Obligatory warning I give for all Amazon basics products. Due to the nature of said product lines, the quality is likely to change over time, as Amazon changes supplier. So check up on recent reviews if you want to buy this pen later on.
My issue with buying an Amazon fountain pen is that, at least in the US, the hobby of fountain pens is really advanced by small businesses like Goulet. I try to support those businesses as much as possible.
I bought one with a fine nib...it is not very good. It takes forever to get it to feed ink from the included cartridges, and then when you finally get the ink flowing, it skips on almost every letter, and it is very scratchy. It is also VERY particular about writing angle. It was my first fountain pen, so I thought maybe I was just inexperienced, but then I bought a Parker Jotter and the experience with them was night and day. The jotter writes smooth, does not skip, does not scratch, and just waving the pen back and forth a few times gets the ink flowing.
Sorry to hear that, but thank you for sharing feedback on the fine nib, giving another perspective. Sounds like it needs tuning or alignment (which can happen on more $$$ pens, too). Glad you got the Jotter and enjoy it. Mine has been quite reliable and a great nib.
First time at your channel. Thank you UA-cam for the recommendation! I had not heard anything about this pen! Nice review. I appreciate your voice. Makes me want to hear more.
I got a fine nib Amazon Basics a week ago. Works perfectly. It writes inverted as well and produces a very sharp line. Does not skip or seem scratchy to me. Thanks for the info about the converter.
Beautiful, smooth writer, delivering just the right amount of ink. No hard starts, no skipping or drying up mid-sentence (unless you have actually run out of ink!). I was very surprised to find this ‘basics’ pen perform as well as it does … a bargain.
Great review. Lovely to see reviews of affordable fountain pens - I like the reviews of the very high end pens, too, but these are much more fitting for impulse buys, keep it up!
Thanks for the review. I've been trying to get more organized and I've found that physically writing things down helps which has led me to an interest in fountain pens. I got a medium nib Pilot Metropolitan because I was impatient even though I have always preferred fine points in 'other' pens. So I grabbed the fine basing on a whim the other day and should be here soon. I was starting to get worried it would turn into a bad impulse buy. Side note: I'm really amazed at the number of negative, angry, complaining comments. Whatever happened to if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.
You can't really go wrong with a Metropolitan. Those are my starter pens and they write really well, and they even come with a converter. I have since moved on to other pens and now my favourite writer is a TWSBI ECO.
Well I received mine and you are correct. I really like this fountain pen. It is a great edc. It looks good and smooth. I got the medium point and I am not disappointed. Thanks fur your thoughts on this one. Enjoying your channel.
I may try it. Out of all my nice fountain pens my Lamy is my favorite. I have to say, I bought the Amazon basic ballpoint pens and was pleasantly surprised as well. Nice style and felt good in the hand. They write well also.
For the price it's a great pen. Writes really well. I've been impressed. I have both the F & M nibs. I'd recommend the kingdom s pen to anybody, but especially someone new to the hobby.
I have been using this pen for a while with no issues, I love it a lot. I carry it in my work bag along with my Jinhao x750! I end up using these a lot and am very happy with this Amazon Basics pen and my Jinhao x750. I got the fine tip for the Amazon Basics pen and put a converter in it. I like to gift both kinds of pens to friends and people I know who are interested in fountain pens and they have not been disapointed. Also great review!! I have been enjoying your videos! :)
@@debbie9068 I haven't had any hard start issues with mine. It always writes really smooth and the ink comes out nice and wet for mine. I might of gotten lucky and got a good nib though.
I bought one a couple of years ago. It worked fine for the first time out of the box, but eventually, it would take forever to get the ink flowing again. I finally gave up and stored it. And what the heck is meant my "international" cartridges? Every reviewer mentions it, but i can't find any examples or brands that fit. Maybe you can do a video on that and what a wet or dry" pen means.
Wet vs dry basically comes down to how much ink a pen puts down in a line. So wet=greater flow, dry =lower flow. This is affected the most by the pen's flow characteristics and the "wetness" or "dryness" of an ink (viscosity, flow, and dry times all play into this). A standard international cartridge (so-called, there is no actual standard setting body) is a common standard used by many (especially Western) pen manufacturers. JetPens has a really good guide on them here: www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-International-Short-Cartridges/pt/269
I saw this pen in my recommendations on Amazon earlier today; but I quickly dismissed it as one that I probably wouldn't want. Now, I think I will add it to my collection of fountain pens.. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up on this one. They do have a fine point option as well, and it's not just Texas. It's two day shipping even in the heart of NYC. Awesome review. Loved all the great information. You rock! :)
These low budget Chinese pens have become really interesting over the past year. I don't know this model - thanks for your well done review - but I did receive a fountain pen for $7.50 ( lists on Amazon for $11-12, 40% coupon applied), a Guangju metal pen that has surprised me. About the similar size as a Platinum Preppy, a 5.5 sized nib that I replaced with a spare medium nib (it comes in fine and extra fine), that posts really well and balances nice in the hand. With the medium nib it writes well. Ive read that people were happy with the fine nibs, but mine was too scratchy. Comes with a converter that is not skimpy in quality. A real surprise that you should check out.
The nib looks identical to the Sheaffer VFM (which was available only in medium) and the section reminds me of the Sheaffer 100, so I’m betting it’s made under contract by Sheaffer in China.
I replaced the nib with my Perkeo nib (didn't like the grip of the Perkeo, didn't like the nib of this pen). Now its a very good daily carry pen! I like the weight!
