Jump to content

Faber-Castell Basic Leather W/ Fine Nib


KBeezie

Recommended Posts

I previously had a Faber-Castell BASIC in Carbon Fiber with a Fine Nib, but after the section cracked I was looking into getting it returned since I had not had it for more than 30 days. I ordered the pen directly from Faber-Castell which uses Shopatron to process their orders, which appears to send the orders to the nearest retailer that can ship it.

 

In my case it was Appointments The Business Store, so I decided contact them in hopes of a solution other than getting refunded from Faber-Castell, or waiting 45 days for Faber-Castell to 'fix' the pen. Doug there was very prompt in getting back to me about a possible solution. He offered me to exchange the pen, so I took the opportunity to try out the Leather version of the BASIC.

 

Just received it earlier today. The new nib was a little scratchy (but looked aligned), so I just kept the nib on the carbon fiber and swapped them before returning the carbon fiber one, so got to keep the same smooth nib I've come to love.

 

There's some visual/physical differences between the leather and the carbon fiber outside of the obvious silver trim and leather barrel.

 

  • The barrel marked "A3" is a tiny bit larger on the inner diameter. Placing a Faber-Castell branded converter into the barrel goes right in, no snug resistance like there was on the Carbon Barrel (marked "F3").
  • The barrel and section on the carbon fiber version appeared to be ever so slightly thicker than the leather version.
  • If you look into the section where the cartridge plugs into, the carbon fiber appears to have full plastic inside, but on the leather section, there appears to be a chrome/metal ring inside that the nib/feed section screws into.
  • The leather version is a tiny bit lighter than the carbon fiber version, course this makes the pen feel a tiny bit more unbalanced when posted as the cap weight is identical between the two.
  • There is oddly a slight color difference in the cap, section and feed compared to the carbon fiber (it's a little lighter in grey).

 

The leather feels decent, but it does have a very tactile feel to the threaded side. It took a moment to find the best starting position so that the threaded section ends up on the underside of the pen (otherwise it'll be off to the side or the top compared to the directionality of the nib).

 

Also I can't tell for certain, but there appears to be some writing hidden on the clip, just before it goes into the cap's surface which seems like it might say CHINA on it. I did not see this on the carbon fiber version, but the carbon fiber version uses a black clip as well as a black end-cap, so I may not have been able to see it.

 

As I mentioned before the nib I'm currently using on this is the same one I had on the Carbon Fiber version, the new one that came with the leather got sent back with the broken carbon fiber one. There's some clear tape on the cartridge because I did a gentle pinch on it to get some ink flow moving, but it ended up cracking down the side of the cartridge, not enough to leak, but figured I'd throw some tape on just in case. (apparently you're not supposed to squeeze the cartridge at all, and I'm usually using a converter).

 

Now some pictures... :D

 

fpn_1398989202__capped.jpg

fpn_1398989208__uncapped.jpg

fpn_1398989225__posted.jpg

fpn_1398989288__disassembled.jpg

fpn_1398989259__endcap.jpg

fpn_1398989277__barrel.jpg

fpn_1398989246__section.jpg

fpn_1398989267__cap.jpg

fpn_1398989236__write.jpg

Edited by KBeezie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 16
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • KBeezie

    5

  • The Blue Knight

    2

  • seoulseeker

    2

  • carlos.q

    1

I hope this one lasts longer then the last one.

 

But I think it's detrimental to the brand that Faber Castell cuts corners on the basic to such an extent that it falls apart. Because I for one from what I have heard will probably not bother ever buying a Faber Castell or Graf Von Faber-Castell as I don't want to buy from a company that makes pens that fall apart. Essentially they should realize that people will often start off with there lower end products and from the satisfaction that those products deliver will slowly move onto the likes of the Ondoro and Graf-Von Faber Castell range. So it is extremely important they offer a high quality product even at the bottom of the range,

 

To be honest I would have never brought a Sonnet if it wasn't for the indestructible Vector's and Jotter that saw me through school. I'm sure many Lamy fans would not have brought 2000 if it wasn't for there indestructible Safaris

Edited by top pen
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hope this one lasts longer then the last one.

 

But I think it detrimental to the brand that Faber Castell cuts corners on the basic to such an extent that it falls apart. Because I for one from what I have heard will probably not bother ever buying a Faber Castell or Graf Von Faber-Castell as I don't want to buy from a company that makes pens that fall apart. Essentially they should realize that people will often start off with there lower end products and from the satisfaction those products deliver they will slowly move onto the likes of the Ondoro and Graf-Von Faber Castell range. So it is extremely important they give offer i high quality product even at the bottom of the range,

 

To be honest I would have never brought a Sonnet if it wasn't for the indestructible Vector's and Jotter that saw me through school. I'm sure many Lamy fans would not have brought 2000 if it wasn't for there indestructible Safaris

 

And I agree completely, I love the nib on it, but I can't see the point of buying the products further if the pen cannot hold up to normal day to day usage. At least according to the vendor, there was a "batch" of the pens that had issues with the sections, but if there's a historical trend in place (ie: one mention of it on Amazon's review, but I haven't seen too many other mentions of it, and an Ambition with the end cap falling off), then it's precedence to other buyers to avoid it.

