Mb 149 Expression Nib - Calligraphy?

[thewritingraven]

Although I have one 149 flex, I contacted MontBlanc to see if I could have my other 149’ nib which is an OB swapped for a flex nib. Alas it can’t be done .... so is their anyone who wants to swap a 149 OB (nib was new this year along with the pen being serviced from MB) with a 149 flex

[Tom Kellie]

Although I have one 149 flex, I contacted MontBlanc to see if I could have my other 149’ nib which is an OB swapped for a flex nib. Alas it can’t be done .... so is their anyone who wants to swap a 149 OB (nib was new this year along with the pen being serviced from MB) with a 149 flex

 

~ thewritingraven:

 

Recently meiers has been telling me how much he enjoys his OB nib.

If you trade your 149 OB for an Expression Nib, I hope that you'll enjoy the new nib.

Were it possible to write with both, that might be ideal.

Was the 149 OB less than satisfactory? I ask because I've been considering acquiring one.

Tom K.

[AlexRespati]

Hi all, im Alex from Indonesia, i joined FPN community just recently and this is my very first post =D

 

This year has been such an interesting year, that somehow I interested in fountain pen all of sudden and began learning about penmanship. I just bought myself a christmas gift, the 149 Calligraphy, which I really fell in love with.

 

I got zero experience about penmanship, but I believe practice makes perfect, and so here I posted my writing as a reminder that maintaining spirit of learning and consistency are my resolution for 2020.

 

Pleasure to meet you guys! =)

[thewritingraven]

 

~ thewritingraven:

 

 

Recently meiers has been telling me how much he enjoys his OB nib.

If you trade your 149 OB for an Expression Nib, I hope that you'll enjoy the new nib.

Were it possible to write with both, that might be ideal.

Was the 149 OB less than satisfactory? I ask because I've been considering acquiring one.

Tom K.

Hi Tom,

 

I did like it to start with, but I find that my writing is prettier with a flex nib .. I tend to rotate my nib towards me and I am a lefty, this means that I regularly fail to find the sweet spot as the OB nib position for a lefty is an outward turn .. I can use it flat on the paper but that doesnt offer any line variation at all.. I probably need more patience

[Zdenek]

Although I have one 149 flex, I contacted MontBlanc to see if I could have my other 149’ nib which is an OB swapped for a flex nib. Alas it can’t be done .... so is their anyone who wants to swap a 149 OB (nib was new this year along with the pen being serviced from MB) with a 149 flex

 

 

Swapping the nib for the flex one is not possible from a technical point of view or due to the strange Montblanc rules?

[thewritingraven]

 

 

Swapping the nib for the flex one is not possible from a technical point of view or due to the strange Montblanc rules?

 

I think it’s a technical issue .. this is part of the reply I received from their very helpful customer services..

 

‘It would be our pleasure to assist you in replacing the nib of your Montblanc 149. Please note, in this respect, that a "flex nib" is integral part of writing instruments such as the one described at https://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/collection/writing-instruments/meisterstueck/119699-meisterstueck-resin-yg-flex-nib.html and cannot be fitted on your 149.

If you would like to go ahead and have an alternative nib installed on your 149, please take your writing instrument to one of our Montblanc boutiques or authorized retailers.

[Tom Kellie]

Hi Tom,

 

I did like it to start with, but I find that my writing is prettier with a flex nib .. I tend to rotate my nib towards me and I am a lefty, this means that I regularly fail to find the sweet spot as the OB nib position for a lefty is an outward turn .. I can use it flat on the paper but that doesnt offer any line variation at all.. I probably need more patience

 

~ thewritingraven:

 

Thank you for the highly informative explanation.

All that you've kindly taken time to describe makes excellent sense.

For you, the 149 Expression Nib is ideal.

That's great!

You've also reinforced my interest in a 149 OB.

May 2020 be a rewarding fountain pen and ink for you.

Tom K.

[zaddick]

Hi all, im Alex from Indonesia, i joined FPN community just recently and this is my very first post =D

 

This year has been such an interesting year, that somehow I interested in fountain pen all of sudden and began learning about penmanship. I just bought myself a christmas gift, the 149 Calligraphy, which I really fell in love with.

 

I got zero experience about penmanship, but I believe practice makes perfect, and so here I posted my writing as a reminder that maintaining spirit of learning and consistency are my resolution for 2020.

 

Pleasure to meet you guys! =)

Welcome Alex. If that is your level zero, you are in good shape!

[FredRydr]

 

I think it’s a technical issue .. this is part of the reply I received from their very helpful customer services..

 

‘It would be our pleasure to assist you in replacing the nib of your Montblanc 149. Please note, in this respect, that a "flex nib" is integral part of writing instruments such as the one described at https://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/collection/writing-instruments/meisterstueck/119699-meisterstueck-resin-yg-flex-nib.html and cannot be fitted on your 149.

If you would like to go ahead and have an alternative nib installed on your 149, please take your writing instrument to one of our Montblanc boutiques or authorized retailers.

 

I submit the truth won't be known until an owner disassembles a new 149 that sports the Expressions nib.

