The Best Pen Under $30? Asvine P20 Fountain Pen Review
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 17 дек 2023
- Thanks again to Asvine for sending me their P20 Model for review:
Asvine Amazon US store: www.amazon.com/Asvine-Piston-...
Asvine Canada: amzn.to/3NyVS8C
AliExpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdO...
Want to support my channel without it coming out of your pocket? Use some of the links below next time you're buying any thing on Amazon or other online retailers listed below. Thanks for all the support!
Visit my Amazon Store (in progress)
My Amazon Store - Work in Progress
www.amazon.ca/shop/doodlebud
Here's a list of the items I use to inspect, tune, and grind my nibs:
www.amazon.ca/shop/doodlebud/...
A great fountain pen:
amzn.to/3BCEHgs
Care for some ink?
amzn.to/3uzL9kv
Some of my favorite pens from Aliexpress:
Jinhao 9019: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DES...
Jinhao X159: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dkh...
Jinhao 82: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dmi...
Wingsung 630 (steel): s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFH...
Wingsung 630 (14K gold): s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBG...
Majohn A1: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEo...
___________________________________________________________________________________
Check out the weekly sales at Goldspot Pens
goldspot.com/collections/week...
___________________________________________________________________________________
Canadian Online Retailer: www.blesket.com
Use code DOODLEBUD22 to save 10%
___________________________________________________________________________________
Save 10% when buying from Esterbrook pens by using the code
DOODLEBUD10
www.esterbrookpens.com
___________________________________________________________________________________
Save 10% when buying from Pen Chalet by using the code
DOODLEBUD10
www.penchalet.com
___________________________________________________________________________________
Save 20% when buying from Ensso but using the code
doodlebud
www.ensso.com/
Here are some great laser engravers I've used. Check them out:
Save $80 of your xTool Purchase when you use the code xToolDo
xTool S1: dataaccess.mblock.cc/t/v8
xTool D1 Pro 20W: www.xtool.com/products/portab...
xTool F1 Galvo Dual Laser: www.xtool.com/products/xtool-...
ref=cywR4Go9qyob3a&
LaserPecker 3 Galvo IR Engraver: www.laserpecker.net/products/...
#doodlebud #fountainpen #review
We've really reached the point now where there are quite a few Chinese manufactured pens that are much cheaper than similar offerings from legacy brands and they don't have glaring flaws any longer. As you pointed out, the nib offerings are limited(though they have started experimenting recently), but you could honestly say the same for all but a handful of Western manufacturers compared to a couple decades ago. Pilot is really the only manufacturer that still maintains a truly interesting nib offering in their standard range, I can't think of anyone else.
Origin of Asvine is Japan, right??
@@anil4nature Not that I know of, they're Chinese as far as I can see.
@@osirisgolad Ohhh...when I checked on Google, it said Manufacturer is Hongdian and Origin is Japan.
Thanks for your opinion & information too. Somehow I like Pilot FPs for their Fine Nibs & Wet Flow.
I am yet to buy costly Pilot Pens.
I bought one, and was blown away by how nice it is, and how well it writes. I immediately ordered another one, for a Christmas gift. You just can't beat this, for the price. I got a Black Friday price, so they were an amazing deal.
I love mine, filled with Diamine Ancient Copper. Great combination!
Ooh! I looked this one up. Beautiful color!
I have two of these because of how good they are! I buy almost all of asvine’s offerings now a days.
Same! Also been loving the Asvine V126. So smooth and great to draw with as well!
@@aaaronlemayyeah me too. I was surprised with how good the v126 is. Have it in mat black, compined with a red ink. Looks beautiful and it writes great
Showing the line width for each nib is perfect! Beautiful pen!
Lovely review as always. Glad to see them continuing to make such fantastic pens for the price.
Grabbed two: M & F. Have been very pleased with their products, of which I now have many. Thank you for the reviews!
Good review thanks. I agree this is a fabulous pen for the price. One of my favourites. I reach for it all the time.
I just picked this up the past weekend, and have been loving it. Good to see you review it. Cheers!