I dunno why this was in my recommends, but I enjoyed watching! I've always wanted a fountain pen when I was a kid. I always assumed they were hundreds of dollars, thanks to this I might look for one here.
You can get quality fountain pens for not a lot of money actually. Check out Goulet Pens, or Pen Chalet for something like a Lamy or check out anything from Pilot. Lots to be had!
When I started buying fountain pens a few years back I also didn't think I would own pens worth hundreds of dollars ( ﾟヮﾟ) Had no idea what I was getting into, but for sure there are a lot of very affordable pens out there that write well.
I just found you and I am really enjoying your videos! Like the Bob Ross of fountain pens LOL! You're so clear and your voice is soft and easy to listen to. Very nice detailed reviews. Thank you!
I took your suggestion and order one today.... Will be here tomorrow.. Excited d to try it.. Sort if new, Ben in it about six months collecting.. Thanks for videos. Really enjoying them.
Amazon Canada really pushes Wordsworth & Black and Dryden. I wonder if it is one of those? I have a Wordsworth & Black. I'm going to order the Amazon one out of curiosity. I hadn't been using fountain pens for years and ordered the W&B over the Amazon because it was on sale and had the converter. I thought that the Chinese ones were junk so I skipped them at first. Now I have nearly a dozen Jinhao's and Baoers.
Aha. Just as I suspected! The Amazon pen went on sale so I ordered. As soon as I opened it and took it out of the box, I knew that it was made with the same metal (brass, I think) as my Wordsworth & Black Erduite. The caps are different but side by side, the pens are identical in size and weight. The Wordsworth (which I will call W&B) doesn't have metal on the grip section but that is just a sleeve. I looked at the nibs through a magnifying glass and they are also identical. I tried to compare it to my Baoer nibs but with all the engraving going on it was hard. The W&B looks very much like the Baoer 3035. They have the same cap but a different clip. It is impossible to know for sure as I don't have one but I suspect that it is the same pen. From pictures, they otherwise look identical. I ordered a fine nib in the Amazon pen. Many of the reviewers on amazon.ca stated that the fine was really a medium and that the medium was broad. They are right. The W&B is supposed to be a medium. Writing samples are identical for both. So, I'm pretty sure that the Wordsworth & Black and the Amazon Basics are made by the same company. It just might be Baoer. and it might not even be a specific model. It could be a mishmash of different parts. The only Baoers that I have are 388s. If you still have the Amazon Basics pen, could you please compare it to any Baoers that you have? I just realized that you are in Texas. I hope that everything is OK. I'm Canadian and our weather hasn't even been that bad this year.
I like cheap pens. A lot of times I have to work on the nib a bit (or, sometimes, replace a nib) to get it to write well, but that’s part of the fun for me. I’ve ordered both the fine and medium, and look forward to giving them a go.
it comes in fine or medium nib for 9.99 and Amazon pairs it with the Hongdian catrdges black or blue ink on the same page. amazon basics fountain pen the pen organizer on the same page is really nice as well.
Mine arrive today. I ordered yesterday and i got it the next day. I think this is going to be a hit product. For the price and the quality… it is a fine product
Sadly, these seem already pulled from Amazon (just checked the Amazon website. Not showing up the way they did around the time this video was posted), as I was considering getting one, myself. Guess I'm going to just have to get another Chinese pen, as I am on a fixed income, so I'm getting cheaper ones, until I can save up for a vintage Osmiroid or Esterbrook (two I have had in my teens, but sadly got lost during the next almost 40 years...) I can agree with the nice writing of a Jinhao pen. I have several, and they write actually better than one American made vintage lever fill I have. I guess they fixed the quality control issues of the past, as the 3 I have write equally as well. (Similar to the old Osmiroid, in my humble opinion.)
No availability from amazon uk either. I agree with the comparisons between this and Baoer / Jinhao. I've seen Amazon do similar things with their basics range before - as if they're testing the waters to see if they sell, before tooling up for a more bulk operation.
I bought this pen with a lot of hopes from Amazon India. Got the pen delivered within a day. The nib was sharp and scratch, I k flow not good. Hugely disappointed. I did a little surgery on the nib, and made it even sharper. Now it is heavy and sharp and a perfect weapon. Of late having very bad luck with pens, they just don't work straight out of the box. Maybe this is God's way of telling me that I have way too many pens already.
Great review James. I also love the very affordable Chinese pens like Boaer and Jinhao. This pen looks a bit like a pen sold in the UK by a popular brand called Helix. Almost every school child will have had a ruler or something from that brand
Didn't see any correction made in the video, so maybe it's country specific - but it looks like it's available in both medium and fine nibs. 1-2 weeks delivery to Australia. Might consider getting one of these, once my Pilot VPen runs out of ink.
In our part of the world, Aihao is a great Chinese pen brand. Remarkably, its disposable rollerball pens (like AH-2005) are top notch. But I never saw an Aihao-branded FP here...
Great and informative video. I have seen that pen on Amazon and was wondering how it compares to other pens in that price range. I guess I don't need to wonder anymore. Thanks for the review.
I recently got into fountain pens because I got one as a gift from my uncle who knows I like to write and I fell in love with it though its a cheep zelda one he got at a hobby store and I was heartbroken at not being able to find a replacement cartridge so I bought a lamy safari (however this looks like it and I hope it will fit so I can use a converter) but I don't think I will ever collect fountain pens because I'm very utilitarian I don't like having excessive collections that I will never use or things that I have too many of to use I wouldn't mind a few more but I wonder about people who collect them like do they use them all the time or do they spend most of their time in cases do they have a few favorites how much money have they spent on the collections and so on
Thanks James for bringing this pen to our attention. I didn't know anything about it until your video. Lots of interesting guesses in the comments about the origin of the pen. I don't think it really matters. I like the design, in fact there is a certain elegance that leaves the X750 looking quite overweight and bloated! The only small criticism is I'd rather have a converter than those three cartridges. Other than that, a really nice package at a reasonable price.
