Excellent comparison review. I'm glad you compared the "notorious" Sailor feedback. As us Brits say it's has a real Marmite (you either love it or hate it) effect on FP users. The Lacoule seems aimed at those who want the prestige of a Sailor, without the cost. I have the Pro Gear Imperial Black, with the 21k Fine nib, and though I love it as one of my top 5 pens, it took some getting used to the feedback. And there's always a moment of adjustment when I'm swapping pens. And my wife just bought me a Pro Gear Slim Four Seasons Autumn Drizzle for my birthday. But my birthday isn't until next month and she's hidden it lol.
Having purchased about 300 pens from Jinhao to Monblanc, basically the all do the same job putting ink on paper, there are slight differences in the nibs, smooth bit scratchy, but they can be worked on. What makes the main difference to writing is actually the inks.
I agree with most of what you’ve said. Some pens are broken, or awkward, or not designed as well as others. There are good and bad choices all up and down the price brackets, from my experience. Paper, pen and ink, in my opinion, inform the end result of what a pen “feels” like. That’s why I think there are some people who tout a pen as their ride or die EDC, while others hate that exact same pen. It has a lot to do with what they use with that pen.
I really do love Sailor nibs, and the feedback in their gold nibs is something I like and consider a positive, although I don't fault anyone who doesn't like it. The steel fude nibs are also amazing, but I am deeply underwhelmed by the only "normal" steel nib of theirs I own, a MF on the 1911 Compass (which really seems to be the same as the Lecoule). It doesn't *cough* scratch *cough* the same itch as the Pro Gear Slim, and doesn't compare that well to much cheaper budget pens. That said, if one is willing to look at people who resell from the Japanese market, their lineup has models like the Profit Light with the same14k nib at less than half the price compared to North American Pro Gear Slim prices. I picked one up in a Fine nib a few months ago and it hasn't left rotation since I got it -- there is something about the tactile way you experience the paper that is immensely satisfying and provides great control.
These half-and-half demos are great - they really get down to the results, regardless of pen attractiveness, comfort, preconceptions, etc. Obvious to my eye is that the PGS provides a VERY thin line (reverse I presume) which can be handy, here giving an extra level of definition. Also, for me at least, Sailor gold nibs are the gold standard for precision. That makes high end Sailors possibly worth their inflated prices. However their steel nib pens, while just fine, perform no better than their more affordable competitors. Except the fudes which are a bargain.
Agreed. (The side by side drawings are also fun to make!). I have to say the the Sailor Fude de Mannen is a cheaper and better pen than the Lecoule. It just wouldn’t make any sense to compare it to the PGS.
New subscriber here, i found your reviews super useful, thank you. I am a beginner in art and I am looking at various options. I want durability and long life pens. I chose Lamy Vista, but the problem with push cap system is that they become loose in few months and don't fit. Have you ever experienced this especially with Lamy.
Yes, I have with my Platinum Preppy, and my PenBBS 399. My Lamy Safari worked like a champ until about 2 months ago when I either lost it or had it stolen (I suspect the latter, but you can never be sure). It is for this reason that I prefer caps with threaded attachments. My Conklin All American will never loosen on me, for example, and neither will my Platinum 3776 Century or my Sailor Pro Gear Slim. A cheaper option with threads would be the Kaweco Sport, Jinhao 82, or the Majohn M2.
For Sailor FPs, always buy JD on your trip to Japan, or look for online imports. Their North American distribution is way overpricing their pens, and just greedy.
Those are good tips. I haven’t had an appetite for more Sailor pens since getting my PGS (not a dig, I just feel very satisfied with that pen), but I’ll keep that in mind for next time.
To be honest, I find selling old pens to be quite a hassle. This pen can be had for about 20USD brand new. Making a post somewhere, haggling the price with someone I don’t know, then going through all the steps of packaging and shipping, and then the anxiety that the person could come back and say I misrepresented the condition of the pen, or it getting lost in the mail… I’d rather do something else with it. I sometimes do giveaways with my pens. This one might show up in a future such video. I also need pens that I don’t care much about to take to work. I work at a middle school, and sometimes my things disappear. To be honest, giving this pen another shot, I’m surprised how much I appreciate how it functions. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels and looks cheap. I’m glad to say. That it does work well.
There are a lot of good things out there. I do like it more when a manufacturer takes a familiar design and puts a twist on it (even something as simple as new colors/resins) but anyway, I think the real fun is in collecting pens that are interesting/cool and don’t break the bank. If I had a ton of disposable income, maybe I would feel differently, but I do not.
Excellent comparison review. I'm glad you compared the "notorious" Sailor feedback. As us Brits say it's has a real Marmite (you either love it or hate it) effect on FP users. The Lacoule seems aimed at those who want the prestige of a Sailor, without the cost.
I have the Pro Gear Imperial Black, with the 21k Fine nib, and though I love it as one of my top 5 pens, it took some getting used to the feedback. And there's always a moment of adjustment when I'm swapping pens. And my wife just bought me a Pro Gear Slim Four Seasons Autumn Drizzle for my birthday. But my birthday isn't until next month and she's hidden it lol.
Combing the house for a mysterious gold nibbed pen sounds like the ultimate Easter egg hunt. Lucky.
