likely at cost if not as a gift or a write off. We as customers of Goulet don't have that luxury to "build" our personal collections.
If the question was asked of him. He has no choice but to answer in his perspective. If someone asked me a question of what I would do, I would have to answer what “I” would do. If “I” owned a Pen shop, you bet I’d have a collection that would rival Brian’s. Damn straight! That’s my happy place!
KA Pirk It feels a bit like the saying, 'never trust a skinny chef'. Never trust a pen shop owner without a big collection of pens!
It seemed the very opposite of arrogant to me. There's nothing wrong with using "I" every other word. There's nothing arrogant about it. There's only envy from others.
Arrogant or humble is in the content, and to judge by how many times someone uses the word "I" says nothing about them, and a lot about you.
And, seriously, outlier my left hind leg. Not everyone has to worry about paying full retail, either. They're just as much outliers as Brian. Are [ep[;e with many millions of dollars, or even billions of , outliers?
I guess I should feel sorry for people who even know the word "outlier" exists. It's a very, very sad way to view life.