Seeking comments on Visconti fine versus medium nibs

[Stylo]

I am looking at the Van Gogh Maxi and the Opera club, and I would appreciate any comments about how the fine and medium nibs perform on these pens. NeoTiger has already mentioned that he thought Viscontis nibs ran on the wider side. But knowing well how much variation there is between individual samples of a model, I would like to hear more opinions. Line width comparisons to other pens would be helpful. I would also welcome comments beyond just line thickness, such as on smoothness, springiness, etc.

 

At the L.A. pen show, I handled a number of Viscontis. The medium Aida seemed mechanically a really fat nib. But the Van Gogh and Opera Club mediums seemed reasonable to the eye, while the fine Opera club felt pretty sharp and pointy. But of course, feed wetness is a big factor on how thick of a line is ultimately laid down on paper.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

[Ledjeffelin]

I have a Van Gogh maxi and midi; both with M nibs. They both write slightly wider than most of my other Euro Ms.

 

Both are wet writers and very smooth. The maxi is a little too long and the midi is close but not perfect for my hand so neither sees the use they deserve.

 

I really like the screw in converter and the overall perception of quality these pens deliver at a very reasonable price.

 

The clips on the Van Goghs are over engineered (but not in a good way) and I had to replace one of them. They are not pocket friendly (not easy to engage the clip when putting into a shirt pocket). I don't know but would not be surprised if over time the clips will fail - lose their ability to grip.

 

 

 

 

 

I am looking at the Van Gogh Maxi and the Opera club, and I would appreciate any comments about how the fine and medium nibs perform on these pens. NeoTiger has already mentioned that he thought Viscontis nibs ran on the wider side. But knowing well how much variation there is between individual samples of a model, I would like to hear more opinions. Line width comparisons to other pens would be helpful. I would also welcome comments beyond just line thickness, such as on smoothness, springiness, etc.

 

At the L.A. pen show, I handled a number of Viscontis. The medium Aida seemed mechanically a really fat nib. But the Van Gogh and Opera Club mediums seemed reasonable to the eye, while the fine Opera club felt pretty sharp and pointy. But of course, feed wetness is a big factor on how thick of a line is ultimately laid down on paper.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

[Titivillus]

I am looking at the Van Gogh Maxi and the Opera club, and I would appreciate any comments about how the fine and medium nibs perform on these pens. NeoTiger has already mentioned that he thought Viscontis nibs ran on the wider side. But knowing well how much variation there is between individual samples of a model, I would like to hear more opinions. Line width comparisons to other pens would be helpful. I would also welcome comments beyond just line thickness, such as on smoothness, springiness, etc.

 

At the L.A. pen show, I handled a number of Viscontis. The medium Aida seemed mechanically a really fat nib. But the Van Gogh and Opera Club mediums seemed reasonable to the eye, while the fine Opera club felt pretty sharp and pointy. But of course, feed wetness is a big factor on how thick of a line is ultimately laid down on paper.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

I just got my fine changed out for an EF and that hits somewhere between EF & F depending on paper & pressure. Smooth writer but I would say that they are similar to Lamy in line width.

 

Kurt

 

[George Drummond]

I am looking at the Van Gogh Maxi and the Opera club, and I would appreciate any comments about how the fine and medium nibs perform on these pens. NeoTiger has already mentioned that he thought Viscontis nibs ran on the wider side. But knowing well how much variation there is between individual samples of a model, I would like to hear more opinions. Line width comparisons to other pens would be helpful. I would also welcome comments beyond just line thickness, such as on smoothness, springiness, etc.

 

At the L.A. pen show, I handled a number of Viscontis. The medium Aida seemed mechanically a really fat nib. But the Van Gogh and Opera Club mediums seemed reasonable to the eye, while the fine Opera club felt pretty sharp and pointy. But of course, feed wetness is a big factor on how thick of a line is ultimately laid down on paper.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

 

Visconti M nibs are typical Bock nibs; meaning that they write on the wide side for most people. I actually like this, so it doesn't bother me.

[asamsky]

I have a steel Van Gogh F nib, and it writes a true fine line - just about the same as my Richard Binder F Pelikan m200 nib. It's also a little dry, which I don't think is typical for Viscontis, but very smooth.

 

I adore the clip on the Van Gogh - I had mine clipped to a thick leather messenger bag pocket for about a year and didn't notice any change in its gripping ability.

