Anyone using the new MB Calligraphy Nib?

[sniper777]

Curious in the feedback.... thanks!

[BlkWhiteFilmPix]

Look forward to seeing feedback on it, too.

In the meantime, this video shows some writing around 16:40 (https://youtu.be/LVQlO6pbqzg) into it.

[Pterodactylus]

I would also be interested in feedback of geeks which actually already have used it.

I saw this video and this looks surprisingly very promising:


https://youtu.be/uWNSotzqQXM


I would have preferred the nib on a smaller pen e.g. on a regular 146 (not a ridiculous prized special one) as I consider the 149 as a monstrous sized pen...... but the nib....... you know I‘m a flex addict.....

I have to admit that I peeped at a thread on this topic on the dark side (something I didnˋt have done since a very long time).

This could be the first real off the shelf flex nib since many decades.

An indicator for this could also be the complaints of people which bought it and are not used to flex pens (like scratchy, unusable, hard starts, cut into paper, ...)

The opposite is true I for sure expect many complaints of spherical blob tipped nail users, as a flex nib requires proper handling regarding pressure and writing angle.

I hope Montblanc will continue that path and not give up when a lot of ballpoint barbarians want to return destroyed nibs (by misuse).

Overall I think it‘s awesome that Montblanc released such a nib.

[notsim]

I started using one as a daily writer in the 149, I really like it. Its not soft like the Omas extra flessibile nibs (not a bad thing), but I do think its better than the stock Aurora flex.

[ChrisJ]

I've been using one since Thursday and I'm very pleased with it, It is the 149 version

I'm preferring it to the Pilot Custom 743 Falcon

Its a very nice smooth writer - not scratchy at all , and exhibits line width variability with no real pressure, more than the Falcon does - in that respect its closer to a vintage flex (I have a Waterman Pink #5) - no pressure does produce thickness on the down strokes , but when pressure is applied its closer to the modern FA rather than the very wide strokes on a Vintage one. It feels smoother than both the FA and Waterman but the FA is very close

Without over forcing the maximum width seems .2mm or so wider than the FA

As with the falcon it does railroad a little with very fast strokes so just a tad more control is needed but generally its a really nice writing experience

Alas though , it doesn't magically improve my handwriting but does live up to the Expressive description.


ETA: When I say no pressure , I meant to say my normal writing pressure which I think is Light to Medium - No pressure at all shows next to no variation - I blame it on a bout of "I have no accent, everyone else are the ones with accents" syndrome :)

[Pterodactylus]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49074695563_9214bbf45f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hLyDfK)

(Montblanc 344 - M ..... Diamine Misty Blue)

[adhoc]

I have to admit that even though I dislike Montblanc on a principal level, I am very, very tempted by this offering...

[maddington]

Has anyone had an issue with the nib being scratchy as well as skipping with light pressure? One review mentioned that this can happen with flex nibs. Just curious whether that’s to be expected and if so, would it be worthwhile to send to a nibmeister.


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[Chrissy]

Has anyone had an issue with the nib being scratchy as well as skipping with light pressure? One review mentioned that this can happen with flex nibs. Just curious whether that’s to be expected and if so, would it be worthwhile to send to a nibmeister.


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Sending a brand new 149 with flexible calligraphy nib to a nibmeister would invalidate it's Montblanc warranty. For such a new pen I would ask Montblanc the question first.

[ChrisJ]

Has anyone had an issue with the nib being scratchy as well as skipping with light pressure? One review mentioned that this can happen with flex nibs. Just curious whether that’s to be expected and if so, would it be worthwhile to send to a nibmeister.


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As i said above , I didn't find the nib to be scratchy at all , and while there is skipping if you write very fast it's really easy to control - I personally think this is one of the best modern factory flex nibs

Stephen Brown has a review up which I broadly agree with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTuZ6HJ838w

[maddington]

Thank you both for the feedback. This is my first time with the type of nib, and I guess I’m too used to the nails I write with!

Chrissy - I’ve honestly never used a pen’s warrantee, but you gave me pause. We do have a Montblanc boutique here in Dallas, so I’ll definitely go by to check them out.


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[Max Dog]

I really like mine (149 Calligraphy flex)! The ink flow when used lightly without any pressure on the nib was initially very faint, but over a couple of weeks of use the flow has increased, and is a really great every day writer, and when I apply pressure, it flexes wonderfully. Never get any railroading or hard starts. The best pen I've ever had.

[KBeezie]

Check out this subjective chart someone made comparing the Montblanc Calligraphy nib to other 'flex' nibs based on price vs performance.