Seriously good pen!
Hi Mr Bud, I must say Asvine are doing some great pens, I'm yet to get one, however, I will be picking some up in the New Year for uni. Thanks for bringing us wonderful videos throughout the year. Have a lovely Christmas or holidays.
Chelsea
Very nice review! I happen to have this pen in the purple finish inked up right now with Sailor Yurameku Seki. It is an amazingly well-made pen and I have been resisting the urge to buy another one in a different finish. Thanks for the video and happy holidays to you and your family!
Thank you for this fantastic video. Your experiences and assessments will certainly have persuaded many people to order this beautiful fountain pen. I really appreciate videos like this because they are honest. I'm excited about my Asvine, I ordered the same model and will fill it with „Pelikan 4001 Brillant Brown“ which certainly fits together very nicely.
Thanks for your review! I ordered this pen, but forgot where I got it from, so now my blue pen has a name😊. It is quite lovely..
Great video, DB. I have the blue P20, (like your Leaonardo). It's one of my top pens. It came with a fine nib, and I had a Jowo nib to install, but this nib is so smooth, I'll put the Jowo in something else. Thanks. KB
Thanks for the review, sold❤
Nice video, lovely review, love this pen has an ink window and is a piston filler. Merry Christmas.
Thanks for the review.
I bought one. FANTASTIC! Extra Fine is perfect.
Giving the Twsbi eco a run for the money
And it probably doesn't self destruct!
Giving Visconti and Leonardo a run for their money
not even, it absolutely decimates the eco in very way
Hi DB!: NICE pen! I am a bit gun shy about Asvine, since I got the V126 lately and it is a bit of a dry writer for me. But that P20 comes in some really NICE colors! And the price is good. Got some of that Muji paper, too, and it's GREAT! Going to check the gap of the nib on the V126, as I suspect it might be just a bit tight, and then it should write ok.
Great review! just when I didnt want another pen!
Just got mine and immediately fell in love. Absolutely gorgeous with Diamine Ancient Copper.
Another good review. I’ll have to put this one on my ever growing list of wanted pens. I might be a little different in that I like pens that have 2+ turns for the cap. 🖋️
I think their feed handles broad nibs quite well. I bought a spare medium nib from their set and tuned it to be extra wet and gave it an upturned Waverly shape. It writes like a wet broad in my V126.
5:28 - Yes, the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 has a newer-style section, but the regular MZ has the "milk bottle" (as Doug of Inkquiring Minds called it) shape which I so very dearly love (and mentioned in my review of our pen club's Leonardo Furore LE lol).
Thanks for another thorough and entertaining review. I'm glad this one didn't disappoint (I didn't think it would) and that it's still reasonably priced (for now!)
Yeah this one was way better than I expected. I saw the pics online and thought it has to be soft of cheaply made for the price, but I was pleasantly surprised. The recent offerings from Asvine have been really good! I actually prefer this one over my MZ 😮
@@Doodlebud OMG to the last sentence lol
That Robert Oster ink I would clean it with a wipe and wash the cap in soap and water get it nice and clean and then silicone grease the glass part of the bottle and it wont be sticky anymore I have to do this to some of my sample viles cause they get stuck otherwise
I am not going to be able to go on without one of these😁. I love Penbbs's Amber Is A Cat resin, but it seems perpetually out of stock. This Asvine amber looks close, and lovely to my eyes. Thanks for the, as always, informative review.
Picked this pen up in Amber after watching your review. Paired it with Noodler's Southwest Sunset, a beautliful combination. A bit scratchy but overall a very good writer.Good weight/balance. Nice finish/feel for under $30. An early Christmas gift to myself! 🖋
This might be a great Baystate Blue pen… thanks for posting!
Thanks for an excellent review. I think, It's more of a copy of Leonardo Momento Magico, piston filler.
Thanks @doodlebud I was wondering if this pen is swappable with Boch or other nibs. I’d love if if you could mention this in your excellent reviews. I’m looking for some pens to use my loose Nemosine .6 stub nibs on. Thanks and happy holidays.