Reading down the comments I'm surprised nobody mentioned the feed. It's a Jinhao #5 feed. Also used in some Baoers. That said, the nib would likely have been made in the same factory--just without the engraving. Don't know if Jinhao themselves had anything to do with this or whether Amazon contracted directly with the factory. In any case, it's gone from Amazon as of 6/30/2020. Wouldn't be surprised if it shows up in the future as a Jinhao or Baoer model.
I have just discovered your channel and really enjoy the content. I know that with disposable fountain pens you won't necessarily get the quality that you may with more expensive pens. However, what is you opinion on disposable fountain pens? For example, I purchased a set of Pilot Varsity and I like the pen, but am not a big fan at the viscosity of the ink. It seems too "liquid-y" to me. Any recommendations for a good starter? I would prefer a fine or extra fine nib. Thanks, Matt
I like the Varsity, and have even gone to the trouble of refilling one (the is a video here on that) It would be my pick for a disposable. For about the same price, but an upgrade, a Platinum Preppy is a terrific pen. It's not disposable, but cartridges are reasonable, and the ink good. The .3 is a good nib with a fine (some would say extra fine) line. Zebra makes a disposable, too, but I haven't tried it.
I haven't seen your content before, and I think fountain pens are cool, but haven't looked into them very much. I would be interested in seeing some content from you about why you like fountain pens, why they are worth getting into, etc.
Hey! I'm not James, but for me fountain pens are worth it because I'm going to use one and know that I have a nice pen for pretty much the rest of my life. I'm a student, and do plenty of writing, and it's pretty handy to have something on hand that I can carry every day to take notes. Plus it takes less pressure than a typical ballpoint or rollerball, so long writing sessions don't make my hands feel as strained. My favorite pen under $40 is probably my Pilot Prera - it looks cute, feels satisfying to use, and I can see the ink sloshing around inside.
This popped up when I searched for Amazon Basics Fountain Pen: smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Refillable-Fountain-Pen-Medium/dp/B07SM9CSWT/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=amazon%2Bbasics%2Bfountain%2Bpen&qid=1582070568&sr=8-1&th=1
I've always had problems with Chinese pens. If you ink up a Faber Castell, Pilot, TWSBI, Waterman, or Parker pen and then put it in your pocket or on your desk and later pick it up to write, it will work. With a Jinhao pen, it is sometimes dry and will not write until I squeeze a bit of ink from the converter or a cartridge. On the other hand, the Jinhao pen is very inexpensive.
Some of my best writers are $2 Chinese pens but it can be luck of the draw - I've bought batches of identical Chinese pens and one will write great, the other will be awful.
Ok so very complicated. The chinese market is actually bigger than you thought. Go onto 淘宝, and search 钢笔. There will be hundreds of options and not just the jinhao or wingsung. Oh and by the way, been using 淘宝 ever since was 7, and I'm still not dead. My pens I use casualyl are the 得力 (deli) pens. They are not really copies of other pens and they are very reliable, no leaks, splotches, and write out of the box. One problem I've with like the wingsungs and jinhaos are that they have nib problems, babys bottom misaligned nib... Hopefully you find this helpful, if not, I hope that you will be able to find some seller that maybe has more than the regular chinese brands. Have a nice day!
The pen looks similar and the idea behind it is similar to Pelikan Jazz Elegance. The pen, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is not made by Pelikan but it is sold as Pelikan.
@@JG3Reviews The reviews on Amazon say that standard international cartridges don't fit, and also standard international converters leak. Have you found otherwise?
@@michaelmurphree593 Interesting. My Jinhao converter seems to fit without issue, but after I read your comment, I tried an international short from Daiso and though it looks identical to the Amazon cartridge, the opening was loose (this was an emptied cartridge, so ymmv). I have this same issue with a Diplomat Magnum. Some of my int'l cartridges and converters fit, some don't, and some are a little loose.
Good review. I didn't know pen existed. It looks nice until you uncap it. I've got an aversion to metal sections. I'm also not crazy about lacquered metal pens. It would be hilarious, though, if it had a plastic section made to look like metal with the metal body made to look like plastic. LOL
Nib also comes in fine. Only instant fail for me is that stupid chrome grip. It instantly means anyone with oily fingers can never use it comfortably. I despise polished secitons
Very cool channel! I enjoy the fact you talk about pens I seldom hear about elsewhere. I might try a few of them ; the Amazon Basic fountain pen triggered my curiosity.
So interesting, thank you! Like others, I’m not sure why your video ended up in my feed (I have watched some calligraphy and pen & ink videos over the years), but I am really glad.
Pity they are no longer available, as it seems a lovely pen. I'd like to see you compare this to the new Jinhao X159. Chrisrap52 chose that as his pen of the year 2022.
I guess the Amazon pen is a regional offering. It's still in stock here in the US store, but I'd heard it's not available everywhere now. I share Chris's enthusiasm for the x159, and would pick it over the Amazon pen hands down because it's just a more interesting pen and I bought mine for less than the Amazon pen. It's also encouraging that Jinhao reacted so quickly with a couple of refinements already.
