Good Made Better Muse Fountain Pen Review: Distinctive First Pen

Introduction

Good Made Better has made a name for itself in the pen accessories space with products like the PenWell pen stand, the Traveler, and more recently the portable desk called the Writewell. Now the brand behind these accessories has released its first fountain pen, the Muse, through a Kickstarter campaign. We spent some time with the Muse in the Orion blue colorway to see how this debut offering holds up.

Design and Construction

The Muse is made of ebonite and immediately stands out thanks to its exterior texture. Three finishes are available: matte, brushed, and our favorite — bark texture, resembling tree bark. Each pen is hand-ground, so the pattern never repeats and each piece looks slightly different. Up close, this randomness gives the pen a personal, tactile character that machined pens rarely have.

The cap is flat and clipless, with a single facet featuring the company name. There is a medium-sized step between the cap and the straight barrel, which ends with a brass insert that adds a nice color accent. Three grooves at the beginning of the barrel provide an additional decorative element. The cap unscrews after just over one turn.

Nib and Writing Performance

Under the cap hides a number 6 stainless steel JoVo nib in a gold finish, with silver options also expected. The section is metal, with ebonite or brass options; our unit has the brass version. The grooved section helps maintain grip without being too aggressive.

On paper, the medium steel nib is pleasant and quite smooth, with only a slight hint of feedback. Ink flow is decent, and the feed keeps up well during fast writing. There is little line variation, and reverse writing is not its strong suit, but for everyday writing the nib performs very well.

Ink, Filling System, and Everyday Use

The Muse is a cartridge/converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included in the set. The pen is long enough to use comfortably without posting the cap — which is just as well, since it was not designed for that; the cap sits loosely at the end, not pretending to belong there.

One practical note: ink tends to hide in the grooves of the section during filling, so a dry tissue usually isn’t enough. A damp cloth or tissue works better. The section threads are also quite tight, and since metal parts appear in several places, this is not a pen you want to drop.

Buying Tips

The base price of the Muse is $250, with delivery scheduled for March 2025 — a reasonably short waiting time for a Kickstarter project. Good Made Better has successfully completed several campaigns and generally stuck to its declared deadlines, which gives backers some confidence. The same campaign also includes a smaller pocket pen called the Jester, and both models are available in five colorways: Midnight Black, Orion Blue, Herdsman Green, and the pink-orange Sunrise and Sunset pairs.

The Muse is a well-crafted debut pen with a truly unique exterior finish and solid writing performance. If you’re looking for a distinctive ebonite pen with a handmade feel, it’s an easy recommendation.

Conclusion

The Good Made Better Muse offers a unique hand-ground bark texture, attractive brass accents, and a pleasant, smooth nib in a compact form. Minor quirks like tight section threads or ink hiding in the grooves are easy to get used to. As first pens go, this is a very successful start, and backers should be pleased with the result.