Thanks for covering this. A great review. I came to the conclusion that getting one good pen was much better than half a dozen poor pens. e.g. Buy the best pen I could afford, or two and then stop. I have half a dozen cheaper pens I would now never consider using. Buying an Onoto was what made most of my pens redundant. The Onoto has all of the Nib feel of a Pilot Custom 823, but it's superior on all fronts though I still enjoy my 823 as well as my Pelikan Souverin 805 too. But, I'm not a real collector. I do enjoy your insightful vlogs though. Thanks 👍
If you want to really flex for expressive writing then just get a cheaper flex focused one (fountain pen revolution) where if you mess up the nib it's 20 dollars and no big deal. All of these pens are "soft" but for daily writing to and to improve your regular writing. What they teach you is to not put so much presssure and take your time to enjoy writing. They provide an experience which for me is the reason I have fountain pens. For softer nibs I have the range: FA15, FA10, #10 & #15 SF (these put down an amazing line for beautiful writing), custom Urushi. All of these pens while "soft" can be used as daily writers on all paper. I can't say that for other "soft" nibs like my Pelikan M1000 which is useless bc you have to be so careful with it. Pilot quality is amazing and although I have many other pens and brands, these are my go to as no issues ever and they just write perfectly. I love their range of soft nibs so much more than my #15 M (from 823h. They have character. The regular nibs are great but aren't much different than high end steel nibs you can get for cheaper today. They just write and write well but I think if you are paying a lot of money for fountain pens, you want something with character and these provide that for me. For the money they can't be beat. Even the #5 SF is super soft and amazing for 100 dollars. I put my FA15 in the 823 body which is pretty much my favorite writing pen. Then I put the FA10 in the 743 body. I made the channels on the standard feeds a tiny bit deeper with a scalpel and never had railroading even with the FA10. It's lovely because the nib tip is long and very thin which provides a cool writing experience. I love it and recommend it to anyone who really enjoys just writing. Performs on all paper which I can't say for some of my more expensive pens like my Custom Urushi. For the money the FA15 is the best and most interesting nib on the market for me. If you can afford to get a 823 and 743 and switch the FA15 into the 823 I think you will be happy. You can then buy $ 50 Asvine v200 bodies and I put my #15M, and #10 & #15 SF in those one bodies (they work with standard Asvine feeds and housings) and now those pens are perfect daily writers either a better balanced vacuum filler and the grip section is much better than standard Pilot pen bodies. Hope this helps. I highly recommend these soft nibs and if you want to really flex get a flex specific pen (I used Fountain Pen Revolution and vintage flex like Pelikan 140s).
I really like my TWISBI mini. For me, a better balanced pen. Regular sized 580 and Vac feel back weighted to me. Mini puts the weight of the filling mechanism in a middle position when I’m holding the pen. Really happy with this pen. For balance and wetness it’s superior to my Kawecos.
Thanks for your comment. I am intrigued by small pens but I don't use them much in everyday life compared to bigger pens. When I started in fountain pens, I used to look for balance in fountain pens but now, I appreciate that tiny bit of back weighting e.g. that piston fillers bring.
The Monteverde Monza until very recently suspiciously look like they were rebadged Jinhao 992s. Same build quality and everything. For $30 USD... And the 51A looks like it's Parker and Sheaffer's love child. Basic design of the 51, clip from a 1920s Sheaffer's. 😁
Thanks Paul, I did own a few Monteverdes but gave them away as the ergonomics don't suit me and mostly because I am wary of pens that fluctuate so much in price - I have seen some at giveaway prices and many as giveaways e.g. get one free if you buy another pen.
@@WrexelsWorld I've been leery of anything Yafa. Something just doesn't sit right... When many much cheaper Chinese pens have better reputation for quality control... I have a 1917 Conklin Crescent Filler. I've had people say that the modern ones are built as well, but when every review not from a seller lists quality control problems consistently... Has there been improvement? Yes, but even the currently $2 USD Jinhao 992 has improved. So why pay so much more? 🤔
I like your videos, they are very informative. Just a little correction · Montblanc is actually not located in Switzerland, its on a border between Italy and France.
The new Jinhao 80 pens are great.
I use a Lamy 1.1 nib on mine with Lamy Turquoise ink.
