Graf Von Faber Castell Classic Macassar Wood Fountain Pen

[@williammodlin2621]

That’s the best and most detailed explanation of “baby’s bottom” on a nib that I’ve heard. Thanks.

[@Doodlebud]

@@williammodlin2621 Glad it helped

[@danstein2467]

Thanks for the babies bottom explanation. I’ve wondered about Fabriano paper with a fountain pen. I’ll give it a try. Thanks!

[@Doodlebud]

@@danstein2467 it's a nice paper. A little thicker and a little more draw on the page.

[@manicdataminer]

Make sure you get the Ecoqua, not Ispira. Ispira paper is smoother and thinner, but much more prone to bleed-through (still usable, but only with narrower nibs and dryer inks). Ecoqua is fantastic for me, no issues with any pen or ink so far. Ink tends to dry quickly and shade a bit less, which is my cup of tea.

[@Doodlebud]

@manicdataminer thanks for the tips on the paper

[@HagothVoyage]

One of the most beautiful pens made. Ever!

[@Doodlebud]

They make really nice looking pens

[@aprils.]

Way back when, it was considered proper form to write using one’s arm instead of the fingers, so if this beautiful pen encourages you to write that way, go with it! Also, I literally JUST got a similarly priced Pelikan pen, but seeing this makes me want to cry now, because I really LOVE GVFC!

[@andreas9119]

I'm the opposite: my first grail was this Macassar Classic and I've kind wanted a Pelikan M800 or something... but without knowing what it is like experience wise, I'm tempted to get another Graf Classic in another wood with maybe an Oblique since they are one of the few who offer them besides Montblanc on the German side.

[@roel.vinckens]

I've seen it before, but this made me fall in love with it. Gorgeous. Another goal on my fountain pen journey...

[@andreas9119]

Get one.. it's amazing. I have a fine and the slight feedback makes it my most versatile pen in my collection in terms of ink and paper combinations.

[@moushou777]

Best PENS in my opinion! I’ve had the Macassar and sold it to get my hands onto the PENAMBUCO which I have fallen in love for! Been trying to find the Ebony wood Anello and also FC steel nibs are outstanding!

[@Doodlebud]

@@moushou777 I love the 2 tone nib on that one 😍

[@moushou777]

@@Doodlebudthat’s what hooked me with this one particularly: 2 tone nib! Congratulations on your beautiful pen and so awaiting to see your nib grind. Did you know these GVFC are specifically still hand made?

[@andreas9119]

I've considered a Grenadilla for the platinum trimmings. The Macassar is a stealthier pen with the titanium and ruthenium coatings, also a bit pricier. I had hoped mine would be on the lighter shade, but it was dark dark from the get go compared to their official photos. Still my favourite pen to write with and I have a few special Montblancs now in the collection. Such understated pens (Graf). I love that they plant their own trees to make these woods. I even tried the Hongdian 1866 copy of the Classic wood Grafs, and the writing experience is no where near it (their converters are quite nice though)

[@littletweeter1327]

really love the flared cap there. reminds me of waterman's check-book pens if you've ever seen one of them.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Beautiful pen. The company makes wonderful pens from wood. I have a ballpoint made from coconut wood. Stunning pen.

[@Doodlebud]

@@paulmchugh1430 their styling is always very classy

[@paulmchugh1430]

@Doodlebud their steel nibs are also very good.

[@archivist17]

Very pretty. I actually started looking into pens because I wanted a wooden one to replace one I'd had in the 90s. As it happens, my interests and purchasing patterns diversified a bit, but I do have a half-dozen attractive pens. I'm not the market for any GvFC products, I think, but it's an attractive offering.

[@InksplatOops]

Thanks Doodlebud! Just found out why my squeaky Lamy Safari squeaks. Have a nib project to work on now. And if you like shimmer inks, Dominant Industry Autumn Forest is a nice one. 😊

[@The_Ossifrage]

That is a fantastic looking pen for sure. The GvFC Classic in Anello Grenadilla is one of my favourite pen designs, blending wood and metal really well. I've heard that the baby's bottom overpolishing issue is fairly common on new Montblancs too - something about most modern customers wanting the smoothest possible writing and also pushing harder on the nib, so these brands tend to be heavy-handed when smoothing out the nib tipping.

[@Doodlebud]

That's a possible theory but Im not too sure on that one. Unless I heard it from a manufacturer that they deliberately create babies bottom on expensive pens so people push harder when writing, I wouldn't put too much weight in that theory. It would be strange to do it properly on steel nibs but then only do it on gold nibs.

[@misio87]

At this price it shouldn't skip.

[@Doodlebud]

It happens from time to time even with the best QC, but thats where customer support kicks in.

