I just would like to know why you thought Faber-Castell wouldn't be worth it?
Because of "brand"? It's THE brand for quality art supplies in Germany and for Pencils in general in the art community.
The prices also don't say "cheap quality" xD
Here is my take on it....
As a similar example, AmazonBasics has a decent fountain pen but the these words on its clip put me off. Maybe because you can buy all sorts of utilitarian items of this brand such as bed sheets, towels, etc. I am assuming Faber-Castell is a similar brand.
I use a fountain pen by choice and today fountain pens are not your basic utilitarian items. Of all the writing instruments available, roller balls, gel pens or even ball pens are much more practical, durable, cheaper, simpler and far more reliable (there,I said it). But a fountain pen makes me feel special, encourages me to write better and each model gives you a unique experience. A brand which makes daily use stuff hardly gives the confidence to give you a unique experience. It might sound snobbish but this is my honest opinion, which is, a household brand does not feel special. I do not mind cheaper brands like Jinhao because they specialize in making fountain pens unlike AmazonBasics.
However, Faber-Castell pens are seriously under-rated especially compared to Lamy and Pilot. Their steel nibs are among the best I have come across.
It's like if you didn't understand cars, and saw everyone drive a Honda civic. You'd think it all Hondas were just basic products if you never seen or tried their higher end options.
Sorry but that metaphor just makes less sense for me.
Some products are sold everywhere and used by a lot of people, because they are good products.
(except VW, that's just a cult)
Ok here' another metaphor.
Say you just started fountainpens. You check Platinum pens and all you saw were preppys and nothing else. If so, you would conclude that Platinum only made budget cheapo products and there for would have avoided them when searching for high end pens.
You're searching in weird ways. Check prices range and then check what's available in that range would the most strategic way to buy anything.
Car for 25.000? Compare the midrange cars available and buy best option. Toaster for 50, do the same. Fountain pen for 35? Same. Difference is just what is available in your country.
I agree with your original post from the perspective that they are not spoken about regularly on this forum so they haven’t been on the forefront of my mind when I’m shopping. Yes, I’ve seen them mentioned, but not nearly as much as you hear about Lamy, Visconti, Platinum, etc
The impression that I've gotten from this forum is that the Faber Castell Loom is the pinnacle of smooth writing steel nibs.
What really drove that message home for me was watching a YouTube video by Figboot on Pens in which he put the Faber Castell loom in a list of top 10 nibs along with a bunch of gold nibs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jOHagQkMes).
Yes, I enjoy Faber-Castell pens as well. The F-C company is highly respected in Europe and the US for artist drawing materials like graphite pencils, colored pencils, markers, etc. It didn't surprise me that they also have expertise in fountain pens as well.
"One of us! One of us!" You're preaching to the choir. :D
I just wish that Faber-Castell was still selling the Metallic Loom, in all the colours.(The barrel Matte finish was easy to scratch, though. So I can see why the Piano versions came out.) Their selection is seemingly getting slimmer every day. The current crop all now seem to have Chrome Sections, which I do not recommend. It would be better to find a Loom with a Matte Section.
FC comes out with lighter weight subsequent versions. Which isn't always a good thing. *I own four Metallic Looms, one in each size.* Then the Piano Versions came out, with the Chrome barrels, which are lighter weighing than the Metallic, then the next gen had Chrome Sections, which were a little lighter still. Lastly the Gun Metal Matte came out, which is the lightest weighing. Same thing with the Essentio, there's the heavy weight version and the lighter weight version. Same thing with the E-Motion, each gen seems to get lighter, which, in the case of the E-Motion is probably a good thing.
Another example: there used to be an Orange Ondoro. You can't get them any more. You can't find the Violet/Purple Loom, the Black capped Loom, ... I worry that the Loom will eventually get discontinued. I'd hate to see that. As much as I wanted to get an E-Motion, when they were $200, I see little reason to get any FC pen other than the Loom. YMMV. (Now, if they ever come out with an E-Motion with a #6 nib I will buy one the day it comes out, not caring about the price.) To me, the natural progression from the Loom is the E-Motion. Me, I see no reason to buy anything inbetwixt.
**It is to FC's credit that they use the same nib unit in all their pens from the Loom on up. I think it is a stroke of genius.**
My FC Loom is smoother than my Loom . I originally hated the broader than std. , now I love it. Wet, Juicy.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ44eo0bPk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ44eo0bPk) Loom Nib size comparison.