 

For example with the cartridge, I know the vendor says you're never supposed to squeeze the cartridges, but I've almost always squeezed the cartridges gently in never-inked pens so I can get a trickle of air bubbles to come up and get the flow moving. But I've never had a cartridge crack on me from just pinching it with my fingers a couple times, least never a brand new cartridge (as opposed to one that's been refilled a dozen times).

 

I mainly went with the exchange because 1) thought it would be nice to least try out my original choice of body for the BASIC, 2) to be able to photograph it, and 3) I couldn't get a refund thru the vendor, would have to deal with Faber-Castell directly for that, and given how long it's taking them just to get back to me about my 45-day repair gripe on a pen I haven't owned for more than 30 days yet, I imagine getting a refund would take a while too.

 

If you look at the picture of just the nib and grip above, you may notice a slight line down the middle of it near the lower half of the grip. Can't really see it in person, and not really sure if it's just a line from the molding process, but I wonder if it does crack, if that's where it will start cracking. At least the picture will be a historical reference of it for comparison if it does happen again, but since the barrel doesn't cause as much stiffness on the grip as the carbon fiber one did, I might actually luck out.

 

PS: I just never liked the look of the Safaris... but I will be reviewing a Jinhao 599 soon... (lol, not the same thing I know, but it's not going to cost me anything to try it and give my opinion on it).

Edited by KBeezie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't really like the safari myself either I simply own one as it's a pen which generally speaking everyone owns just like any person who remotely considers themselves a vintage pen collector owns a 51. Mine gets an occasional inking but I'm not a huge fan of Lamy steel nibs.

 

I'm looking forward to my diplomat in the mail. As I think I might go for the weird Balance pen after as I kind of like the look of it. Hopefully I won't have anything to scare me off the brand occur like you had with Faber Castell

Edited by top pen
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Especially since at $45, this is by no means a cheap pen -- it might be a cheap fountain pen, but: if we assume that most fountain pen users also use ballpoints, and are not hobbyists: why would you use fountain pens when you can buy an indestructible ballpoint for far less than $45? We know that for $45, one can get an indestructible fountain pen (aforementioned Safaris, Pilot Metropolitans), but if you aren't a hobbyist, and are looking for a smooth user experience, Faber-Castell isn't exactly creating people who are likely to want to use their higher-end pens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Especially since at $45, this is by no means a cheap pen -- it might be a cheap fountain pen, but: if we assume that most fountain pen users also use ballpoints, and are not hobbyists: why would you use fountain pens when you can buy an indestructible ballpoint for far less than $45? We know that for $45, one can get an indestructible fountain pen (aforementioned Safaris, Pilot Metropolitans), but if you aren't a hobbyist, and are looking for a smooth user experience, Faber-Castell isn't exactly creating people who are likely to want to use their higher-end pens.

 

On this note though, before I got into fountain pens (bearing in mind I didn't get my first one again until Feb of this year), I didn't care for ballpoints that could break on me and I prefered a heavier pen, so in the Campus store I actually spent $7-$8 on a Pentel Energel Stainless Steel pen (BL407), but not even 3-4 weeks into the semester something broke where the barrel screws to the grip, so while the pen still holds together, it's all wobbly in between those two, so it went into a 'parts' box for the longest time. Fortunately it's refill fits perfectly into my Jinhao X450 rollerball pen that someone gave me.

 

Point is, domestically when it comes to BP/RB, I've come to find that spending $5-15 on them isn't worth the investment, as most of the time they don't hold up nearly as long as an "inferior" chinese product. Where as fountain pens seem to be more 'specialized' or discerning market, my expectations are suddenly higher, so while I agree that $45 is by no means cheap for a pen in general, I have spent twice as much on other pens. And I would at the very least expect my BASIC to be nearly as durable as my Pilot Metropolitan, especially given it's weight and rubberized parts.

 

When I had my carbon-fiber one, it was to be my every-day carry pen because I figured it would be rugged and durable, but the crack in the section, be it a bad-batch or something other has caused me to be a bit more paranoid with my leather one, I don't treat it the same as I would have in the past, compared to my Pilot Metropolitan which has already survived a 3-ish feet drop on tile, and some other small mishaps and is still kicking (Compared to the faber-castell with a crack in the section that never had a mishap).

 

IF something does happen with the leather version I have, you'll definitely hear about it here, especially if it's something I would consider sub-par in expected quality. But so far it's holding up well.

Edited by KBeezie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beautiful photo's.

I just got my basic last week, it was the last one the store (la couronne du comte) had and I got it with a discount and a converter. (One that fits perfectly)

I have the mother of pearl version, and the grip and cap are not rubbery, but plastic with little glitters in them. So far I don't have any problems with the pen, it writes beautifully.

 

post-99600-0-07457500-1399922148.jpeg

 

photo from the writing desk.

Edited by *Mirjam*

Always lurking, sometimes posting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beautiful photo's.

