Need Advice Asap On First Fountain Pen Insecurities

[Mister Mont Blanc]

I finally just joined this forum yesterday and I just received my first fountain pen today in the mail. It is a brand new Mont Blanc Meisterstueck Classique with gold-plated trim (I believe that's the 145?). After reading A LOT about differences in nibs and using Mont Blanc's website, I chose a Fine nib. I usually love using a rollerball with a medium refill. I have read much about how different Mont Blanc models have different nibs plus each are hand-ground making them all a litte unique. Unfortunately, I have no local boutiques or authorized retailers to try them in person.

 

My issue is that the nib seems stiff and gives a lot of feedback. However, the line width is actually quite wide and I fear any wider would be undesireable for my writing. I have tested Burgundy Red and Oyster Grey ink cartridges. I use a nicer-than-normal paper brand (Virtuo) but nothing fancy. It is definitely very smooth for rollerballs and ballpoints. After reading so much about "buttery-smooth" nibs, having custom nib work done, and feeling less love for this pen than my three other Mont Blancs, I need some advice please! In case it isn't obvious, I'm quite the over-analyzer!

 

Is this just how this nib is and I should exhange for a Medium and hope that is better? (I have five weeks left to do so)

Do I exchange it for another Fine nib and hope it feels different than this one?

Do I risk having someone else or myself work on it because this pen model has a less-desirable nib?

Will a different color ink make a difference? (I've had this same issue with their rollerball and ballpoint ink refills)

Am I just not a fountain pen lover?

 

Thank you very much for any shared experience, opinions, and advice!

[Ed44]

Congrats on your new MB fountain pen. The modern 144/145 nibs aren't that flexible. You'd have to find a vintage pen if you're looking for flex.

 

Sorry about your dilemma. In my opinion, if you're not 100% happy with it, then you either won't use it or it will annoy you when you do. The nib will eventually smooth out over time, with use.

 

You mentioned that you got an F nib and it was almost too wide so you were thinking of getting an M? That'll make it even more wide. From my experience (and what I hear from others) is that MB nibs tend to run a bit wide, so if the F is almost too wide, then perhaps an EF would be better suited to you. Are you anywhere near a MB Boutique? According to the MB website, there's a jewelry store in Cincinnati and another in Cleveland that sell MB products. It might be worth a visit to one of them to try out the various nibs. You can also send it in to the MB Service Center and they'll "smooth" it for you. I had a MB that had a scratchy nib and I sent it to MB Service and they did a great job of smoothing it out. There's also some independent nib meisters out there that can really do some remarkable things. The downside to that is waiting several months for them to get the work done as well as having to pay more money to get a pen you really like. I hope that helps some.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Congrats on your new MB fountain pen. The modern 144/145 nibs aren't that flexible. You'd have to find a vintage pen if you're looking for flex.

 

Sorry about your dilemma. In my opinion, if you're not 100% happy with it, then you either won't use it or it will annoy you when you do. The nib will eventually smooth out over time, with use.

 

You mentioned that you got an F nib and it was almost too wide so you were thinking of getting an M? That'll make it even more wide. From my experience (and what I hear from others) is that MB nibs tend to run a bit wide, so if the F is almost too wide, then perhaps an EF would be better suited to you. Are you anywhere near a MB Boutique? According to the MB website, there's a jewelry store in Cincinnati and another in Cleveland that sell MB products. It might be worth a visit to one of them to try out the various nibs. You can also send it in to the MB Service Center and they'll "smooth" it for you. I had a MB that had a scratchy nib and I sent it to MB Service and they did a great job of smoothing it out. There's also some independent nib meisters out there that can really do some remarkable things. The downside to that is waiting several months for them to get the work done as well as having to pay more money to get a pen you really like. I hope that helps some.

 

Thank you for your reply! It's good to know it should adapt over time. I just hate thinking a pen like this leaves the factory while more adjustments can be made to make it better. But maybe this is part of it all. It's just annoying to ship it back and forth. But knowing they can do adjustments to a current nib is comforting. I mentioned the medium because others have said it's smooth, I would take smoothness over line width right now. I have thought of making the trek to the closest boutique especially because I hear of these sales? Never knew Mont Blanc allowed that at all. I am in Columbus so they are a few hours away.

[Ed44]

Hopefully others will chime in with some suggestions. When I say it will smooth out over time, it may mean a long time, depending on how much you write. You're basically letting the friction of the nib on the paper smooth the nib itself to fit your hand. Each nib is made by hand and I think MB tries to make them to fit most people. I'm left-handed so most pens, for me, don't write all that well right out of the box.