[seoulseeker]

I got to try one of these espression nibs in the shop when I bought my 149.

 

I don't know if the in store unit had problems or what, but the inkflow could not keep up with even the slightest of flex.

 

I can usually tell if a store sample has been "mangled" by inexperienced hands - and I don't think that was the case here.

 

I left with a regular nib, which I feel is prettier anyways..

Edited January 1, 2020 by PenStand

[Tom Kellie]

Hi all, im Alex from Indonesia, i joined FPN community just recently and this is my very first post =D

 

This year has been such an interesting year, that somehow I interested in fountain pen all of sudden and began learning about penmanship. I just bought myself a christmas gift, the 149 Calligraphy, which I really fell in love with.

 

I got zero experience about penmanship, but I believe practice makes perfect, and so here I posted my writing as a reminder that maintaining spirit of learning and consistency are my resolution for 2020.

 

Pleasure to meet you guys! =)

 

~ AlexRespatti:

 

Welcome to Fountain Pen Network!

This site offers information on a wide variety of paper, ink and fountain pen topics.

If you're satisfied with your new pen, that's great!

If it's ever comfortable and convenient, other members of Fountain Pen Network would enjoy reading a self-introduction in the Introductions Forum.

May 2020 be a productive handwriting year for you!

Tom K.

[Vlad Soare]

I don't know if the in store unit had problems or what, but the inkflow could not keep up with even the slightest of flex.

 

It must have been defective. Mine has no issues whatsoever with the ink flow.

[offbase]

I got mine back from Gena at CNS. She did a nice job with what little she had to work with (mine is an xxf-xxxf). It is much smoother, but it is what it is. You don't get much ink without a bit of pressure, and I only use pressure for flair/variation etc. If it were a true xf, this nib would be awesome. Mine is pretty much a needlepoint. Weird for MB to have such inconsistency in its nib tipping. Luckily, she had much to work with on my new Aurora 88 formal italic, and she tuned that to near perfection for my personal taste.

 

The 149, I guess I'll have to reserve for really fine writing. Kind of disappointing where I wanted a flex nib for an every day writer; this ain't it.

[thewritingraven]

 

~ thewritingraven:

 

Thank you for the highly informative explanation.

All that you've kindly taken time to describe makes excellent sense.

For you, the 149 Expression Nib is ideal.

That's great!

You've also reinforced my interest in a 149 OB.

May 2020 be a rewarding fountain pen and ink for you.

Tom K.

 

You are very welcome and may you receive and enjoy your 149 OB very soon

[fpupulin]

I finally got to see the 149 Calligraphy in the Montblanc boutique in Cologne. I found that the single-color yellow gold nib is very beautiful, although I would have preferred it to have the usual Meisterstück no. 9 nib decoration.

 

Unfortunately I was unable to try the pen with ink because the boutique did not have a tester, but I was still able to place the pen on the paper. I deduced from this that it is not a soft nib (thankfully) and that it has a decided but moderate flexibility, somewhat similar to some vintage pens that were called semi-flex. Probably a very good pen for normal writing with a bit of “flex” character.

 

I must add in this regard that the flexibility of vintage nibs was also not a constant. I own a pair of Omas Gentlemen of the same epoque, both with extra-fine nib, and although they are both flexible, one is distinctly more "calligraphic" than the other.

[Tom Kellie]

You are very welcome and may you receive and enjoy your 149 OB very soon

[mjchuang9]

 

~ thewritingraven:

 

The nibs are different indeed though. But I am afraid the reason cannot be swapped is not technical but commercial concerns. The flex nib is an annual limited product.

[Tom Kellie]

 

The nibs are different indeed though. But I am afraid the reason cannot be swapped is not technical but commercial concerns. The flex nib is an annual limited product.

 

 

~ mjchuang9:

 

If Montblanc told you that the Expression Nibs are “annual limited products” does that mean that they'll soon become unavailable in Montblanc boutiques?

In other words, is what's on offer now in boutiques the end of the production run?

Tom K.

[DrDebG]

Hi all, im Alex from Indonesia, i joined FPN community just recently and this is my very first post =D

 

This year has been such an interesting year, that somehow I interested in fountain pen all of sudden and began learning about penmanship. I just bought myself a christmas gift, the 149 Calligraphy, which I really fell in love with.

 

I got zero experience about penmanship, but I believe practice makes perfect, and so here I posted my writing as a reminder that maintaining spirit of learning and consistency are my resolution for 2020.

 

Pleasure to meet you guys! =)

 

 

Welcome Alex from Indonesia! Congratulations on your 149 Calligraphy! Very nice penmanship! Keep at it. We would to love see more of it.

[DrDebG]

I had considered the MB 149 Calligraphy for my next pen purchase, but have decided against. Yes, I am in the market for a new MB - but something I can use everyday. But I am not a flex nib type of writer. It would end up being used very rarely. I have a very light hand and few flex nibs that I have tried will even "flex" for me. But, that said, the pen is beautiful.

Edited January 6, 2020 by DrDebG