I just found you from Talks of the heart” I’m so HAPPY I DID! I need to know why your videos haven’t shown up in my feed, I want to see more females doing reviews on FP’s…I mean Doodlebud is great along with Sbrebrown. Maybe I just feel some kind of way about all the topics I love and learn about on TH-cam seemingly being dominated by male content creators…and I’m like come on ladies!!! Sooo YAY! I found your channel!🎉 Side note it’s less about male vs. female for me and more about the content itself. Did I learn from the content what I needed/wanted to learn or did I just watch/listen to someone ramble for 20 mins only to pick up a few key points that were relevant. You did a fantastic job on this video. I will be binge watching your videos and “Talk from the heart.”
For intermediate pens, you cant go wrong with Pilot. Great variety of nibs and bodies and perfect quality, and I would say reasonably priced all things considered. Metal Falcon, Justus95, 742, 743, Capless Decimo.
I’m in the process of selling off my Sailors and investing in more Leonardos, so I’m with you on excluding Sailor from the top five. The ones I’ve paid to have tuned and smoothed write great, but the rest are too scratchy for my liking. Just nope. Leonardos, on the other hand, write amazing out of the box. Good choice for top five. I’ll have to try an Esterbrook some day!
When you do, I can not recommend Franklin-Christoph enough. Especially with a SIG nib, they are precisely tuned, are somewhat customizable out of the factory, and they have some very unique designs/colors. The value is really incredible because they are unmatched in selection and value. I wish I knew of them sooner so I could partake in the Andromeda Goulet Limited Edition. They make excellent use of Diamondcast acrylic.
Thank you. What was wrong with the Sailors? Did you not like the feedback? They all have it. What model and colorway is your Pilot? It’s very lovely. My top 5 (in no particular order) are the Esterbrook Estie (most recently „King of the Night“, Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel, Waterman Carene Coral, Santini Libra Cappuccino, Franklin Christoph with Sig Nib. HM: Little Pen Designs Candy Nougat, Opus 88
@@queenbuzybee4074 unfortunately all of them had nib issues, one had a feed issue. I since have had the two I own fixed so they are much better now. Love your top 5! Thanks for sharing 💜
Wow, I can see how you would have that opinion on Sailor with a 0/4 success rate. I have probably 25 though, and have only had 1 nib that needed tuning because it was a little scratchy on one side. Sailor is in my top 3 brands! (Obviously, because I have way too many. 🙈)
Thank you! Love your pens. I have an Esty, and Pilot pens are great. I have the same trouble with Sailor. Where did you send the pen to be tuned? Blessings
The way you feel about Sailor is the way I feel about Montblanc. A lot of how well a pen writes out of the box depends on where you got it. If you purchase from a brick and mortar store, but do so online, you might be getting the pen that in-store customers tried but passed on. If you purchase from someone like Atlas or Yoseka, you can ask to have them test the pen. You shouldn’t have that problem with Sailor. Amazon purchases tend to be the worst for me, and sometimes obviously resold returns. My Montblanc came straight from the factory, so there is no excuse for it hemorrhaging ink and writing like a rusty fishing hook.😆 You’ve inspired me to do a mid-range top-5 video too but tl;dr at the moment I’d go: 1. Edison Collier or Jameson (as alternatives to your Esterbrook, and you can get one custom made for not much more) 2. Lamy 2000 (really the only one that differs from your list much, but it seems you prefer a certain style) 3. Pilot 743 or 823 4. Yeah, Leonardo MZT 5. Aurora 88 (to replace the MB at around half the price) For honorable mentions, I’d list Parker 51 and Pelikan same as your pick - 600, 800, 1000. You have good taste and seem to have well-earned opinions. Own it! Kudos!
@@AuthorsReserve Well as I told another commenter. My opinion of Monteblanc is kind of skewed as this is my one and only pen and it has been great. I appreciate hearing others experiences and knowing what they like and dislike because it certainly helps me information gather on my future purchases. I have had great experiences with all of Pilots mid range pens and certainly will pick up a few different models as well. Thanks for your input 💜
Thanks for sharing your experiences and I agree with all except for Montblanc. I recently purchased a MB 149 directly from Montblanc as an anniversary gift and it came defective right out of the box with a major leak. It was sent out to their repair center (instead of swapping it out immediately with a new one) and that ordeal took 2.5 months. In the end it is a mediocre writer and the repair ordeal soured the experience even further. IMHO the Pilot 823 runs circles around the MB 149 that I have and costing significantly less. I know that experience differ but that is why this pen will never make my top 5 list.
@@hkopper68 Well what I will say is my knowledge for Monteblanc is limited to this one pen that came out of the box working great, so it is a somewhat skewed opinion, much in the way my Sailor opinions are skewed because I have just had some crummy Sailor pens. I super appreciate your input because knowledge is key in this hobby for sure. I always welcome others experiences to help me make wiser choices down the road. Thanks for watching!
