I enjoy this type of video. It's fun to see what other people look for and value in their writing experience.
@VeenaiKaarthik
5 жыл бұрын
This by far is my favourite list by any user/reviewer in our fountain pen community. I just love the mix of expensive and budget friendly pens. The only difference I like is that I like the Aero in the blue color instead of the Excellence A2. Thank you again Michael for your time in creating such lovely videos and happy writing!!🙂
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Kaarthik Subramanian thanks so much for watching. The Aero in the orange finish was on my list last year. I have the older model and the cap has issues. Its such a great pen though.
@WaskiSquirrel
5 жыл бұрын
I'm happy to see the Lamy 2000 in this list. It's one of my favorites. It will be on my most recommended list tomorrow. The Homo Sapiens will appear on my favorite list.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
WaskiSquirrel the lamy is a freak of a pen. I love it.
@a.malaikasharp1740
5 жыл бұрын
Nice selection. Especially great to see left-handed writing without getting ink all over your hand and smearing the paper. I can use as an example for my left-handed granddaughters, who are picking up the fountain habit. Thank you.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
A. Malaika Sharp there is a video about leftie fountain pen users here on my channel. The more leftie users the better!!!!
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Oh, and thanks so much for watching. How old are your granddaughters?
@ginopagnani7286
5 жыл бұрын
A great list! With the exception of the Visconti, it is exactly what I have in my collection.
@andrewbrendan1579
5 жыл бұрын
Great year-end Top Five, Michael! I really enjoyed what you had to say about using pens that are affordable, practical and reliable and enjoyable to use and that price isn't a big part of owning a pen. The Visconti that is made of lava makes me think of another unusual pen: the 1970's Parker Brother fountain pen that was made from brass and glass that melted together when the Seawise University, the original R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth of the Cunard Line, was lost in a fire in the early days of 1972---I look forward to your upcoming videos. May 2019 be a great year for you and your family.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Oh, I dont know the Parker Brother, I’ll have to look it up
@BrandochGarage
4 жыл бұрын
Your selections make me wish to look into that TWSBI - three of those others are on my radar, and at least one is out of my range for sure!
@granada1493
5 жыл бұрын
1. 1:51 2: 3:17 3. 5:39 4. 7:43 5. 9:32
@CarthagoMike
5 жыл бұрын
except those first 2 are honourable mentions, not his top 5 picks
@sajjadhusain4146
5 жыл бұрын
Superb list, no kidding! I have a sizeable collection of fountain pens which I love to death. Sadly, no Pelikan among them yet. And no Diplomat either. The honourable mentions of them here only reminded me of that. I must amend that by buying a Pelikan 805 soon. And also the Diplomat pen shown here. Such beauties, both of them. Btw, I see mostly medium nib pens here. I have several ‘M’ pens too, but since I love broads and stubs best, those dominate my pen haul. As for the top 5 list, hard not to agree with any of the excellent choices. The Loom has to be one of the best inexpensive FPs money can buy. As is the TWSBI 580 ALR. Both splendid writers. I have them both; indeed all except the acclaimed and coveted Visconti Homo Sapiens. I have other Visconti pens that I admire and rate very highly. The Pilot Custom 823 has a pretty bland design but I finally bought it last week and have to say it deserves its glowing reputation to the tee. And ditto the Lamy 2000; I don’t drool over its design, but I sure adore the sublime way it always writes. Again a pen that deserves all the praise and love it still gets.
@RockinMarcus85
5 жыл бұрын
That is a nice list there! Both the Pilot Custom 823 and the Homo Sapiens are on my list for future pen purchases. Happy Writing! :)
@BrianHartman
4 жыл бұрын
I have a Faber-Castell Loom, and I love it, too. :)
@aag24
5 жыл бұрын
Bravo Mike, I absolutely agree with your choices. I would love to own a Pilot 823 and Visconti Homo Sapiens … but that will have to wait! I wish I could afford some of these super expensive pen-as-jewellery items that some other bloggers show … but I’d be terrified of losing them. You’re right about Diplomat and Fabre Castell nibs - absolutely brilliant. Just shows gold is a a bit overrated as a material for pen nibs … they’re all tipped with iridium after all. Thanks and happy new year to you too.
@fossilimprint2954
Жыл бұрын
Wonderful choices, thank you for an enjoyable video.
@blackletter2591
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you Mick, great reviews and really interesting. Now I want some of those pens, but that would defeat my New Year's resolution before the New Year has even begun. Still, I can dream. That's how to do it, isn't it? Let the dream of a pen work on you until you give in and buy it. I have a Lamy dark horse as well, an old Lamy Joy that I've had for about 20 years. Stub nib, still writes like a dream. This year I've been lucky enough to find an inexpensive Mabie Todd eyedropper with an incredibly flexible gold nib. Think that's my luck used up for a few years!