Full Album Here : https://imgur.com/a/lcVSOfD

https://i.imgur.com/8ND9Pedh.jpg

[adhoc]

interesting chart. I have/had a few of these nibs and I’d agree with the positioning.

[djringjr]

Curious in the feedback.... thanks!The MB 149 Calligraphy is awesome. It's at the top of my collection, it rarely railroads, usually when ink is running low. It's not scratchy, you can write easily when not flexing. They got this right.

Regards,

David

Sent from my P027 using Tapatalk

[michalk]

Received mine a couple of days ago and gave it some (a lot) of training ;)
Great pen, great nib. Initialy foas railroading a bit, but I flushed it and it improved significantly. But still I'm planing to change the feed to ebonite custom feed soon.
Comapred to vintage flex nibs? - different story. Some of them are MUCH softer, require less pressure, and still snap back fast, but are more difficult to write "normally" and fast. With MB you can write fast.
Compared to Pilot FA (size 15) nib - simillar feeling. Which one is better? Dont know. yet. In Pilot I use ebonite custom feed.
https://tamenuri.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_1040-768x1024.jpeg

[maddington]

I had the same observations. There was a break in period and then it wrote so well. Not vintage, but a great writer.

How or where do you get a custom ebonite feed?


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[michalk]

How or where do you get a custom ebonite feed?

I know that Flexible Nib Factory is planning to make such feed. I have feeds from them and they are perfect.

[Hellbent]

I use mine for normal note taking, and throw in the occasional flex just for fun. When I don't put any pressure on it the resulting line is thinner than my regular 149 EF. It's also surprisingly smooth. No hard starts, skipping, rail-roading or other problems. So far I enjoy using it a lot. Quite a versatile "little" pen this one. The ink has been Montblanc Permanent Black.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50193403231_f2b035d553_b.jpg

[adhoc]

Received mine, finally pulled the trigger. It skips, hard starts, and railroads. Under the loupe, the nib is really poorly done. Perhaps I should donate a loupe to MB, as clearly nobody took a look at it. One of the tines is larger, each tine is differently twisted around axial axis, it also came misaligned.

I'm going back to my Pilot Custom 823.

[Pterodactylus]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50885694382_14f61310eb_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kwAu7j)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50885694487_3cfea3904b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kwAu98)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50885694427_d95f4a8ffb_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kwAu86)

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG)

[adhoc]

Thanks, Ptero. I have tested the nib with Montblanc Irish Green. I might give it a whirl with Iroshizuku Kon Peki, as that ink is very wet. But still...the pen should write well with their own ink.

I generally love the pen, I really do. I like the dimensions, I love the nib performance (when it writes!), and I still don't regret getting it. But I'm thinking about sending it back to Montblanc.

I tried to write the above 4 or 5 sentences but pen literally stopped writing in the middle. I give up on this pen. I need to decide if I'll ask for a refund or risk sending it back to Montblanc.

[lsmith42]

Very happy with mine... I write with a light touch and have poor pressure control, so it just adds some expression to everyday meeting notes. No issues so far (knocking on something)!


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[notsim]

A longer term review:

https://youtu.be/LQ5rrzNMFxI
https://youtu.be/LQ5rrzNMFxI

and for something also interesting:

https://youtu.be/7dC_iyS1PmM
https://youtu.be/7dC_iyS1PmM

[Yazeh]

Maybe it's my impression Ptero. But I find the nib has given more flair to your downstrokes :)

[Baisao]

I've been looking for one but wasn't sure who a reliable vendor was to go to. Should I buy from Europe of the US? Any recommended vendors?

[Wile E Coyote]

I've been looking for one but wasn't sure who a reliable vendor was to go to. Should I buy from Europe of the US? Any recommended vendors?

If I were going to purchase a new MB, I wouldn't hesitate to go to a MB boutique.

[Pterodactylus]

I've been looking for one but wasn't sure who a reliable vendor was to go to. Should I buy from Europe of the US? Any recommended vendors?

If I were going to purchase a new MB, I wouldn't hesitate to go to a MB boutique.

True, I got mine from the MB online shop, feels better for me to get it directly from the manufacturer (Shops are since many weeks closed anyway because of lockdown again).

[adhoc]

I reground the nib myself and now it's an excellent writer.

[adhoc]

https://i.imgur.com/PcW9z33.jpg

I'm warming up to it.

[adhoc]

I ended up sending the nib back anyway because I was not satisfied with the line width without pressure. Came back with a nice, crisp EF line without pressure and writing perfectly.

[Detman101]

https://i.imgur.com/PcW9z33.jpg

I'm warming up to it.

Is that "Montblanc - Irish Green"?

