Want to start getting into Broad nibs

[emes441]

Under the influence of GP and kushbaby among others, I want to try a broad nib and see what all the fuss is about. But the million dollar question is where should I start. What brand/pen (besides MB) has a broad nib that has a nice line?

I generally like fine nibs, but I do like stubs (MB broads, custom stubs, etc).

 

Thanks,

 

Srul

[jlepens]

Danitrio has stiff and flexy stub nibs that are delightful. Visconti, Stupula, Delta, Krone, Waterman, Sheaffer, all broads/stubs are cool in their own ways.

[camoandconcrete]

I'd start out with one of Visconti gold nibs. They are all unique from each other and possess wonderful line variation not seen in other brands' broad nibs.

[ExcaliburZ]

I would go the Sheaffer route. You can get them at any art store for less then $20 and you get a good pen with ink. You can check how the nib writes and if you like using a broad nib.

[Ghost Plane]

Waterman Carenes come in broad and stubs and the old workhorse Phileas has 'em. Our own J.M.Lewertowski has the best prices, even with shipping from France. Delta, Krone, Visconti, Marlen [the BB on their Journal pens if you can find one is awesome!], Stipula, Yard o Led. Just about everyone makes a stub, but you have to ASK since the pen sellers mostly can't be bothered.

 

Bryant at Pentime.net puts consignments up for sale. There's a nice Cross with a B nib on there for cheap. That's one of the brands I started with back in the dark ages.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikan Sovereign, has a number of pens, 400,600,800 and 1000 sizes. There are also some beautiful other editions that would satisfy many.

The 400 is a smaller pen and nib.

The slightly larger than medium 600 (lighter) and 800 (heavier) have medium sized nibs, and the 1000 has larger nibs and is a some what heavier pen.

 

With a Pelikan you can change nibs easily (twist out and twist in), in case you do not like the Broad, you can go to Extra fine which would be a fine in Japanese pens I have so read.

I have no Japanese pens.

 

Pelikan offers a number of nibs, from BB to EF, and some Obliques. I was not looking at stubs so I don't remember if they offer a stub.

 

If you buy the Pelikan and inside a couple of weeks do not like the nib, you can get exchanged for free to another size.

 

 

I have an old Pelikan 140-400 nib in Oblique Broad I like, how ever the modern cut of an Oblique is not as sharp as the older grinds. I have a Lamy Persona with an Oblique broad that does nothing.

 

I have a BB 605, but I'm going to get that made into a Cursive Italic. It is very broad...a bit too broad for me...but I'd changed the M nib to BB so I could have enough tip to make it a Cursive Italic, in broad.

 

I have other pens in broad that I like.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[Blade Runner]

I recommend a Montblanc broad, because they have stubbish grinds. Other modern brands' broads I've tried have round blob tips that lack the stubbish line variation. Because I have smallish handwriting the latter are too uniformly wide and fill in my loops and vowels. Try a 146 tester at a boutique. You'll love it.

[hexyr]

I would suggest Visconti. Or Pelikan since if you end up dislikeing the broad you can always swap it out. They also have BB. But I may not be the best judge since most of the B nibs I get is because it was a great deal on the pen. I often want to try the new pen (or new to me) so they get ink but they eventually get ground down to something finer. (which took forever on my MB pen)

Edited January 15, 2010 by hexyr

[Randal6393]

Should consider a Lamy 2000. Definitely excellent performance in the

Broad nib. Convert well to a Medium Italic.

 

Enjoy,

[Aysedasi]

Depends on your budget. If you're pockets are only as deep as mine, Viscontis and MBs will be out of reach - unless you get lucky on Ebay. I personally wouldn't recommend Pelikan as I find Pel broad nibs very dull - I'd try one of the smaller Lamy italics in a Safari or why not try a broad nibbed Aurora Ipsilon - very nice writer. But yuou need to decide whether you just want a thicker line - most ordinary broad nibs will give you that - or line variation - for which you may want to go italic (stub, oblique, etc....)

