Lamy 2000 - understated but much appreciated

[bluestocking]

Philip1209: Yes, it is quite water resistant once is has had some time to oxidise into the paper. There are loads of people proing and conning this ink around here, so try and few searches to get the details. Since you have the ink, try it out and see for yourself...scribble on something and let it dry/sit overnight (note that the ink darkens a few moments after being laid down on paper, yes? that's the chemical reaction taking place to make it quite permanent), then wet the paper and see for yourself. Quite a contrast with regular non-gall ink! I'm using it for my revision and exams in case there are any beverage mishaps that would cause 90% of my hard-earned grade to go sliding right off the page. Well, that, and I really enjoy the way it writes and darkens as you go, it's just neat.

 

MYU: I have been dying to know *which* Parker they used in 2001. Do you have more detailed info?? Inquiring minds would love to know! I know the flatware on board is by Arne Jacobsen, but that's not as cool as the pen.

 

[Juan in Andalucia]

 

 

 

This has got me thinking... I don't recall seeing one posted yet: an ink compatibility chart for pens, like the Lamy 2k. It would list inks discovered as compatible, incompatible, and unpredictable (where there's about a 50/50 split on compatibility). Hmmmmm...

 

 

My favorite ink for my Lamy 2000s (I have 3) is pelikan/cross black ink. I love the way it changes from a dark sepia to a real black with some nice shading. It's a "thick" yet nice flowing ink wich matches a wet writer like the 2000.

 

Juan

[MYU]

MYU: I have been dying to know *which* Parker they used in 2001. Do you have more detailed info?? Inquiring minds would love to know! I know the flatware on board is by Arne Jacobsen, but that's not as cool as the pen.

A little off topic, so I'll post this in the Writing section.

 

[Philip1209]

I ordered my Lamy 2000 this morning along with a bottle of Noodler's Black! I'm so excited!

Thanks for a great review!

[DerekB]

I ordered my Lamy 2000 this morning along with a bottle of Noodler's Black! I'm so excited!

Thanks for a great review!

 

You're going to love it! I just got my 2K in the mail today. I immediately filled it up with Noodler's "Heart of Darkness," and have been doodling on a Rhodia pad all evening! Between this and my Al-Star, Lamy is tops in my book. Now I've got my eyes on a Studio...possibly the palladium nibbed one.

Edited May 9, 2008 by DerekB

[Juan in Andalucia]

 

You're going to love it! I just got my 2K in the mail today. I immediately filled it up with Noodler's "Heart of Darkness," and have been doodling on a Rhodia pad all evening! Between this and my Al-Star, Lamy is tops in my book. Now I've got my eyes on a Studio...possibly the palladium nibbed one.

 

 

And you're going to love the Studio (mine is brushed steel). Studio, Safari, 2000... Lamy rules!

 

Juan

[Philip1209]

The pen just got here with Noodler's black ink! I filled it up immediately and love it. The refilling is quick and painless. This is my first piston pen, and I much prefer this method to converters or cartridges. I like the weight distribution better without the cap posted. The nib size- F- is perfect for me. It writes very smoothly. I think I'm off to do some newly-inspired writing!

 

 

[Melnicki]

I'll chime in as another recent recipient of a L2K. I finally got one, a F, after much lust.

 

So, it's not perfect... I won't gripe about the F being a M, that was quite expected. But....

-- the clip is a bit wobbly.

-- the clip got scratched already, and it hasn't even been a week.

-- it isn't one of those extremely handsome "must touch, must use" pens when it's sitting on a desk capped. (I really thought it would be). It just looks like a dull piece of black plastic. But once I take the cap off and see that brushed steel, and start writing with it, it's another story. I can't get it out of my hand.

 

I am very amazed at how it performs very differently on different papers and with different inks. It's quite fun to play around with.

 

And of course -- wow, it holds a lot of ink! The snap on the cap is great.

 

I wish it wrote a LITTLE better with the nib "upside-down"... sometimes you just gotta squeeze something into a tight spot, and it's nice to have that option.

Edited May 21, 2008 by Melnicki

[Mad Pen]

After spending an average of £ 250+ on diverse fountain pens over the last two years I went below the £100-mark at the beginning of 2008 - and am I glad I did! - by purchasing a LAMY 2000,solely on account of the enthusiastic review by MYU on your network,

I had known of the 2000 for quite a long time but was never interested as for some mysterious reasons the people in Heidelberg always fought shy of publishing 2K details - unlike for the accent series - in their printed catalogues (and I told them so!): no mention of piston fill,an ink control window (admittedly of little practical use IMHO) and a 14K gold nib but what a nib! I have to agree with most of your contributors that a LAMY medium is a different medium to,say,a CROSS or a PILOT but it's a lovely,lovely writer and my favourite blue ink,DIAMINE's Sapphire Blue flows "like oil",to use an expression so beloved by my compatriot W.A,Mozart.

