Jump to content

Bespoke Mb Nibs


Lszuk

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 102
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • ecordeiro

    10

  • Ghost Plane

    9

  • rockspyder

    9

  • Tom Kellie

    7

....

A question for those of you who have gone through the process: once the tests are done, is it possible to order a pen from another location with a custom nib? For instance, if I wanted a special nib on an LE I was buying from London, could that be arranged?

Yes. Once your writing analysis is done, it is kept on record at the factory in Hamburg, and you can then order subsequent nibs via your local boutique, at any time, and for any modern pen, LE's included. Your local boutique would then send the pen to Hamburg for the nib to be fitted. Turnaround time was told to be 6-8 weeks, but they were finished much faster.

Good luck, I hope it works out well, and enjoy!

 

Yay! So... what LE is going to have a semi-flex EEF fitted?!? :hmm1:

Too many pens; too little writing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love to hear about the process that takes place in order to customize the nib, and any other pics out there of the final product.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably a good thing there's no boutique within a day's drive of me. :rolleyes:

 

Living in NYC, and commuting to lower Manhattan every morning does not help my case, Fountain Pen Hospital, two Montblanc Boutiques, and Art Brown are all less than an hour away. :bonk:

 

I'd love to hear about the process that takes place in order to customize the nib, and any other pics out there of the final product.

 

Montblanc's Press Release: http://press.montblanc.com/products/bespoke/index/327/Montblanc-introduces-%22Bespoke-Pieces%22---Nib-Service

 

Here is someone who has tried the service: http://www.thejournal.ae/aficionado/culture-just-the-write-thing/

 

See Richard Binder's opinion: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=xf/2012/03.htm

 

I discussed with a representative from boutique, and he told me that the service was $800, and it would either select the closest nib from the standard Montblanc offerings or have one custom made if I wanted it so. He saw my interest in a poster that had the 6B music nib(calligraphy nib as he called it) on it, and suggested I think about the OBB, as it would be far cheaper to go that route. Gee was that a lovely, stubbish nib. :wub:

The little things really count.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Lszuk, Miadhawk - take a look at my pictures earlier in this thread, including the 6B nib. The cost is quickly forgotten once you start enjoying these nibs. :cloud9:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Lszuk, Miadhawk - take a look at my pictures earlier in this thread, including the 6B nib. The cost is quickly forgotten once you start enjoying these nibs. :cloud9:

 

I really wanted to try that nib at the boutique, and asked about it, it was even on a poster! Unfortunately the rep told me I'd have to get it custom made from Hamburg, Germany. I will admit to a little envy seeing pictures of the glorious nib, would you mind posting a review of the nib sometime in the reviews section? Or at least more pics :puddle:

The little things really count.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Just thought I will update this thread. I ordered a 6B signature nib from Montblanc recently. It costs about US$1,800 and there was no handwriting analysis/test involved. Has the price gone up so dramatically over 2 years? Although not entirely clear, from the earlier posts it seems the 6B signature nib costs US$800 with the handwriting analysis!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The $800 that Rockspyder paid, was I believe, just for the nib. If you add the current MSRP for the 149 your $1800 sounds about right. Also, I was with the same group Rockspyder mentioned, at the Montblanc factory tour and we all of us were able to try the hand writing analysis machine. All it really does, is analyse your writing speed, and size, among other data points, and makes a recommendation for what is your ideal size nib should be given your writing style.

MB 149 YWC, MB Doue BP, Parker Sterling Silver Cisele BP & RB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, therein lies the problem! The US$1800 is only for the nib customisation. I supplied my own 90th Anniversary 149 which I bought some time back. And they are keeping the original nib from the 149.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, therein lies the problem! The US$1800 is only for the nib customisation. I supplied my own 90th Anniversary 149 which I bought some time back. And they are keeping the original nib from the 149.

 

Yikes.

 

I'll bet Greg Minuskin would've retipped your old nib for a couple hundred bucks.

Edited by Koyote
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Yikes.

 

I'll bet Greg Minuskin would've retipped your old nib for a couple hundred bucks.

Greg wouldn't have been able to tip it to a 6B though.

Fountain pens are like weapons. They just make your pocket bleed so much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had the experience of being present and observing at one of these "customisation" sessions at a Montblanc event, and I must say I wasn't impressed.

 

Perhaps it was the over-reliance of using "science" and computerised equipment to determine (no, dictate) what sort of nib suits your hand, and not enough attention paid to how the nib performs in harmony and action with the feed, its placement, and the interaction of ink on paper.

