Ian Schon is one of the true genius designers in the industry today, as well as being a really nice guy. I aspire to owning a Monoc nib, but that's quite a long way off given my current finances.
I absolutely love my Monoc nib and pen. I like the conical ends of the pen, which feel good to the touch, and are in no way pointy. The titanium nib feels heavier than it’s aluminum body and front weights the pen nicely. My nib is wet. I love the feedback, a bit like a soft pencil lead, and the reverse writing is smoother than any other pen I own. This is where the line variation comes in. Reverse writing is so nice it’s like having 2 nibs in one. I preordered mine at the California Pen Show, where I met Ian (such a cool gent).. and fell in love w this pen.. I also picked up a pocket 6, which I adore. Ian is amazing too. I enjoy the finish of the pen too. Thank you for your review. Naturally I want another Monoc nib.. for a different pen. It’s a beautiful writer.
Thank you. Monoc nib has been on my wish list. It's great to see the young 'uns like Ian innovating and being successful! This obsession is in good hands.
I had the opportunity to see the nib at the Philly Pen Show but there were so many people at the table, I did not have a chance to use the nib. It is a fascinating nib and will consider buying it when other nib sizes are available. Great review of the nib, David.
I really like this nib and pen! The nib feels soft with gentle feedback, not springy or bouncy. For those of use who do not push the nib into the paper this is an excellent writer. It reminds me of the feeling of writing with my Lamy 2000, but different. Not sure that will make sense to anyone, but the best I can come up with from my limited set of experiences :) I hope many support them over time so that they can take this further and develop different nib sizes and do enhancements. As far as I know, this is the biggest change in nib development for writers in quite a while.
i ordered a monoc using the "no black pen" code with a full size ultem pen. i ordered it more than 4 weeks ago and it's only being delivered today(5/3/2023) but my god am i excited. schon dsgn represents everything i want out of a US madse fp designer and i cannot wait to try mine out :)
@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx initially, not really lol it was pretty dry even with some thinner inks in my collection. But i sent it off to Gena(customnibstudio) and she got it writing perfectly, and i gotta say it's so nice to write with. it feels so different than any other pen i own, and i really love the feel of the ultem. Highly recommend if you dont mind having it tuned first
I wouldn’t feel too bad about the feed selection! I was slightly saddened when the Ultem feed turned almost black when I put a red ink through it. So theres not much between them when inked.
I had a chance to try a Monoc right at the end of the BWI Pen Show, and I completely agree with your characterization of the writing experience. It's a distinct, but pleasant writer. I tend to be lukewarm on Sailor's feedback, but the Monoc feedback was unobtrusive. Definitely on my list to pick up... eventually.
I just received mine (same pen, natural feed). So far, I love the pen. It runs typically problematic inks without hesitation. Does it replace my Sailor 1911 or my MB149, of course not. Am I happy to support Ian Schon, you bet!
Craig Roccanova reviewed this product the other day, and his experience and opinions are much like yours. It was the first time I'd seen his videos, but he lives in the same town as my sister, so...The pen he got had an ice cream cone imprinted. Thanks for showing this innovative item.
Purely for curiosity, I want someone to make a nib out of the minimum possible material. Would it be just a strip of metal with the slit? How much of a nib is truly functional and how much is aesthetic?
It’s fun seeing how writing styli have evolved and the lettering each made possible (pointed nib and broad-edged). Then the great Victorian innovation of mass production steel nibs pressed out of metal sheets - making flex pressure a thing and all the beauty of writing that gave birth to (The older English round hand aka “Copperplate” had the thin lines done with edge of flat cut goose feather, hardened in hot sand). So minimal fountain pen nib could look to all this history, and adventurous engineers try out how to feed ink to it rather than having to dip pen! It’s a cool question … the Pilot Parallel pens are essentially broad tipped pens fed ink from cartridges in body, they certainly are different and effective
Is the price just for the nib? It isn’t very clear from the various reviews that I’ve seen since some seem to suggest that the price comes with a pen. Thank you for a thorough review!
I've seen several video reviews of this nib, and the point of it still completely escapes me. Thank you for describing it in much more detail than the others. Here is what I gathered from this review: 1. Inflexible. 2. Ink flow is decent. 3. Not extremely smooth; hint of feedback. 4. Pleasant, different, and distinctive. Was there anything else? Would it be possible to expound on how it is different? I am interested in advances in pen technology. I can see that it looks different, in a way I find attractive. But I still don't know how it is supposed to be better in feel or performance or results. Any additional comments would be welcome. What's in it for someone like me, not a close personal friend of the designer, not choosing to support one pen maker over another, not impressed by the cosmetic differences, nor the titanium, and uninterested in change for change's sake? I apologize for my frustration showing through.