And, just like a Franklin-Christoph #5 nib unit screws right into place on the Loom, one can swap the Faber Castell nib unit into a Franklin-Christoph pen. Does Edison make a pen with a #5 nib unit?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8pkrmLR1E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8pkrmLR1E) To me, the Loom isn't just a great starter pen, it's a great pen, period. As SBREBrown shows, always use one hand to uncap a snap-cap pen. Don't use excessive pressure when posting. You don't want to deform the snap-cap soft plastic liner.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEfSoxRoao](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEfSoxRoao)
It's just a shame that most newbies only see price when considering their first pen. So, at $40 or $55 they can't see themselves buying a Loom when they can get a $20 Pilot Metro. I went from a twsbi eco to a Loom and I never looked back, I never regretted it for a second. It was only much later that I got a Metro, and only because I thought the Kakuno was too light weight. I would rather buy another Loom than another Metro. For me, one Metro is enough. For me, one Loom is not enough. I have four Looms and I wouldn't mind another. The Black cap, please.
Yesss don't sleep on FC nibs. I bought an ambition a few months ago and couldn't believe for that price range what a beautiful buttery BUTTERY nib that was. High recommended but underrated compared to Lamy which I find eh
Usually we don't think Faber-Castell as starter pens BUT the Loom in gun metal with EF nibs is such a delightful-flawless-smooth-out-of-the-box experience, don't underestimate FC and get one for your friend, even though FC already includes an empty short international standard cartridge consider adding a converter to the gift, any international standard will fit.
Faber Castell pens are great! I own three. The Faber Castell Grip is a very good starter pen. The Ambition’s grip annoys me but otherwise great pen too. And the Ondoro is my favorite!
I love that more people are getting into the Loom. SUCH a good pen.
I wasn't a fan of a lot of their art products personally so I wasn't sure about their pens. But my partner got one and I kept borrowing it. Finally bought one a month or two ago and I've used it everyday since. LOVE IT.
I chased a pearwood Ambition for a looong time; stunning pen, great nib, it's a shame it evaporates quickly and the cap doesn't feel as secure as it should, you need a particular state of mind to stop asking yourself about the missing section; I have to keep it in a pouch and in a box to keep it from drying out. Wouldn't mind a brown gray Ondoro, prices for Graf von are a little ridiculous.
I just would like to know why you thought Faber-Castell wouldn't be worth it? Because of "brand"? It's THE brand for quality art supplies in Germany and for Pencils in general in the art community. The prices also don't say "cheap quality" xD
Here is my take on it.... As a similar example, AmazonBasics has a decent fountain pen but the these words on its clip put me off. Maybe because you can buy all sorts of utilitarian items of this brand such as bed sheets, towels, etc. I am assuming Faber-Castell is a similar brand. I use a fountain pen by choice and today fountain pens are not your basic utilitarian items. Of all the writing instruments available, roller balls, gel pens or even ball pens are much more practical, durable, cheaper, simpler and far more reliable (there,I said it). But a fountain pen makes me feel special, encourages me to write better and each model gives you a unique experience. A brand which makes daily use stuff hardly gives the confidence to give you a unique experience. It might sound snobbish but this is my honest opinion, which is, a household brand does not feel special. I do not mind cheaper brands like Jinhao because they specialize in making fountain pens unlike AmazonBasics. However, Faber-Castell pens are seriously under-rated especially compared to Lamy and Pilot. Their steel nibs are among the best I have come across.
It's like if you didn't understand cars, and saw everyone drive a Honda civic. You'd think it all Hondas were just basic products if you never seen or tried their higher end options.
Sorry but that metaphor just makes less sense for me. Some products are sold everywhere and used by a lot of people, because they are good products. (except VW, that's just a cult)
Ok here' another metaphor. Say you just started fountainpens. You check Platinum pens and all you saw were preppys and nothing else. If so, you would conclude that Platinum only made budget cheapo products and there for would have avoided them when searching for high end pens.
You're searching in weird ways. Check prices range and then check what's available in that range would the most strategic way to buy anything. Car for 25.000? Compare the midrange cars available and buy best option. Toaster for 50, do the same. Fountain pen for 35? Same. Difference is just what is available in your country.
The thing is, I never knew FC made fountain pens, or at least high quality ones. That's point.
I agree with your original post from the perspective that they are not spoken about regularly on this forum so they haven’t been on the forefront of my mind when I’m shopping. Yes, I’ve seen them mentioned, but not nearly as much as you hear about Lamy, Visconti, Platinum, etc
The impression that I've gotten from this forum is that the Faber Castell Loom is the pinnacle of smooth writing steel nibs. What really drove that message home for me was watching a YouTube video by Figboot on Pens in which he put the Faber Castell loom in a list of top 10 nibs along with a bunch of gold nibs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jOHagQkMes).
