Parker Sonnet Nib Query

[pajaro]

Wow!! what a reply! I am totally lost for words!

 

I thought the search for a new fountain pen was narrowing but the field becomes wide open again with the re-entry of Parker Sonnet! Must say you have scored pens for excellent prices! I don't know how to score a Sonnet for around USD90, our regional prices hover around USD230(Dark Grey CT 18k/750)

 

You know what, I don't know but I have soft corner for the design of Sonnet but due to its bad reputation with you and others, it was almost off the list(almost)!

 

As far as the Townsend is concerned, guess if it was to be crossed off the buying list would be due to its Heft and weight (even though I don't write with the cap posted), the price is around USD180.

 

Carene seems to be a solid runner and the regional prices are around USD250.

 

I am too cheap to have paid those prices. Two of the three Carenes I bought were in the classifieds from dboulonnais, for about $150 shipped. They were NOS, and perfect. Most of the Sonnets I bought were from ebay at about $22 to $45 or so. I bought one Terra Cotta for $69 and one Blue Ice (blue cap, silver trim and a silvery plated barrel) for $100 in a fit of insanity. Those last two, the gift pens, are really pretty.

 

The red Sonnet is still writing, hasn't dried out. So, you should keep using one of these and make sure to clean it out if it gets sticky. I don't know why I didn't conclude that before. I'm tearing the rest of them down and cleaning them out.

 

If you wanted one good Sonnet, maybe a Sterling Cisele would be the ticket, but they do cost a lot. The Chinese lacque ones are also uncommon and nice. Dutchpen has some nice nib prices. I bought my Montblanc Generation from him NOS for $100 some time back.

 

The Parker Insignia is a pen that is nib and section compatible with Sonnet. All the ones I found have steel nibs, but you can put a Sonnet 18K nib in them if you want to. Screws right in. I have a few of these, mainly bought NOS for under $30.

 

Good luck.

[frenchguy86]

 

The Chinese lacque ones are also uncommon and nice.

 

 

 

Good luck.

 

I though Chinese lacquer and steel ones where common? I'm not aware of any precious resin sonnet, those exist?

[pajaro]

 

I though Chinese lacquer and steel ones where common? I'm not aware of any precious resin sonnet, those exist?

 

Most of the finishes are termed "lacque." Then there is Chinese Lacque Vision Fonce, Chinese Lacque Ambre and Chinese Lacque Red. Look for them in parkercollector.com under Sonnet. They appear to have been low production. They are usually expensive. The section has an extra gold ring, and there usually is a two-tone 18K nib. You will not see these every day.

[ajcoleman]

I did the exact thing the original poster suggested. I received a glossy black lacquer Sonnet with Chrome trim, medium steel nib as a gift. It was an excellent writer, and the smoothest nib I have ever used, but a bit broad for my taste. I recently ordered a replacement nib unit from John Montishaw,(nibs.com). in 18 kt gold, rhodium plated, fine. It is excellent! It is very smooth, the line width is just what I was hoping for, and it has been utterly reliable, and very low maintenance. The mechanics are identical. I can't really comment on the virtues of gold vs. steel. I have great pens in both materials, but I highly recommend a Sonnet tuned up by the folks at nibs.com, and they only carry gold nibs.

Edited April 28, 2014 by ajcoleman

[pajaro]

I did the exact thing the original poster suggested. I received a glossy black lacquer Sonnet with Chrome trim, medium steel nib as a gift. It was an excellent writer, and the smoothest nib I have ever used, but a bit broad for my taste. I recently ordered a replacement nib unit from John Montishaw,(nibs.com). in 18 kt gold, rhodium plated, fine. It is excellent! It is very smooth, the line width is just was I was hoping for, and it has been utterly reliable, and very low maintenance. The mechanics are identical. I can't really comment on the virtues of gold vs. steel. I have great pens in both materials, but I highly recommend a Sonnet tuned up by the folks at nibs.com, and they only carry gold nibs.

 

It's still the same Sonnet nib unit. I bought two Carene nibs from them, and yes, they are better set up than the ones that came from the factory. I used mostly 18K nibs in the Sonnets, and eventually they clogged in spite of a lot of flushing. Good luck.

[penmanila]

here's what those chinese laque sonnets look like (one of these is a converted rollerball):

 

 

 

Most of the finishes are termed "lacque." Then there is Chinese Lacque Vision Fonce, Chinese Lacque Ambre and Chinese Lacque Red. Look for them in parkercollector.com under Sonnet. They appear to have been low production. They are usually expensive. The section has an extra gold ring, and there usually is a two-tone 18K nib. You will not see these every day.

