It really is a fantastic pen. One of my favorites by far. The nib didn't work for me so I sent it off to Mark Bacas and now it is absolutely perfect! ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.htmlsi=QPXz54oOPSU0zO8H
Um, that happened to me. I was offered a try (having no interest in buying one) and was completely smitten! Finally took the plunge as the opportunity arose, and grabbed one of the 300 LE Travel Editions. Super excited!
I've been working through your videos. I'm enjoying the lack of pretentiousness in your videos and your attention to the engineering of different pens. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks buddy for giving my vids a look & glad you're enjoying them. I just try to look at pens the same way I looked at products/equipment/systems I designed, manufactured, assembled, etc.
Thanks buddy, I appreciate the comment. Trying to make useful stuff fellow pen people can use. I have no idea how to drive traffic, so hopefully will get better at that!
As per last comment this is a seriously underrated channel. I've enjoyed this video enormously. Stunning pen, the joy of ownership must be immense. I don't think it would be for me as you'd require a fair level of manual dexterity to get the best out of it. I like a fairly (but not arid) dry writer two of my pens are over wet & it spoils them somewhat. Keep doing what you're doing.
I have a BLIZZARD and I am very happy I bought it but I want the Bronze Age now. I've always wanted one of these but what nib size? You are so correct about the flow. my BLIZZARD M is wet enough I guess, I wish that I made the purchase $150 ago My Blizzard was a bit hefty. Now the bronze has about the same or is. Guess I will do it and maybe a medium is enough. The 149 is also medium and it does write wet. Thanks for the video..
Just got the HS bronze with the new in house 18k nib. Best experience so far from Visconti. Flawless pen, great nib that is a true fine with some nice bounce to it.
Oh nice good to hear! Hoping to send mine off someday soon so it can perform the way I would like. But good to know the new nibs work well! Thanks for sharing
Mine (EF) was tuned by a nibmeister at Appelboom and writes like a dream! Outshines my Montblanc 146 and Pelikan M800 (which were my daily writers before it). It goes everywhere I go, and hope to use it for many years to come :) Great video by the way! Surprised I haven't seen your channel before... Subbed and will check out some more vids!
Good to hear yours is working great! Going to be sending mine off soon so I csn enjoy it like you do yours. Thanks for watching & the sub! My channel is pretty tiny so most haven't seen my channel before lol
@@Doodlebud You do pump out content regularly despite being a smaller channel, so I'm sure it'll grow quickly once the algorithm recommends your vids more often (which is how I found it). Mine wrote like a western fine even though it's an extra fine, and it was a very wet writer as well. Now it's definitely a western extra fine, and lays down the perfect amount of ink. Enough to show some shading, but not so much it bleeds, becomes a thicker line, or takes too long to dry. I hope you'll find a reputable nibmeister who can deliver similar work!
@@dutch_blades Is yours the palladium or gold nib? I want mine to a proper XF as well & am curious how it writes with the natural "bounce" in the nib & an XF grind
@@Doodlebud it's the 23k palladium dreamtouch nib (I really wanted the two-tone look). The bounce on the palladium seems about the same as 18k nibs. Bit more bouncy than 14k, but that could be due to smaller nib sizes on my 14k nibs. You can definitely get good line variation without stressing the nib.
@@dutch_blades Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know. That's exactly what I'm hoping for with the pen! Now I'm looking forward to sending it off in the mail
I have the DA with a broad nib. Skipped a bit at first so I took the nib unit out and flushed the pen out. Boy, did some crud come out. Since then, its written like a dream. It does write wet, but that’s all a part of the character of this beautiful pen.
That pen (when it writes out of the box) has to be a dream to write with. I wouln't adjust the wetnes I rather take advantage of it using sheening inks. By the way, in the minute 9:15 the tissue looks like a person running.
