This is a decent pen. It's my first modern flex nib. I have an old steel-nib Waterman with a fair amount of flex. This is not that. It has a bit more range, but requires much more pressure to flex. I have a hard time using it so far. It tends to bleed through even thick fountain-pen-friendly paper if flexed very much.

It's pretty good as a fine nib pen, or flexed just a bit, maybe to a medium. The piston mechanism is good. The nib is fairly smooth, and the ink feed is good.

As others have mentioned with Noodler's pens: it does smell weird, and that smell doesn't wash out quickly.

This pen takes a #6 nib like the Ahab, but it has a smaller diameter, which is comfortable for me. It can be _completely_ disassembled for deep cleaning with _no_ tools except your hands. I always do this to Noodler's pens before filling them, since they sometimes have machining oil residue which would interfere with ink flow. The ebonite nib is heat-settable (youtube videos show how). It will take a #6 FPR Ultraflex nib if you want an even softer flex experience.

Great. Thank you for all the effort you put in

The best flex pen for the money. With that being said, it is a VERY SMELLY pen, so be careful when buying it, especially if you have a sensitive sense of smell. Oh, and the smell clings to your hands and everything that this pen touches.

:)

Extremely surprised, awesome fine nib and really cool to write with... It has become my fav daily fountain pen.
Kudos for Noodler's. Dont let be fooled for the boycot.It's an awesome brand and really unique. The smell fades

Writes better than people say it does, but oh my god it stinks.Couldn’t even use it for a week without airing out a room, but after leaving it in some coffee grounds it’s bearable

I'll start by saying that, if you want a pen that works out of the box and requires little to no attention, move on. If you're not mechanically inclined and aren't the tinkering type. Move on. If you're still reading this and you're the tinkering type or really like to get down and dirty with your pens. This is the pen for you. I'll take you through the steps to set it up.1: completely disassemble the pen.2: scrub the nib and feed clean with dish soap and an old toothbrush. Rinse out everything else with warm soapy water.3: put it all back together.4: heat set the feed (watch a Goulet video to learn how)5: ink up the pen6: test out how it writes.7: if it writes too wet. Move the feed in. 8: if it writes too dry. Move the feed out.10: enjoy your pen. The trick on the nib and feed placement is to strike a balance on the amount of ink you're looking to put down. If you run the pen a little drier, the pen might not keep up when you're flex writing. If you run it too wet for regular writing it will dump ink when flex writing. You'll need to find a happy medium with the pen for your style of writing or drawing. To sum up, this is a pen that gets a lot of disrespect because people have ridiculous expectations for this pen. It's a utilitarian tool that costs less than $25 dollars. It's not a magic wand that will make all your dreams come true. What it is, is a good flex nib pen at a very good price that will really reward you for your tinkering once you've learned its quirks. You will learn its quirks and after setting the pen up, you'll likely fall in love with it. I have with mine.

My kick is artist-writer, which is relevant merely to underscore this pen gets heavy use. I must replenish its ink supply every other day. Beat that. (Though I have several favorites among Goulet's offerings, Noodler's Ink Polar Black in this Noodler pen is top of the heap.) Actually, this review is incident to my buying a replacement Noodler Konrad. (The Konrad suits my hand-experience better than the Ahab, which I also own. I reserve the Ahab for tight work.) My first Konrad has been breaking down steadily. When the nib started leaking, I bought a couple of 'O' rings at my local hardware ($0.79 a piece�it needs two): these meliorated an ostensible problem; that's to say, not entirely. The larger problem was the body casing of the pen has developed cracks. I repaired many with various glues and slaps of tape. But the handwriting is on the wall for its ultimate demise. So, why bother? The flex nib, I tell you, just gets better and better with use, with wear. It's exquisite after a breaking-in. No other pen I've owned�take it back: Rotring Art Pens beat anything else I've ever used, though the bold line is like swinging a bat at an intimate wine-and-cheese gathering; but they're no longer made, and I cozen the three I own like my own children�is so satisfying at every contact with a page. Is there a cremation ritual for nibs? I'm going to work this last one until even I am forced to admit it's done. I bought this replacement pen in anticipation of that tragic eventuality. Maybe a Viking boat-pyre is called for. If you're seeking a tidily precise pen with boringly scientific precision�same personality of line every time--this is not your style. If you cringe at ink-stained fingers while writing, flee! And the initial stink of the pens? Well, I have nothing to say for you. It goes away, especially with good, hard use. Politely: Get over yourself. I expect rare and wonderful things to occasionally bother me. I'm married, and I smoke a pipe. Need I say else? Magically, if one is very, very fortunate in life's chances, what was a bother becomes an incommensurable charm. A thing�amulet, a talisman, a touchstone (choice of a metaphor more plentiful than pens!)---you would not do without, you answer yourself: could not contemplate being without. My Noodler Konrad's kind of like that. (My old-and-irascible bird-dog is a different case, but only lately. We work it out, always.) And who among us isn't a relative mess when feeling and working at a state we feel our utmost best? I recommend this model pen unequivocally, but only if you decide it suits the you-YOU you believe you are.