 

Since you're in Columbus, be sure to go to the Ohio pen show in October. They will usually (hopefully) have one or two folks there that will custom grind your nib to perfectly fit your hand for a reasonable fee. They can correct not only smoothness, but also line width and ink flow. It's well worth going.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

I certainly plan to now knowing about the show! I'm kind of "by the book" sometimes so I would only use someone else as a last resort in an effort to not void the short, 2-year, warranty lol. I guess it won't hurt to send it off for a while seeing as how I'm not very attached to it.

[yamaha_no_46]

Hey, Mister Mont Blanc!

 

You will most probably get 2 types of recommendations.

 

1) Send it back to MB for a nib change ( a nib change means REPAIR to me )

 

2) Send it to a nibmeister to have it tuned. ( this means MB free nib change warranty will no longer be valid)

 

I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of spending more money and time for an expensive pen to get it work right. I may understand that a second hand pen may need some service for the new owner but a BRAND NEW IN BOX pen should not. I am also a Mont Blanc lover who owned many products not only pens but other accessories, but still hate the idea that I am supposed to put extra effort to have my pen write well. Nonsense!

 

Well this may not be of help to you but at least I am sharing your dissappointment.

 

You paid for the full retail price for a NEW pen and now you have to send it to someone to tweak it. The pen already lost value.

 

I recommend you to return it for a full refund if it is possible.

[Bill Broome]

I agree with the advice to either send it back now or plan on sending it to a nibmeister.

 

I had a similar experience with a 144, medium nib. It was given to me in 1989. It just wasn't smooth and I did not enjoy riding with it. I changed ink. I changed paper. Nothing helped. Finally, I put it in a drawer and did not use it.

 

Several years went by, and I thought a lovely pen ought to be used, so I tried again. Same result. I went through this cycle several more times, putting it away for months or years, trying again, Flushing, soaking, and finally putting it away again.

 

One day a few years ago, I reported this problem here on FPN. A member in Mumbai suggested I send it to Mike Masayuma, who at the time was in Marietta Georgia. He is now in California.

 

I sent it, and in a week it was back, buttery smooth and amazing. It has been my daily carry ever since.

 

As shocking as it is, sometimes fountain pens from high-end manufacturers come badly tuned right out-of-the-box. I don't know if that is your situation, but I would not risk it. Send it back. If it isn't buttery smooth, it isn't right.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Hey, Mister Mont Blanc!

 

You will most probably get 2 types of recommendations.

 

1) Send it back to MB for a nib change ( a nib change means REPAIR to me )

 

2) Send it to a nibmeister to have it tuned. ( this means MB free nib change warranty will no longer be valid)

 

I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of spending more money and time for an expensive pen to get it work right. I may understand that a second hand pen may need some service for the new owner but a BRAND NEW IN BOX pen should not. I am also a Mont Blanc lover who owned many products not only pens but other accessories, but still hate the idea that I am supposed to put extra effort to have my pen write well. Nonsense!

 

Well this may not be of help to you but at least I am sharing your dissappointment.

 

You paid for the full retail price for a NEW pen and now you have to send it to someone to tweak it. The pen already lost value.

 

I recommend you to return it for a full refund if it is possible.

I agree with the advice to either send it back now or plan on sending it to a nibmeister.

I had a similar experience with a 144, medium nib. It was given to me in 1989. It just wasn't smooth and I did not enjoy riding with it. I changed ink. I changed paper. Nothing helped. Finally, I put it in a drawer and did not use it.

Several years went by, and I thought a lovely pen ought to be used, so I tried again. Same result. I went through this cycle several more times, putting it away for months or years, trying again, Flushing, soaking, and finally putting it away again.

One day a few years ago, I reported this problem here on FPN. A member in Mumbai suggested I send it to Mike Masayuma, who at the time was in Marietta Georgia. He is now in California.

I sent it, and in a week it was back, buttery smooth and amazing. It has been my daily carry ever since.

As shocking as it is, sometimes fountain pens from high-end manufacturers come badly tuned right out-of-the-box. I don't know if that is your situation, but I would not risk it. Send it back. If it isn't buttery smooth, it isn't right.

Thank you very much for your input! I called Montblanc today and was told they do not make "adjustments" in the service center for a nib exchange. She said they will only replace it with a different nib and said she's never heard someone ask for another nib of the same size. So I decided I might try Medium for the heck of it. Then I thought I might try the nail buffer method first to see if that smooths the nib? Would that be noticeable to Montblanc if I still sent it in after that?