[Toulouse]

I have an Opera with a medium nib and have found it to be slightly wider than my other mediums, but it has a good wet flow that keeps up well with the nib and although I wasn't sure about it in the beginning, now I love it for letter writing.

 

I also own a Van Gogh midi equipped with a steel F nib. It is about what I would expect for a fine but a little on the dry side and for that reason not nearly as smooth as the Opera. I like the Opera so much, I just ordered another one ... this one with a F nib.

[jjb_13]

Sometimes it's easier to see it than describe it:

Attached is a writing sample photo of some medium nibs I have and three Visconti mediums. All pens were dipped, wiped and then written with. The ink is a 66/33 blend of Pelikan 4001 blue and black and the paper is nothing special but typical of the stuff you would find around any office.

 

[JFT]

Hello Stylo,

 

I have a Van Gogh Maxi with a F nib. I don't have many pen and the only M nib I have to compare it against is my Waterman Le Man 100. Due to the wetness of the Visconti F nib it writes as wide as my Waterman M on cheap paper. Obviously the more free flowing the ink is the more it is observable.

 

On good paper it is a very different story! On Rhodia and Whitelines the Visconti is a very nice F line well defined. Much smaller width than my Waterman. That said with Aurora Black my Visconti feels more like a MF almost a M nib and this is on most paper. I've used Herbin, Waterman, Caran d'Ache and Noodler's in it so far. With Noodler's ink I tried so far ( Navajo Turquoise, Saguaro Wine, Red-Black and Tiananmen Red) I'm getting a nice F line except on really cheap papers, even on Moleskine (but I do get some bleedthrough).

 

As for the advice you got about the variability of the resin it is very true, even in the same pen! I found the Musk Green ugly in pictures and was headed to buy a Sandal or Amber VG. Well I went home with a Musk Green I have to kick myself to post picture of mine as I find it special: one side it is mostly opaque and the otherside is very translucent the transition from smooth to opaque is very smooth!

 

I can tell you one thing this Van Gogh will not be my last They are excellent value for the money. Only one thing, the cap is heavy and altough I prefer to write posted, the balance is particular since both the metal nib section and the cap are heavy. Don't get me wrong I love to write with it but I do need to adjust compared to the perfect balance of my Waterman. About the clip I absolutly love it, I was not crazy of its look at first but it has growned on me. Also the adjustable clip tension is nice.

 

Good luck in your shopping!

[JFT]

One more thing if you prefer to write not posted I would not go smaller than the Maxi, of course it depends of the size of your hands

 

 

[Shelley]

This is a gross generalisation, not meant toffend anyone or raise hackles, but the bock Van gogh maxi nib is a fairly typical german nib in that it tends to run on the wide side, its still alovely nib though.

I have an F and its line is a wide F when using waterman havana, although its a touch wider than my parker 51 F, its still an F.

 

Actually its the clip that I like the MOST about the van gogh, its wonderful, so indsustrial in a piece of beauty.

[Deirdre]

One more thing if you prefer to write not posted I would not go smaller than the Maxi, of course it depends of the size of your hands

I prefer the Midi size, but now that they're only making them with steel nibs, I won't be buying them.

[hexyr]

The nibs run a little on the wide side. I have both medium and fine nibs on various Visconti pens and although I pref fine to extra fine nibs. I love my Van Gogh Maxi so much I can live w/ the medium nib since I am not sure I want it to be away for months to be reground.

[Stylo]

Many thanks to all who replied.

 

Special thanks to jjb_13 for thescan. The Aida line looks by far to be the widest, which I expected based on the gigantic nib and large point at the end of the nib

[aka]

Strange... maybe because i'm comparing my Van Gogh Fine to the Lamy Safari nibs, but my Visconti produces a line similar to a Lamy EF. Would that be a "normal fine" then, since Lamy nibs tend to run a bit wide?

[girlieg33k]

My current production Visconti pens tend to run wide. The older production Visconti F nibs are more like true F nibs in my opinion. I recall having this discussion with Richard Binder about Visconti nibs (when he was regrinding a Visconti nib for me.) Unfortunately, I cannot recall exactly when Visconti changed the specs of their nibs.

[aka]

I believe I have an older nib, since my breather hole is a crescent! Maybe that explains the width. Either way, I'm very happy with my fine nib.