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
dragonize1952 i had dreams about the Visconti for two years before I had raised the ‘disposable funds’ to buy it. You know, I hVe never tried the joy... I should. What size stub do you have on it. I find stubs problematic being a leftie. Also, really interested to know more about the Mabie Todd.
@j.vincent3625
4 жыл бұрын
Very nice collection...thank you for sharing. My Pilot Custom 74 'B' writes so smooth. It was from an ebay auction and I'm so happy I got it. Pelikan m200 vintage 'BB' and one m205 demonstrator 'F'...both are awesome. EDC yellow Twsbi eco 'b' and Lastly my very heavy Jinhao fire breathing flaming yellow 'B' dragon...i just had to have it, you know what i mean 😍. Thanks again for another lovely vid.
@herrkeks8509
5 жыл бұрын
I personally have the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL R Nickel Grey in EF. And I also have the TWSBI Mini AL Blue and I have to say that these rills on the AL R are amazing. I don’t feel them when I write. Even when I strangulate my pen :) And give me a lot of traction. On my AL I feel that I’m moving around a bit, but on the AL R... I didn’t notice it. I’ll personally stick to the AL R :) And when there are other colors I’ll get them with different nibs ;) I really like the grip section.
@rcmcgyver693
4 жыл бұрын
I'm impressed with your collection mate
@shaunpearson7905
5 жыл бұрын
Prera would compete with the 580 for it's pleasurable quality to write with at a similar price range. Pilot nibs are super good. I have a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Swirl with an EF nib. I love mine too; the ink lasts forever due to the fine fine nib and that double reservoir and it's never failed me - never skipped. I've left it lying in a case for 3 months and it started writing with no problem not even the need for a poke at the tongue for priming. The 23K Palladium is quite flexible too and with an EF it simply dances about the page as I write. :)
@razorback-mark
5 жыл бұрын
Mick, is your visconti oversize? I just bought the loom and the diplomat. The diplomat is one of the best pens I have as far as feel and writing. I also have the diplomat aero and it is in the same category. The loom and another inexpensive faber I have are some of the smoothest nibs beating more expensive pens in my collection like a couple of mont blanc's and montegrappa's. Keep up the great content! Mark
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Mark Frantz Those steel nibs on the loom are so good. Yes, the Visconti is the regular/oversize version. Not the midi. Thanks for watching
@janisforehand7690
5 жыл бұрын
Nice collection of pens. Thank you, I enjoyed seeing your pens.
@SUSSDUE
5 жыл бұрын
I have a small pen that writes in a a lovely soft juicy way, a Cross Century II with an 18 K medium (!) nib. It is like writing on glass. Thank you for the video, I can absolutely agree with your choice , apart from the Loom as I have never tried it and the Lamy 2000, I did not like the grip section, too slippery and made my fingers end up around the nib. But every other review rave about it so I suppose it is just something wrong w the way I held it!;-)
@draganaj6752
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this great review. I know or own most of these pens, so I can totally see why they are on your top 5 list. Only my TWSBI 580 in extrafine though I would not describe exactly as a superior writing experience, the Custom 823 and the Homo Sapiens I never had in my hands. Did you ever had a Sailor Pro Gear or 1911 Large in your hands? I absolutely love these over all my others due to the writing experience I have to say. So my phrase of this year is “no pen writes like a Sailor pen“ 😊
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Dragana J I have a standard 1911, and a pro gear slim, but I would LOVE a 1911 Large. I am going to Japan in October and am thinking it might be my holiday gift to myself. They are great pens. I tossed up between thr 1911 L and the 823 when I got it. The 823 won simply because I liked the Smoke Black finish.
@AnzanHoshinRoshi
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Mick.
@joseparada4430
4 жыл бұрын
Nice to see a left handed commentator writing. Thanks.
@bayesmojo8908
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the great review. I love my Visconti homo sapiens, not only does it write like dream but everything aligns perfectly where the clip points to the space between "home" and "sapiens" :-)
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Meng Chung it’s such a lovely pen. I know a lot of people have dodgy ones... but when they are good they are so so good.