I think they switched back to gold for newly made pens. You can find palladium on the used market. Not sure how XF it will be. I'm going to get mine grown down so it's useable
@@Doodlebud I have found one genuine online shop, they still have one only palladium version with EF nib, planning to buy in Feb. Just worried about baby's bottom
@@MdAthick yeah unfortunately that does happen, and you'd think for the price that should NEVER happen. It would be like worrying the new car you ordered won't have an engine included with it. But that if it works, it's a great pen 🖋️
Man, I got shafted a bit with Visconti's QC. My HS fine nib was the driest and stiffest nib out of the box. I've opened it up a bit, but it's still like a medium-dry writing experience. I find the variability within their own line curious. Probably why they're going back to Gold nibs and making their own in house.
@@Doodlebud This is something I genuinely don't understand. Given that a new HS Bronze Age costs about $700, I find it totally unacceptable that it wouldn't be PERFECT coming out of the box. I have heard SO many complaints that you first need to tweak it, or send it to a nibmeister. Why? At that price range? I admit that it looks extremely beautiful, and that I'm lusting over it, but the very significant probability of getting it and then having to spend extra time, effort, money, and hassle on getting a WORKING PRODUCT is so incredibly off-putting, I'm not sure I'll dare making the purchase. Imagine buying a car, say, a Honda, and it would always be fine and work well. But then you want something really fancy, like a Ferrari. You spend an arm and a leg, it gets delivered, and half of the time it doesn't start. And you first need to send it in to have its motor tweaked. And then maybe the doors don't open and shut smoothly, but it's OK, there's a doormeister who will fix those for you...
@@markusdeserno7321 I agree with you. There are no excuses to demand a high price but in return give anything other than an amazing product. Part of the price is supposed to be quality control, testing, design, build quality, etc... Not just looks
@@markusdeserno7321 well said. It’s what keeping me. I think I’ll go for it, but it’s ridiculous... unless... the ink and paper combination being used is at fault. I can’t tell what the case was with other people, but I do know that there were instances where what some thought a defective pen, was simply a very picky pen (some are more versatile than others, and it is usually the more expensive ones which are more demanding). That said, many people complained about this one, so it does seem it’s a QC issue, which is most definitely unacceptable at this price point!
My dark ages was really dry and skipped when I got it. I took the nib unit out and flushed the pen. The crud that came out was incredible. Since then, its written like a dream and is now my favourite.
I have the 18k in fine, and that is on the fine side. I got it in fine because the medium I have on an Opera Master writes like a broad, so I was hoping it would have been a slightly narrower than a medium. It's wet enough, but too fine for my liking. Looks like mine will have to head into a workshop as well.
I did a follow up video to this once I got it back from Mark Bacas. He did an amazing job and the pen is exactly how I wanted it to be all along! ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
@@Doodlebud I opened it up a bit, so it's much better, and I'm good with it now. It wrote like an EF, but now an F. I'll keep Bacas in mind for future grinds. I also want to try Mike Masuyama. The only problem is sending things to the US is not as cheap as it should be for Canadians. We've got a Nibmeister here in TO, who is pretty good, but those two are legends. Did you disassemble the piston on the Lamy 2000? I'd actually be curious to see what you think about the Pelikan piston assembly, if you are comfortable unscrewing it. Or any, even TWSBI.
Hey Doodlebud, i am quite glad that YT recommend me this video. I hope the very best for you. You are doing great. I was writing and i died a little bit at minute 16. DO NOT DO THIS! But thanks for the warning.
Thought I would mention that with the cap since if someone didn't know, they could be in for an unpleasant surprise... Especially after spending some serious coin!
This is a Grail pen for me. I think this is the first video that has pointed some things to look out for. Its alot of A$ but I think its still worth it.
Hey there. Oh wow that's an old video. I've updated the pen since with a grind from Mark Bacas! Such a wonderful pen now ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
What pen would you compare to this pen in terms of Fine size? is it as Fine as a Lamy 2000 is Fine also? is it a True Fine Nib? looking to get this pen but not sure what size nib to get, medium or fine
They did switch from the Palladium to Gold nibs so not sure what that has done to the nib width. Also mine is SUPER wet so that makes with wider as well. This particular "fine" writes like a medium or even broad
A friend of mine has one and this is a pen I want to buy when I graduate or something like that. How much did you pay for it and have you experienced problems with the Palladium nib?