@@JG3Reviews OMG, dude! Were you able to get out of San Angelo before getting a criminal record? It's their goal to have EVERYONE in their system. I'm sure you're familiar with their city motto, "Come to San Angelo on vacation, leave on probation." (Edited out that erroneous last part.)
I am a frequent Amazon shopper and I'll probably try one of these pens. But for my money, many of the eBay Chinese direct imports are likely a much better value at roughly a third of the cost with a converter included.
@@earlsweat9727 In this case, I don't like the word cheap, because my experience having bought maybe 30 or 40 is that the better ones are made quite well. Sure, not as nice as a $1,000 pen, but close enough.
I got a $1.20 fountain pen on AliExpress. Sure, it's a kids' pen (Jinhao Shark), but it's a fantastic writer, comes in 12 different colours, and it's a great conversation piece. And you can't beat the price!
Interesting. Might just pick it up just because. I think there's enough room in the barrel to carry your reserve cartridge as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that Jinhao produced that pen. They make everything it seems.
My X750 has holo glitter sprinkled all over it. 😁 Oh, it also writes well, too. Right now I think my favorite pen is my Retro 51 Lincoln Tornado. I have Diamine Cocoa Shimmer ink in it 🥰
Great review. It's nice to see how enthusiastic you are about the subject. I've been reading in the reviews that people seem to be having some trouble with converter cartridges leaking. I would love to hear how you have made out with a refillable cartridge.
It definitely writes as well, and will be quite durable. I'd say the comparison would come down to which grip style would be more comfortable for that much writing.
The nib smoothness is basically the same. The Amazon pen is quite a bit heavier, because it is metal compared to the resin Lamy Safari. I've heard some people have trouble using the grip on the Lamy, since it is meant to encourage a specific grip. I've also heard that some people fi d the grip on the Amazon pen too small, but It's not as small as a bic style pen. Overall, if you don't mind the amazon logo, it's a good clean classic style, and a good start. It's interesting that Amazon is offering a fountain pen at all, since it is a niche market. With shipping & handling, and exchange to Canadian, I paid about as much as I paid for a Parker Jotter, and half as much as a Lamy Safari plus a converter, and I like it better than the Jotter.
Obligatory warning I give for all Amazon basics products. Due to the nature of said product lines, the quality is likely to change over time, as Amazon changes supplier. So check up on recent reviews if you want to buy this pen later on.
How calming is this guy's voice?!!!
Also check Peter Draws channel for more relaxing voice videos ! ;)
Right?!
All Praise the Pen Pulpit! 👍
My issue with buying an Amazon fountain pen is that, at least in the US, the hobby of fountain pens is really advanced by small businesses like Goulet. I try to support those businesses as much as possible.
But the big question is this: when will the unbranded knockoff duplicate turn up on eBay for $2.99 ( with free 2 week shipping)?
I bought one with a fine nib...it is not very good. It takes forever to get it to feed ink from the included cartridges, and then when you finally get the ink flowing, it skips on almost every letter, and it is very scratchy. It is also VERY particular about writing angle. It was my first fountain pen, so I thought maybe I was just inexperienced, but then I bought a Parker Jotter and the experience with them was night and day. The jotter writes smooth, does not skip, does not scratch, and just waving the pen back and forth a few times gets the ink flowing.
Sorry to hear that, but thank you for sharing feedback on the fine nib, giving another perspective. Sounds like it needs tuning or alignment (which can happen on more $$$ pens, too).
Glad you got the Jotter and enjoy it. Mine has been quite reliable and a great nib.
First time at your channel. Thank you UA-cam for the recommendation! I had not heard anything about this pen! Nice review. I appreciate your voice. Makes me want to hear more.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. It was informative and I appreciate being able to get a good look at an item before buying it.
I got a fine nib Amazon Basics a week ago. Works perfectly. It writes inverted as well and produces a very sharp line. Does not skip or seem scratchy to me. Thanks for the info about the converter.
Well, I just ordered it a minute ago. It will be here tomorrow! The fine nib is available too.
Hope you enjoy it!
Beautiful, smooth writer, delivering just the right amount of ink. No hard starts, no skipping or drying up mid-sentence (unless you have actually run out of ink!). I was very surprised to find this ‘basics’ pen perform as well as it does … a bargain.
Great review. Lovely to see reviews of affordable fountain pens - I like the reviews of the very high end pens, too, but these are much more fitting for impulse buys, keep it up!
Ill bet its Jinhao, they make pens for certain retailers throughout the world with different names, so im told
Thanks for the review. I've been trying to get more organized and I've found that physically writing things down helps which has led me to an interest in fountain pens. I got a medium nib Pilot Metropolitan because I was impatient even though I have always preferred fine points in 'other' pens. So I grabbed the fine basing on a whim the other day and should be here soon. I was starting to get worried it would turn into a bad impulse buy.
Side note: I'm really amazed at the number of negative, angry, complaining comments. Whatever happened to if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.
I had gone completely digital for quite a while, but I have also found writing improved my memory, so I've gone back to a written planner.
You can't really go wrong with a Metropolitan. Those are my starter pens and they write really well, and they even come with a converter. I have since moved on to other pens and now my favourite writer is a TWSBI ECO.
Well I received mine and you are correct. I really like this fountain pen. It is a great edc. It looks good and smooth. I got the medium point and I am not disappointed. Thanks fur your thoughts on this one. Enjoying your channel.
Glad to hear that!
On the words of Henry Ford, “It’s available in any color as long as it’s black.” It does come in a fine nib.