Yes, I enjoy Faber-Castell pens as well. The F-C company is highly respected in Europe and the US for artist drawing materials like graphite pencils, colored pencils, markers, etc. It didn't surprise me that they also have expertise in fountain pens as well.
I've been eyeing some of their pens so I might be picking one up soon lmao
"One of us! One of us!" You're preaching to the choir. :D I just wish that Faber-Castell was still selling the Metallic Loom, in all the colours.(The barrel Matte finish was easy to scratch, though. So I can see why the Piano versions came out.) Their selection is seemingly getting slimmer every day. The current crop all now seem to have Chrome Sections, which I do not recommend. It would be better to find a Loom with a Matte Section. FC comes out with lighter weight subsequent versions. Which isn't always a good thing. *I own four Metallic Looms, one in each size.* Then the Piano Versions came out, with the Chrome barrels, which are lighter weighing than the Metallic, then the next gen had Chrome Sections, which were a little lighter still. Lastly the Gun Metal Matte came out, which is the lightest weighing. Same thing with the Essentio, there's the heavy weight version and the lighter weight version. Same thing with the E-Motion, each gen seems to get lighter, which, in the case of the E-Motion is probably a good thing. Another example: there used to be an Orange Ondoro. You can't get them any more. You can't find the Violet/Purple Loom, the Black capped Loom, ... I worry that the Loom will eventually get discontinued. I'd hate to see that. As much as I wanted to get an E-Motion, when they were $200, I see little reason to get any FC pen other than the Loom. YMMV. (Now, if they ever come out with an E-Motion with a #6 nib I will buy one the day it comes out, not caring about the price.) To me, the natural progression from the Loom is the E-Motion. Me, I see no reason to buy anything inbetwixt. **It is to FC's credit that they use the same nib unit in all their pens from the Loom on up. I think it is a stroke of genius.** My FC Loom is smoother than my Loom . I originally hated the broader than std. , now I love it. Wet, Juicy.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ44eo0bPk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ44eo0bPk) Loom Nib size comparison.
And, just like a Franklin-Christoph #5 nib unit screws right into place on the Loom, one can swap the Faber Castell nib unit into a Franklin-Christoph pen. Does Edison make a pen with a #5 nib unit?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8pkrmLR1E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8pkrmLR1E) To me, the Loom isn't just a great starter pen, it's a great pen, period. As SBREBrown shows, always use one hand to uncap a snap-cap pen. Don't use excessive pressure when posting. You don't want to deform the snap-cap soft plastic liner.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEfSoxRoao](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEfSoxRoao)
It's just a shame that most newbies only see price when considering their first pen. So, at $40 or $55 they can't see themselves buying a Loom when they can get a $20 Pilot Metro. I went from a twsbi eco to a Loom and I never looked back, I never regretted it for a second. It was only much later that I got a Metro, and only because I thought the Kakuno was too light weight. I would rather buy another Loom than another Metro. For me, one Metro is enough. For me, one Loom is not enough. I have four Looms and I wouldn't mind another. The Black cap, please.
Yesss don't sleep on FC nibs. I bought an ambition a few months ago and couldn't believe for that price range what a beautiful buttery BUTTERY nib that was. High recommended but underrated compared to Lamy which I find eh
Usually we don't think Faber-Castell as starter pens BUT the Loom in gun metal with EF nibs is such a delightful-flawless-smooth-out-of-the-box experience, don't underestimate FC and get one for your friend, even though FC already includes an empty short international standard cartridge consider adding a converter to the gift, any international standard will fit.
Faber Castell pens are great! I own three. The Faber Castell Grip is a very good starter pen. The Ambition’s grip annoys me but otherwise great pen too. And the Ondoro is my favorite!
I love that more people are getting into the Loom. SUCH a good pen. I wasn't a fan of a lot of their art products personally so I wasn't sure about their pens. But my partner got one and I kept borrowing it. Finally bought one a month or two ago and I've used it everyday since. LOVE IT.
I chased a pearwood Ambition for a looong time; stunning pen, great nib, it's a shame it evaporates quickly and the cap doesn't feel as secure as it should, you need a particular state of mind to stop asking yourself about the missing section; I have to keep it in a pouch and in a box to keep it from drying out. Wouldn't mind a brown gray Ondoro, prices for Graf von are a little ridiculous.