Review: Noodler's Konrad

[Jimmy James]

This review is also kept at my infant pen blog, The Inked Nib.

I’m a fan of the idea of the Noodler’s pen. I own more than a dozen between the three fountain pen models (Nib Creeper, Ahab, and Konrad). I have the artwork from each taped to the wall in my office. They’re not always easy to work with, and they’re not my best pens. They are a lot of fun to mess with in my book.
Page 1: Staples Sustainable Earth Legal Pad

Page 2: Staples Signa Legal Pad

Page 3: Norcom (USA) Single Subject Notebook Paper

Ink (Jade Ebonite): Noodler’s Henry Hudson Blue (FPH exclusive)

Ink (Roaring 20s): Noodler’s Rome Is Burning

Ink (Red Mesa Tortoise): Platinum Mixfree Leaf Green

I bought three Noodler’s Konrad pens from three retailers. The first is a Jade Ebonite from Fountain Pen Hospital. The second is a Roaring 20’s Brown from Goulet Pen Company. The final Konrad is a Red Mesa Tortoise from iSellPens.

The most interesting thing about the Konrads to me is that the ebonite pen is about 1/2 inch of length longer than the others. The styling of the pens is quite similar. Each one is a piston filler with a blind cap covering the piston. I have not taken any of the pens apart, but I hear that the pens are completely user serviceable like all Noodler’s pens.

Each one of these pens came to me in 100% perfect shape and were ready to write. I know not everyone has had that experience, but I hope most people get good ones.

The non-ebonite pen is about 5 inches capped and about the same length unposted. It is about 5 1/2 inches posted. The ebonite pen is maybe 5 1/4 inches unposted, 5 1/2 inches capped, and about 6 1/4 inches posted. The ebonite pen is maybe 7/16 inch while the non-ebonite pen is about 3/8 inch.

I’m a fan of Noodler’s Pens. I own about 20 total pens, and none of mine have been terrible. The Konrad is the best pen yet. The flex nib is #6 size just like the Ahab. The Knox nibs available at xfountainpens.com should fit the pens. I really like the flexibility though it should be clear that I do not possess the skill necessary to make the most of the nib.

Handwritten review:

Review by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Review by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Review by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Photos:

Konrad by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Konrad by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Konrad by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Ahab and Konrad:

Konrad by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Ahab, Konrad, and Nib Creeper:

Konrad by Erechtheus, on Flickr

[goldiesdad]

Thanks for the great review ... I too am very interested in the Conrad and this helps ...

[Truppi327]

My Mesa Red Konrad is my first of about a dozen Noodler's pens that wrote absolutely, perfectly flawless right out of the box without a tinker or adjustment. Not a complaint, just good luck. I love the Noodler's pens and this is definitely my favorite so far. Posts wonderfully and the piston is awesome.

Do you know if the ebonite Konrads are still available/ will be made available again?

[Jimmy James]

My understanding is that the ebonite pens are at some point coming back.

[KrazyIvan]

One of these days I am going to get a Noodler's pen.

[lovemy51]

one of these day i will stop buying these................ they work great with some other nibs -like the Knox or the Walities.

thx for the review, JJ. i like the look of the ebonite!! oh, oh, here we go again!!! maybe this one last time!

[etoyoc]

I keep saying no more Noodler pens, and yet I had to buy this one. Actually, I am glad I did. This is the first one that worked well out of the box without any fiddling or adjustment. I still don't care that much about flex, so I may end up eventually putting a different nib in. However, for now it has worked well with the stock nib. So maybe I will play with flex some in the summer.

[goldiesdad]

Great review ... I am looking into getting the Konrad ...

[Jimmy James]

Just to update, Brian Goulet seemed to get new information on the ebonite pens because he posted something in response to me today that indicates they'll be a different pattern than what I have (and the other FPH run of ebonite pen ones). I for one cannot wait to see the new pattern or patterns.

[Freddy]

I find Noodler's pens way over-hyped. I have the original Flex and the Ahab and was so disappointed in both that I didn't even consider the Konrad, though I really like its styling. And don't even get me started on the Noodler's roller ball...a great idea that turned out to be useless because the balls themselves jammed or the ink flow just wasn't there. It's sad because I really wanted to like the Noodler's pens as much as I like so many of the Noodler's inks. I guess I'll just wait until I can be assured of better quality control. I can only assume that is the problem since so many sing the pens' praises.