Thanks for covering this.
A great review.
I came to the conclusion that getting one good pen was much better than half a dozen poor pens. e.g. Buy the best pen I could afford, or two and then stop. I have half a dozen cheaper pens I would now never consider using.
Buying an Onoto was what made most of my pens redundant.
The Onoto has all of the Nib feel of a Pilot Custom 823, but it's superior on all fronts though I still enjoy my 823 as well as my Pelikan Souverin 805 too.
But, I'm not a real collector.
I do enjoy your insightful vlogs though.
Thanks 👍
Thanks Kevin. This philosophy rings true for most things in life as well.
If you want to really flex for expressive writing then just get a cheaper flex focused one (fountain pen revolution) where if you mess up the nib it's 20 dollars and no big deal.
All of these pens are "soft" but for daily writing to and to improve your regular writing. What they teach you is to not put so much presssure and take your time to enjoy writing. They provide an experience which for me is the reason I have fountain pens.
For softer nibs I have the range:
FA15, FA10, #10 & #15 SF (these put down an amazing line for beautiful writing), custom Urushi. All of these pens while "soft" can be used as daily writers on all paper. I can't say that for other "soft" nibs like my Pelikan M1000 which is useless bc you have to be so careful with it. Pilot quality is amazing and although I have many other pens and brands, these are my go to as no issues ever and they just write perfectly.
I love their range of soft nibs so much more than my #15 M (from 823h. They have character. The regular nibs are great but aren't much different than high end steel nibs you can get for cheaper today. They just write and write well but I think if you are paying a lot of money for fountain pens, you want something with character and these provide that for me. For the money they can't be beat. Even the #5 SF is super soft and amazing for 100 dollars.
I put my FA15 in the 823 body which is pretty much my favorite writing pen. Then I put the FA10 in the 743 body. I made the channels on the standard feeds a tiny bit deeper with a scalpel and never had railroading even with the FA10. It's lovely because the nib tip is long and very thin which provides a cool writing experience. I love it and recommend it to anyone who really enjoys just writing. Performs on all paper which I can't say for some of my more expensive pens like my Custom Urushi. For the money the FA15 is the best and most interesting nib on the market for me.
If you can afford to get a 823 and 743 and switch the FA15 into the 823 I think you will be happy. You can then buy $ 50 Asvine v200 bodies and I put my #15M, and #10 & #15 SF in those one bodies (they work with standard Asvine feeds and housings) and now those pens are perfect daily writers either a better balanced vacuum filler and the grip section is much better than standard Pilot pen bodies.
Hope this helps. I highly recommend these soft nibs and if you want to really flex get a flex specific pen (I used Fountain Pen Revolution and vintage flex like Pelikan 140s).
I really like my TWISBI mini. For me, a better balanced pen. Regular sized 580 and Vac feel back weighted to me. Mini puts the weight of the filling mechanism in a middle position when I’m holding the pen. Really happy with this pen. For balance and wetness it’s superior to my Kawecos.
Thanks for your comment. I am intrigued by small pens but I don't use them much in everyday life compared to bigger pens. When I started in fountain pens, I used to look for balance in fountain pens but now, I appreciate that tiny bit of back weighting e.g. that piston fillers bring.
The Monteverde Monza until very recently suspiciously look like they were rebadged Jinhao 992s. Same build quality and everything. For $30 USD...
And the 51A looks like it's Parker and Sheaffer's love child. Basic design of the 51, clip from a 1920s Sheaffer's. 😁
Thanks Paul, I did own a few Monteverdes but gave them away as the ergonomics don't suit me and mostly because I am wary of pens that fluctuate so much in price - I have seen some at giveaway prices and many as giveaways e.g. get one free if you buy another pen.
@@WrexelsWorld I've been leery of anything Yafa. Something just doesn't sit right... When many much cheaper Chinese pens have better reputation for quality control...
I have a 1917 Conklin Crescent Filler. I've had people say that the modern ones are built as well, but when every review not from a seller lists quality control problems consistently...
Has there been improvement? Yes, but even the currently $2 USD Jinhao 992 has improved. So why pay so much more? 🤔
I like your videos, they are very informative. Just a little correction · Montblanc is actually not located in Switzerland, its on a border between Italy and France.