I think this would be an interesting question to ask Ian himself. What was his reason for creating the Monoc nib? What is its purpose? How would he pitch this nib against the Sailors and Pilots of the world? I find the fountain pen hobby, and particularly nibs, confusing oftentimes since there isn't really a solid scientific basis for it; i.e. it doesn't seem to me that anyone has gone fully in-depth on the physics of nibs (because that's all it really is at the end of the day right, physics?), what "performance" really means, the intricacies (or lack thereof?) in creating different writing sensations, etc... Maybe this doesn't make a ton of sense. It just seems like the fp hobby has a certain lack of clarity in its "progression" compared to other hobbies; we just kind of say "this feels nicer" and move on.
It’s like nothing else I own. My nib writes on the wet side, not too wet, which I love. Reverse writing is even smoother so it’s like having two nibs in one. I love the slight feedback of the nib in forward writing mode. The titanium slightly front weights the pen, so it feels really comfortable on the page. It also lends a very substantial feel to the nib, slightly indestructible feeling. Hearty, which I love. It’s a dream to write with, for me. A luxury price. Well worth it.
It looks really cool and different, and maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but what exactly is the difference in the writing experience with a regular nib?
I think this is something to consider for anything beyond, let's say, $20. Assuming a nib isn't scratchy (which is all it needs to be, really?), how do you describe a nib (/pen) and justify its purchase? Does it boil down to, every manufacturer just makes a different feeling nib? lol And, going further... is it safe to assume that "writing sensation" is only dependent on the tipping material/tip? I.e. is the tip the only thing that matters? Can anyone replicate any companies' "nib profile," so to speak, on a microscopic level, with enough time and effort? Does the nib itself even matter then, beyond flex/bounce, or is it just a vessel for the tipping? Or are there other factors involved that directly affect the sensation of pen on paper? More concisely, is the only difference the way companies make, attach, and tune their tipping?
@@elith6930 Right. Or is it more the cool look you're paying the higher price for? Which is fine. We all pay more for luxury brands of everything, not just pens. I just wonder if there's more to this nib than the cool looks. Living in Europe I don't think I will get a chance to try it out at a pen show, so I'm hoping on detailed reviews of the writing experience 🙂
I just have a question that I ask myself and this question is: is it patented, Because it would be silly if a bigger company just stole this idea from them and produced it in bigger Quantity for maybe less thanks to their factories.
The nib looks fantastic but I'm not sure quite what sets it apart from other steel nibs. I understand that it's a unique experience but I'm just not sure that this unique experience is quite worth what they are asking for for it. I've never used one myself so I suppose I am not speaking from direct experience but I just don't quite see what their selling point is other than it being a unique writing experience
@@houghwhite411 Oh really? Well that's fair. I guess I'm just going off of the reviews I've seen in general. I guess I just don't understand what it's main selling point is for it to cost £400/$400
Glad to see that there are still innovations in the fountain pen world these days.
Ikr? There’s enough injection molded plastic…
Looking at you, Sailor.
@@elith6930 and pencil like feedback 😂😂😂
@@berk6123 I like pencil-like feedback. I want more.
@@elith6930 just buy urushi then
Ian Schon is one of the true genius designers in the industry today, as well as being a really nice guy. I aspire to owning a Monoc nib, but that's quite a long way off given my current finances.
amen
Shipmate here (i.e., we're in the same boat). My FOMO genes are crying as my bank account says "Uh, no!"
Ian also used to make precision high-end mechanical watches, as well as bicycle parts. In fact, he could easily be a car designer if he so chose.
I absolutely love my Monoc nib and pen. I like the conical ends of the pen, which feel good to the touch, and are in no way pointy. The titanium nib feels heavier than it’s aluminum body and front weights the pen nicely. My nib is wet. I love the feedback, a bit like a soft pencil lead, and the reverse writing is smoother than any other pen I own. This is where the line variation comes in. Reverse writing is so nice it’s like having 2 nibs in one. I preordered mine at the California Pen Show, where I met Ian (such a cool gent).. and fell in love w this pen.. I also picked up a pocket 6, which I adore. Ian is amazing too. I enjoy the finish of the pen too. Thank you for your review.
Naturally I want another Monoc nib.. for a different pen. It’s a beautiful writer.
I have one, I love it. I taught Mathematics at a top engineering school for many years, and Ian Schon reminds me of some of my top students.
He’s an amazing human, and a bit of a genius designer.