I just got my basic last week, it was the last one the store (la couronne du comte) had and I got it with a discount and a converter. (One that fits perfectly)

I have the mother of pearl version, and the grip and cap are not rubbery, but plastic with little glitters in them. So far I don't have any problems with the pen, it writes beautifully.

 

attachicon.gifbasic_fp_mop.jpeg

 

photo from the writing desk.

 

Based on my mishap with the carbon fiber version, where the grip appears to be rubber much like the leather's grip, it is in fact one peice of hard plastic with a rubbery feeling surface. So the mother of pearl one could be of the sam plastic, but without the rubbery texturization applied to it.

 

I wanted to get my hands on that mother of pearl one, but sadly it was out of stock and I didn't feel like ordering one from Malaysia (the only ebay retailer to have one).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I don't really think that characterizing Faber-Castell as "cuts corners on the basic to such an extent that it falls apart" is necessarily fair.

 

Some lemons will get through in any brand, and correct me if I am wrong, but I have not read about a cracked grip section from *anyone* else. If it were a problem to the extent that the brands name as a whole should be tarnished, surely we would see a trend of cracked sections similar to the infamous TWSIBI cracked barrels?

 

That said, I have had my Faber Castell Basic for nearly 3 years now I believe as a daily writer and work horse, and I have had no such problems. I don't even treat the pen kindly.... I carry it around in my pants pocket daily and have dropped it several times.

Edited by seoulseeker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't really think that characterizing Faber-Castell as "cuts corners on the basic to such an extent that it falls apart" is necessarily fair.

 

Some lemons will get through in any brand, and correct me if I am wrong, but I have not read about a cracked grip section from *anyone* else. If it were a problem to the extent that the brands name as a whole should be tarnished, surely we would see a trend of cracked sections similar to the infamous TWSIBI cracked barrels?

 

That said, I have had my Faber Castell Basic for nearly 3 years now I believe as a daily writer and work horse, and I have had no such problems. I don't even treat the pen kindly.... I carry it around in my pants pocket daily and have dropped it several times.

 

Agreed. I have a whole bunch of FC pens, which I use as "rough use" pens

- 1 Design Loom

- 2 Basics (incl one in Black Leather)

- 2 E-motions

- 1 Ondoro

- 2 Ambitions

 

Plus, 2 GvFCs (1 Intuition and 1 Cisele)

 

They are all *perfect* writers right out of the bat, and really well made. I have had problems with atleast one pen from almost all brands of pens where I own several different models, incl Visconti, Pelikan & Conway Stewart. My Japanese pens, MB and FC/GvFC are the only exceptions.

 

IMO, FCs, atleast, for the price, offer superb value. 1 swallow does not a summer (or true love) make.

Edited by de_pen_dent

True bliss: knowing that the guy next to you is suffering more than you are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should also note that in my FC Basics life, the nib has been (accidentally) stabbed into a wall with such force that the nib and grip section were stuck in the wall.

 

When I pulled it out of the wall, not only was there no damage to the pen, the nib was actually a smoother writer than before.

Edited by seoulseeker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
I have Faber-Castell Basic Carbon fountain pen (148821) and I have bought a converter (P95845

Design Faber Castell 148785). Does not fit. The barrel of the pen is too narrow and converter jams in it.

When I open the pen in order to ink it, there begins the mess; the converter is in barrel and ink is all over me and pen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have Faber-Castell Basic Carbon fountain pen (148821) and I have bought a converter (P95845

Design Faber Castell 148785). Does not fit. The barrel of the pen is too narrow and converter jams in it.

When I open the pen in order to ink it, there begins the mess; the converter is in barrel and ink is all over me and pen.

Since you posted in the other thread I had, I'm just going to copy and paste here as well:

 

I have Faber-Castell Basic Carbon fountain pen (148821) and I have bought a converter (P95845

Design Faber Castell 148785). Does not fit. The barrel of the pen is too narrow and converter jams in it.

Then you likely have one of the bad batch of barrels, here's an email response I received back from them in May:

 

Dear Mr. Blessing,

 

Thank you. The Design converter 148785 will fit into the BASIC Fountain Pens. I am working with my web team to have that detail added.

 

I have confirmed with my colleagues in Germany, that there was a bad production batch of smaller barrels at one point. This is what's causing all of the confusion. If the pen user finds themselves with the pen that will not allow the converter and they wish to use one, we will take care of the problem.

 

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Renée Lamb

Faber-Castell USA

Consumer Relations

www.fabercastell.com

800-311-8684

The confusion she speaks of is when people were speculating that the BASIC was going to be cartridge-only when even their own converter would not fit. So you may have to work with the retailer you bought the pen from to get a replacement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should also note that in my FC Basics life, the nib has been (accidentally) stabbed into a wall with such force that the nib and grip section were stuck in the wall.

 

When I pulled it out of the wall, not only was there no damage to the pen, the nib was actually a smoother writer than before.

 

Oh, great. Now in addition to the mythology of the brown paper bag for smoothing nibs, we will have the "just stab it into a wall" technique. I don't think this is going to end well ...

ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Does anyone has any idea why faber castell has stopped making the mother of pearl version of basi model? I have just ordered it from an indian site.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33501
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...