Also I'm not too concerned, worst case scenario it's a nice show piece & maybe a gift to someone in the future! Hahaha. I believe MB will not accept a return with even a finger print on it.

[chunya]

I think a nail buffer job would show up ...they use high magnification lenses when looking over the pens

[yamaha_no_46]

You can be the first to request a change for the same size. You can claim that the nib is scratchy and you ask for a replacement. I think they will accept it. If not you can ask for a medium nib and you can use the pen for signature.

 

I would recommend not to buff the nib. They refuse any replacement on worked in nibs. Good luck!

[Mister Mont Blanc]

You can be the first to request a change for the same size. You can claim that the nib is scratchy and you ask for a replacement. I think they will accept it. If not you can ask for a medium nib and you can use the pen for signature.

 

I would recommend not to buff the nib. They refuse any replacement on worked in nibs. Good luck!

Well that was short-lived excitement. Haha. I'm just reading so much success about people smoothing their own nibs and thinking, if this is how a MB Fine nib is, I'd rather take the risk to get perfection than pay & wait to get the same thing back. Maybe I'll resist temptation & send it off for another Fine THEN try the nail buffer if I'm still not happy.

[meiers]

Send it back to MB.

Tell them what you are looking for in a nib.

They will accommodate you. However, they need to know exactly what you want.

I would include a letter explaining the type of nib (performance) you wish to see.

Good luck.

[meiers]

Well that was short-lived excitement. Haha. I'm just reading so much success about people smoothing their own nibs and thinking, if this is how a MB Fine nib is, I'd rather take the risk to get perfection than pay & wait to get the same thing back. Maybe I'll resist temptation & send it off for another Fine THEN try the nail buffer if I'm still not happy.

I own three MB pens with fine nibs. They are all smooth writers. I had to send one back twice. The second time I included a detailed letter explaining what I was looking for and the pen came back to me beautifully tuned.

 

Your pen might require an ink-flow adjustment.

 

In any case, I played at being nibmeister once --- with disastrous results.

[danrodcard]

In any case, I played at being nibmeister once --- with disastrous results.

 

i agree

 

just do it on a inexpensive pens to see it for your self

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Send it back to MB.

Tell them what you are looking for in a nib.

They will accommodate you. However, they need to know exactly what you want.

I would include a letter explaining the type of nib (performance) you wish to see.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! I really like the Fine nib and hope to stick with one. I plan to write a detailed letter and send it off on Monday. From what the MB rep said, sounded like the 'free nib exchange' only included one exchange but yet she said to call immediately if I still wasn't happy afterwards. I'll see what happens, this will be a good chance to experience their customer service seeing as how I am planning to grow my collection.

[jar]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! I really like the Fine nib and hope to stick with one. I plan to write a detailed letter and send it off on Monday. From what the MB rep said, sounded like the 'free nib exchange' only included one exchange but yet she said to call immediately if I still wasn't happy afterwards. I'll see what happens, this will be a good chance to experience their customer service seeing as how I am planning to grow my collection.

 

May I suggest that instead of telling them that you want a "F" or "M" nib you send a writing sample and ask for a nib that is similar to the sample?

[Mister Mont Blanc]

May I suggest that instead of telling them that you want a "F" or "M" nib you send a writing sample and ask for a nib that is similar to the sample?

I will try that. Inwas going to write out my letter but I didn't want them to not be able to read it haha. Although I don't mind if it's much different, as long as it's smoother! lol

[whalebiologist]

Ahh, first fountain pen insecurities. These sort of things happen quite a lot with new pens from all manufacturers. Unfortunately not all nibs are equal. Take solace in the fact that MB service are usually great, so if you were to send it back they would probably be able to get it to your satisfaction first time.

[Bananabender]

Why are you looking at an 'm' nib when the 'f' you have is bordering on being to wide. Why not look at 'ef'.

I understand that an mb 'ef' is equal to 'f' in asian pens.

I think jar's suggestion is a good one.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Why are you looking at an 'm' nib when the 'f' you have is bordering on being to wide. Why not look at 'ef'.

I understand that an mb 'ef' is equal to 'f' in asian pens.

I think jar's suggestion is a good one.

Yes I would prefer an even thinner line but not at the cost of even more feedback. I can adjust to line width, I can't adjust to it being 'burnt toast smooth' lol. Also after seeing writing samples, there isn't THAT huge of a difference between F & M.