I have a couple of them & LOVE them! I think I need it in a few more colors...lol
I put a Goulet 1.1 stub on mine and the feed keeps up no problem for me. Plenty of flow and it keeps up just as good as the medium it came with.
I agree, it’s a game changer. Pen BBS were close couple of years ago but not quite there. Asvine is up there with Leonardo and Visconti. More like best pen under £300.
What will happen with premium European and Japanese pen brands really depends did they manage to position themselves as Veblen goods or not. Montblanc is safe, for others I’m not so sure.
I have a 126. I’m gobsmacked at how good it is. Much better than my TWSBI Vac 700
Its a great pen!
Just ordered this pen this past Saturday
I've got one of these in amber and galaxy blue and have been loving them both one with a fine and one with a medium. Also have a V169 in matte black with a medium and that one is amazing too. Will definitely be picking more of their stuff up as it's just too good not to at the price.
Agree on the number of rotations re uncapping. I personally won't buy a pen if it takes 2 or more turns, I use my pens for quick note taking, so this matters. One reason my x159 rarely gets used, while the P136 is in regular rotation.
Dear Doodlebud,
Thank you for your very prompt response to my plea for help. I was misinterpreting the instructions.....thinking that "converter" is synonymous with "piston". Hey, each day it's good to learn something new...and so I have. Thank you sincerely for the attention to detail in your review of the Asvine P20.
Great pens. Just one small issue. I gifted one to a friend today. In front of me she posted the cap firmly. It locked onto the piston twisty thingy on the back of the pen. She handed it to someone else to try posted. Person 2 got ink to start shooting out the nib as she was trying to unpost the pen. Lots of inky knuckles and luckily not on the expensive sweater she was wearing. I think the plastic seal inside the cap grabbed onto the piston twisty. I cannot replicate what happened on the 2nd pen I am gifting soon, but was a little stunned.
That was unfortunate!
If you press the cap too hard onto the back of the pen it fits tight to the piston knob. So now when you move/rotate the cap its rotating the piston knob at the same time
Ahmanna git one! Beautiful pen!
Great review. How easy-hard it is to remove and replace nibs?
Comes out no problem
Doodlebud...long time artist and calligrapher but new pen enthusiast here and my journey thus far (3 fairly decent pens) has me a little discouraged. I made an order on Nov. 19 from Gravitas for 2 pens...and i made the order in hopes they'd arrive before the holidays. I did recieve a payment confirmation as well as an order #...but have recieved nothing else. I have emailed Gravitas twice with no answer and I've been patient. I know it's a busy season but i ordered a month ago now, not to mention over 200 bucks spent. Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated. Love all your pen reviews as well sir.
Hey there, I was in the same boat @zackbalins658. I sent a few emails etc. Also found that Gravitas has had this challenge before. I did eventually get my pen. My thinking is that Gravitas is still fine tuning their business and shipping pipeline. Be patient, I am sure the pens are coming your way.
@@aaaronlemay I appreciate your feedback. I am hopeful as I've heard nothing but positive things about them. I was hoping they'd be here before the 25th...but I'll take what I can get at this point. Thanks again.
Not the first terrible story regarding Gravitas' customer service and delivery I've heard unfortunately. According to posts I've read before, pens seem to arrive eventually.
Gravitas is notoriously slow, sorry to say. Larger, retail stores are much more rapid in delivery.
Just an update to the folks who replied back to my old comment. Still No pens, or an email (I sent two) either. I believe 2 months is pretty patient. Not sure what to do from here, but just let it go and take the loss. I will not be able to give Gravitas props or praise when asked about or recommended, in my experience anyhow.
Dooooodlebud!
Does the nib assembly swap with say Jowo or Bock?
What would be your best pick from the 3 Asvine pens you showed in this video?
