Lamy 2000: Medium Vs Broad Nib?

[haziz]

I actually have 3 Lamy 2000 pens, 2 fine nibs that I am happy with and an EF that is too fine for my tastes, albeit it is very smooth. It does give a true extra-fine line. I usually go for fine nibs in European pens and medium in Japanese pens, though I do have the occasional medium and 1 or 2 broad nibbed pens, including a couple of 0.9 mm Stub Italics (ground from broad nibs, and give a broad vertical line) ground by Richard Binder. Overall I do like my pens and nibs wet.

 

The other thread inquiring about Lamy 2000 nibs once again got me thinking of getting a medium or broad nibbed Lamy 2000. My brain tells me to go for a medium since it would be closer to most of my day to day writers, most of which are fine but some of which are also European mediums e.g. the Pelikan M415 Tortoise I was using today. My heart however is calling for a broad nib, specially with the hint in some threads that the broad in the Lamy 2000 has some "stubbish" characteristics.

 

So for those that have used the fine, medium and broad nibs in the Lamy 2000, what do you think?

 

Any writing samples for the medium or broad nibs, preferably both on the same page?

 

Knowing myself, I suspect I will eventually end up with both a medium and a broad.

 

Thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

Edited October 9, 2009 by haziz

[OTDoc]

I just got my first Lamy 2000 in extra-fine and it writes like a medium! I am surprised by your experience. The only complaint I have about my Lamy 2000 EF is that it sometimes is dry after it has not been used for awhile. I may get a fine to see if that is any different. I would think a medium or broad would be really wet.

[bphollin]

I like 'em all for different tasks. Fine is my go-to pen for marathon writing. Medium is my letter writer. I just got the OB and can see myself using it for cards and such. The M and OB nibs are very wet, but also have good shading. I hope this blurry pic helps:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/3993713277_14893520e4_o.jpg

[OTDoc]

I like 'em all for different tasks. Fine is my go-to pen for marathon writing. Medium is my letter writer. I just got the OB and can see myself using it for cards and such. The M and OB nibs are very wet, but also have good shading. I hope this blurry pic helps:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bphollin/3993713277/" title="DSCN2330 by bphollin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/3993713277_14893520e4_o.jpg" width="800" alt="DSCN2330" /></a>

 

Helpful pic. My EF seems to be roughly equivalent to your medium. What paper did you use? Many here have said that there is wide variation among Lamy nibs so that no two fines or extra fines, etc. write the same.

[John Cullen]

For what it is worth, I have a Medium and a Broad 2000 and the photo is accurate for showing the widths of my nibs.

[bphollin]

What paper did you use?

Forgive the omission of that detail. It is written on Staples brand recycled sugarcane paper (bagasse?).

[Randal6393]

What paper did you use?

Forgive the omission of that detail. It is written on Staples brand recycled sugarcane paper (bagasse?).

 

Also known as Staples Eco-friendly. A really great paper for general writing. If you turn that sheet over, you should not see any bleeding. A broad Lamy 2000 puts out a thick, wet stroke, too.

[haziz]

For what it is worth, I have a Medium and a Broad 2000 and the photo is accurate for showing the widths of my nibs.

 

So your broad puts out a line as broad as the OB in that image?

 

Thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

[John Cullen]

Hany, Yes, my Broad nibbed 2000 puts out a wet broad line that looks about like the OB line in the posted photo. In the case of my 2000s, there is a big difference between the Medium line and the Broad line. It may just be my Broad nib. It is the only Lamy B I have used.

 

Personally, I find it a little too broad for my liking. I was hoping for a line that was just a bit wider than the line my Lamy M makes. Oh well. Maybe down the road I will send out the B nib and see if someone can reduce the flow a little bit.

 

Unlike my M nib, my B nib shows light through the slit. My M and F nibs do not show any light when held up to light. That is why I think my B nib might be able to have it flow reduced a bit. I just hate to spend the $30 to have that done!

 

JC

Edited October 9, 2009 by John Cullen

[haziz]

Hany, Yes, my Broad nibbed 2000 puts out a wet broad line that looks about like the OB line in the posted photo. In the case of my 2000s, there is a big difference between the Medium line and the Broad line. It may just be my Broad nib. It is the only Lamy B I have used.

 

Personally, I find it a little too broad for my liking. I was hoping for a line that was just a bit wider than the line my Lamy M makes. Oh well. Maybe down the road I will send out the B nib and see if someone can reduce the flow a little bit.

 

Unlike my M nib, my B nib shows light through the slit. My M and F nibs do not show any light when held up to light. That is why I think my B nib might be able to have it flow reduced a bit. I just hate to spend the $30 to have that done!

 

JC

 

Sounds like the medium is the one for me. That broad line looks too juicy for my tastes.