I may try it. Out of all my nice fountain pens my Lamy is my favorite. I have to say, I bought the Amazon basic ballpoint pens and was pleasantly surprised as well. Nice style and felt good in the hand. They write well also.
Purchased one of these because of this review. Outstanding pen even at a much higher price. WOW! Many thanks!
For the price it's a great pen. Writes really well. I've been impressed. I have both the F & M nibs. I'd recommend the kingdom s pen to anybody, but especially someone new to the hobby.
I have been using this pen for a while with no issues, I love it a lot. I carry it in my work bag along with my Jinhao x750! I end up using these a lot and am very happy with this Amazon Basics pen and my Jinhao x750. I got the fine tip for the Amazon Basics pen and put a converter in it. I like to gift both kinds of pens to friends and people I know who are interested in fountain pens and they have not been disapointed. Also great review!! I have been enjoying your videos! :)
@@debbie9068 I haven't had any hard start issues with mine. It always writes really smooth and the ink comes out nice and wet for mine. I might of gotten lucky and got a good nib though.
What converter did you buy for the pen?
@@mikegraziano5142 it's a spring converter with some red on it on. UA-cam removes my comment every time I post the amazon link for it
I bought one a couple of years ago. It worked fine for the first time out of the box, but eventually, it would take forever to get the ink flowing again. I finally gave up and stored it. And what the heck is meant my "international" cartridges? Every reviewer mentions it, but i can't find any examples or brands that fit. Maybe you can do a video on that and what a wet or dry" pen means.
Wet vs dry basically comes down to how much ink a pen puts down in a line. So wet=greater flow, dry =lower flow. This is affected the most by the pen's flow characteristics and the "wetness" or "dryness" of an ink (viscosity, flow, and dry times all play into this).
A standard international cartridge (so-called, there is no actual standard setting body) is a common standard used by many (especially Western) pen manufacturers. JetPens has a really good guide on them here: www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-International-Short-Cartridges/pt/269
@@JG3Reviews ...thank you!
You should be able to fit a spare cartridge in that barrel - Kaweco cartridges should fit..or a larger international converter.
I bet Jinhao makes it for Amazon
I saw this pen in my recommendations on Amazon earlier today; but I quickly dismissed it as one that I probably wouldn't want. Now, I think I will add it to my collection of fountain pens.. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up on this one. They do have a fine point option as well, and it's not just Texas. It's two day shipping even in the heart of NYC.
Awesome review. Loved all the great information. You rock! :)
They also have it in Fine Nib. Same price.
These low budget Chinese pens have become really interesting over the past year. I don't know this model - thanks for your well done review - but I did receive a fountain pen for $7.50 ( lists on Amazon for $11-12, 40% coupon applied), a Guangju metal pen that has surprised me. About the similar size as a Platinum Preppy, a 5.5 sized nib that I replaced with a spare medium nib (it comes in fine and extra fine), that posts really well and balances nice in the hand. With the medium nib it writes well. Ive read that people were happy with the fine nibs, but mine was too scratchy. Comes with a converter that is not skimpy in quality. A real surprise that you should check out.
The nib looks identical to the Sheaffer VFM (which was available only in medium) and the section reminds me of the Sheaffer 100, so I’m betting it’s made under contract by Sheaffer in China.
I replaced the nib with my Perkeo nib (didn't like the grip of the Perkeo, didn't like the nib of this pen).
Now its a very good daily carry pen! I like the weight!
I dunno why this was in my recommends, but I enjoyed watching! I've always wanted a fountain pen when I was a kid. I always assumed they were hundreds of dollars, thanks to this I might look for one here.
Same here. No idea why it was recommended to me, but I'm glad it was.
Go for it!
You can get quality fountain pens for not a lot of money actually. Check out Goulet Pens, or Pen Chalet for something like a Lamy or check out anything from Pilot. Lots to be had!
When I started buying fountain pens a few years back I also didn't think I would own pens worth hundreds of dollars ( ﾟヮﾟ)
Had no idea what I was getting into, but for sure there are a lot of very affordable pens out there that write well.
I just found you and I am really enjoying your videos! Like the Bob Ross of fountain pens LOL! You're so clear and your voice is soft and easy to listen to. Very nice detailed reviews. Thank you!
In India, they have fine nib option too
Just chanced upon your channel and am very glad I did! Your demeanor and approach made me a subscriber.... ROCK ON!!!!!!
I took your suggestion and order one today.... Will be here tomorrow.. Excited d to try it.. Sort if new, Ben in it about six months collecting.. Thanks for videos. Really enjoying them.
Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for watching.
Can't imagine it's not Jinhao but I want one simply because of the logo. 1000 years from now when someone (something?) unearths it they'll wonder...
Thank you. I had no idea they had this. Just ordered mine w a fine nib
Amazon Canada really pushes Wordsworth & Black and Dryden. I wonder if it is one of those? I have a Wordsworth & Black. I'm going to order the Amazon one out of curiosity. I hadn't been using fountain pens for years and ordered the W&B over the Amazon because it was on sale and had the converter. I thought that the Chinese ones were junk so I skipped them at first. Now I have nearly a dozen Jinhao's and Baoers.
Mine with the M nib has held up. I'm still as pleasantly surprised as I was when I initially reviewed it.
Aha. Just as I suspected! The Amazon pen went on sale so I ordered. As soon as I opened it and took it out of the box, I knew that it was made with the same metal (brass, I think) as my Wordsworth & Black Erduite.