Interesting I had a similar experience with my Sailor Pro Gear (f) it needed me to tune it as the nibs were misaligned but once that issue was resolved I use it more that any other pen I own. Strangely my handwriting looks the best with it
1. Which models are the Pilot and MB? 2. Sailor Boi here. Perhaps Sailor's nib qualities are not for you. You should be able to sell them easily, for a good price. 3. My collection is dominated by Sailor and Franklin-Christoph.
The Pilot is a Custom 74 and the Monteblanc is a Grande Meisterstuck. Honestly after having the nib fixed on my Sailor it is fine. But in general you are right, I am not a huge fan of the material used to make Sailors as well as the nibs themselves. We all have preferences and that is ok.
@@mixeddrinks8100 We all have different likes and dislikes and that’s ok. I never understood the Benu craze….which is why none are currently in my collection. But I am super curious to know what other cheaper gold nib pens you recommend?
@@plannermumsy The Platinum/Sailor/Pilot all have gold nib pens cheaper than Esterbrook from what I can tell. The Lamy 2000 also comes to mind. I might be more fortunate to have relatives in Japan who can get it for me even cheaper, but even on Amazon I have seen Sailor 21K nibs pens under 150. But to your point as well, I feel the same about Benu as I do with the Estie. Can't bring myself to buy steel nib for gold nib price. I am sure it probably writes similar but just doesn't have the same feel.
As an intermediate collector, myself, I agree with your Top 5 and Honorable Mentions 100%
Haha our tastes are very similar💜
I just found you from Talks of the heart” I’m so HAPPY I DID! I need to know why your videos haven’t shown up in my feed, I want to see more females doing reviews on FP’s…I mean Doodlebud is great along with Sbrebrown. Maybe I just feel some kind of way about all the topics I love and learn about on TH-cam seemingly being dominated by male content creators…and I’m like come on ladies!!! Sooo YAY! I found your channel!🎉
Side note it’s less about male vs. female for me and more about the content itself. Did I learn from the content what I needed/wanted to learn or did I just watch/listen to someone ramble for 20 mins only to pick up a few key points that were relevant. You did a fantastic job on this video. I will be binge watching your videos and “Talk from the heart.”
For intermediate pens, you cant go wrong with Pilot. Great variety of nibs and bodies and perfect quality, and I would say reasonably priced all things considered.
Metal Falcon, Justus95, 742, 743, Capless Decimo.
Great list. My experience with Sailor has been great and I would substitute a Sailor 1911L and move the Montblanc to HM. THANKS!
I’m in the process of selling off my Sailors and investing in more Leonardos, so I’m with you on excluding Sailor from the top five. The ones I’ve paid to have tuned and smoothed write great, but the rest are too scratchy for my liking. Just nope. Leonardos, on the other hand, write amazing out of the box.
Good choice for top five. I’ll have to try an Esterbrook some day!
Nice collection! I haven’t gotten brave enough to break the $100 price point for a pen. All of your top 5 are on my wish list tho
Hey we all have our limits and that is ok! Take your time and enjoy what you already have💜 Thanks for watching!
When you do, I can not recommend Franklin-Christoph enough. Especially with a SIG nib, they are precisely tuned, are somewhat customizable out of the factory, and they have some very unique designs/colors. The value is really incredible because they are unmatched in selection and value. I wish I knew of them sooner so I could partake in the Andromeda Goulet Limited Edition. They make excellent use of Diamondcast acrylic.
My favorite first $150+ pen was a Leonardo. Bought it in July…late Nov and it’s definitely what I consider an everyday carry
Thank you. What was wrong with the Sailors? Did you not like the feedback? They all have it. What model and colorway is your Pilot? It’s very lovely.
My top 5 (in no particular order) are the Esterbrook Estie (most recently „King of the Night“, Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel, Waterman Carene Coral, Santini Libra Cappuccino, Franklin Christoph with Sig Nib.
HM: Little Pen Designs Candy Nougat, Opus 88
@@queenbuzybee4074 unfortunately all of them had nib issues, one had a feed issue. I since have had the two I own fixed so they are much better now. Love your top 5! Thanks for sharing 💜
Wow, I can see how you would have that opinion on Sailor with a 0/4 success rate. I have probably 25 though, and have only had 1 nib that needed tuning because it was a little scratchy on one side. Sailor is in my top 3 brands! (Obviously, because I have way too many. 🙈)
@@amyelr Yes I have heard this over and over again. I sure wish this was my experience 😭😭😭
I absolutely love the platinum nibs and have collected several. Haven't ventured into Montblanc land as I am a bit intimidated and they are pricey
I have really enjoyed my Platinum pen! YES Monteblancs are expensive but you can get one fairly reasonably on the secondary market.
