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Rossler
March 3rd, 2017, 04:35 PM
Dear All

I have a fair amount of fountain pens, mostly MB WE's, and I use them all, on permanent rotation throughout the year.

Some write beautifully and smoothly but some cause utter despair.
Now, Montblanc told me I have two options: do nothing at all or use their Bespoke Nib Service (+/- 1500€ a piece).
There is nothing in between, like a tune-up, little adjustment, no, no, no!
And if I dare use someone else to help, guarantee is void. Wow!!

My question, relating to my MB WE's:
Do the pros that do Nib work (I believe they are called NibMeisters) have to dismount the the Nib, feed, collar?
Or are they capable of doing their job without taking out the whole thing to pieces?
Is it possible to cause damage to the feed or the pen itself if they work on the Nib without taking it apart?

Grateful for your insight

Rossler

Robert
March 3rd, 2017, 04:45 PM
Sounds like you need a simple nib adjustment, and it won't cost $$$$$$. I have an old MB 149 that I dropped, nib first, onto a hardwood floor many years ago. At the time, I didn't know about nibmeisters, thought the pen was a total loss, and let in sit in a drawer for many years. Then I heard about nibmeisters and sent the 149 to one of the best - - - Mike Masuyama. He repaired the mangled tines and tuned the nib to write just as smoothly as it had before the mishap. The cost was modest - - perhaps $60.00 (I don't recall the exact sum).

The work can be done without taking the entire pen apart and without damaging the feed.

As for voiding the warranty, you must decide for yourself (like, what else could go wrong?). If it were my MB, however, it would be sent posthaste to Masuyama-san.

Rossler
March 3rd, 2017, 05:04 PM
Thank you Robert.

My pens were bought as Mediums, just about all of them, yet the writing experience goes from Extra Fine to BB.

Go figure.....

Chrissy
March 3rd, 2017, 11:25 PM
It looks like Montblanc have quoted you a bespoke price that replaces the original nib with a specialised nib of your choice on their WE pens..

If you send a pen to Montblanc for a service then there are 2 lower levels of standard service. Within one of those they will check that the nib tines line up and that it writes, but they won't grind it into a different tip width.

From what I have heard Mike Masuyama can do that work though. :)

Rossler
March 4th, 2017, 02:40 PM
Many thanks Chrissy!
Mr. Masuyama seems to be a good solution.

SIR
March 5th, 2017, 01:15 PM
There are a few, but not all that many, well known reliable and reputable nib tuners whose names are worthy of respect - Mike Masuyama is definitely one of them, John Mottishaw is another; I can personally attest to the quality of Mr Masuyama's work, but I have no experience of Mr Mottishaw's - with either of those two, at least, your satisfaction is more than guaranteed and will make any reference to a manufacturer's warranty irrelevant and unnecessary.

inklord
March 5th, 2017, 05:15 PM
Thank you Robert.

My pens were bought as Mediums, just about all of them, yet the writing experience goes from Extra Fine to BB.

Go figure.....
....same experience here with Pelikan... doesn't seem to beconfined to one brand!