How do you like me now Montblanc 146 and 149
Mountain | reviews | videos | photos
Time to check out how I like the Montblanc 146 and 149 now, after months of use. Befriend me on facebook: www.facebook.nl/stephenbrebrown Follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/sbrebrown Add me on google+: Stephen B.R.E. Brown Talk to me on FPN: StephenBrown Talk to me on fpgeeks.com: StephenBrown
Comments
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Another great video thank you !
I work in the city and I've contemplated the 149 for awhile now, I want a classic black pen like the 149 but I don't want the 'show off' stigma associated about it, I have a passion for fountain pens but because I'm young (21 years old) I don't want people to think I just bought it for the name which paradoxically puts me off buying it ?!
On the other hand I feel as I begin to build a collection of fountains pens, I should have a 'strategy' e.g. just buy mont blanc rather than having a mix of many different branded pens
What alternatives would you recommend / what are your thoughts?
Thank you sir -
I guess that baby bottoms are more likely to happen with wider nibs. My 149 with an Medium nib has no baby bottoms whatsoever. (I was a bit worried about it, before buying one.)
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Got a 149, after much self reflection I realised I got scammed 1grand
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Hi Stephen,
Now that you've owned these for a number of years, I was curious whether you have noticed scratches or cracks in the body of either pen? I've read many reviews on Amazon where customers complained about that, especially with regard to the 149. -
Thanks for posting :).
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Agreed 100%. Killer pens for half the retail price. However, I'm still upset about the sample variation of the modern MB nibs.
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Honestly, why are MontBlanc are overpriced but Visconti or Omas are not?
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why do u have both?
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Which do you recommend to buy first? The 149 or the 1000? I have neither of them now.
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Would be nice to see a comparison between the 145 and 146. As I understand it, the 145 is a cartridge/converter and a tad smaller size-wise overall.
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At the end of the pen review could you please do a rating. eg 1 to 10 (please include decimals if the rarings come close). Thank You,
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You might be the only person I heard that from. Almost everyone seems to be say "you need to own a MB pen to have your life complete." Indirectly ofcourse.
Personally I see no value in a Pelikan or a MB pen. Sure it has the name. But what else? A piston? A Noodler's got a piston. A gold nib? My VP has a 18k nib. (And that Platinum got a 14k nib at like 70 USD) The design is nothing special. I don't see how people can see value in this. My most expensive pen in a Justus95, it looks the same from a far. And a tag of 312. Sure many other pens got that design and a converter filler and a 14k gold nib. But many other pens (non-vintage) doesn't have the Hard/Soft adjustable nib. I actually can feel the adjustment because I tend to not push hard when I write so in hard it's a thin line and in soft with a tiny bit of pressure I can change the line. But this MB has no Hard/soft adjustment. It just has a name. -
Hi Stephen! I love your videos. I've seen pretty much all of them and let me give you my honest opinion on your MB 149. If its warranty was valid at this point I am sure you would want MB to replace the nib/feed unit right away.
Regarding your videos with the 149 and excluding the one where you make a joke with a rollerball shootout, I have to say this:
- In it's own review it has 5 clear hard starts: at 10:46, 11:12, 11:35, 12:04 and 12:23... Pretty impressive if you ask me;
- In the 149/M1000 shootout it has 3 hard starts at: 06:36, 09:15 and 10:36 (a serious one here);
- In the 146/149 shootout it has 1 big skipping at 06:37;
- In the 149/Jinhao 159 shootout it has 1 hard start at: 07:09 (minor one there, but a hard start nonetheless);
- In the 149/Dolcevita shootout you actually say that it is prone to skipping. On that review it has 1 hard start at: 13:15 (and a skip, immediately after) and another hard start at 14:07;
- In this video, it's right there for everyone to see... You try to be polite and clear its reputation to a certain extent, and I understand that, but unfortunately the fault on the nib/feed, to my standards, is undeniable and very annoying.