@GregSplond
5 жыл бұрын
What are the kinds of paper you use for the medium / broad nibs? I have resolved to get into a medium Penbbs 355 as an entry to medium nibs. I have a visconti in an extra fine. What kind of inks do you use for that since it seems like I need to use a dry ink. Very wet and smooth.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Greg Splond rhodia and tomoe river are always safe bets. I also love the Baron Fig paper products... but they absorb a bit more ink than the Rhodia and Tomoe
@rabindradahal7418
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you Mick for another great review. Love and respect from Nepal. I write slowly and my handwriting is small. I have already Lamy Safari with extra fine and Medium nib size. I have also TWSBI Eco with extra fine nib size and Kaweco Sport with Extra fine nib size. This time I want to buy Faber-Castell Loom, TWSBI Go and Kaweco Sport Skyline but could not decide which nib size is best suited for Faber-Castell Loom, TWSBI Go and Kaweco Sport Skyline as per my handwriting. Please suggest.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
rabindra dahal Thanks for watching. I can not recommend the Loom enough. The extra fine is similar to that of the Kaweco sport extra fine I believe. The nib on the twsbi go is the same as the Eco nib, so you will have a similar writing experience but it is a very cool, and good value pen.
@herrkeks8509
5 жыл бұрын
rabindra dahal I personally consider my writing to be small as well. I sometimes write my small letters (s, m, a, e, n, w) in 1/3 and my large letters (h, k, l, ,b t) in 2/3 of a 5 mm ruling, but I have to say that I also write bigger with a bigger nib. I have a Faber-Castell Grip 2011 in M and I write in 5 mm ruling with it and it is okay I think. But I wouldn’t go bigger. But if you write at an angle „ _Like this_ „. You might consider a stub nib... Normally you hold die nib like this - , but when you write _like this_ you may hold it like this / (like 45 degrees tilted). And if you do that you can write pretty fine with a 1.1 stub. I write with my Lamy 1.1 stub like it was something between an EF and a F.
@arunabhalahiri4931
5 жыл бұрын
Even though I love the faber castell nib, I just can't use the loom, The metal grip feels very very alien.. Tried the lamy 2000, a very comfortable pen, haven't pulled the trigger yet..
@s.l5787
5 жыл бұрын
Faber Castell Essentio is a better loom, aluminum grip and body is easy to hold.
@barbarawest1205
5 жыл бұрын
Left-handed overwriter here, and a newish subscriber. I have enjoyed your videos very much! I recently acquired a Pilot Custom 823 fine nib and I too absolutely love it. I also have a couple of Custom 74's, two Pilot 78G's with B and BB stubs, and even a handful of Metropolitans, LOL! I Do not care for the Lamys that have the tripod grips, but my Lamy 2K is another favorite and so is my Aion. I try to love the Faber-Castell pens but they just don't feel balanced in my hand. And the TWSBI Vac 700R and Eco. both stubs, don't get used as much as I expected. One question you may be able to help me with: I enjoy fine and stub nibs and have been interested in trying an oblique. As an overwriter, since the nib generally points toward me, would a right-footed oblique be the grind to choose?
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Barbara West tripod grips for left-handed over-writers are far from ideal. I’ve been trying to visualise the angle for an oblique nib for you, and as the right leans down to the right, I wonder if a left-foot oblique might be better. Try putting a small ball of blu-tac on the end of a pencil lead or a ball point pen, and put it onto the paper in position you would write. Then look at it as if looking down on the face of the nib and see which way it tilts.
@barbarawest1205
5 жыл бұрын
@@theoffstageme Good idea! And you're correct, I was not visualizing right-foot accurately. I believe left-foot may work, and I'll try your experiment before I purchase. Thank you!
@dogfacedboy6947
5 жыл бұрын
fifteen years ago, my list would've been five Sheaffer NoNonsenses, modified by me truly, but as I've gone snobby it goes (in no order): Pelikan 600 Aurora Optima Stipula Etruria Sheaffer Connaisseur (glorified NoNonsense, laque/palladium) Sheaffer NoNonsense. Though, a TWISBE Eco could replace some Sheaffer, as a result of being piston filler. Thet thar Homo Sapians is my current lust object. Cartridge converters seem so... plebian, once you go full-snothead.
@giangvu7902
5 жыл бұрын
Love your handwriting sir
@michaelsimon4034
5 жыл бұрын
Wonderful choices--and mostly affordable by most folks.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Michael Simon having affordable pens is important for me. I have a couple of higher end ones, but for the most part my entire collection is made up of pens that I could replace if needed.
