Author Topic: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?  (Read 3752 times)

Offline TylerH

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Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« on: January 14, 2018, 06:53:38 PM »
Hi all,

I have some old Leonardt Principals that I bought at the start of 2015 that write beautifully. However, I was recently watching Connie Chen's video on the Principal, and in the comments she was mentioning that Manuscript changed it to a thicker, less flexible version. Is that true? I only have 3 2015 Principals left, so I'd be pretty sad to know I'll have to find a new nib :( . I heard the modern Gillott 303 has gotten better recently, but John Neal says it still has production problems and isn't in stock... or something like that. I have no idea what other nibs compare (except for vintage nibs - and that's an addiction I refuse to start!).

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2018, 10:10:42 AM »
I have heard rumors of such as well but I don't use that nib often. It is so frustrating a good nib company hasn't developed a modern nib that is consistent, smooth, and with nice flexibility. As soon as I find a nib I like, the whole lot usually goes kaput.  :o
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Estefa

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2018, 01:40:04 PM »
I really like the Brause 361 … but that might not be fine enough for those of you who like the Principal ;). I get nice enough hairlines with it though!
Stefanie :: Website :: Blog :: Instagram

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2018, 02:00:26 PM »
Thanks @Estefa ! I don't think I have ever tried that one!
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Estefa

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2018, 02:16:15 PM »
Maybe you'll find it too fat, but with gouache and metallics it works quite well I think, @Erica McPhee !
Stefanie :: Website :: Blog :: Instagram

Offline Edward

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2018, 09:58:32 AM »
Hi,

I contacted the company that makes the Leonardt nibs ( Manuscript Pen Company Ltd) and they said that their original nibs ( thicker ones ) were changed to a thinner version after calligraphers said they wanted a more flexible nib, but after a time ( not sure how long ) they decided to change it back! Not sure why, I can recall the reason if they said or not. So I guess we are stuck with the old nibs!

Edward

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2018, 11:29:26 AM »
Were they also having a similar problem to the Hiro 41s where the coating was not right and the ink was blobbing off? I feel like I have had a couple that did that.
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Starlee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2018, 12:00:52 PM »
What what what?!!!! NOoooo! Say it ain't so! I haven't bought Lenny's in a while, probably since 2015, and so am unaware of this change. I loved their flexibility. They're my main nib. This news makes me very sad, but I suppose I will adapt when I run out of the good nibs...
Star

Offline Scarlet Blue

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2018, 12:33:30 PM »
Yes, I gave up on the LP last August... I bought a batch of ten and they were horrible to write with. I was distraught for months. I thought it was me. I tried the Hunt 22, which I hated... I also tried the Hunt 101 - we didn't get on - it's like it never really gets into fifth gear, and now I'm favouring the Brause 66EF - they are pretty consistent. I do like the Gillott 303, if I find a good one, and I'm also getting some good results from the Gillott 404 - which surprises me as this is the nib I used when I first started using a pointed nib. I've gone full circle.
Meanwhile, my stomach twists when I think about the joy of writing with the LP, knowing that they have now done away with it. How could they? It was a beaut. RIP LP.

Offline Nanspire

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2020, 02:42:39 AM »
Hello. Hopping on this thread very late! Has the Leonardt Principal EF improved again in the last couple of years since this thread was last commented on? Thanks 🤗

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2020, 08:47:11 AM »
Yes, it has! It's interesting to revisit this. The Hiro 41s had issues with coating for quite some time. And then the others did (it seemed). But I recently used a few Leonardt Principal EFs I had ordered in the past couple months and they were great!
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Nanspire

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2020, 05:42:45 AM »
Yes, it has! It's interesting to revisit this. The Hiro 41s had issues with coating for quite some time. And then the others did (it seemed). But I recently used a few Leonardt Principal EFs I had ordered in the past couple months and they were great!

Thanks a lot for your reply 💖. Will order some! 🤗

Offline Daniel McGill

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2021, 02:30:02 AM »
Yes, it has! It's interesting to revisit this. The Hiro 41s had issues with coating for quite some time. And then the others did (it seemed). But I recently used a few Leonardt Principal EFs I had ordered in the past couple months and they were great!

Thank you for coming back to us. It what way we’re they great? Were they more flexible? Finer in the tip? I just want to know these things before I purchase them again for the first time in years.

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2021, 08:58:00 PM »
It worked as it should. I just ordered 10 from Paper & Ink Arts. They should be here in about a week. If you want to wait, I will try to remember to report back once I get them!  :-*
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Daniel McGill

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Re: Has the Leonardt Principal gone down in quality?
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2021, 04:56:41 PM »
It worked as it should. I just ordered 10 from Paper & Ink Arts. They should be here in about a week. If you want to wait, I will try to remember to report back once I get them!  :-*

Please do  :)

It would be a dream to find out that the LPEF has returned to how it once was, before the Manuscript Pen Company decided to make it "beginner-friendly"