[Juan in Andalucia]

I think we DO need a Lamy forum. Lamy has become one of my favorite brands in last couple of years. IMHO, you get more than what you pay for with a Lamy. Which manufacturer tries *each* pen, even the humble yet great writer Safari?

 

Lamy rules.

[Philip1209]

I think we DO need a Lamy forum.

 

I second the motion.

[ethernautrix]

I hadn't paid much attention to Lamy after having a bad experience with a Safari some dozen years ago (the steel nib was too stiff). Recently, I was tempted by a black Safari. It was inexpensive, so I bought it -- and then was delighted to find out what a smooth writer it was. I'm thinking that my writing style had changed -- pressure or grip or something -- and now I very much like the steel nibs. So I bought a coupla Vistas. And then I was given a 2000. I didn't pay close attention to the 2000, being distracted by a sudden influx of fountain pens (shakes fist at FPN, laughs), but when I went through the pens I had inked in order to pare down the rotation... I couldn't clean and store the 2000. I started paying attention to it. I realized that it had quietly, unobtrusively become one of my favorite writers.

[Neill78]

I think we DO need a Lamy forum.

 

I second the motion.

 

 

I third.

 

Is there a reason there isn't a Lamy forum already? It seems everybody on FPN owns at least a Safari for "backup."

 

Neill

[AutomagV]

I think we DO need a Lamy forum.

 

I second the motion.

 

 

I third.

 

Is there a reason there isn't a Lamy forum already? It seems everybody on FPN owns at least a Safari for "backup."

 

Neill

 

Fourth! I think a Lamy forum would be great! I love my Al-Star.

[isellpens]

Great Review. I just got the x-fine back in stock today at isellpens.com .

[AndyHayes]

A Lamy forum. Can I ask if you will all be volunteering to moderate it

 

I think Lamy's are fantastic pens with excellent backup, but they rarely produce "proper" limited editions. Churning out a different colour doesn't make it an LE as far as I am concerned. I hasten to add that I don't own an LE and the only one that I am likely to own is an orange VP, but only because I like the colour and not because it is an LE.

 

What is interesting is that this review has had nearly 15,000 views, which is a phenomenal number compared to the others.

[Mad Pen]

I have to agree with Andy: LAMY have only two "serious" models worth writing about,the 2000 and the accent,both with a 14K gold nib. Perhaps I am a snob but I consider writing pages and pages about pens costing 10 quid,good as they may be, a waste of time.

If Andy wants a Pilot Capless LE orange no 1600/2007 with medium nib in original packaging he is welcome to make me an offer I can't resist.

[Juan in Andalucia]

Some time ago I would have agreed with you, but after trying some Safaris and AlStars, and then remembering the bad experiences with some hi-end pens, I'm sold to the Safari. Just check the threads about Safaris/Alstars... people are *using* these pens.

 

As for the lack of LEs... The 2000 is one of the few pens in which one could say "you've seen a 2000, you've seen them all" (with the exception of the wooden and metal ones, that is), and yet, this thread is still active. The 2000 is 42 years old and counting!; in my book that qualifies as a cult pen.

 

IMHO, Lamy is making pens to be used; other companies seem to be focused on "posseur pens". Also, I find amazing that such a small company can offer great customer service and innovative design.

 

Oh, la - Lamy!!

 

Juan

[Melnicki]

i hope it's not rude to post in here (i yap about the inks a bit more than the pen), but here is a sample sheet of different inks in my lamy 2000 F.

 

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mmelnicki/SJPSVEjLriI/AAAAAAAAAXc/4lxEd1p56iI/s800/080801%20Lamy%202000%20review.jpg

if you click on the pic and then use the magnifier (upper right) you can see the original size, to scrutinize the line width/variation.

Edited August 2, 2008 by Melnicki

[J English Smith]

I definitely add my support for a LAMY forum!

 

I think LAMY pens are unique, pens with extremely varied designs but all true to "form follows function."

 

I'm with you, Juan. With so much variety in the product lineup, who needs Lamy LE pens? Lamy's new products are usually more interesting to me than other standard maker's LEs, which are always expensive and usually "goopy" with lots of extraneous design details.

 

But then, I've always been more comfortable with mass market, proletariat products. Nor do I monogram my clothing. Same principle at work.

Edited August 2, 2008 by J English Smith