Having purchased about 300 pens from Jinhao to Monblanc, basically the all do the same job putting ink on paper, there are slight differences in the nibs, smooth bit scratchy, but they can be worked on. What makes the main difference to writing is actually the inks.
I agree with most of what you’ve said. Some pens are broken, or awkward, or not designed as well as others. There are good and bad choices all up and down the price brackets, from my experience. Paper, pen and ink, in my opinion, inform the end result of what a pen “feels” like. That’s why I think there are some people who tout a pen as their ride or die EDC, while others hate that exact same pen. It has a lot to do with what they use with that pen.
I really do love Sailor nibs, and the feedback in their gold nibs is something I like and consider a positive, although I don't fault anyone who doesn't like it. The steel fude nibs are also amazing, but I am deeply underwhelmed by the only "normal" steel nib of theirs I own, a MF on the 1911 Compass (which really seems to be the same as the Lecoule). It doesn't *cough* scratch *cough* the same itch as the Pro Gear Slim, and doesn't compare that well to much cheaper budget pens.
That said, if one is willing to look at people who resell from the Japanese market, their lineup has models like the Profit Light with the same14k nib at less than half the price compared to North American Pro Gear Slim prices. I picked one up in a Fine nib a few months ago and it hasn't left rotation since I got it -- there is something about the tactile way you experience the paper that is immensely satisfying and provides great control.
I haven’t really gotten into the aftermarket pen world, but I really should. Thanks for the tip!
These half-and-half demos are great - they really get down to the results, regardless of pen attractiveness, comfort, preconceptions, etc. Obvious to my eye is that the PGS provides a VERY thin line (reverse I presume) which can be handy, here giving an extra level of definition. Also, for me at least, Sailor gold nibs are the gold standard for precision. That makes high end Sailors possibly worth their inflated prices. However their steel nib pens, while just fine, perform no better than their more affordable competitors. Except the fudes which are a bargain.
Agreed. (The side by side drawings are also fun to make!). I have to say the the Sailor Fude de Mannen is a cheaper and better pen than the Lecoule. It just wouldn’t make any sense to compare it to the PGS.
O
Glad to see you are doing well! Keep staying strong man! Thanks to you I've gotten into more fountain pens and bought the Muji the first chance I had.
Thanks! Making videos on this channel is a part of what makes me feel good!
New subscriber here, i found your reviews super useful, thank you. I am a beginner in art and I am looking at various options. I want durability and long life pens. I chose Lamy Vista, but the problem with push cap system is that they become loose in few months and don't fit. Have you ever experienced this especially with Lamy.
Yes, I have with my Platinum Preppy, and my PenBBS 399. My Lamy Safari worked like a champ until about 2 months ago when I either lost it or had it stolen (I suspect the latter, but you can never be sure). It is for this reason that I prefer caps with threaded attachments. My Conklin All American will never loosen on me, for example, and neither will my Platinum 3776 Century or my Sailor Pro Gear Slim. A cheaper option with threads would be the Kaweco Sport, Jinhao 82, or the Majohn M2.
For Sailor FPs, always buy JD on your trip to Japan, or look for online imports. Their North American distribution is way overpricing their pens, and just greedy.
Those are good tips. I haven’t had an appetite for more Sailor pens since getting my PGS (not a dig, I just feel very satisfied with that pen), but I’ll keep that in mind for next time.
If you hate the Sailor Lecoule so much, why don't you sell it?
To be honest, I find selling old pens to be quite a hassle. This pen can be had for about 20USD brand new. Making a post somewhere, haggling the price with someone I don’t know, then going through all the steps of packaging and shipping, and then the anxiety that the person could come back and say I misrepresented the condition of the pen, or it getting lost in the mail… I’d rather do something else with it.
I sometimes do giveaways with my pens. This one might show up in a future such video. I also need pens that I don’t care much about to take to work. I work at a middle school, and sometimes my things disappear.
To be honest, giving this pen another shot, I’m surprised how much I appreciate how it functions. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels and looks cheap. I’m glad to say. That it does work well.
I enjoy these videos :
*Same Family Brand **__** = Penny-wise Vs Premium-Priced*
1:04 ... I am always finely tuned to learn more about any Knock-Offs / Dupes / Look-Alikes compared to the Brand Names.:
($20.oo cad) *Jinhao 82* ~~ Sailors ProGear Slim ($120.oo cad) & Pilot 912 ($240.oo cad)
($8.oo cad) *Jinhao 992* ~~ Sailor 1911 ($140.oo cad) & Sailor ProGrear ($75.oo cad)
($25.oo cad) *Delike New Moon* ~~ Sailor ProGear Slim ($$120.oo cad)
($25.oo cad) *Delike New Moon* ~~ Sailor ProGear ($$75.oo cad)
($30.oo cad) *Penbbs 308* ~~ Sailor Procolor ($75.oo cad)
($10.oo cad) *Lingmo Lorelei* ~~ Sailor Procolor ($75.oo cad)
There are a lot of good things out there. I do like it more when a manufacturer takes a familiar design and puts a twist on it (even something as simple as new colors/resins) but anyway, I think the real fun is in collecting pens that are interesting/cool and don’t break the bank. If I had a ton of disposable income, maybe I would feel differently, but I do not.