[Detman101]

Received mine a couple of days ago and gave it some (a lot) of training ;)
Great pen, great nib. Initialy foas railroading a bit, but I flushed it and it improved significantly. But still I'm planing to change the feed to ebonite custom feed soon.
Comapred to vintage flex nibs? - different story. Some of them are MUCH softer, require less pressure, and still snap back fast, but are more difficult to write "normally" and fast. With MB you can write fast.
Compared to Pilot FA (size 15) nib - simillar feeling. Which one is better? Dont know. yet. In Pilot I use ebonite custom feed.
https://tamenuri.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_1040-768x1024.jpeg

May I ask what ink that is in the example shown?

[adhoc]

Yes! Love MB inks.

[Detman101]

Yes! Love MB inks.

Splendid.
That only steels my resolve to own this ink.
I have been mixing other inks to come up with that exact shade, shading ability and tone.
No more...
It's time for simplicity.

[adhoc]

Do yourself a favor and also get Toffee Brown and Amethyst Purple. :)

[Detman101]

Do yourself a favor and also get Toffee Brown and Amethyst Purple. :)

Taking that recommendation to heart!
Thank you sir!

[adhoc]

My writing still needs a lot of work, but I'm having fun with this nib now.

https://i.ibb.co/d2Dt0Pp/IMG-1623.jpg

[Pen Tom]

Test, I just wrote a posting and it just vanashed. How frustrating

[Pen Tom]

I was in a Montblanc boutique a few days ago and was told that the 149s with this wonderful nib cannot be found anywhere
This is very frustrating since in addition to being a fan of Montblanc I also collect and love using pre 1930s Waterman pens, which are known for their great flexible nibs.

When these first came out, I put my name on a list at the Fountain pen Hospital. They were going to notify people when they became available. I never heard from them

So this nib is, for me at least, like the very frustrating "un-obtainium"

Maybe someday before i die, I will get to see one of these pens, but I'm not holding my breath

[Pterodactylus]

I was in a Montblanc boutique a few days ago and was told that the 149s with this wonderful nib cannot be found anywhere
This is very frustrating since in addition to being a fan of Montblanc I also collect and love using pre 1930s Waterman pens, which are known for their great flexible nibs.

When these first came out, I put my name on a list at the Fountain pen Hospital. They were going to notify people when they became available. I never heard from them

So this nib is, for me at least, like the very frustrating "un-obtainium"

Maybe someday before i die, I will get to see one of these pens, but I'm not holding my breath

At the Montblanc Webshop you can set a E-Mail notification when they become available.
They become occasionally available for a couple of hours until they are sold out again.
So you have to be fast when you got the mail notification. ;)
So I got mine.

I think the demand is much higher than the Production, so your best chance to get one is the Webshop.

[Yazeh]

Or you can order it from here... I don't know anythinga bout this company, but here goes:
https://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-119699

[Pen Tom]

Thank you very much Pterodactylus and Yazeh. Thats very useful information.
Its funny, I get the fahrney catalog in the mail and I thought that I looked for the calligraphy nib pen.

[lshines]

Is there anyway to keep this thread at top, or in a special place? I"m new here - in some other forums I go to there are "stickies" which putthe thread at the top of the subforum.

[Pen Tom]

I "ordered" one from Fahrneys 6 months ago after reading these postings and all I receive are email advertisments from them. No evidence that there really are any for sale.
I think that MB made a small number of them for whatever reason and that was it. No more to come

[mizgeorge]

Is there anyway to keep this thread at top, or in a special place? I"m new here - in some other forums I go to there are "stickies" which putthe thread at the top of the subforum.

Just subscribe to the thread (under thread tools at the top of the first post on any page) and you'll get a notification when there's a new post. Stickies are put in place by moderators (on forums that have them) for important information or frequently asked questions and most users have no input on what these might be.

[guyy]

I "ordered" one from Fahrneys 6 months ago after reading these postings and all I receive are email advertisments from them. No evidence that there really are any for sale.
I think that MB made a small number of them for whatever reason and that was it. No more to come

I waited eleven months for mine. I ordered one at the end of May 2020 and received it early May of this year. Have you asked Fahrney’s about your order?

[Pen Tom]

Thanks for the words of encouragement guyy. No, have not contacted them. I should do that

[Pen Tom]

I called Fahrneys and spoke with someone who sounded knowledgable
He said that Montblanc has stopped making the 149 Calligraphy pen.

So I guess that I'll scratch that off of my wish list.

[Pen Tom]

My largest collection of pens are old Waterman pens from the pre 1930 era.