I may be wrong but my guess is that the previous owner of your 149 already knew that the pen had issues and wanted to get rid of it. And I imagine you gotta be really pissed off with the guy... I definitely would be!
On the 149/M1000 disassemble video (07:54) you mention that you've sent it to MB, and you complain that they cleaned the nib but did nothing to the piston, not even lubricating it. Well, it seems the nib/feed needed more than a clean up.
In fact, I don't know if they search YouTube for videos on their products, maybe not, but if they did and if they cared for their product's performance, they would be really ashamed at this point...
I have an Aurora Optima, fine nib... Very wet! no hard starts, no skipping! I can leave it sit there for 2, 3 or 4 weeks, it will write promptly at the first stroke. It costs almost half the price of the 149 and writes even better than my Pelikan M800, believe it or not, and the M800 is an excelent writer, as you know...
I'm planning on buying a brand new 149, 90th anniversary. But if the pen exhibits that kind of behavior, I will want MB to replace the nib/feed unit immediately, no questions asked! For a pen that costs more than 700 euros I expect no less.
If they don't fix it I'll take the next plane to Germany and burn down the place! End of MB....... ;)
Congrats for the awesome videos! Cheers. -
Hi stephen
Is there any difference in the build material of the pelikan m1000 and m200 ?
i am planning to buy a m215 is it worth it ( in India it costs 9000rs =$150 )? is it possible to upgrade it to a gold nib in future ? -
Hey Steve, great video as usual. I think I am ready to add a Mont Blanc to my collection. I will be heading to NY City on the 8th and I am going to drop by the Fountain Pen Hospital. I don't know if you have been at their stores, but I hope they have some good deals there. If you have visit them, is it a good place to find a pre own pen there? If you don't know, please let me know what website you purchase the 149. Thank you so much for your comments
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How bout doing one on the Lamy 2K? Pilot VP? =D
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Dear Mr. Brown, which kind of ink do you use in the 149?
Thank you very much -
I think it's notable that it would be difficult to discuss value by comparing a general pen cost with a brand like Mont Blanc. I disagree that the gap in cost is just about materials and social status (although Mont Blanc is marketing to a particular audience who 'appreciates' being able to obtain a product marketed to it). (Most of that audience would devalue a two dollar pen 'because' it costs two dollars.) On the other hand, I think there is also a large margin of cost associated with services and expectations which can be considerably different. For example, if you buy a Ford Focus you receive a certain service experience that differs from the service experience Lexus owners have (think about the differences in their service centers and customer response metrics), and I am sure that a Ferrari owner has another very different experience than the Lexus owner. But based on the cost difference if we compared Ford to Ferrari, would we expect the Ferrari to fly? No, it's still a car... Also, my expectation changes when I buy from JetPens (no offense to JetPens). In most cases I am not as disappointed with a no refund issue, or a pen that stops working quickly when I buy from JetPens....I don't expect them to be service-oriented or to be manufacturing at the highest standard, and there is no company history that indicates that I should expect that. On the other hand if I buy my spouse a Mont Blanc for his Bday - I KNOW it will last forever -or be replaced even 2 YEARS after purchase.......All that is to say that when you discuss brand premiums you have to remember it's not just about the quality of the item that you're paying for. I like when you compare two pens from the same brand since that is appropriate when "cost" is in question. That discussion of cost may not fit in the review between two different brands if you are only using a writing sample as the benchmark. With that said, I love your videos! Smiles
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Hello Mr Brown, I have a Meisterstuck149. It has slight scratches on its body. I ask, do you know of a method whereby these hardly noticeable scratches can be removed by polishing the body of the MB 149? Is.there a MB recommended polish for this purpose? I have a Dremel with a multitude of bits and polishing bits. Thanks :)
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Can't stand Mont Blanc, good nibs but ridiculously priced, the perfect example of a brand and lives of a logo and nothing else. One of the first fountain pens I ever got was a Meisterstück Classique RT as a surprise gift for Christmas, If I could time travel I'd make sure the money went to better use!
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