 

Thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

hany.

[mitchjg]

For what it is worth, here is a link to a thread in which I have a page long comparison of the F vs. M in the Lamy 2000:

 

Lamy 2000 - F vs. M

 

For the end of the story, or thereabouts, I ended up keeping the M. Although neither was writing quite to my satisfaction, the F was very balky and that was the determining factor.

I sent the M to Mike Masuyama and he did a terrific job tuning and smoothing the nib. Here it is five months later and I think an F will be better for me so I just ordered one. The M is just too wide for my taste.

 

After it arrives next week, I may sell the M here (I think, but then again I may keep it, sigh).

 

Hope this helps.

[mitchjg]

Here is another sample of an Lamy 2000 M compared to other nibs.

 

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x151/mitchjayg/NibandPenComparisons.jpg

Edited October 10, 2009 by mitchjg

[haziz]

Here is another sample of an Lamy 2000 M compared to other nibs.

 

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x151/mitchjayg/NibandPenComparisons.jpg

 

Thanks. This is very helpful. Confirms that I will likely be happy with a medium. Wouldn't mind an even thicker line still, and will likely eventually also order a broad nib, I just hope it does not prove to be a paintbrush. My experience with my Lamy 2000 is that at least with my three pens is that they are true to size although the fine nibbed ones are fairly wet and do feather with bad paper, hence producing a medium line on bad paper, but give a generous fine line on good paper. My extra fine nib is, contrary to prevailing wisdom, a true extra fine. It too is very smooth with only a hint more tooth by necessity than at least one of the fine nibs. I am comparing it's line to multiple pens including many western fine nibs and some japanese nibs, both medium and fine, so I do have a good reference in line width. My EF nib is the newer style with the feed hole in the shiny metallic area, the two fine are the older style. I wonder if they tweaked their nibs and feed, or it could just be nib to nib variation. The EF is a nice smooth EF, it is just too fine for my tastes. Overall, I just love the pens.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

[carlos.q]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but after extensive search this is the only one that deals with my question: how do Lamy 2000 M and B nibs compare? One of the pics in this thread is not available, so I have the same request the OP:

"Any writing samples for the medium or broad nibs, preferably both on the same page?"

[lsmith42]

http://www.gouletpens.com/Nib_Nook_s/1114.htm

[carlos.q]

Thank you. I already checked the Goulet site, which gives a good general idea. But I'm looking for additional writing samples to finally make up my mind between the M nib and the B... That is... I'm looking for a Lamy enabler... :embarrassed_smile:

[tyto]

Thank you. I already checked the Goulet site, which gives a good general idea. But I'm looking for additional writing samples to finally make up my mind between the M nib and the B... That is... I'm looking for a Lamy enabler... :embarrassed_smile:

 

I can't post a comparison pic, but I can vouch for the stub-like qualities of the B, as opposed to the truly round M. The 2000 was my first broad-nibbed pen--I heavily favored fines--and I bought it precisely because its "natural" line variation hooked me. It's wet, but not overly so, and provides some nice shading with the right ink.

 

I particularly enjoy it with Lamy green and Noodler's Ottoman Rose. Aside from the dimension that the 2000B can impart to those inks, I love the contrast between the serious, minimalist design of the pen and the decidedly unserious, fun nature of those colors.

[Nokin]

I don't have both so can't do a comparison, but I have a L2000 with a medium nib which to me is too much on the fine side, and I feel a broad would have been better. I have a medium Safari which is 20 + years old and it gives a broader, wetter line than the L2000. Having said that, I do prefer broader nibs anyway, as I personally find they bring out an ink's 'characteristics' much better.

[carlos.q]

Thank you tyto. That's more of what I need... a gentle nudge in one way or another. As I said, I need a Lamy pusher enabler...

 

Thank you Nokin. I also have a medium nib Safari, that is quite broad and quite nice! However, being a regular F-nib user, I'm trying to find out how broad I can handle a Lamy 2000. One more bit of information: I also have 2 vintage Pelikans with a delightful B nibs, which are not only stubbish but quite flexible. They are not, however, practical pens for rapid note taking, which is my main need at this time.

 

Any other Lamy enablers?

[mik82]

I'm also interested in this question. I lost my medium nib L2000 a little while ago. I really loved writing with it but wondered whether it could be a little broader. I got it from WHSmith in the UK when they had a half price sale (£86) last year and prices are much higher now, hence I'd like to get the choice right if buying another. I've looked at the Goulet pens samples and can see the broad has a bit of line variation. I just need to decide whether the broad is too broad for everyday use. (I have a TWSBI 540 B but really this seems as broad as the M L2000). Has anyone got both and is able to post a comparison?

Edited April 2, 2013 by mik82