[@andreas9119]

@@Doodlebud My Macassar is from Appelboom, so Anabelle, their Nibmeister, took a look at it before they shipped mine and it is my favourite writer: has slight feedback like a mechanical pencil but I love this. There was another Macassar review online and they eventually gave the pen away because it skipped so hard. I was scared initially to purchase it, but dont' regret it at all. Glad you show some love to Faber-Castell on this channel @Doodlebud as I feel it's a brand that gets very little acknowledgement in all the Sailor/Pilot/Esterbrook/Montblanc craze... Pelikan, OttoHutt, and Graf are dark horses.

[@Mtraxxadventures]

Buchans stationary is one of my favorite stores. I have two inks from dominant industries that are pearl inks, they are amazing colours.

[@cynthiaalvarado8610]

Thanks for the review on such a nice looking pen and the baby’s bottom explainer. Thanks to my needing to wipe my baby’s bottom, I have no such funds for it but I can live vicariously through you.

[@richardsimms251]

Now this is a great video. Thanks so much. RS. Canada ( Ontario )

[@Hisvinceness]

Ive been using Fabriano paper in my pocket notebook for a few months and it performs very well for me.

[@Doodlebud]

Its a solid performing paper. I find it has a bit more tooth than my personal preference, but no issues with any of the pens I've used on it so far.

[@Hisvinceness]

@Doodlebud yeah, it's a touch toothy and a bit more absorbent.

[@Bergerons_Review]

One of the best for the buck.

[@TheRetroHippieGirl]

I'm so glad that you did a video of a Graf Von Faber Castell Classic!! I have been eyeing one for the longest time so I'm glad to learn more about the pen and the possible nib issues.Interesting note about the babies bottom issue on their nibs, when I think of babies bottom on pens I usually think of Kaweco nibs. Thanks for the explanation it is very helpful in finding out if there is a babies bottom issue. I'm also glad you are trying out Fabriano paper I think they're a good under rated brand, I first heard of that company from the youtube channel VittaR, she did some really informative ink reviews and she really liked Fabriano paper. My person favourite paper is Tsubame paper as in my experience it showcases ink like Tomoe River but is cheaper and doesn't have the ghosting issue that TR paper has :) Apica C.D is also good paper as well.

[@Doodlebud]

GVFC make some fantastic pens. I think this nib was a real one-off as every pen I've tried from them have been perfect out of the box. The Fabriano has performed very well even with my wettest writers so it seems like a solid paper.

[@TheRetroHippieGirl]

@@Doodlebud Good to know :) Fabriano has outperformed Rhodia and Clairefontaine with some inks and wet nibs at least in the videos that I watched VittaR do. I'm not sure I would use a wet noodle on it though ;)

[@iangordon5354]

Little bit of trivia for you. Oil from the Macassar Ebony tree used to be used in a hair product back in the late 1700s and early 1800s - and although the production shifted to other vegetable oils when the tree became harder to find the hair product continued to be called ‘Macassar Oil’ until it went out of fashion in the early 1900s.

[@Megadad60]

And that is why the paper or cloth that is put on the head rests of the chairs in planes and trains are called anti-macassars.

[@storge306]

Legend!

[@stephen_hynes]

I think the cause of concave inner tipping geometry is not over polishing but rather excess polishing pressure splaying the nib and exposing the proximal interior surface.

[@Doodlebud]

Yup could be that

[@Glenn-j2e]

Fabriano also make very good quality cotton watercolour paper.

[@adjromulos]

I prefer these (wood) over resin or ebonite ones. ❤ I have the e-motion in pear 🍐 wood.

[@Calcprof]

I really like the F-C nibs, even on some of their lower cost pens. AS a leftie underwriter, I'm really sensitive to baby's bottom, but luckily, I don't have any on my F-C pens.

[@Doodlebud]

This was the first time I've had a nib have any issue. Its very slight and with a touch of pressure its gone. But I think a grind might be in order for a fancy pen like this one

[@HumanStealth]

That's so funny, I do the same thing with any of my nibs that don't write quite right out of the box. Its always an excuse for me to do some nib grinding. There's something so satisfying about doing it yourself. Side note: for the first Doodlebud merch you should make a sticker that says, "A squeak and a skip....BOOTY"

[@Doodlebud]

I'm really feeling an OM for this one for some reason. I just feel a classy pen needs a nib that stands out

[@StellarTemplar]

Thank you. I love your videos. A little recommendation: background music should not replace the sounds of the nibs that you review. The sound of the nib shows how well the nib is tuned. I believe you should let us hear them. Thank you.

[@slo_carry]

Very pretty pen

[@Doodlebud]

@@slo_carry I love the "coined" edges. Really nice touch

[@cebukitty]

thank you ever so much for explaining this issue. I have that same nib squeaking in my Cross Boba Fett fountain pen. I really love the pen as I'm a SW fan, but that nib squeaking is driving me nuts. And am so disappointed that the GVFC Macassar has issues. That's one of my grail pens :(

[@Doodlebud]

No matter the price point, even with great QC, errors can still happen. The big thing is how a company handles the defects. We've all bought some product which had an issue at some point. The companies that have great customer service to handle issues (not IF but WHEN) are the ones I will continue to do business with even and issue arises at some point.