Edited January 15, 2010 by Aysedasi

[figosmum]

Don't know if that counts for much as it is only an individual experience, but I had to send in my Lamy 2000 B because I REALLY couldn't write with it. I write calligraphy nibs up to 2.3 in with absolutely happily, but that Lamy B just didn't work AT ALL. The good thing is, if it is as good as new, Lamy replaces them for free, so trying it out and not liking it costs the amount of shipping.

 

Regards

K

[FrankB]

If you are new to B nibs, you might want to consider starting with a Japanese B. Although many people say Japanese B's write like Western M's, I find their line to be wider than a Western M, something like half way between Western M and B. One might even consider it a "B-lite." I think it is a nice way to see if you can use B nibs effectively

[eilu]

If you have a Safari, the cheapest option would be to get a B nib and swap it in, just to see if you like it, before you get a 'proper' (dedicated) B-nibbed pen.

[Aysedasi]

If you have a Safari, the cheapest option would be to get a B nib and swap it in, just to see if you like it, before you get a 'proper' (dedicated) B-nibbed pen.

 

And the nibs are so cheap and easy to remove/refit that you could get an italic too and make the contrast. I only say that as it seems to me that many of those who use broad nibs also use italics as well. Certainly goes for me.

[Aunt Jill]

I just bought a Sheaffer Viewpoint calligraphy pen (with three nibs and four cartridges) on eBay. The logo looks like it's old, but it hasn't been used. There are more available. It's item number 230407597018 . Here's the link.

My link

 

There could be something wrong with it, but hey, I thought it was worth a try.

 

—Jill

[Sonnet]

I know from experience with the Pelikan nibs that their broad-point steel nibs put down a thick but round line. Their broad-point gold nibs have a bit of line variation to them. Hope that helps.

[Aysedasi]

I know from experience with the Pelikan nibs that their broad-point steel nibs put down a thick but round line. Their broad-point gold nibs have a bit of line variation to them. Hope that helps.

 

 

That certainly reflects my experience of the steel broad. Never tried a gold one.

[kushbaby]

I'd start out with one of Visconti gold nibs. They are all unique from each other and possess wonderful line variation not seen in other brands' broad nibs.

 

My first "I love it!" B nib was (is) on a Visconti Van Gogh Midi tortoise with a 14K nib. It was my gateway B nib (and my gateway Bryant Visconti)... If you can still find a Van Gogh with a B nib, I'd really recommend this. There are, of course, any number of other delightful B nibs out there, too.

 

If you're new to B nibs, I'd recommend something you like, but not too pricey at first (in case it just doesn't work for you). If no Van Goghs available, maybe the Rembrandt? You could also go with a Lamy Safari with a B nib, which is even less commitment, funds-wise - and if you dislike it, those nibs are easy to swap out with a piece of scotch tape. I adore my Safaris and they still get regular (daily) use along with the fancy-schmancy Ripples and other diva-type pens. If you're looking for something fancier (and are more certain about the B nibs for you), then Montblanc would definitely be a good next step. Delightful B nibs... My 149 B is HUGE! I posted a writing sample with a few of my currently inked B nibbed pens here, if it helps (alas, the Van Gogh is resting - she gets to come out and play again once the Modiglioni is written out).

 

FWIW, I started as an XF nib junkie, and I still *adore* XF nibs for some things (I like the extremes). But (under the pervasive influence of Ghost Plane), I got into B nibs, primarily in conjunction with getting into lots of different colors of ink. Some inks really only shine in a B nib... Honestly, my utter and complete obsession with orange inks had a lot to do with it. :embarrassed_smile:

[jorgerp1]

Visconti will be one of my elections too.

[Beechwood]

For something a little more unusual and lower priced keep your eyes open for an Elysee, mine has a broad and exremeley smooth nib and a pleasure to use.