I got mine 2md hand for about $300. It had serious babies bottom when I got it, but fixed that right away. It's still way to thick for my preference so will either get it ground down finer or a cursive italic
@@Matt-dd1zr also if you've never done this before, I would NOT do it to this nib. The visconti palladium nib is soft & bouncy & requires much more attention. If you even want to consider doing it yourself, work on several cheap pens first. You can send it off to someone to do it for you which would be recommended
Like the pen, hate the clip, must have one in a fine or medium if I can find one at a decent price some day but after watching the writing sample...nah, way too wet for me but I’d take that Parker 51 any day.
I have the same pen in an extra fine (with the newer, gold nib), and even that writes way too wet. even on all the papers that are supposed to be best for fountain pens (tomoe river, rhodia, clairefontaine) it feathers and the ink stays wet and smudgeable for so long. it was a disappointing purchase, since it was so expensive and because it looks so cool and i had built it up in my mind to be the best pen ever until i actually bought one.
I got a Bronze Age with a gold fine nib on Black Friday for £400. I inked it with Noodler's Zhivago and Eel Black and it's perfect. It definitely writes too wet when I use Pilot Iroshizuku inks. It just takes a bit of trial and error to find with the perfect pen/ink combination
The nib may be beautiful, but the sloppy QC makes it a joke... I was very pumped for this pen and tried it once in a local pen store... The FINE nib was writing broader than a medium and the broad was writing massively broad. So much gushing in broad that I genuinely felt its unusable. For a 800$ pen, this should be unacceptable. But, when you look this beautiful, I guess everyone forgives
Well then don’t look at the Conway Stewart, Mont Blanc 149 or 146. Everyone has a budget and priorities. You don’t have to spend that much coin to get a quality writing instrument.
Oh my Gawd! I finally got to pick one up and write with it, at the 2023 Dallas Pen Show. Now I really need one.
It really is a fantastic pen. One of my favorites by far. The nib didn't work for me so I sent it off to Mark Bacas and now it is absolutely perfect!
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.htmlsi=QPXz54oOPSU0zO8H
Um, that happened to me. I was offered a try (having no interest in buying one) and was completely smitten! Finally took the plunge as the opportunity arose, and grabbed one of the 300 LE Travel Editions. Super excited!
I've been working through your videos. I'm enjoying the lack of pretentiousness in your videos and your attention to the engineering of different pens. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks buddy for giving my vids a look & glad you're enjoying them. I just try to look at pens the same way I looked at products/equipment/systems I designed, manufactured, assembled, etc.
Seriously underrated channel. I will watch your career with great interest!
Thanks buddy, I appreciate the comment. Trying to make useful stuff fellow pen people can use. I have no idea how to drive traffic, so hopefully will get better at that!
i dont know why this channel only have 753 subs instead of 750k, you really deserve it man, thank you for amazing videos
Thanks for watching & thr kind words. Man, if I got to 6 figure subs one day that would be crazy!
As per last comment this is a seriously underrated channel. I've enjoyed this video enormously. Stunning pen, the joy of ownership must be immense. I don't think it would be for me as you'd require a fair level of manual dexterity to get the best out of it. I like a fairly (but not arid) dry writer two of my pens are over wet & it spoils them somewhat. Keep doing what you're doing.
What a beautiful pen. I think if I was going to spend that much though, it would have to be on an Aurora 888.
I was fortunate to get a SIGNIFICANT discount on my pen. 888 is very nice 😍
I think its great looking pen. Great review.
Its striking! Going to be sending it off soon to get the nib done the way I want it. Too good of a pen not to be using daily!
I have a BLIZZARD and I am very happy I bought it but I want the Bronze Age now. I've always wanted one of these but what nib size? You are so correct about the flow. my BLIZZARD M is wet enough I guess,
I wish that I made the purchase $150 ago My Blizzard was a bit hefty. Now the bronze has about the same or is.
Guess I will do it and maybe a medium is enough. The 149 is also medium and it does write wet.