[Fountainpenenthusiast]

 

I am too cheap to have paid those prices. Two of the three Carenes I bought were in the classifieds from dboulonnais, for about $150 shipped. They were NOS, and perfect. Most of the Sonnets I bought were from ebay at about $22 to $45 or so. I bought one Terra Cotta for $69 and one Blue Ice (blue cap, silver trim and a silvery plated barrel) for $100 in a fit of insanity. Those last two, the gift pens, are really pretty.

 

The red Sonnet is still writing, hasn't dried out. So, you should keep using one of these and make sure to clean it out if it gets sticky. I don't know why I didn't conclude that before. I'm tearing the rest of them down and cleaning them out.

 

If you wanted one good Sonnet, maybe a Sterling Cisele would be the ticket, but they do cost a lot. The Chinese lacque ones are also uncommon and nice. Dutchpen has some nice nib prices. I bought my Montblanc Generation from him NOS for $100 some time back.

 

The Parker Insignia is a pen that is nib and section compatible with Sonnet. All the ones I found have steel nibs, but you can put a Sonnet 18K nib in them if you want to. Screws right in. I have a few of these, mainly bought NOS for under $30.

 

Good luck.

Upto this point great inputs and it is educating as well

 

Here I may ask, given the choice between a Sonnet, a Carene and a Pelikan M400/600/800 which will be a great writing pen?

 

What is a good price to pay for a Pelikan M400/600/800 et al?

 

and what is the general consensus about Pelikan Ductus 3110 fountain pen?

 

Thanks

[pajaro]

They are all great writing pens. Each is different.

 

Sonnet, generally heavy for size, lacquered or metal finish, a variety of useful nibs, and apparently superb if you keep it clean and don't let dried ink residues accumulate in the feed. Cap posts well without concerns. Writes smoothly.

 

Carene, finishes lacquered, lacquer over metal, heavy for size, writes even better than Sonnet, restarts more easily of you let it dry out. Just draw the point across scrap paper. Cap hard to post securely. Nib units more expensive, but they incorporate the whole section. Fewer nib choices. Cap hard to pull off.

 

Pelikan, piston filler, resin body with "binde" pattern. M400/600 lighter, M800 has brass piston unit, heavier. Always ready to write, resists drying out. Nib units screw in like Sonnet, but section is integral with body. Subject to "posting ring" if you post the cap without due care. Caps screw on and off. I am not sure I like this characteristic.

 

I have not completely made a choice between these, retaining some of each, but really preferring the Waterman Phileas, because it is lighter and doesn't have the vices of the three above. Nibs are steel and write nicely.

 

No recollection of the Ductus. I have no idea where it got to and I don't remember how it worked. That says something, I suppose.

 

After carefully cleaning out the Sonnets, rinsing each nib&feed and carefully brushing with a soft brush, I have decided i might retain one or two of these, but I am not going to maintain more than that. The other two are more impervious to ink residue buildup, apparently eliminating it during flushing. That said they are all tiresome in some way. Montblanc 144 is superior to all three, as is Parker 51. I knew I was fortunate to have bought the 144 and the 51 before even knowing of the other three. The Phileas is a pen increasing in value since its discontinuation by Waterman. The Carene is lovely, but the Phileas is more simpatico.

 

The pricier pens are really becoming dustables for me. There's a lot of pompous posing going on around all these pens.

Edited April 29, 2014 by pajaro

[Fountainpenenthusiast]

They are all great writing pens. Each is different.

 

Sonnet, generally heavy for size, lacquered or metal finish, a variety of useful nibs, and apparently superb if you keep it clean and don't let dried ink residues accumulate in the feed. Cap posts well without concerns. Writes smoothly.

 

Carene, finishes lacquered, lacquer over metal, heavy for size, writes even better than Sonnet, restarts more easily of you let it dry out. Just draw the point across scrap paper. Cap hard to post securely. Nib units more expensive, but they incorporate the whole section. Fewer nib choices. Cap hard to pull off.

 

Pelikan, piston filler, resin body with "binde" pattern. M400/600 lighter, M800 has brass piston unit, heavier. Always ready to write, resists drying out. Nib units screw in like Sonnet, but section is integral with body. Subject to "posting ring" if you post the cap without due care. Caps screw on and off. I am not sure I like this characteristic.

 

I have not completely made a choice between these, retaining some of each, but really preferring the Waterman Phileas, because it is lighter and doesn't have the vices of the three above. Nibs are steel and write nicely.

 

No recollection of the Ductus. I have no idea where it got to and I don't remember how it worked. That says something, I suppose.

