PenBBS 456 vs PenBBS 355 Fountain Pens

[@chrisrap52]

Great review of two great pens. Enjoyed your deep dive. These will be classics years from now. I favor the 456 as the weight is centered toward nib. I also had a pen I dropped break that had metal threads. That will always be a weak point. Why is filler on 455 plastic & 456 metal? PenBBS does excellent engineering. The 456 vac-filler needs to be airtight around the piston rod. Metal more stable than plastic. The 355 just needs to be a rod guide as the piston is the seal. Wonder what PenBBS will do next?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for this Chris! It is great to have an engineer's explanation. That makes total sense that the vacuum seal needed to be stable, and therefore metal, on the 456. I'm in total anticipation mode waiting for a "new model" that Beini has hinted at.

[@13noman1]

"Motel Arizona"?!? Loved it (along with the vid)

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's the only way to not have the video get a "take down notice" from Don Henley.

[@kapirk2244]

Very thorough comparison, with good points on the cleaning. I was more of a fan of the vacuum filler, but I really like the sound of how easy the bulk filler is to clean. Fantastic intro! I had to follow the link and enjoy the full song. Beautiful!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, KA Pirk! It really is a toss-up between the two. As long as you are careful with the 355 when engaging the rod into the piston so it doesn't get stuck, it is an easy pen to use.

[@JoelTurrell]

Doug, Thank you for this video. I have a pair of 456s which I enjoy, but I have wondered about a 355. I'm afraid I don't have the patience to learn the filling technique. You have confirmed for me the need to spend some time in trial-and-error, and I'll spend the time elsewhere.

[@InkquiringMinds]

To be fair, the learning process was as long as it takes to clean a pen out before the first used. I figured out how to work it with water.

[@MateuMatheu]

If things go bad you can probably use them as eyedroppers like a 323 but with two reservoirs. That's what happened to me with a 355. Pulling back the turning of the knob got crazy and could not grab the piston; but pulling up it can seal the reservoir.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree Mateu! I think it is a big flaw in the 355 design where the rod's threads are metal and the engaging threads in the piston head are plastic. If you over-tighten the rod into the piston, the piston will just spin when you try to disengage it. It is a finicky system and the lack of English instructions doesn't help. A lot of users don't know to pull the piston back until it clicks before trying to disengage the rod.

[@tdawson7689]

I use my 355 as an ED for the same reason.

[@TheMagicalSock]

That’s a good looking 355, Doug! Really enjoyed this video and your 323 video. I have a feeling that, and certainly hope that, your channel will see some more exposure very soon. Top quality content with a little more character than some other pen review channels.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Cam! I appreciate that.

[@WhatIInk]

Great video. I'm always leary of putting metal tools on those threaded parts. I use a pair of nylon-jawed plyers for such things. In-lieu of those you can wrap the jaws of your crescent wrench with tape.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Good advice!

[@santauxia]

That 355 is an awesome looking pen.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It was an awesome gift!

[@drnomad16]

Very helpful video! Thank you!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, Nomad! :)

[@BerndtNorten]

Doug, Please help me. I'm overwhelmed. It's the 'paradox of choice.' I don't own any PenBBS pens. Thanks to you I own two Majohn C4s, one Q1, and the ... S5? If you could own just one PenBBS, demonstrator style, which one would it be? Mucho thanks in advance

[@InkquiringMinds]

My choice would be a Penbbs 456 Clear Glass. Awesome pen.

[@BerndtNorten]

Thanks.

[@Gonzificus]

Great review, I've been watching plenty of FP pen reviews and enjoyed the way you presented and compared the pens. I think my next will be a 456 which I've been keen on since introduction. As far a PenBBS goes, I currently have a 352 with REF nib which is in purple cloud, and a 480 with RM nib in Amber on the way.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks so much, Gonzificus! I love my 456. It is a substantial pen and writes as smooth as glass. Kudos on your Amber 480. My Amber 480 will be here in a couple of days!

[@tdawson7689]

I have both of these pens and enjoy them both. If you could only have one, which would you choose? I find myself leaning towards the 355. Great music on your videos, which I assume is you playing. It makes the video unique and personal.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Trace! Yes, that's me playing. I did all the guitars and vocals and my son played the bassline. KZbin is allowing me to use my own cover song videos as long as they are under 30 seconds so I won't get a copyright strike. As to the 456/355, I'm really torn. I like them both. I like the sleek lines of the 456 but the more substantial girth of the 355 makes it feel more like my M600s which I really like. If I had to have one to knock around with, it would be the 456 I suspect.

[@encapsulatio]

If PenBBS and Moonman and Wing Sung would make their pens perfectly compatible with original feeders and original nibs from manufacturers that would be the real revolution I'm waiting for.

[@InkquiringMinds]

What do you mean by "original nibs and original feeders"?

[@encapsulatio]

Original means made by the actual manufacturer.If i want to put the feeder and nib from Pilot Custom 823 into Wing Sung 699 I should be able to just swap with the Wing Sung feeder and nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@encapsulatio Yes. that would be wonderful but, I suspect, impractical for the manufacturer.

[@stargazer1359]

Nice intro Doug!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Star Gazer. It was so much fun to put together.

[@stargazer1359]

@@InkquiringMinds BTW, the Star Wars intro was also....Epic...Well done, Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@stargazer1359 Star Wars? I did a Star Wars? LOL

[@stargazer1359]

@@InkquiringMinds Oh, geez...I meant Star Trek....😂

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@stargazer1359 LOL According to my ST and SW geek son and daughter, those errors can get you tossed from a convention! Error? Error? Sterilize! (To those trying to follow this thread... we are discussing the intro to my video review of the Wing Sung 601a. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJPdqJ59p56brbs )

[@Detman101]

I've always wondered what the capacities between these two pens are. It looks like the 355 holds a little more than the 456 but appearances can be deceiving. Maybe I missed it...

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes. The 355 is a tad larger in the barrel because it doesn't taper as much. But, I gladly give up that .1ml capacity for the 456's posting ability.

[@Detman101]

@@InkquiringMinds that's the same thing I'm seeing between my 456 and 487. Writing with the 487 posted feels like a kids baseball bat compared to the compact-posted 456...lol

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@Detman101 I know right? I don't classify the 487 as being a pen that can post. I don't care if the cap sticks on the end, it is ridiculous.

[@tpaynemm]

If you are REALLY brave buy a non-transparent 355, in Galaxy, as I did. It's just about impossible to figure out what is going on with those threads and piston. The only PenBBS I regret owning

[@ericpye7449]

Absolutely correct and I also regret buying it. The only way to use it is to unscrew the section and fill with a syringe.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for your comment Talan. My 355 was a gift and I had a lot of pre-warning and instruction before I first used it. Now that I've done it a few times, I have the technique down so the piston doesn't spin trying to get the rod to disengage. The small ridge behind the piston needs to be totally dry and free from silicone grease so when it snaps back into locking position it doesn't rotate with the piston. It is certainly a flaw and without a clear view, next to impossible to figure out when it goes wrong. It seems the flawless system is the Conid Bulkfiller, but I'm not rich.

[@xkrfan]

@@InkquiringMinds I have a few 355s and love them, but I wanted no part in the ones you can't see into. For what its worth, even the very beautiful amber one had just enough clear areas to see the mechanism. I put a Goulet branded two tone #6 on it and it looks amazing. As I'm sure you know, Aaron had a great video on how to best operate the mechanism so it doesnt get stuck.

[@InkquiringMinds]

MG Fine Art LLC Yes! Watching Aaron's video was part of my learning curve even before I received the pen. 😊