Thanks for the video..
Just got the HS bronze with the new in house 18k nib. Best experience so far from Visconti. Flawless pen, great nib that is a true fine with some nice bounce to it.
Oh nice good to hear! Hoping to send mine off someday soon so it can perform the way I would like. But good to know the new nibs work well! Thanks for sharing
I just bought one of these in Santa Fe NM and I'm hoping it writes well! I really don't want to have to send it in to a Nib-Meister. Wish me luck!
Best of luck!
Mine (EF) was tuned by a nibmeister at Appelboom and writes like a dream!
Outshines my Montblanc 146 and Pelikan M800 (which were my daily writers before it).
It goes everywhere I go, and hope to use it for many years to come :)
Great video by the way!
Surprised I haven't seen your channel before... Subbed and will check out some more vids!
Good to hear yours is working great! Going to be sending mine off soon so I csn enjoy it like you do yours. Thanks for watching & the sub! My channel is pretty tiny so most haven't seen my channel before lol
@@Doodlebud You do pump out content regularly despite being a smaller channel, so I'm sure it'll grow quickly once the algorithm recommends your vids more often (which is how I found it).
Mine wrote like a western fine even though it's an extra fine, and it was a very wet writer as well.
Now it's definitely a western extra fine, and lays down the perfect amount of ink.
Enough to show some shading, but not so much it bleeds, becomes a thicker line, or takes too long to dry.
I hope you'll find a reputable nibmeister who can deliver similar work!
@@dutch_blades Is yours the palladium or gold nib? I want mine to a proper XF as well & am curious how it writes with the natural "bounce" in the nib & an XF grind
@@Doodlebud it's the 23k palladium dreamtouch nib (I really wanted the two-tone look). The bounce on the palladium seems about the same as 18k nibs. Bit more bouncy than 14k, but that could be due to smaller nib sizes on my 14k nibs. You can definitely get good line variation without stressing the nib.
@@dutch_blades Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know. That's exactly what I'm hoping for with the pen! Now I'm looking forward to sending it off in the mail
Great video and great review
I have the DA with a broad nib. Skipped a bit at first so I took the nib unit out and flushed the pen out. Boy, did some crud come out. Since then, its written like a dream. It does write wet, but that’s all a part of the character of this beautiful pen.
Here's an update to the pen after I sent off the pen for some nib work:
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
Thanks for sharing!
I did an update after I got it back from Mark Bacas to get the nib tuned
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
@@Doodlebud I'm going to watch it now, thanks!
That pen (when it writes out of the box) has to be a dream to write with. I wouln't adjust the wetnes I rather take advantage of it using sheening inks. By the way, in the minute 9:15 the tissue looks like a person running.
What is a Stub nib for this pen? Extra broad or architectural?
No idea on this pen, but an architect nib is the opposite of a stub nib
Thanks a lot for the video. Hopefully, I will also get an EF PELLADIUM 23K in near future.
I think they switched back to gold for newly made pens. You can find palladium on the used market. Not sure how XF it will be. I'm going to get mine grown down so it's useable
@@Doodlebud I have found one genuine online shop, they still have one only palladium version with EF nib, planning to buy in Feb. Just worried about baby's bottom
@@MdAthick yeah unfortunately that does happen, and you'd think for the price that should NEVER happen. It would be like worrying the new car you ordered won't have an engine included with it. But that if it works, it's a great pen 🖋️
@@Doodlebud Hi. I brought HS with a palladium EF nib. fortunately, the nib is perfect.
Man, I got shafted a bit with Visconti's QC. My HS fine nib was the driest and stiffest nib out of the box. I've opened it up a bit, but it's still like a medium-dry writing experience. I find the variability within their own line curious. Probably why they're going back to Gold nibs and making their own in house.