Thank you! Love your pens. I have an Esty, and Pilot pens are great. I have the same trouble with Sailor. Where did you send the pen to be tuned? Blessings
@@tootsfour956 I actually had my Sailor tuned at a pen show but recently had some do e at a pen store by NibGrinder. Mark Bacas.
My top five include: esterbrook estie, Leonardo MZG, Pelikan m600, twsbi eco, pilot kakuno
The way you feel about Sailor is the way I feel about Montblanc.
A lot of how well a pen writes out of the box depends on where you got it. If you purchase from a brick and mortar store, but do so online, you might be getting the pen that in-store customers tried but passed on. If you purchase from someone like Atlas or Yoseka, you can ask to have them test the pen. You shouldn’t have that problem with Sailor. Amazon purchases tend to be the worst for me, and sometimes obviously resold returns. My Montblanc came straight from the factory, so there is no excuse for it hemorrhaging ink and writing like a rusty fishing hook.😆
You’ve inspired me to do a mid-range top-5 video too but tl;dr at the moment I’d go:
1. Edison Collier or Jameson (as alternatives to your Esterbrook, and you can get one custom made for not much more)
2. Lamy 2000 (really the only one that differs from your list much, but it seems you prefer a certain style)
3. Pilot 743 or 823
4. Yeah, Leonardo MZT
5. Aurora 88 (to replace the MB at around half the price)
For honorable mentions, I’d list Parker 51 and Pelikan same as your pick - 600, 800, 1000.
You have good taste and seem to have well-earned opinions. Own it! Kudos!
@@AuthorsReserve Well as I told another commenter. My opinion of Monteblanc is kind of skewed as this is my one and only pen and it has been great. I appreciate hearing others experiences and knowing what they like and dislike because it certainly helps me information gather on my future purchases. I have had great experiences with all of Pilots mid range pens and certainly will pick up a few different models as well. Thanks for your input 💜
I 100% agree with you on Sailor!
Thanks for sharing your experiences and I agree with all except for Montblanc. I recently purchased a MB 149 directly from Montblanc as an anniversary gift and it came defective right out of the box with a major leak. It was sent out to their repair center (instead of swapping it out immediately with a new one) and that ordeal took 2.5 months. In the end it is a mediocre writer and the repair ordeal soured the experience even further. IMHO the Pilot 823 runs circles around the MB 149 that I have and costing significantly less. I know that experience differ but that is why this pen will never make my top 5 list.
@@hkopper68 Well what I will say is my knowledge for Monteblanc is limited to this one pen that came out of the box working great, so it is a somewhat skewed opinion, much in the way my Sailor opinions are skewed because I have just had some crummy Sailor pens. I super appreciate your input because knowledge is key in this hobby for sure. I always welcome others experiences to help me make wiser choices down the road. Thanks for watching!
Interesting I had a similar experience with my Sailor Pro Gear (f) it needed me to tune it as the nibs were misaligned but once that issue was resolved I use it more that any other pen I own. Strangely my handwriting looks the best with it
1. Which models are the Pilot and MB?
2. Sailor Boi here. Perhaps Sailor's nib qualities are not for you. You should be able to sell them easily, for a good price.
3. My collection is dominated by Sailor and Franklin-Christoph.
The Pilot is a Custom 74 and the Monteblanc is a Grande Meisterstuck. Honestly after having the nib fixed on my Sailor it is fine. But in general you are right, I am not a huge fan of the material used to make Sailors as well as the nibs themselves. We all have preferences and that is ok.
I still don't get how Esterbrook charge so much for a steel Jowo nib. Also why people choose it over cheaper gold nib pens.
@@mixeddrinks8100 We all have different likes and dislikes and that’s ok. I never understood the Benu craze….which is why none are currently in my collection. But I am super curious to know what other cheaper gold nib pens you recommend?
@@plannermumsy The Platinum/Sailor/Pilot all have gold nib pens cheaper than Esterbrook from what I can tell. The Lamy 2000 also comes to mind. I might be more fortunate to have relatives in Japan who can get it for me even cheaper, but even on Amazon I have seen Sailor 21K nibs pens under 150. But to your point as well, I feel the same about Benu as I do with the Estie. Can't bring myself to buy steel nib for gold nib price. I am sure it probably writes similar but just doesn't have the same feel.
Sailor doesn't land, nor do any of the Japanese pens land in my top 5.
I am like 90percent sure that Sailor wrote well , you must have misunderstood the nib
@cortesimerci35 haha, well you are 10% wrong because the nibs were misaligned and therefore didn’t work until tuned.😂😂😂