Stainless Steel Lamy Studio

[LionRoar]

http://www.lamy.com/produktdaten/content/e34/e58/e1602/Lamy_studio_065_Fountain_pen_steel_brushed_eng.png

 

The nib which came with the pen sucked. It was horribly scratchy. I ordered a replacement nib. It made too broad of a line and had starting problems (because the tines were too far apart). In neither case did I have any success trying to fix the nib problems myself. I decided to take a chance on ordering another nib. And finally, I have pen that writes well!

 

So the first lesson of Lamy is that you can't count on getting one that's going to write acceptably well, but at least you can buy replacement nibs inexpensively until you finally get one that works correctly.

 

Once you get a decent nib, this pen is a reliably good writer. The nib is a "nail" and makes an unexpressive line. I'd say that the fine nibs run slightly broader than most other European fines (based on having gone through three of them).

 

This pen once clogged on me when I was using it with PR Ebony Blue, so I'd say if you want total reliability from it, stick with a more reliable ink like Waterman (which has been problem-free for me in this pen).

 

The pen has a very nice solid feel to it, and it makes a very satisfying "click" sound when you put the cap on, or when you post the cap. But the downside is that the click is audible in business meetings. Even though it looks like it's all metal, it's actually not that heavy given it's largish size. I believe it weighs about the same unposted as a Pilot Prera or a Pelikan M200 weighs posted.

 

Even though this is a "Bauhaus" type of design, it's a very traditional pen shape, nothing too wild. Besides the strange clip, the other major oddity of the design is that there is no ring between the barrel and the section or at the end of the cap. So when the cap is on the pen, the cap is flush with the barrel, and from a distance it might look like a single piece of metal rather than a cap and a body. Also, the cap jiggles slightly, both when it's capped and when it's posted. This bothers some people although it doesn't bother me, I just find it one of those interesting oddities of this pen.

 

The stainless steel is brushed with vertical grooves which is unusual, and the downside is that it makes the finish more delicate than you'd expect from stainless steel.

 

I bought the stainless steel finish because, not only is it the least expensive, it's also the only version of the pen which comes with a plastic grip section. I didn't think I'd find the metal section on the other versions of this pen comfortable to write with. The section has a rubbery feel, but it's hard, not soft like rubber. So I'm not sure exactly what it's made from.

 

For some reason, I find the pen slightly less comfortable to hold than I expected. For the sake of comparison, I find the inexpensive Pilot Prera to be the most comfortable writing pen that I own. Maybe it's because the section on the Studio is just a little bit too thick for me? Something about the Studio makes me grip it tighter than I grip the Prera. I'm not saying the Studio's section is bad or horrible, just that it's only a good section and not a great section (from a comfort perspective) like the Prera. But still, I would be perfectly happy if the Lamy Studio were the only fountain pen I ever wrote with.

 

I read a comment once that the Studio isn't worth the money because it has the same nib and feed as the less expensive Lamy Safari, so it's just an overpriced Safari. I don't agree with that logic at all. The Studio is a much more expensive looking and feeling pen than the Safari. It looks like an adult pen and not a child's pen. If you like the way the Studio looks, it's worth the extra money over a Safari.

 

And finally a word about the clip: it looks cool, but as a clip it doesn't work as well as the more normal-shaped clip found on all other pens. It also causes a scratch to the finish where the clip meets the brushed stainless steel. It's not noticeable unless you are looking for it, but it has bothered some people. It doesn't really bother me.

 

Hope this review was helpful.

[OCArt]

I agree with your conclusion. I have a Studio and was very surprised how well it wrote compared to a Safari with the same nibs. It must be the ergonomics. Your studio with the black grip is, IMHO, the best as the grip isn't slippery. I, too, recommend it.

[visvamitra]

I like this design a lot. This and Platinum versions are most ergonomic. I had blue one and the metal section was too slippery.

[aderoy]

I have both the Steel and Palladium Studio versions, both wrote nicely out of the box. Do like the nib on the Palladium better, not a nail due to being the 14k version. The gold nib is softer (not flex, nor a nail), both handle the inks I have tried with each without compliant.

Edited February 23, 2016 by aderoy

[ALeonardoA]

Thanks for the review. I've considered buying this pen for a while so it's nice to get as much feedback from others as possible.

[dixiehellcat]

Thanks for this review! I love my 4 Safaris but wanted a higher end (that I could still afford, lol) Lamy. Ran into a guy on reddit selling his SS one reasonably & read your write up while researching. I think I'll go for it now!

[inkeverywhere]

I have a blue Studio, it is quite a reasonable writer, especially with a 1.1 italic nib attached. I live in Australia and find the Studio is a cooler month pen. In hot and humid weather the metal section is indeed slippery when used for longer periods of writing.

 

Gold replacement nibs are available but the price of them are quite expensive to me, for the sort of money retailers ask for them I'd prefer to buy a new pen of some sort.

 

Greg

[owend]

Slightly off-message perhaps: I don't have a Studio but I do have an Accent, slightly more expensive (£55 v £40 or £148 v £128 for the gold-nib version) but the same nib options and very comfortable with a slight bulge to the lower barrel, and it has a wooden or a rubber sleeve which may give you the extra grip you say you get with the Studio's rubber section. I have the gold-nib version and as you found it deals confidently with any ink it's given.

 

The Accent has a screw-on cap which is positive but only needs a third of a turn so no click, and the clip is good - push down on the rear and it pivots and opens (not a very good technical description!); it posts securely.

[Flounder]

Thanks for this balanced review and your very useful impressions and experiences with this pen.

 

I was in Rymans on Thursday and cast my eye over the fountain pens, seeing them in an actual shop being a sadly novel treat of an experience. The Studio looks great in the flesh, especially compared to the day-glo Safaris on the racks on either side!

[keybers]

I have an Imperial Blue version. Yes, it writes well (although needs to be primed as the amount of ink in the converter decreases). However, I must confirm the issue with the finish rubbing off under the clip (as also mentioned in this review). The clip itself did draw attention from some people with whom I met, so it is definitely a talking point. However, I must also second the opinion expressed here: somehow, the Studio manages to be an incredibly boring pen. It saddles the realms of businesslike and meh. Some words that I would never use alongside it would be "elegant", "beautiful", or "exquisite". It is a rounded-off tank with a, um, rudder of a clip. Boring, boring, boring. But "safe" in any and all business situations.

Edited October 27, 2017 by keybers

[dapprman]

Too late now but I would have contacted the store you bought it from when you first had nib problems. Lamy test all the nibs, but I think their system does not pick up in slight misalignment, which does result in a scratch writing experience.

 

I have the steel model as well and like it, but actually prefer the Scala - could also be part down to the gold nib though as I have the glacier model. Oddly I don't find the steel grip slippy.

 

On Lamy gold nibs, people are probably fed up of me saying this, but they are probably the most underrated out there, The nibs are not flex but do offer some variation, however they do have a soft bounce that makes them a very enjoyable writing experience (unless you hold them at too steep an angle - apparently they are more nail like when used that way).