The caps are different but side by side, the pens are identical in size and weight. The Wordsworth (which I will call W&B) doesn't have metal on the grip section but that is just a sleeve. I looked at the nibs through a magnifying glass and they are also identical. I tried to compare it to my Baoer nibs but with all the engraving going on it was hard.
The W&B looks very much like the Baoer 3035. They have the same cap but a different clip. It is impossible to know for sure as I don't have one but I suspect that it is the same pen. From pictures, they otherwise look identical.
I ordered a fine nib in the Amazon pen. Many of the reviewers on amazon.ca stated that the fine was really a medium and that the medium was broad. They are right. The W&B is supposed to be a medium. Writing samples are identical for both.
So, I'm pretty sure that the Wordsworth & Black and the Amazon Basics are made by the same company. It just might be Baoer. and it might not even be a specific model. It could be a mishmash of different parts. The only Baoers that I have are 388s. If you still have the Amazon Basics pen, could you please compare it to any Baoers that you have?
I just realized that you are in Texas. I hope that everything is OK. I'm Canadian and our weather hasn't even been that bad this year.
I like cheap pens. A lot of times I have to work on the nib a bit (or, sometimes, replace a nib) to get it to write well, but that’s part of the fun for me. I’ve ordered both the fine and medium, and look forward to giving them a go.
it comes in fine or medium nib for 9.99 and Amazon pairs it with the Hongdian catrdges black or blue ink on the same page.
amazon basics fountain pen
the pen organizer on the same page is really nice as well.
Mine arrive today. I ordered yesterday and i got it the next day. I think this is going to be a hit product. For the price and the quality… it is a fine product
Reminds me of Nemosine/Knox. I'm going to order one...but fine nib. Thanks for your review.
It reminds me of a pen I bought for $1.50 at Diaso. Same shape and everything writes like a dream.
Yes!
They have a $3 one and a $5 one.
Just ordered one! Will wait to see how it compares to my Jinhao.
Sadly, these seem already pulled from Amazon (just checked the Amazon website. Not showing up the way they did around the time this video was posted), as I was considering getting one, myself. Guess I'm going to just have to get another Chinese pen, as I am on a fixed income, so I'm getting cheaper ones, until I can save up for a vintage Osmiroid or Esterbrook (two I have had in my teens, but sadly got lost during the next almost 40 years...)
I can agree with the nice writing of a Jinhao pen. I have several, and they write actually better than one American made vintage lever fill I have. I guess they fixed the quality control issues of the past, as the 3 I have write equally as well. (Similar to the old Osmiroid, in my humble opinion.)
No availability from amazon uk either. I agree with the comparisons between this and Baoer / Jinhao. I've seen Amazon do similar things with their basics range before - as if they're testing the waters to see if they sell, before tooling up for a more bulk operation.
I bought this pen with a lot of hopes from Amazon India. Got the pen delivered within a day. The nib was sharp and scratch, I k flow not good. Hugely disappointed. I did a little surgery on the nib, and made it even sharper. Now it is heavy and sharp and a perfect weapon. Of late having very bad luck with pens, they just don't work straight out of the box. Maybe this is God's way of telling me that I have way too many pens already.
Have you tried any Indian pens? like Kanwrite, ASA, Gama , Airmail/Wality, Ranga etc ?
@@Rhizophoreae yes, tried Kanwrite, smooth but ink flow issues.
my experience was the same...scratchy with terrible flow.
Great video as always. I discovered this pen when I was searching for new release pens on Amazon. Now you have me sold on it!
Great review James. I also love the very affordable Chinese pens like Boaer and Jinhao. This pen looks a bit like a pen sold in the UK by a popular brand called Helix. Almost every school child will have had a ruler or something from that brand
Definitely a similar style.
I love my Jinhaos and Boaers!
I almost bought one until I saw the metal section.
I wanted one of these but not available in the UK
Nope looked before. Nothing there
Didn't see any correction made in the video, so maybe it's country specific - but it looks like it's available in both medium and fine nibs. 1-2 weeks delivery to Australia.
Might consider getting one of these, once my Pilot VPen runs out of ink.
Wenzhou Aihao Pen Trade Co.,Ltd according to the product info.
In our part of the world, Aihao is a great Chinese pen brand. Remarkably, its disposable rollerball pens (like AH-2005) are top notch. But I never saw an Aihao-branded FP here...
This pen looks very similar to _Jazz Elegance_ from _Pelikan._
Great and informative video. I have seen that pen on Amazon and was wondering how it compares to other pens in that price range. I guess I don't need to wonder anymore. Thanks for the review.
I love writing with FPs and also collect them. However, this pen never appealed primarily because of its metal section.
I recently got into fountain pens because I got one as a gift from my uncle who knows I like to write and I fell in love with it though its a cheep zelda one he got at a hobby store and I was heartbroken at not being able to find a replacement cartridge so I bought a lamy safari (however this looks like it and I hope it will fit so I can use a converter) but I don't think I will ever collect fountain pens because I'm very utilitarian I don't like having excessive collections that I will never use or things that I have too many of to use I wouldn't mind a few more but I wonder about people who collect them like do they use them all the time or do they spend most of their time in cases do they have a few favorites how much money have they spent on the collections and so on
The nib and section are very similar to the Sheaffer VFM fountain pen.
Thanks James for bringing this pen to our attention. I didn't know anything about it until your video. Lots of interesting guesses in the comments about the origin of the pen. I don't think it really matters. I like the design, in fact there is a certain elegance that leaves the X750 looking quite overweight and bloated! The only small criticism is I'd rather have a converter than those three cartridges. Other than that, a really nice package at a reasonable price.