Many of these have wonderful flexible nibs. Had anyone compared the flex of the MB 149 calligraphy
with the flex of a 1920s Waterman 7 Pink or Red nib for example?

Or any Waterman with good flex for that matter?

[noahenholm]

If you're seeking for cheap dip pen nibs for writing, this Trustela calligraphy nib (https://artltdmag.com/best-calligraphy-nibs/) set is a fantastic option. It comes with 18 different dip pen nibs in various types and sizes, giving you additional versatility and diversity.

[Cyril]

Actually lot of people seems to underrate this "Nib"
I am sure It has many more characters in a well trained hand.
This thread proves more to that many other nibs, vintage or antiques or TRUE CALLIGRAPHY DREAM NIBS have their own place as this Mont Blanc Calligraphy has it's own charactors.
This thread proves that clearly. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/354196-the-meisterstück-149-calligraphy-appreciation-thread/page/36/#comments
If you are a calligrapher this pen will be great in your hand.

[bunnspecial]

I'm happy to report that my 146C, ordered in January, is now on its way to me.

[FredRydr]

I would've liked to test one at my local boutique. Alas, Montblanc closed that boutique, and I won't buy without writing with one first to see if I already own a pen capable of the same result.

[molly09]

I adore how these nibs (https://artltdmag.com/best-nibs-for-copperplate/) provide an incredibly smooth response while you create copperplate calligraphy. It's fantastic to know that they have a ton of ink capacity and high flexibility. The majority of copperplate calligraphy typefaces that you may imagine fit them.

[dr_kevy]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221226/4137e7a0b8b398a283d1b1016bbd3fb8.jpg

It’s an interesting nib. Ground very fine. Inconsistent worksmanship though. I’ve had issues with flow and the grind being sharp.

MB customer service can be patchy and will almost always charge for repairs I live. But when it writes well, it’s a beauty.


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[Gulfcoast]

I got an email from Fahrney's this morning that purported these pens are available for sale. Is this a scam?

Based on some youtube reviews, I thought that these nibs were supposed to be semi-flex. The add copy from Fahrney's states they are essentially an hebrew-grind nib.

"The curved nib is ground at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, which allows a variety of writing styles and line widths, depending on the angle and the orientation at which the writing instrument is held. Comparable to an architect nib, the curved nib writes a thinner line (width M) when moved vertically, and a wider line (width BB) when moved horizontally. A curved nib is suited for Chinese, Japanese and Korean calligraphy, for sketching and drawing designs, but also to add extra flair to regular handwriting."

This does not sound like what I think of when I think of "calligraphy." YMMV.

[dneal]

I got an email from Fahrney's this morning that purported these pens are available for sale. Is this a scam?

Based on some youtube reviews, I thought that these nibs were supposed to be semi-flex. The add copy from Fahrney's states they are essentially an hebrew-grind nib.

"The curved nib is ground at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, which allows a variety of writing styles and line widths, depending on the angle and the orientation at which the writing instrument is held. Comparable to an architect nib, the curved nib writes a thinner line (width M) when moved vertically, and a wider line (width BB) when moved horizontally. A curved nib is suited for Chinese, Japanese and Korean calligraphy, for sketching and drawing designs, but also to add extra flair to regular handwriting."

This does not sound like what I think of when I think of "calligraphy." YMMV.

I looked on Fahrney's site.

It looks like MB has a new 149 "calligraphy" nib - that is a Hebrew/Architect grind. Makes sense, since flex isn't the only style of calligraphy. They could produce a crisp italic and add it to a line of nibs oriented to "calligraphy".

Fahrney's also has the 146 with the flexible calligraphy nib.

Link to Fahrney's "Montblanc Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy Curved Nib Fountain Pen Black Gold Trim" (https://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-129275)

74290

[BlkWhiteFilmPix]

I got an email from Fahrney's this morning that purported these pens are available for sale. Is this a scam?

Based on some youtube reviews, I thought that these nibs were supposed to be semi-flex. The add copy from Fahrney's states they are essentially an hebrew-grind nib.

"The curved nib is ground at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, which allows a variety of writing styles and line widths, depending on the angle and the orientation at which the writing instrument is held. Comparable to an architect nib, the curved nib writes a thinner line (width M) when moved vertically, and a wider line (width BB) when moved horizontally. A curved nib is suited for Chinese, Japanese and Korean calligraphy, for sketching and drawing designs, but also to add extra flair to regular handwriting."

This does not sound like what I think of when I think of "calligraphy." YMMV.

My experience with the 149 Curved Nib Calligraphy nib is that it encourages me to write with more flair.

Writing with the nib inverted gave a faint line, at least with J. Herbin éclat de Saphir ink.