[@MrAndrew1953]

A classic, high quality pen. It just dips out for me in terms of its slender shape. Personally I prefer something with a little more girth that makes the pen easier to grasp and write with.

[@Rgc571]

One of my favori.ate “casual” papers.. Having trouble make a purchase on the beautiful pen due to price.

[@ylee7644]

Nice video! This is my grail pen, so nice to see a review on it. Can I ask how you still like your Esterbrook pen roll from a while back? I'm thinking of getting one. Thanks!

[@Doodlebud]

Love the pen roll. Works well and really protects the pens

[@ylee7644]

@@Doodlebud Thanks!

[@moushou777]

BTW, Fabriano paper is also (ECOQUA) one of the best papers out there. Clairefontaine and RHODIA tends to have a glossy finish making some fountain pens unhappy skating onto the whiteness of their paper 😂

[@VortexVoid6969]

Hey, doodle its been quite a while remember the days of saying “as always a great review!” ? Well im doing it again heres to start Day 1 of saying as always a great review!

[@Doodlebud]

Hey buddy good to hear from you again :)

[@brodor6277]

The shape is interesting, kind of reminds me of a chess piece!

[@Doodlebud]

@@brodor6277 the cap does have that vibe to it

[@a1s1pinky]

Have you ever tried any of the Concrete Pens made by 22Studio? 😊

[@Doodlebud]

No, but I've seen those and they look very interesting!

[@norissima95]

Your Lamy Safari looks like a Lamy Al-star. 🖊️

[@Doodlebud]

It is an Al-star. If I said Safari instead then I misspoke.

[@santauxia]

Alegant design. 6:28 Glad to hear LOL.

[@charleshotchkiss1813]

The link in the extended description for the Asvine pen says "V20", but the model linked to is a "P20" (a V200 exists, but that is not what you link to). Both good pens.

[@Doodlebud]

I'll give it a look thx

[@darren.66]

Thanks for another great video. That is a sleek looking pen and I'm fascinated with the clip for some reason, of all things.

[@Doodlebud]

The clip is gorgeous 😍

[@evanbasnaw]

I have a broad vanishing point that squeaks on me. I wonder if that's part of the problem.

[@Doodlebud]

Give it a look under a loop to see what you can find. Sometimes you can have over polish without babies bottom as well which can cause the squeak.

[@theprof_001]

👍

[@AG-en5y]

❤

[@leesiahng]

This was my dream pen for a full year, until the day when i was ready to buy it i walked into the shop and tried it. It was way too heavy for me. But now that i have been doing weights for a year, anybody reckon i should try it again 😅?

[@Jason-pq5mq]

Tactile turn has the only metal grip I find pleasing. Too slippery with slick metal.

[@sufiveritas7375]

I like slim pens. Do you know elysee fontain pens?

[@Doodlebud]

Someone I recently "penabled" picked up an older one on ebay. He showed it to me when I bumped into him at a Starbucks. The nib was off a bit so I gave it a quick tune up right there and it wrote quite well. The only one I've seen so far.

[@tomnelson8515]

Fat/flared top of cap looks like one of those old 'dialers' of the 1960's. Push button phones sort of killed those old designs.

[@jacobus57]

A pen needs to write. An expensive pen absolutely needs to be perfect. No excuse for an overpolished nib on a pen, especially at this price point.

[@t0x1cbacon56]

AVE’s long lost brother

[@lighturpl3]

Nibmeisterbud

[@barbarawright-c2o]

Thanks for the clear explanation og baby's bottom. Perfect. Gorgeous pen. Very dangerous to watch your videos😂

[@Doodlebud]

I was trying to do a macro to show it but it's very slight. Not 100% sure I'll do the OM or just fix the BB 🍑

[@ichirofakename]

1. I use Fabriano watercolor paper, which I find is just as good as industry leading overpriced d'Arches. 2. It's disappointing that FC delivered you a premium pen with a poorly finished nib. I've been praising their steel nibs for years, too bad about this gold nib.

[@Doodlebud]

It happens. Even with great QC tiny things can slip by every now and then. Blesket would be on it right away from the customer support perspective, but I'm thinking a fun grind will suit this pen nicely.

[@ichirofakename]

@@Doodlebud We all look forward to watching.

[@Glenn-j2e]

I use Fabriano 300lb 100% cotton not W/C paper.👍

[@ichirofakename]

@@Glenn-j2e I neglected to say that I use wc paper for actual wc, just as a thumbs up to the company. For pen & ink I stick to Strathmore Bristol Board, 400 or 500.

[@dsb1763]

Careful now, you wouldn’t want to have the Faber-Castell family come after you for saying their nibs are not perfect.🤣🤣🤣

[@Doodlebud]

I would love for them to reach out to me

[@BullheadedGiovanni]

Beautiful looking pen, but that price (wooosh) way to much. I don't feel that any mass produced pen can actually justify a price like this, Maybe if the pen had a substantial amount of gold or silver it could justify such a price..

[@KL005]

BOOM EARLY