Thank you. Monoc nib has been on my wish list. It's great to see the young 'uns like Ian innovating and being successful! This obsession is in good hands.
I had the opportunity to see the nib at the Philly Pen Show but there were so many people at the table, I did not have a chance to use the nib. It is a fascinating nib and will consider buying it when other nib sizes are available.
Great review of the nib, David.
I really like this nib and pen! The nib feels soft with gentle feedback, not springy or bouncy. For those of use who do not push the nib into the paper this is an excellent writer. It reminds me of the feeling of writing with my Lamy 2000, but different. Not sure that will make sense to anyone, but the best I can come up with from my limited set of experiences :)
I hope many support them over time so that they can take this further and develop different nib sizes and do enhancements. As far as I know, this is the biggest change in nib development for writers in quite a while.
The price puts this far outside the range of what I'm willing to spend for a pen, but I must admit it's one of the coolest thing I've seen in a while.
Point and section resemble Sheaffer Triumph nib assembly. Thanks for a fantastic video.
i ordered a monoc using the "no black pen" code with a full size ultem pen. i ordered it more than 4 weeks ago and it's only being delivered today(5/3/2023) but my god am i excited. schon dsgn represents everything i want out of a US madse fp designer and i cannot wait to try mine out :)
So what did u think. Worth it?
@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx initially, not really lol it was pretty dry even with some thinner inks in my collection. But i sent it off to Gena(customnibstudio) and she got it writing perfectly, and i gotta say it's so nice to write with. it feels so different than any other pen i own, and i really love the feel of the ultem. Highly recommend if you dont mind having it tuned first
I wouldn’t feel too bad about the feed selection! I was slightly saddened when the Ultem feed turned almost black when I put a red ink through it. So theres not much between them when inked.
Like, permanent stain? Or just while you were using the red ink?
I mean, it is clear, after all 🤔 or at least, pretty translucent. Lol
Big fan of Ian Schon. I think some of his pens have the best anodized finish that i have seen in the fountain pen world.
I had a chance to try a Monoc right at the end of the BWI Pen Show, and I completely agree with your characterization of the writing experience. It's a distinct, but pleasant writer. I tend to be lukewarm on Sailor's feedback, but the Monoc feedback was unobtrusive. Definitely on my list to pick up... eventually.
Thanks David, another great one from Team Ian.
I just received mine (same pen, natural feed). So far, I love the pen. It runs typically problematic inks without hesitation. Does it replace my Sailor 1911 or my MB149, of course not. Am I happy to support Ian Schon, you bet!
Do u think it competes with those two?
@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx I’d put in the same league as the MB 146.
I have a schon design pen with a Monac nib. It is one of my favorite pens. I love when it comes into the rotation for filling and using.
Craig Roccanova reviewed this product the other day, and his experience and opinions are much like yours. It was the first time I'd seen his videos, but he lives in the same town as my sister, so...The pen he got had an ice cream cone imprinted. Thanks for showing this innovative item.
Purely for curiosity, I want someone to make a nib out of the minimum possible material. Would it be just a strip of metal with the slit? How much of a nib is truly functional and how much is aesthetic?
It’s fun seeing how writing styli have evolved and the lettering each made possible (pointed nib and broad-edged). Then the great Victorian innovation of mass production steel nibs pressed out of metal sheets - making flex pressure a thing and all the beauty of writing that gave birth to (The older English round hand aka “Copperplate” had the thin lines done with edge of flat cut goose feather, hardened in hot sand).
So minimal fountain pen nib could look to all this history, and adventurous engineers try out how to feed ink to it rather than having to dip pen!
It’s a cool question … the Pilot Parallel pens are essentially broad tipped pens fed ink from cartridges in body, they certainly are different and effective
Is the price just for the nib? It isn’t very clear from the various reviews that I’ve seen since some seem to suggest that the price comes with a pen. Thank you for a thorough review!
Hmm. Looks like Schon could be one step closer to creating a modern Myu. Just extend the nib into a body and there you go!
Lol a giant feed?
Just found your channel a few days ago, excellent review, really enjoying the content
Dave… great introduction to a new look… enjoyed your perspective and the review.
I've seen several video reviews of this nib, and the point of it still completely escapes me. Thank you for describing it in much more detail than the others. Here is what I gathered from this review:
1. Inflexible.
2. Ink flow is decent.
3. Not extremely smooth; hint of feedback.
4. Pleasant, different, and distinctive.
Was there anything else?
Would it be possible to expound on how it is different? I am interested in advances in pen technology. I can see that it looks different, in a way I find attractive. But I still don't know how it is supposed to be better in feel or performance or results. Any additional comments would be welcome.