Reading down the comments I'm surprised nobody mentioned the feed. It's a Jinhao #5 feed. Also used in some Baoers. That said, the nib would likely have been made in the same factory--just without the engraving. Don't know if Jinhao themselves had anything to do with this or whether Amazon contracted directly with the factory. In any case, it's gone from Amazon as of 6/30/2020. Wouldn't be surprised if it shows up in the future as a Jinhao or Baoer model.
Am I the only one who thinks this guy sounds kinda like Bob Ross?
No. He looks like the astrophysicist Sean Carroll and even kind of sounds like him.
No it's bob Ross of pens
He looks like my mate, Monkeyboots … ✒️🖌
The styling of the section reminds me of a Cross Aventura but i doubt they would be the manufacturer.
Thanks for the review, it looks like a good pen :D
I have just discovered your channel and really enjoy the content. I know that with disposable fountain pens you won't necessarily get the quality that you may with more expensive pens. However, what is you opinion on disposable fountain pens? For example, I purchased a set of Pilot Varsity and I like the pen, but am not a big fan at the viscosity of the ink. It seems too "liquid-y" to me. Any recommendations for a good starter? I would prefer a fine or extra fine nib.
Thanks,
Matt
I like the Varsity, and have even gone to the trouble of refilling one (the is a video here on that) It would be my pick for a disposable. For about the same price, but an upgrade, a Platinum Preppy is a terrific pen. It's not disposable, but cartridges are reasonable, and the ink good. The .3 is a good nib with a fine (some would say extra fine) line.
Zebra makes a disposable, too, but I haven't tried it.
They offer it in fine nib also
So scratchy, like a nail … ✒️👨🦱🖌
Gonna order the fine tip. I needed a pen for red ink when I edit. I was going to order another Simpl Pen, but this one is cheaper. Thanks!
Have you pulled the nib to see if it's a standard #5 size? In the video it looks a little wider than a 5 across the wings like a Luoshi I have.
I haven't seen your content before, and I think fountain pens are cool, but haven't looked into them very much. I would be interested in seeing some content from you about why you like fountain pens, why they are worth getting into, etc.
Hey! I'm not James, but for me fountain pens are worth it because I'm going to use one and know that I have a nice pen for pretty much the rest of my life. I'm a student, and do plenty of writing, and it's pretty handy to have something on hand that I can carry every day to take notes. Plus it takes less pressure than a typical ballpoint or rollerball, so long writing sessions don't make my hands feel as strained. My favorite pen under $40 is probably my Pilot Prera - it looks cute, feels satisfying to use, and I can see the ink sloshing around inside.
Great review, thanks! To me, the JinHaox750 Medium is a wet writer. How does the Amazon Basic compare?
Not quite as wet as my x750, but every bit as smooth, and a nice even line.
Thank you, James. It does not seem to be available on amazon.ca, although there is a ballpoint.
This popped up when I searched for Amazon Basics Fountain Pen: smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Refillable-Fountain-Pen-Medium/dp/B07SM9CSWT/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=amazon%2Bbasics%2Bfountain%2Bpen&qid=1582070568&sr=8-1&th=1
Amazon.com will ship it to canada for $7usd (and no duty/taxes because the pen is less than $20 canadian)
I've always had problems with Chinese pens. If you ink up a Faber Castell, Pilot, TWSBI, Waterman, or Parker pen and then put it in your pocket or on your desk and later pick it up to write, it will work. With a Jinhao pen, it is sometimes dry and will not write until I squeeze a bit of ink from the converter or a cartridge. On the other hand, the Jinhao pen is very inexpensive.
I have a few Jinhao pens and I've not had this problem. Maybe your nib needs to be cleaned?
Some of my best writers are $2 Chinese pens but it can be luck of the draw - I've bought batches of identical Chinese pens and one will write great, the other will be awful.
The TWSBI mini vacuum was the last fountain pen I ever bought, about four years(?) ago when it first came out. It is the perfect pen.
Ok so very complicated. The chinese market is actually bigger than you thought. Go onto 淘宝, and search 钢笔. There will be hundreds of options and not just the jinhao or wingsung. Oh and by the way, been using 淘宝 ever since was 7, and I'm still not dead. My pens I use casualyl are the 得力 (deli) pens. They are not really copies of other pens and they are very reliable, no leaks, splotches, and write out of the box. One problem I've with like the wingsungs and jinhaos are that they have nib problems, babys bottom misaligned nib... Hopefully you find this helpful, if not, I hope that you will be able to find some seller that maybe has more than the regular chinese brands. Have a nice day!
Nice review 👍...is this pen can we convert like eyedroper pen?
The pen looks similar and the idea behind it is similar to Pelikan Jazz Elegance. The pen, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is not made by Pelikan but it is sold as Pelikan.
Correction: it comes in two nib sizes; medium and fine.
Yes, I included that in the description.
@@JG3Reviews The reviews on Amazon say that standard international cartridges don't fit, and also standard international converters leak. Have you found otherwise?
@@michaelmurphree593 Interesting. My Jinhao converter seems to fit without issue, but after I read your comment, I tried an international short from Daiso and though it looks identical to the Amazon cartridge, the opening was loose (this was an emptied cartridge, so ymmv). I have this same issue with a Diplomat Magnum. Some of my int'l cartridges and converters fit, some don't, and some are a little loose.
I got one and I quite like it. Especially for $10
hi, thanks for the video. which paper is that?