Absolutely stunning pen, since I just recently lost my beloved fine nib Jinhao 82 that I just finally found the sweet spot with 😢 and I don’t care for my Lamy Safari medium, too thick a line for my planner I think I’ll look into this pen especially for the price, it looks more expensive than the price calls for. I wonder if nibs can be swapped out for a different grind style
You can always order another 82.... like $4 or $5 with free shipping
@@Doodlebud I know I will in the near future, it was just my first fountain pen in my favorite color that I recently refilled in a custom color ink, so it was special to me as a daily writer
Regarding sheening ink, I wonder if it would be possible to make an ink that is ALL sheen? I like the sheen of Nitrogen but have no use for the under color. It's largely possible to get solid sheen if you leave a giant puddle of ink, but it comes out crude, not precise.
Yes, there are two actually: KWZ Sheen Machine I & II.
This one and the P50 are really phantastic for the money. If only they came up with some different colors for the P50 for those of us that like a cigar shape.
Looking at the Asvine Amazon Shop shows so many pens at the SAME price level! The Lorelei 667s, the Hondian A3s, the Hondian 1837s, Hongdian Blue and Black forests, THEN we get to the Asvine P20s and P126s, the Keigelu 316s, 316As, and 356s, the various Fuliwen's and Heros, the Picassos, and I'm not even mentioning the dozens of Jinhaos under $30! How is one supposed to choose?!
Recently bought one and the threads of the cap are bothering me, they feel kinda sticky (its like this since a bought it, I cleaned it recently hoping there was some kind of residue in it, but it didnt help). Its because of the material? The only other screw cap I have is the plumix and it threads very smoothly. Actually, the whole pen have a sticky/oily feel to it that didnt go away after cleaning with some soap.
Other than that I loved it. Dont know why but the #6 nib just feels nicer than the smaller ones I have.
Just got mine in galaxy/darker blue. Nib is just north of average (F), all the "metal" banding looks cheap to me. Maybe if they offered silver instead of "gold" I'd be happier. Worth the price, but not near the stunning level of the PenBBS 456 i have (what a nib!!!!)... though of course that's $20 more
Oooh, had to look the PenBBS 456 up and how cool is that?! 😆❤️👍 Trying to find one of the models that looks like crushed crystals with brown in it but have no success yet. If anyone knows what the colour is called please let me know. 😇🩵🙏🙌
@sushanart I've been pretty happy with a lot of Chinese pens though Jinhao nibs seem to have some qc issues, next purchase will for sure be another PenBBS to see if they can keep it up@
The colors offered are so good. It's hard to choose one, between galaxy blue, purple and ocean blue. But at least unlike say Pelikan or Sailor, you are not limited between having just one pen or having no more money! Still puzzled by that name, Asvine. What were they thinking?
When Australians come up here to Canada, they must buy a ROOTS branded shirt/hat/sweater. Check out the slang term for Roots in Australia and you'll see what. When brands are made in other countries it can end up sounding like something else in another country.
Can confirm...am Australian and had a Roots shirt my parents bought for me. Always find the name entertaining!
I just got mine. But mine has blobs of black instead of streaks like I’ve seen with all the reactors. So not really pleased with how it looks but feels good in the hand. Wondered if anyone else has experienced that. I understand they will all look different but with all the reviews and on Amazon the black looks more blended in.
Hey Doodlebud, I’m over here on “The Rock”, in Victoria. Curious as to where you found this pen for such an affordable price? Many thanks! 🦊
Several links in the description. $30 is the USD, cad is about $42 or so
@@Doodlebud thanks so much! i originally watched on my phone, difficult for me to read the "more", but now on my computer... Wish i stilled lived in Van so i could participate in the various clubs such as Van FP Club. You're videos are very helpful, thank you a whole lot! ps: love all your measurement tools / scales, etc.!
Glad it helps you out when you're looking into picking up a new pen
My next pen
Hey DB - just emailed you with a question. Love your videos!
Is there a model from àsvine that's a cartridge/converter? Thanks
As far as I know the Asvine pens are piston or vac for the moment
I got mine last week, inked it up, it was nice and wet for a couple of lines but then it became so dry and started skipping. I then removed the ink and washed it and re inked it but the same problem :( I've decided to wait until my loupe arrives
Nib might need adjusting or have to refit the nib & feed. Wait for you loop so you can see for sure
Update: got the loupe today and the nib looks fine so must be the feed. I'll have to look up how to refit the feed. Thanks for the suggestion!