Yeah mine was bad too. Bought it 2md hand cheap because the babies bottom was so intense it could barely write at all. Heard the new ones are better 🤞
@@Doodlebud This is something I genuinely don't understand. Given that a new HS Bronze Age costs about $700, I find it totally unacceptable that it wouldn't be PERFECT coming out of the box. I have heard SO many complaints that you first need to tweak it, or send it to a nibmeister. Why? At that price range? I admit that it looks extremely beautiful, and that I'm lusting over it, but the very significant probability of getting it and then having to spend extra time, effort, money, and hassle on getting a WORKING PRODUCT is so incredibly off-putting, I'm not sure I'll dare making the purchase.
Imagine buying a car, say, a Honda, and it would always be fine and work well. But then you want something really fancy, like a Ferrari. You spend an arm and a leg, it gets delivered, and half of the time it doesn't start. And you first need to send it in to have its motor tweaked. And then maybe the doors don't open and shut smoothly, but it's OK, there's a doormeister who will fix those for you...
@@markusdeserno7321 I agree with you. There are no excuses to demand a high price but in return give anything other than an amazing product. Part of the price is supposed to be quality control, testing, design, build quality, etc... Not just looks
@@markusdeserno7321 well said. It’s what keeping me. I think I’ll go for it, but it’s ridiculous... unless... the ink and paper combination being used is at fault. I can’t tell what the case was with other people, but I do know that there were instances where what some thought a defective pen, was simply a very picky pen (some are more versatile than others, and it is usually the more expensive ones which are more demanding). That said, many people complained about this one, so it does seem it’s a QC issue, which is most definitely unacceptable at this price point!
My dark ages was really dry and skipped when I got it. I took the nib unit out and flushed the pen. The crud that came out was incredible. Since then, its written like a dream and is now my favourite.
I have the 18k in fine, and that is on the fine side. I got it in fine because the medium I have on an Opera Master writes like a broad, so I was hoping it would have been a slightly narrower than a medium. It's wet enough, but too fine for my liking. Looks like mine will have to head into a workshop as well.
I did a follow up video to this once I got it back from Mark Bacas. He did an amazing job and the pen is exactly how I wanted it to be all along!
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
@@Doodlebud I'm like the first comment shown on that video. C'mon Doodlebud, is there a video of yours I haven't yet seen? 😀
Lol well I couldn't remember! Git 'er dunn with your nib. I wasted like 3yrs being frustrated with what is now one of my absolute favorite pens!
@@Doodlebud I opened it up a bit, so it's much better, and I'm good with it now. It wrote like an EF, but now an F. I'll keep Bacas in mind for future grinds. I also want to try Mike Masuyama. The only problem is sending things to the US is not as cheap as it should be for Canadians. We've got a Nibmeister here in TO, who is pretty good, but those two are legends.
Did you disassemble the piston on the Lamy 2000? I'd actually be curious to see what you think about the Pelikan piston assembly, if you are comfortable unscrewing it. Or any, even TWSBI.
Hey Doodlebud, i am quite glad that YT recommend me this video. I hope the very best for you. You are doing great. I was writing and i died a little bit at minute 16. DO NOT DO THIS! But thanks for the warning.
Thought I would mention that with the cap since if someone didn't know, they could be in for an unpleasant surprise... Especially after spending some serious coin!
Giving like for blotting out the 2nd P 😄
I'm such a terrible speller 😖
greetings from the FPN!
Good to see the website is back up & running too! Have a great holiday season buddy 😎
This is a Grail pen for me. I think this is the first video that has pointed some things to look out for. Its alot of A$ but I think its still worth it.
I will actually be doing an update on the pen. It will be returning to me this week after a nib grind!
Doodle buddy, new commentator here.
Hey there. Oh wow that's an old video. I've updated the pen since with a grind from Mark Bacas! Such a wonderful pen now
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
@@Doodlebud Nice. Let me know if you plan to sell it.
LOL, not anytime soon. This just might be my favorite pen in my entire collection right now!
@@Doodlebud Lols!
Thanks for the review, which ink are u using?
Meant to ask, what ink did you use in the BA? It’s a gorgeous blue!
No idea which Ink I had in the pen at the time. This was quite some time ago
Do you have to loosen the filler to allow ink flow when writing.