Good review. I didn't know pen existed.
It looks nice until you uncap it. I've got an aversion to metal sections. I'm also not crazy about lacquered metal pens. It would be hilarious, though, if it had a plastic section made to look like metal with the metal body made to look like plastic. LOL
Hey James, what do you do for a living?
I'm a minister.
That makes sense.
it looks very similar to a pilot metropolitan, perhaps its made by pilot? Loving the reviews though! looking forward to seeing some more
Great review, thanks! I've been enjoying your videos a lot!
Fairly confident it's made by Baoer.
Nib also comes in fine.
Only instant fail for me is that stupid chrome grip. It instantly means anyone with oily fingers can never use it comfortably. I despise polished secitons
Doesn't appear to be available in the U.K. 🤔
Very cool channel! I enjoy the fact you talk about pens I seldom hear about elsewhere. I might try a few of them ; the Amazon Basic fountain pen triggered my curiosity.
Great review Sir! I enjoy your style of reviewing. Subbed! ~Tim~🙂
I have a Duke P3 and it also looks a bit like the amazonBasics but it's a little more expensive and comes with a converter.
Least ... International press-in converters will fit since it takes International cartridges. 😁
So interesting, thank you! Like others, I’m not sure why your video ended up in my feed (I have watched some calligraphy and pen & ink videos over the years), but I am really glad.
Nice penmanship. Thank You!
Pity they are no longer available, as it seems a lovely pen. I'd like to see you compare this to the new Jinhao X159. Chrisrap52 chose that as his pen of the year 2022.
I guess the Amazon pen is a regional offering. It's still in stock here in the US store, but I'd heard it's not available everywhere now. I share Chris's enthusiasm for the x159, and would pick it over the Amazon pen hands down because it's just a more interesting pen and I bought mine for less than the Amazon pen. It's also encouraging that Jinhao reacted so quickly with a couple of refinements already.
Morning, and thanks for the review! Where in TX are you, if you don't mind me asking? (I'm from TX as well)
In the Brownwood area now, originally from San Angelo.
@@JG3Reviews OMG, dude! Were you able to get out of San Angelo before getting a criminal record? It's their goal to have EVERYONE in their system. I'm sure you're familiar with their city motto, "Come to San Angelo on vacation, leave on probation." (Edited out that erroneous last part.)
I am a frequent Amazon shopper and I'll probably try one of these pens. But for my money, many of the eBay Chinese direct imports are likely a much better value at roughly a third of the cost with a converter included.
kcgunesq you’re 100% right. There’s a bunch of eBay brands who are really just the same company. All of themare cheap
@@earlsweat9727 In this case, I don't like the word cheap, because my experience having bought maybe 30 or 40 is that the better ones are made quite well. Sure, not as nice as a $1,000 pen, but close enough.
kcgunesq yes fair enough. Inexpensive is probably the better word
I got a $1.20 fountain pen on AliExpress. Sure, it's a kids' pen (Jinhao Shark), but it's a fantastic writer, comes in 12 different colours, and it's a great conversation piece. And you can't beat the price!
I gave a dozen out at Christmas time this year. It has the same great nib as the 992. Good grip on that pen, at least to me.
Interesting. Might just pick it up just because. I think there's enough room in the barrel to carry your reserve cartridge as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that Jinhao produced that pen. They make everything it seems.
The colours and the metal body looks a lot like the Sheaffer 9317 Fountain Pen, except without a converter.
Thanks for the review. Not a pen on my radar.
It was a chance find for me. Every now and then the software algorithms work out. lol
My X750 has holo glitter sprinkled all over it. 😁 Oh, it also writes well, too. Right now I think my favorite pen is my Retro 51 Lincoln Tornado. I have Diamine Cocoa Shimmer ink in it 🥰
Great review. It's nice to see how enthusiastic you are about the subject. I've been reading in the reviews that people seem to be having some trouble with converter cartridges leaking. I would love to hear how you have made out with a refillable cartridge.
No trouble so far.
It looks like a recent Sheaffer model, which, I presume, might also be manufactured in China...
Low cost manofactured but chinese quality is great for example Jinsung pens
How do you install the initial cartridge? I was hoping your video showed it. I don't want to break it right out of the box LOL
Here's a video I've done that includes a cartridge. Different pen, but it works the same way. ua-cam.com/play/PLzogOW_jnZRhuCdXVlI4LrSX2uMpKZVGv.html
Its a jinhao pen.
There’s a fine point version as well.
Reminds me of a Parker copy
How does it compare with a Lamy ? Can I use it daily for college work ?
It definitely writes as well, and will be quite durable. I'd say the comparison would come down to which grip style would be more comfortable for that much writing.
@@JG3Reviews Thanks.
Hi! I have a Lamy Safari that I really like, and I just ordered one of these. When this comes in, I'll see if there's much difference.
@@sharonoddlyenough thanks. 🙂
The nib smoothness is basically the same. The Amazon pen is quite a bit heavier, because it is metal compared to the resin Lamy Safari. I've heard some people have trouble using the grip on the Lamy, since it is meant to encourage a specific grip. I've also heard that some people fi d the grip on the Amazon pen too small, but It's not as small as a bic style pen. Overall, if you don't mind the amazon logo, it's a good clean classic style, and a good start. It's interesting that Amazon is offering a fountain pen at all, since it is a niche market. With shipping & handling, and exchange to Canadian, I paid about as much as I paid for a Parker Jotter, and half as much as a Lamy Safari plus a converter, and I like it better than the Jotter.