LamyAl-Star Fountain Pen, Black (L71BKM)

I mean, what can I say? There’s a reason Lamy is renowned in the fountain pen world. Awesome writing experience, and for the most money you just can’t beat it.

Great value for the price. Very smooth writing and well balanced weight.

this is my first experience with a fountain pen. it writes and feels great i will purchase more in the future

I've been using fountain pens since I was a kid, and I got a small collection of them. Been wanting an inexpensive Lamy to add to my collection. Out of them all, this one ranks mediocre. I like the look and the feel, but the nib is just, blah. I don't know if it will just take time to break in, or if I need to adjust it. The nib just seems way too scratchy for a medium. I even put Noodler's EEL lubricated ink in it. It helps, but eh, I'm not very fond of this pen from the get go. This evening, I wrote about 3 pages of notes with it, and did some minor sketching with it. Compared to say my TWSBI VAC700R, it's no comparison. The TWSBI blows it away, granted it costs twice as much; it's very smooth, and I don't even have to press on the page and it writes -- it's like magic. I'd compare it some place in between my Sheaffer vintage flat top (v3), and my Pilot Metropolitan, both in medium nibs. For kicks, my Pilot Metropolitan writes a hair bit smoother than this Lamy. Curious to see if it will smooth out with use. If something changes, I'll post back.--- Update ---Terrible experience! I cleaned it out with Rohrer & Klingner Reiniger and refilled it with Noodler's Eel ink. Cleaned the nib up, and started writing out a list. About a page into the list, the pen runs out of ink, even though the converter is full. I carefully took it apart, and found that the ink was forming a void where the feeder inlet is at the bottom. Basically creating an airlock. Only way to get more ink into the feed was by putting the cap on and tapping the pen on the desk and waiting 2 minutes for the feed to reflow the ink to the nib. Thinking it was a fluke, I dumped the ink and tried again. Same deal. I took it apart, cleaned it out with basic dish soap and water. Took the nib and everything apart. This time I filled it with Parker's Quink. Same deal. Not sure why the pen won't feed on it's own, but I spent probably 5-6+ hours messing with the pen. I even tried an ink cartridge and it doesn't do it as often, but it still gets an air bubble void and stops working until I beat it on the desk.Also the pen is extremely scratchy. Comparing this to some of my Pilots, TWSBIs, and Sheaffers, it is terrible. I'd hate to be given this as my "first" fountain pen... I'd think that fountain pens were horrible to use, less the feed problem. Not sure how the more expensive Lamy line is, but eh, no more Lamy for me.I'm just surprised with all the good reviews, that this pen is this terrible, unless I got a fluke. Not quite sure, but I'm not happy that I wasted this much money on a useless pen. It would probably make a great joker pen to mess with someone at the office... lol They write a page, and they then sit there ferociously banging the pen on their desk... bewildered as to why the pen keeps running out even though it's full.