[lovemy51]

Just to update, Brian Goulet seemed to get new information on the ebonite pens because he posted something in response to me today that indicates they'll be a different pattern than what I have (and the other FPH run of ebonite pen ones). I for one cannot wait to see the new pattern or patterns.

ooooooh, me likes it! i'll be checking their site regularly!

on a separte note: my Ahab and Konrad are now fitted with different nibs -Wality and Knox, respectively.

[melissa59]

The Noodler's Konrad is the only fountain pen I've ever owned or used. Not having anything to compare it with makes it impossible for me to give it any sort of review, but I did want to comment.

I rinsed my pen according to the directions in the box, filled it with ink and got blobs. I wasn't surprised, what with all I'd read about the Konrad's having issues. I took my pen apart and inspected it. I found a tiny sliver of plastic on the tip of the plunger. I plucked that off, rewashed everything, let it dry, put it back together and filled it. This time, I hardly had any ink flow. So, I played around with the nib and feeder (just learned that word!) until I got the ink to come out but not drip out. Now, I LOVE playing with my new Konrad.

I have to admit, it was great fun taking this pen apart and putting it back together again. That was part of the fun. Of course, I watched a video that showed how to do it before I even ordered my pen.

Konrad works well with one of my cheapie composition books. But he HATES the rough textured paper in another cheapie composition book that I picked up. It bothers him so much that he won't release even a drop of ink as I try to write. Next, I hope to try out some different inks and maybe a good quality paper, like Clairefontaine.

Melissa
P.S. Is it strange to refer to Konrad as "he"? :-)

[writingrav]

I too had to readjust the nib on the feed. No problem since.

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[PSmith]

I find Noodler's pens way over-hyped. I have the original Flex and the Ahab and was so disappointed in both that I didn't even consider the Konrad, though I really like its styling. And don't even get me started on the Noodler's roller ball...a great idea that turned out to be useless because the balls themselves jammed or the ink flow just wasn't there. It's sad because I really wanted to like the Noodler's pens as much as I like so many of the Noodler's inks. I guess I'll just wait until I can be assured of better quality control. I can only assume that is the problem since so many sing the pens' praises.

More or less the same story here. I bought the Flex and the Ahab and although I have no real problems with them, they simply did not live up to all the hype. So, even thought it might be a great pen, no Konrad for me either.

My roller ball writes too grittily to be of much use. I'm constantly examining other roller balls, hoping to find one with a "nib" that might fit the Noodler's pen. No luck so far.

[jor412]

Actually, I've seen a lot of criticism against the Ahab. I have two Ahabs. One worked out of the box after cleaning and the other needed more than one washing to get it going. I have two regular Noodler's flex pens. Neither had any problems. The newer one seems to have an improved nib. They're daily work pens that I don't have to worry about because they're inexpensive. Anyway, I ordered the Konrad because I like the way it looks.

[IWantThat]

A friend bought 2 Konrads. One wrote perfectly out of the box, and she loved it. The other...was a problem child. I reset the feed for her, per the video instructions from Nathan, because it dripped ink. She still had trouble with it and gave it to me because she didn't want to mess with it. I think the pen writes nicely. It still drips a bit, so I may need to reset the feed again and try for a better fit. It's a fun pen to play with, but if you just want a pen that writes reliably and doesn't need a lot of tweaking (say, if you're a newbie like my friend), it can be a pain. I'm having fun 'fixing' it and learning more about how to adjust nibs

[duende]

In terms of ergonomics (i.e., writing for extended periods) which pen do you think comes out on top- Ahab or Konrad?

[jor412]

The Konrad is one of the pens I'm waiting for this month so I'll have to get back to you on that. But unless the pen weighed a ton or had terrible balance, wouldn't ergonomics also depend on how you hold the pen, how big your hands are, how you sit, etc.? I find the regular Noodler's far too light and slim. The Ahab is big so I'm forced to let it rest in my hand instead of gripping it tightly -- which I think is ideal. (Bigger pens have taught me to relax my grip.)

[duende]

@jor412

Interesting. Please let me know what you think of the Konrad once you get it. I'm still holding out for the all-black Konrad, which is surely being developed by Nathan in his secret alchemical laboratory. A black Konrad filled with Heart of Darkness would open a portal to a new dimension of fountain penning.

[jor412]

Will do. I was going to get the Roaring 20s Tortoise but I couldn't resist the Pequods Smoke.