 

Another turn-off for me, was how the customisations seem to be very basic, maybe because it's preaching to a crowd who have never held or experienced a nib that isn't the stock F, Ef, M, or B.

 

$800 for a poor fascimile of an italic nib is daylight robbery!

 

If you were to compare to how a true pen maker evaluates and customises your nib (I reference the very manual "fill in the blanks and send it back to me" form from Hakase pens, which reveals a lot more about your writing habits than computers, and the nib that comes back is lovely), then the Montblanc nib service will leave quite a sour taste in your mouth.

 

What was also appalling was the quality of paper used to demonstrate these nibs during the event. They're cheaper than copier paper, and bleeds like crazy, giving the illusion that the pen writes wet -- until you put it on REAL paper then everything starts to skip.

 

This is the reason why most Montblancs fair so poorly out of the box. Most of the time, it's dumb things like the nib not seated probably atop the feed, or the slit cut too tightly for any acceptable ink flow. Things that are easily avoided and should have addressed for the price you pay for a "luxury" pen.

 

It seems like these days, "luxury" is about pseudo-science and very little to actual craftsmanship.

Edited by provis
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

 

Yikes.

 

I'll bet Greg Minuskin would've retipped your old nib for a couple hundred bucks.

His work lately has been a hit or miss and the tines are not always well adjusted nor polishedas opposed to a factory job. Mottishaw did once a 6B nib and it was perfectly done. Pretty sure Masumaya would have been able to make a 6B nib too. After it is too each their own and according to their money. Personally I would rather go to Mottishaw and have a real custom made nib ground to 6B and which could cost me less than 800$

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had the experience of being present and observing at one of these "customisation" sessions at a Montblanc event, and I must say I wasn't impressed.

 

Perhaps it was the over-reliance of using "science" and computerised equipment to determine (no, dictate) what sort of nib suits your hand, and not enough attention paid to how the nib performs in harmony and action with the feed, its placement, and the interaction of ink on paper.

 

Another turn-off for me, was how the customisations seem to be very basic, maybe because it's preaching to a crowd who have never held or experienced a nib that isn't the stock F, Ef, M, or B.

 

$800 for a poor fascimile of an italic nib is daylight robbery!

 

If you were to compare to how a true pen maker evaluates and customises your nib (I reference the very manual "fill in the blanks and send it back to me" form from Hakase pens, which reveals a lot more about your writing habits than computers, and the nib that comes back is lovely), then the Montblanc nib service will leave quite a sour taste in your mouth.

 

What was also appalling was the quality of paper used to demonstrate these nibs during the event. They're cheaper than copier paper, and bleeds like crazy, giving the illusion that the pen writes wet -- until you put it on REAL paper then everything starts to skip.

 

This is the reason why most Montblancs fair so poorly out of the box. Most of the time, it's dumb things like the nib not seated probably atop the feed, or the slit cut too tightly for any acceptable ink flow. Things that are easily avoided and should have addressed for the price you pay for a "luxury" pen.

 

It seems like these days, "luxury" is about pseudo-science and very little to actual craftsmanship.

If you are into buying a top notch quality mb 149 buy one from the years 1952 to 1984, those were the best years of manufacture of the 149 before the quality changed.

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, therein lies the problem! The US$1800 is only for the nib customisation. I supplied my own 90th Anniversary 149 which I bought some time back. And they are keeping the original nib from the 149.

Recently swapped a M nib on a 149 for a OBBB, the pen returned with the original nib included.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Here is the signature nib. :notworthy1: It is beautiful, wet, bold... :cloud9:

attachicon.gifIMG_0029.JPG

 

The sides are subtly engraved, with a very small font, in this case "Handmade for" on one side, and my name on the other side.

attachicon.gifIMG_0033.JPG

 

Another view of the engraving, caught just right by the light, making it clearly visible:

attachicon.gifIMG_0032.JPG

 

I'll see about some writing samples later. I need an ace photographer to do this properly hmm1.gif

It writes wonderfully. I might use it for more than just signatures!

 

Hi Rockspyder !
How much is this music nib ? Where do you get it ? I am from Brazil. I am a musician ( sax player ) But if necessary , I will buy one ( import ) from your Country or in USA or even here in Brazil ( I will contact Montblanc ). So, the price is important. I need a reference value. Thank you so much !
Evandro Cordeiro.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Given the 4 year time differential, I suspect both prices and exchange rates will have changed drastically.

 

I hope the price is lower. Thank you

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

Announcements


  • 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...