Im quiet happy with my asvines. They are all well build. The only thing that is anoying me is that the nib feels a bit to short for me, it is maybe 1 ore 2 mm shorter than bock or jowo nibs. Somehow that makes the writing experience feel somewhat akward for me. I have the same problem with the waterman carene. That also writs perfect but the nib feels short.
it's a fantastic pen, definitely recommend it. Though I haven't found it below 34eu so that title is a tad wrong. BTW it is extremely similar to Nahvalur Schuylkill, but those have somewhat better acrylic bodies ,smoother nibs and the price to match those better features.
Well if I priced in euros then the tittle would be wrong for US, Canadian, Pounds, etc. Not to mention exchange rates change as well. Impossible to say a price and be correct for every region on the planet
Hey just wondering what nib size is in this pen, is it a #6 or #8?
#6
I have purchased four P20s since this video. Three are doing well. The fourth catastrophically failed. The threads connecting the barrel to the filler knob broke cleanly from the barrel.
Hmmm, wonder if there was an assembly issue with that one
The break was very clean. It was not dropped.@@Doodlebud
Very decent fountain pen.
I am not sure of what I will write down below. Comment me if I am wrong.
Has anyone ever tried to connect - name of this pen - ASvine with the Italian Pen Manufacturer Armando Simoni. ?
Armando Simoni -very well known brand , known mostly for up market Arco and Ogiva fountain pens, they have a special line of FP called studio.
These studio fps are very, very similar to Asvine P20. Studio models are quite cheap, as for Armando Simoni, circa 180-190 EUR - for a new model in retail price.
I own 2 studios -Green Guatemala F and Blue Coral M and one Asvine - dark blue F. Though they are different in details , they look like they all were done in one factory. Ink windows, piston filler mechanism and feeders - they may also be the same part used. When I take a look at 2 studios and 1 asvine, this is asvine that looks even better at the first look.
But comparing them in writing - asvine is very good , but both studios are better, though they are also steel nibs, have a little of softness, making the lines little bit diversified.
All piston fillers work perfect, I don't find any differences between them
Studios are available in 6 colour versions at the moment, asvines have more colour variations.
So do you think, that maybe Armando Simoni cooperates with a chinese manufacturer, that makes studio models for them? Can that be possible in your opinion?
What can you say about quality? My impression with low-cost production is that it pushes up quality variation, not much to do there without significant cost. If I had such variation in my production, I would make sure I sent the very best from a sample of 25 pens to review.
Lots of assumptions are being made there. The overall response from reviewers and most importantly users has been very good. A bum nib can always make its way out the door with any pen/brand, but when I look at the pen from a design, manufacturing, and assembly perspective is very good.
There is a fine line between raising concerns and jumping to conclusions.
Does anyone have experience with the cheap fountain pens from China over several years? what does the metal do, the nib? Will it get rusty because it is poorly made? Will it become dull?
Got a 6 year old Jinhao 51 that I got for like $2. No rust, plenty wet, and writes smoother than my metropolitan.
This video made me buy one to try. Im very picky and prefer pilots due to them being so consistent as a brand. This EF P20 worked really well. I put in Sailor Yamabiki and it shades in their EF which is like a pilot F. It is a thinner line than my VacMini EF twisbi which I feel is like a MF. Writes well and the piston was very easy to use. It is heavy on the back in the hand and with the cap it is more so but it is not the cap it is the metal in the piston mechanism. Compared to a Pilot CH92 it is very noticeable. Im not an ink pairing person Sailor Yamabiki or Noodlers SW sunset would look good. Might use it for my black in sample testing with a pilot. The cap if twisted can turn the piston on mine. But I would not post this as it is already back heavy to me and the cap does not really add much more but I dont care for that feel. I didnt want a Chinese pen but you made me try it. I would not buy a clone of something I plan to buy or do own I think that might make me hate the Asvine either way of liking or disliking the original as a comparison. I am a person who likes UEF and PO nibs so I like the thin lines and this was a surprising good pickup. I do like Stubs and one of these in a stub would be great if like you say the feed is correct.