No, you don’t. You need to loosen the knob for writing only in the models with the ‘double reserve’ filler feature.
May be try a drier ink , pelikan 4001 series or edelstein ink
Tried the 4001 and others and no luck. Going to get it sent off for a re-grind for a smaller point and flow adjustment
What pen would you compare to this pen in terms of Fine size? is it as Fine as a Lamy 2000 is Fine also? is it a True Fine Nib? looking to get this pen but not sure what size nib to get, medium or fine
They did switch from the Palladium to Gold nibs so not sure what that has done to the nib width. Also mine is SUPER wet so that makes with wider as well. This particular "fine" writes like a medium or even broad
@@Doodlebud Yes i am thinking of a Fine, your looks like a sweet pen to write with!! i do want an everyday writer and leaning towards the 18k Fine.
A friend of mine has one and this is a pen I want to buy when I graduate or something like that. How much did you pay for it and have you experienced problems with the Palladium nib?
I got mine 2md hand for about $300. It had serious babies bottom when I got it, but fixed that right away. It's still way to thick for my preference so will either get it ground down finer or a cursive italic
@@Doodlebud How did you fix the baby’s bottom?
@@Matt-dd1zr here's a vid from @sbrebrown ua-cam.com/video/l5VOKFXEvL8/v-deo.html
@@Matt-dd1zr also if you've never done this before, I would NOT do it to this nib. The visconti palladium nib is soft & bouncy & requires much more attention. If you even want to consider doing it yourself, work on several cheap pens first. You can send it off to someone to do it for you which would be recommended
Put silicon grease on threads and orings
👍I did this last time I cleaned it and seems to stop the nib unit from jambing up
I like the look of this, but have never had good luck with Visconti. Will pass, but liked the video.
Interesting. I have a Van Gogh and it skips on start and with the Wheatfield ink if anything is dry.
Like the pen, hate the clip, must have one in a fine or medium if I can find one at a decent price some day but after watching the writing sample...nah, way too wet for me but I’d take that Parker 51 any day.
I don't mind the clip, but the super wetness is too much. The 51s are such a solid pen!
I wish mine was this dry
Here's the update for the pen:
ua-cam.com/video/kkIztVi7oNA/v-deo.html
I have the same pen in an extra fine (with the newer, gold nib), and even that writes way too wet. even on all the papers that are supposed to be best for fountain pens (tomoe river, rhodia, clairefontaine) it feathers and the ink stays wet and smudgeable for so long. it was a disappointing purchase, since it was so expensive and because it looks so cool and i had built it up in my mind to be the best pen ever until i actually bought one.
Oh wow I thought that would have been fixed by now. Sorry to hear that, don't know if that can get fixed by a nibmister
@@Doodlebud That depends on the ink you use as well, try using a dryer ink with less lubricant.
I got a Bronze Age with a gold fine nib on Black Friday for £400. I inked it with Noodler's Zhivago and Eel Black and it's perfect. It definitely writes too wet when I use Pilot Iroshizuku inks. It just takes a bit of trial and error to find with the perfect pen/ink combination
@@EmpireOfLuciferSatanson666 I've tried several inks and they've all ranged from too wet to way too wet lol
@@Danny.._ I think we got the same pen! Way too wet or ridiculously wet!
The nib may be beautiful, but the sloppy QC makes it a joke... I was very pumped for this pen and tried it once in a local pen store... The FINE nib was writing broader than a medium and the broad was writing massively broad. So much gushing in broad that I genuinely felt its unusable. For a 800$ pen, this should be unacceptable. But, when you look this beautiful, I guess everyone forgives
The very idea of a $600 pen scares me.
Oh I hear ya, thats why I didn't pay anywhere near that! Lol
Well then don’t look at the Conway Stewart, Mont Blanc 149 or 146. Everyone has a budget and priorities. You don’t have to spend that much coin to get a quality writing instrument.
Like me, you can just watch these videos for entertainment.
I have the same pen. the barrel od mine is very lighter. anything I can do to darken the color of the pen?
I would say just use it a bunch. Mine darkens as I use it