I like this pen better than the ahab model. However, for a flex nib I don't think this pen is the best. But, it wasn't expensive so there's that.

The Konrad ticks a lot of boxes for me. 1-clear demonstrator. 2- piston filler. 3-#6 nib. 4-Who doesn't love Noodler's? At the shallow end of the pool where I play, an inexpensive piston filler is a win: a) it has more capacity than a cartridge converter, and b) it still lets you goose the feed when you hit a dry patch. (how do you goose the feed with an eyedropper or vac filler? (I'm jes' a newbie ..) Konrad measures a bit smaller than the Ahab, -which I love- and I worried about that -- I don't like small, slim pens for extended use. But Konrad doesn't feel small at all. And while I do like the Noodler's flex nibs, I don't really do much flexing, and like to swap in a Goulet EF. My handwriting is smallish, and broader nibs don't like small detail.

All fountain pen users can expect to develop well defined preferences as they acquire and experience pens. These may include nib softness, nib flex, line width, ink flow, pen weight and balance in the hand, section style and girth, ability to post, and sense of value in the hand (which we may think of as a general impression of material quality, fit, and finish). In time, the seemingly unquenchable habit of purchasing is stifled by a reasonable question, 'Will this pen give me what I know I enjoy?' If you do not have clearly defined criteria to the above question, this pen is not for you. If you are not interested in discovering those criteria with utensils and means beyond this pen alone, then this pen is not for you. If you have multiple grits of sand paper and know how to use them to get your preferences for feedback; if you know how to adjust nib wetness and tine alignment with a loupe; if you have silicone grease and aren't afraid rub a little on the feed after heat setting it to a nib that you yourself adjusted, then this pen is for you. Further, if you are willing to buy all the aforementioned items and potentially multiple copies of this pen as practice, then this pen is for you. In fact, with small effort, this pen can be exactly the pen that will give you what you enjoy out of this hobby. For me, that is a fine, soft nib with Sailor style feedback and wet flow in a lightweight body that is explicitly comfortable when posted. It must be said that the newly derived clear resin completely changes the sense of value in the hand to the degree that this no longer feels like a cheap toy. I often find myself grinning as I write: this is the pen that I've wanted but that thousands cannot buy, and damn does it look good filled with ink. This is an advanced user's pen at an entry level price. I feel as though it is something truly special � after making it exactly what I want for only $20, how could I not? Some of my pens cost over 20 times as much, but none of them, no matter how much money I could spend, could do what the Konrad does. It's not for everyone in that you must make it yours. If you are willing to do that � oh man � you will have one screamin' pen.

Stinky out of the box! Wow this pen is made from a smelly plastic. The smell seems to ease off after a few weeks and the pen writes well. The line variation is a little dissapointing and quite a bit of tinkering is necessary. Fun pen, but not for those new to fountain pens.

The pen is very nice to write with. Ink flows well right up until it doesn't - sometimes it seems to be out of ink when it isn't. You have to push this ink back into the nib using the piston. Then you are fine again. It might be that the pen is new and the system has to seat itself differently or something. I do love how it fits the hand and I will keep using it.