Wow, 30.00! Could it be a daily writer for work?
Of course, any pen that is reliable can be
I have this pen. My only complaint is that the nib burps with blotches on the paper.
Any suggestions?
Sounds like an issue with the ink/air exchange. Have you tried removing the nib & feed, cleaning and replacing?
@@Doodlebud i did. It slowed down and I thought it was over, then it happened again. I think itay have been I was holding the nib downward to the paper, not writing when it happened again. It shouldn't have happened at all. Perhaps there was a space between the nib and feed allowing the ink to flow on its own?
...for some reason... does Doodlebud sound like Louis CK?
I have this pen. The main problem for me was its narrowing section. Let me explain: my hands sweat quite a lot, and my fingers were constantly rolling down this section. In everything else, the pen is beautiful. But this flaw didn't allow me to enjoy it in all its glory
How would you compare an Asvine nib to a Jowo?
They both write nicely. Any nib that is properly aligned & setup writes well. These ones have all been great
Amazing, thank you! I Love all your videos!
I liked it until it leaked. Stored the pen horizontally for about a week. I tried to use it today, but found that a lot of ink had leaked into the cap and had coated the nib section.
Give nib/feed/housing a look. Perhaps they need alignment or need to be reseated. Did this happen just recently? There have been sudden temp changes where I am and sometimes that can be the culprit with large swings in temperature. Also, don't forget to let out a few drops when you fill, it can help with that
Thank you for the advice. When I read it, I realized that it was fine until I changed inks. I didn’t fill it very full and I didn’t let out a few drops. Maybe having so much air in the ink reservoir caused the leak?
@@ChuckL4321 lots of air makes it more susceptible to temp change issues since there is more air volume to expand
Man.
I came to rewatch this video because this pen bothers me with how good it is.
I have it for a long time (since release).
My mother’s gift. So there is also emotional value of course but people have gifted me more expensive pens like the aurora 88 or MBs.
I have far more expensive pens…
But this pen with the medium nib. It writes amazingly. It sounds amazing while writing. Reminds me of a slightly unsharpened pencil on some soft material!
My montblanc 146 and caran d ache leman, vintages, do not come close to it and have chaotic nibs (scratchy montblanc and over polished caran d ache)
People get bothered with the similarities to Leonardo mzg but it reminds me more of ASC pens..
I love the design. Never had a problem with asvine.
Is it a size 6 nib ?
Yes
👌😍🧡
10:32 what happens if you don't let out a couple drops after the fill?
Sometimes it can leak out the nib a little when you do a new fill. Just helps to avoid that
@@Doodlebud ah, gotcha, thanks 😊
That Leonard grip kills the pen. They fixed it in latter production, fortunatly.
Some of us like the unusual Leonardo grip!
@@garykarlin1777 , Sorry. That grip is a shit. They do not change without reasons. The pen was super fine except by that. The good sense finally wins.
If I can find one w silver hardware I'd be all over that
I was considering the P20, but the poor posting is a big NOPE. Engineering a pen that properly posts is so basic. It's not rocket science people.
The zoom on this video 😐
As good as it gets on my phone
@@Doodlebud Didn't knew it was recorded with phone. Your videos usually have very accurate zoom.
Just wish they had a different name. Idk why I’m so hung up on the butt-shrub. 😂
$50 canadian price...not a true Budget Fountain pen .
If you check Aliexpress its $35 CAD with free shipping
Based on so many poorly made products from ‘that country’ I will no longer be purchasing pens from there. The QC on such products is,for the most part, non-existent. If I’m gonna spend $25-$30 on a pen I will be spending it on a Pilot or another tried and true product. Yes, I can return it but Amazon is now charging a few $$$ plus gas to get to the returns place. Perhaps if I could use that nib on one of my pens that would benefit from something smoother I might seek it out. Otherwise, I’ll move on to something more reliable.