 

After carefully cleaning out the Sonnets, rinsing each nib&feed and carefully brushing with a soft brush, I have decided i might retain one or two of these, but I am not going to maintain more than that. The other two are more impervious to ink residue buildup, apparently eliminating it during flushing. That said they are all tiresome in some way. Montblanc 144 is superior to all three, as is Parker 51. I knew I was fortunate to have bought the 144 and the 51 before even knowing of the other three. The Phileas is a pen increasing in value since its discontinuation by Waterman. The Carene is lovely, but the Phileas is more simpatico.

 

The pricier pens are really becoming dustables for me. There's a lot of pompous posing going on around all these pens.

hmmmm....again informative

 

Let me ask if you can get an M400/405 for 240usd vs sonnet dark grey ct for 235USD vs Carene for 255USD what will be your choice based on quality of the pen and writing experience

Edited April 29, 2014 by Fountainpenenthusiast

[frenchguy86]

At that price point,my opinion would be what you like more, since they are all good pens that can perform. I don't have a Pelikan, but when I look at what I have around that price point ( Parker sonnet, p51, 2x Parker 100, sheaffer Targa, Aurora 88P, Montblanc 22 and 14, Lamy 2000, waterman Carene, Parker duofold International etc...) they all do their their job well... +-250 is the Market that as no end.

 

I don't know what would answer Pajero but for me it would be what you need? some are piston fill on your list others are cartridge converter. Some can give some line variation, some not at all, other have reputation for fabulous sweet-smooth writing spot, some have huge choice of nib variety available others are pretty limited etc... It's really whatever floats your boat.

 

Last option would be to get all three if your willing to go for used pens.

 

Good luck

Edited April 29, 2014 by frenchguy86

[Fountainpenenthusiast]

At that price point,my opinion would be what you like more, since they are all good pens that can perform. I don't have a Pelikan, but when I look at what I have around that price point ( Parker sonnet, p51, 2x Parker 100, sheaffer Targa, Aurora 88P, Montblanc 22 and 14, Lamy 2000, waterman Carene, Parker duofold International etc...) they all do their their job well... +-250 is the Market that as no end.

 

I don't know what would answer Pajero but for me it would be what you need? some are piston fill on your list others are cartridge converter. Some can give some line variation, some not at all, other have reputation for fabulous sweet-smooth writing spot, some have huge choice of nib variety available others are pretty limited etc... It's really whatever floats your boat.

 

Last option would be to get all three if your willing to go for used pens.

 

Good luck

 

Well I want to get a good quality pen to work for a long time.

 

Don't have the luxury to buy all three and will most likely buy new

 

The nib will either be fine or medium, and it will be a daily writer

 

I need a decent pen with excellent writing ability / smooth writer which is not too wide and is not too heavy

Edited April 29, 2014 by Fountainpenenthusiast

[pajaro]

Of those three, buy a Pelikan. They are all good.

[max dog]

I have 4 Sonnets with steel nibs and encountered skipping/flow issues from the start with my first one. The later acquistions were progressively better. In fact the last two I got have been fine. It's a shame for Parker the Sonnets have been so problematic for so many. When the Sonnet is not mis-behaving, they are such nice writers, well balanced, and good looking in the tradition of the previous Parkers. The Sonnet had so much potential to be a great pen for Parker, but it seems doubtful the Sonnet can ever recover from the bad reputation it earned. I hope whatever the next Sonnet successor will be, it will be better executed than the Sonnet was.

[pajaro]

I think that when you have skipping or flow issues with your Sonnet, you might be able to resolve them by a careful disassembly of nib and section and a careful cleaning. Gently, because the parts are delicate, cleanse ink from nib, feed and section interior. I hadn't thought anything like this should be necessary, but it has restored the Sonnet I inked after this cleaning. It writes well now. The others are untested for now. The feed fins are very fine, and perhaps ink got in between them and dried. Waterman Phileas, for example, uses a similar nib and feed, but works better, and maybe the feed fins are larger or better spaced, and ink doesn't cause such an issue. I am becoming convinced that if you keep the feed and section interior fairly clean, you will be all right with Sonnet. If you have only one or two of the Sonnets to keep after, it will be easier to maintain them than if you try to keep a larger collection of them all in play at once. I like the look and feel of the Sonnet, and I am not giving up on them, but I might sell some off to reduce the maintenance chore.

Edited May 1, 2014 by pajaro

[Fountainpenenthusiast]

Of those three, buy a Pelikan. They are all good.

Once again a precise and helpful reply....thanks, but remember keep me in mind when the Sonnets are up for sale! Thanks again for your time

Edited May 1, 2014 by Fountainpenenthusiast