What's in it for someone like me, not a close personal friend of the designer, not choosing to support one pen maker over another, not impressed by the cosmetic differences, nor the titanium, and uninterested in change for change's sake?
I apologize for my frustration showing through.
I think this would be an interesting question to ask Ian himself. What was his reason for creating the Monoc nib? What is its purpose? How would he pitch this nib against the Sailors and Pilots of the world?
I find the fountain pen hobby, and particularly nibs, confusing oftentimes since there isn't really a solid scientific basis for it; i.e. it doesn't seem to me that anyone has gone fully in-depth on the physics of nibs (because that's all it really is at the end of the day right, physics?), what "performance" really means, the intricacies (or lack thereof?) in creating different writing sensations, etc... Maybe this doesn't make a ton of sense. It just seems like the fp hobby has a certain lack of clarity in its "progression" compared to other hobbies; we just kind of say "this feels nicer" and move on.
It’s like nothing else I own. My nib writes on the wet side, not too wet, which I love. Reverse writing is even smoother so it’s like having two nibs in one. I love the slight feedback of the nib in forward writing mode. The titanium slightly front weights the pen, so it feels really comfortable on the page. It also lends a very substantial feel to the nib, slightly indestructible feeling. Hearty, which I love. It’s a dream to write with, for me. A luxury price. Well worth it.
@@Sonicman415 Thank you for your opinions.
Interesting to see a writing sample from the Visconti Speedboat alongside the Schon.
I'm glad to see some innovation of this type. I do hope to try it at a pen show soon so I can get a feel for this nib
It looks really cool and different, and maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but what exactly is the difference in the writing experience with a regular nib?
I think this is something to consider for anything beyond, let's say, $20. Assuming a nib isn't scratchy (which is all it needs to be, really?), how do you describe a nib (/pen) and justify its purchase?
Does it boil down to, every manufacturer just makes a different feeling nib? lol
And, going further... is it safe to assume that "writing sensation" is only dependent on the tipping material/tip? I.e. is the tip the only thing that matters? Can anyone replicate any companies' "nib profile," so to speak, on a microscopic level, with enough time and effort? Does the nib itself even matter then, beyond flex/bounce, or is it just a vessel for the tipping? Or are there other factors involved that directly affect the sensation of pen on paper?
More concisely, is the only difference the way companies make, attach, and tune their tipping?
@@elith6930 Right. Or is it more the cool look you're paying the higher price for? Which is fine. We all pay more for luxury brands of everything, not just pens. I just wonder if there's more to this nib than the cool looks. Living in Europe I don't think I will get a chance to try it out at a pen show, so I'm hoping on detailed reviews of the writing experience 🙂
@@JannyHaak we need someone to do a deep physics dive on nibs. lol
@@elith6930 Hahaaa LOL indeed we do! 🙂
I just have a question that I ask myself and this question is:
is it patented,
Because it would be silly if a bigger company just stole this idea from them and produced it in bigger Quantity for maybe less thanks to their factories.
I'm sure he patented it
Price is just too high. That’s a tough call. Rather have a few other pens at that price point.
Make a 1.1mm to 1.4mm stub or cursive italic and I'll buy ten of these. Waiting for something different from the standard nib.
challenge accepted. launching in a few weeks :) aready made a small batch for the Philadelphia pen show
The nib looks fantastic but I'm not sure quite what sets it apart from other steel nibs. I understand that it's a unique experience but I'm just not sure that this unique experience is quite worth what they are asking for for it. I've never used one myself so I suppose I am not speaking from direct experience but I just don't quite see what their selling point is other than it being a unique writing experience
I recall the designer said he doesn't aim for special writing experience or that sort
@@houghwhite411 Oh really? Well that's fair. I guess I'm just going off of the reviews I've seen in general. I guess I just don't understand what it's main selling point is for it to cost £400/$400
Very unique nib!
Coollest fountain pen innovation of the century so far
Super cool but waaaaay out of my price range.
Not first
oh gosh the nib is cool but…..400 bucks ??? i don’t know but i prefer my. twsbi 580 with a titanium seagull nib from monty winnfield
I wish it wasn’t so expensive. The nib is cool but the barrel and cap is too basic for me.
I have one, leaks !!
And why would I need a nib for about 350.00 where a Bock-10€-nib would do the job as well ... ?
It really annoys me to no end when you have a $400 + pen and it it a cartridge/converter pen…🤨
Overpriced, I think.
With that price, the whole nib could have been made from solid gold.
£350 for just the nib is not worth it.
The could be the best of the world, still it is ugly like nothing.