@impish22
Жыл бұрын
thanks again,
@keithwhitney7491
5 жыл бұрын
Mick, your channel was one recommended, so I watched a couple of your videos. YOU DID a GREAT JOB! Of course, although we are at the opposite ends of the aging chart (I’m a retired professor), it helps that we have similar views. I much prefer “classy” over “flashy.” Perhaps the reason I typically prefer German and Japanese pens is that class tends to prevail in design decisions, while the build quality is unsurpassed. Interestingly, your top 2 pens are on my “aspirational pens” list. I am almost ready to pull the trigger on the Pilot 823, as a gift of an entry Pilot maki-e pen from a Japanese alumnus rekindled my love of fountain pens. I am probably only willing to purchase the Visconti Homo Sapiens if I find the perfect price for a used one. If I were not retired, I would purchase a new one! Best wishes for success in your KZitem venture!
@barrylevitt1170
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Mick, Thanks for the blue black inks you recommended two days ago. I have ordered samples of the Diamine and Aurora. Today I received a bottle of Monteverde Ocean Noir I think you would like. As far as I can tell the blue shade appears to be between the Diamine Oxford blue and the Diamine blue black but more vibrant or brighter. Happy new years.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
barry levitt Ocean Noir is great isnt it. Ive only had a sample but really enjoyed it. I actually really enjoy Monteverde inks across the board
@barrylevitt1170
5 жыл бұрын
@@theoffstageme Monteverde are some of my favorite inks especially the Jade Noir.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
I sampled the full Noir set. They were all lovely. I like darker spectrum colours. I loved Ocean and Copper and especially Smoke.
@barrylevitt1170
5 жыл бұрын
@@theoffstageme I use the canyon rust, brown sugar, scotch brown, jade noir and ocean noir. At this time all my pens are ink with these and noodlers turquoise.
@rabindradahal7418
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mick for reply.
@chrislj2890
5 жыл бұрын
I've obtained a lot of nice pens this year, but I would rate my Homo Sapiens at the top, and wish I'd gotten one sooner. Unfortunately I still haven't gotten a Lamy 2000, but I will eventually. That 823 is another I wouldn't mind getting.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
I love Sailor and Pilot, but am up in the air about Platinum. My 3776 broad is great, but anything less that a medium feels brutally fine.
@chrislj2890
5 жыл бұрын
@@theoffstageme I have the Chartres Blue in medium which isn't bad, and the Bourgogne in ultra extra fine. The UEF is really something, kinda like writing with a needle. I don't know how they can grind the tipping that small but they do a great job. It's fun to see how small you can write, but it's not an every day writer for me.
@bieberninja1
5 жыл бұрын
will you be ordering a custom fountain pen in 2019?
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Bieber Ninja finances depending I am hoping to.... 2 if I can. One from an Australian maker and one from an international maker whose work I adore.
@bieberninja1
5 жыл бұрын
@@theoffstageme what are the names of these penmakers? i've ordered from scriptorium, newton, carolina pen company, ranga and fosfor pens myself you should get on the mailing list for ranga pens, he has group buys where you can buy giant (not oversize, but giant) fountain pens for $70 with free shipping and fosfor pens sells some of his pens for $110 depending on the model you get a lot people are turned off by the indian penmakers but they are so precise and the pens look like works of art, plus they use jowo or bock nibs, schmidt converters and high quality pen blanks so i don't understand where all the hate comes from i think it would be really cool to see you do a review on a giant or oversize pen
@mancal5829
4 жыл бұрын
Interesting, the broad on the Pilot doesn't look that broad at all. It looks more like a medium.
@encapsulatio
4 жыл бұрын
Why are they not listed in your description?
@alvchengdesign
5 жыл бұрын
How about a top 5 expensive pen regrets?
@SevenDeMagnus
4 жыл бұрын
So cool, Neil Degrasse Tyson, also has a very nice collection but I like ones with 17mm girth, the Godzilla fountain pens like the Namiki Emperor, though I like the design of the europeans like (besides Maki-e that has not much flower, nor leaves, nor animals, nor portrait design). I just got my very first proper fountain pen (that's no a calligraphy set). God bless, Proverbs 31
@alexmood6407
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the interesting review. The one thing I wouldn’t agree with you is the use of firehose as everyday writer
@air_
5 жыл бұрын
Wow! I can’t afford any of these!
@Roughdraft214
4 жыл бұрын
Air_ twisbi eco is about $30 US dollars and has a great variety of nibs. A lot like the diamond 580. I was really impressed by mine.
@JakesTake
5 жыл бұрын
I figured the Homo Sapiens would be up there! Nice list.
@theoffstageme
5 жыл бұрын
Jake’s Take thanks mate. The Visconti was kind of unavoidable. When it is a cool as this, feels so good and writes like a dream like this... it’s always going to be a favourite.
Пікірлер: 74