I don't really have a good point of reference since it's my first flex pen, but what I found here is a fun and rather versatile tool for writing. It does require a bit of tinkering (had to insert the feed a bit deeper for more stable ink supply), but I can't get enough writing with this pen.Without flex it has the perfect line width for me, close to Kaweco's F 0.7mm, and being able to let a little bit more ink out for some shading or a bit more for line variation makes for a very fun writing experience. The demonstrator does not really look that pretty though. The grip section and the cap in particular look a bit off putting after a couple of days of use, but provide a great window into inner workings of a pen, so I'm not complaining. The material is a bit smelly, although not too much.

I just started this new hobby of mine and this was my first purchase. I loved the idea of taking it apart and tinkering with all the workings of the pen. And this pen has it all. However if you don't like inky fingers stay away (I love it). After the first few times taking it all apart and adjusting how the pen wrote I got the perfect pen. It flows extremely nicely hardly ever railroads and has no hard starts (w/ noodlers x-feather and baystate Concord grape). It flexes farther than I could ever imagine. Absolutely amazing pen at the price point couldn't get anything better.

Pen is worth every penny. Great for sketching and writing. Easy to take apart and work on.

i wouldnt say its great but if your not looking for a flex nib this one flexes but if your looking to do some calligraphy buy a double or triple broad and just do calligraphy but if your looking for a good flex pen that wont run dry most of the time in the middle of flexing this is not the pen for you .. however if your not looking to flex this makes a grerat fine to medium pen with some line variation

I had to do multiple things to my pen including plugging a hole in the feed of the pen with a toothpick to slow the flow of ink. And even after that it's still an incredibly wet writer! But that is to be expected of a pen known to be a flex writer. I haven't had any issues with the pen rail roading or anything like that. It's a little on the stiff side though so don't expect it to be soft and springy when flexing the pen, it requires a little bit of force. If you like tinkering around with things this is the pen for you. I wouldn't recommend it as a first pen. I would recommend this pen for tinkerers though.

The most disappointing purchase ever and no one at Goulet seemed interested in hearing my feedback. Really disappointing experience.

Brilliant. I love the flex nib and have spent hours trying to write fancy. I'm horrible but the pen is so much fun I'm sure my writing will be glorious soon. The pen really does stink, but it fades fast and I got over it. You will get inky fingers but, tinkeringbis part of the fun. I was initially intimidated before my purchase but a couple quick videos boosted my confidence enough to go for it. No regrets.

It's a great pen, it writes nicely and it lays a lot of ink. I've been using the Noodlers Black Eel and the Jentle Yamadori. Only problem is that the cap and the pen grip gets inky really quickly and my hands end up stained quickly.

I love the way the ink flows from this pen (I've tried Noodler's American Eel and Borealis Black) onto drawing paper. It is flexible enough to make playful lines.

I have used these pens for several years for drawing and sketching. The **** refill is easier to use than the old plunger. I now like using inks that smug when being painted over with plain water. Beautiful effects. Can send examples if I know an e mail address and can send attachment showing this effect.

I recently started using flex nibs and I pulled out two Ahabs with flex nibs that I bought a few years back. I had never used them and neither one worked out of the box; and after heat setting the nib and extensive cleaning and tinkering one of them still doesn't work at all and the other works for a couple of lines, then stops. I also had a Nib Creaper with a flex nib which worked well but the nib was a little too small so despite the reviews I bought a Konrad (larger than the Creaper, smaller than the Ahab) to give this brand another chance since there aren't a lot of flex inibs around and I really wanted to find a reliable one. Turns out that the Konrad behaves exactly like the Ahab: it works perfectly for a few lines (good line variation, plenty of ink flows on the page) but then it stops entirely. I understand that these pens are made to be tinkered with, and I even accept that I may not be 'tinkering' correctly, but surely they can be expected to work out of the box? The tinkering should be to make them work better/differently/adapt them to the user. If they are designed to NOT work until they are tinkered with 'correctly' then that should be made clear.

Absolutely great $20 pen. Design is right on. Construction is well done. Writing quality is typical Noodler. And size is just right. Looking forward to buying several more Konrads soon.