Faber Castell Ambition Nibs

[Old_Inkyhand]

Hello everyone,

 

I would like to buy a Faber Castell Ambition and I need your help.

 

 

Could anyone post a sample note written with a fine nib and, for comparison, with a medium nib?

I would be also grateful if someone shared some thoughts on the wetness, smoothness and general performance of the nib. I have read a few, but they all vary so much that I don't know what to expect.

I have to choose between two nibs - F and M. I'd prefer a thin line and a smooth nib, but I'm not sure if a combination of the two exists in this case.

 

Thank you very much!

 

[Uncial]

I own an E-motion and I think the nibs are the same. I have a fine and it's nicely wet, but not overly so and very smooth. I was quite surprised by this nib because I expected it to be very, very firm, but it's not. I like fine nibs and find the F suits me well.

[Old_Inkyhand]

Thank you very much, I was afraid that it would be very firm and would provide a lot of feedback (more on the scratchy side).

[Uncial]

I think it's the only steel nibbed fountain pen I have that feels very like a gold nib. I have no idea how they achieve that. It's not bouncy or particularly springy, but it's certainly not a nail. There is no hint of scratchiness in the nib I have.

 

*spellchecker keeps wanting to changed 'nibbed' to 'nibbled'!

Edited January 22, 2016 by Uncial

[pkotrcka]

As you already know, I am a big fan of Ambitions F nib, you can feel the paper but writing is a pleasure with it. If you have F (or even M) Hemisphere, you would be surprised how much feedbacky it is, but for example, thanks to this feedback, my handwriting is one of the best with Ambition.

 

I can surely post you some pictures with Ambition on more types of paper during this weekend.

[Old_Inkyhand]

The problem is that many people say different things about the nib. From "too scratchy", through "providing lots of nice feedback" to "very smooth". From "what a nail!" to "certainly not a nail". I wonder if these nibs differ that much.

 

But I'm glad that you're satisfied with your nibs I think I'll be satisfied as well.

[pkotrcka]

I will cross my fingers for you :-D But Ambition really is a good pen, at least mine is.

[akustyk]

The problem is that many people say different things about the nib. From "too scratchy", through "providing lots of nice feedback" to "very smooth". From "what a nail!" to "certainly not a nail". I wonder if these nibs differ that much.

 

But I'm glad that you're satisfied with your nibs I think I'll be satisfied as well.

 

Yep, that's FPN for ya!

Seriously, though, fountain pens are very personal, so the sensations people experience are very subjective, too. I try to only rely on the opinions of a few FPN members that have similar tastes to mine. It took a long time for me to work out whose preferences, writing style, taste in nibs, etc., are much like my own. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for confusion at best, disappointment at worst.

[Old_Inkyhand]

I also have another problem - I'm not sure about my taste. I have tested too few pens to know exactly what suits me best. I have never fallen in love with a pen. I like all my nibs, maybe with a little exception of my dry and scratchy devoted railroader - EF semiflex. They are all very nice, but none of them is exceptional (although I really enjoy writing with Carene). I also like to play with my handwriting - flex nibs are welcome, as well as stubs and other more fancy options. I'm still looking for something what will make me think "well, it's quite a pen, I'm delighted".

 

Anyway, I am sure that I will love the pen - it will be an anniversary gift, what automatically makes it very special. And I am a big fan of its design.

[pkotrcka]

Well, as akustyk said, it is a personal preference. I like Ambition because it suits me - I like my handwriting with a more stiff nib and Ambition has that. That is the reason why I also like my new Sheaffer 100, it has simiular writing experience for me. But if I would like a pen like Pelikan P200, I would definitely call Ambition a "scratchy", because it is so so so so different.

 

Even my Legacy has a smooth nib, but with that feedback (and it has a M nib, so it is bit different). I can not write a whole letter with my Hemisphere, but it is more pleasant to write a note on a crappy paper with a smoother nib.

 

You should try it, at least dipped into an ink. And if no penshop will allow you to do, I will come to Krakow anyway and I can take all my pens with me :-D

[Gudi]

I have bought an E-motion with a medium nib and later bought a fine nib unit (cheap paper happens). They are the same nibs as the Ambition and both write remarkably well out of the box. I personally believe you won't have any issues.

Here's a sample writing with the medium nib and GvFC moss green.

 

A little bit closer shot.

 

Nib detail.

 

Edited because the first image was too small.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Gudi

[Old_Inkyhand]

Thank you all very much!

 

Great photographs I use the same ink, so it is an even more valuable sample. I adore this dimpled nib. I should probably go for the fine nib, as I usually use grid paper for my notes and tend to squeeze the letters. The medium nib would be a nightmare for my teachers. But it looks fantastic.

 

Maybe we'll get another Ambition a little bit later, we would be able to swap nibs if necessary.