When ebay wasn't what it is now and you were really buying directly from owners I was able to purchase several vintage pens with gold nibs. They only cost me $30-$40 because most of the people who were selling them were just clearing out a relative's house and didn't care about fountain pens. Getting the sacks replaces and the plunger or lever mechanisms working wasn't hard and they still with a very impressive line variation. This review shows me that I have some real options for modern versions if I save up for a gift for myself. This comparison was super helpful! Wish I could give this video 2 thumbs up.
Excellent presentation. My favorite Pilot is the Custom 743 with a Soft Fine nib. It provides character to my handwriting and is one of the smoothest nibs I have ever used.
Great list David.. was long due I must say... Thank you... Have a couple of these and Lamy 2000 is an outright favourite... Recently got the Krishna Peacock series you used in writing samples and it is stunning, can't wait for your review
I'll echo Dustin Wilson's comment. My favorite "entry level" gold nib is the Pilot E95s (or Pilot Elite from Japan [not the Korean one]). I have one I ordered directly from Japan with an EF 14k nib, and I love it.
@@charliewhelan9488 From what I've gathered, and I've done a lot of research on these because I am In the market for one very soon. So if the pen has just an E on the front of it on the cap it is a North American marketed E95S. If it has Elite on it written out it is a Japanese marketed pen but is exactly the same. There were Korean made pens back in the 80's I think and 90's that had Elite written out on them with not a gold nib but a steel nib and it wasn't that good at all. They were alright but no where near the quality and feel of the real ones. The Korean one was also much cheaper. Hope this helps and I hope I hit all of the points and got all of this correct.
My first gold nibbed pen was a vintage Pilot, my second a Platinum pocket pen. I'd highly recommend going Japanese vintage if you want some great and affordable gold nibs!
First fountain pen I bought (since being a kid in the 70's) was a Twibi. Second was the Custom 742. I've never wanted to use another fountain pen since. I don't believe I've used the Twibi since my Pilot arrived. I have always fancied a Sailor though. The King of Pens appeals hugely. (Man, Ive just looked at how much they cost. That won't be happening any time soon.)
Your vids are always so gooood. I adore my Pilot Custom 74 demonstrators, and my Lamy 2000.. I marvel at the Lamy 2000 every time I use it. I also adore the E95S.. pilots do rule.
Some of Lamy's special edition and a few of their standard line Studio fountain pens come with their gold nibs - these are pretty damn good value as you are getting the same nib and feed system as their more expensive gold nib pens in a much more VfM package. The palladium studio always comes with a gold nib and is a standard line model so widely available. The finish is a bit tighter than on standard studios as well.
The most expensive gold nib pen I ever had was ASC Arco Brown for $1000. It was very underwhelming. The best gold nib pen I ever had was 1960s Platinum pocket pen. I paid $10 on eBay. Beautiful soft fine 14K nib.
I went with a Platinum 3776 for my first gold nib pen - back when you could get a new one direct from Japan for $75! It's a slippery slope once you start down that road but a very enjoyable one!
Nice to see vintage gold nibbed pens get a mention. If you get past the "vintage pens are hard to clean" thing (not as difficult as some filling systems still made, though more difficult than a cartridge converter pen), there's a whole new world out there. There's the name brand ones that can fetch higher prices, through brands you may have not heard of that still can be lovely writers. Plenty of the "store brand" pens were made by name companies, with generally pretty good nibs. And mustn't forget about "Warranted" nibs. Basically a vintage gold version of the modern "one brand fits most" Jowo nibs, in that they were a common replacement nib. Just be careful with who you get them from. I've gotten plenty of nice pens from eBay, but your mileage may vary, especially since the description and pictures may be deceiving. (A coat of carnuba wax is not restoration, and because it's supposed to be a flex one doesn't mean that it can't be driven into cured white oak with no problems, for example.) Of course, claims from modern pens can be deceiving, too... Whatever you decide, it can be either a great experience or a regret.
Not actually all that vintage.... But you can literally find new old stock pilot elite pens for like 40 or 50 bucks. And even if the filling doesn't work you just get a modern converter and it works like a charm
Interesting list. I own 3 from your list and have another in my wishlist. My lowest cost gold nib is not sold anymore. it's the Platinum PTL-5000. Great pen and mostly great price .
I think a video on the Pilot Custom/CH range would be very welcome in future. Also, some explanation of their unusual nib sizing numbers would be great.
Superb overview. I have been expanding my awareness of fountain pen options via the largest market (I think), China. I am writing with Hong Dian and Jinhao gold nibs with wonder and joy. I hear that PenBBS is coming out with something fun.
It would be interesting to see more direct comparisons with new gold nibs that are becoming available from hongdian, wing sung, and Penbbs which are generally in the $80 price range.
Great guide, thanks. Currently, my only gold nibs are on Parker 45s, which are, of course, dirt cheap, but don't perhaps give the full experience someone may be looking for. I am looking to buy a few of the pens you selected in the next year or so, including a Lamy 2000, so this was of great interest. And I've been searching for a Stargazer/Stella for what seems like ages!
Thanks, Dave. A much appreciated video! I have several of those, but certainly not all. I wish you had shown a Pilot E95S but you might not own one. It's an excellent writer and not nearly as small in the hand as it would seem to be.
Came here to say the same. So affordable for a gold nib, easily an entry level gold. And a unique inlaid nib which is hard to find. I have an extra fine and it writes so lovely. I prefer a wet writer an this EF sips on the ink, but at the same time it's a small pocket sized pen and can make the ink in the small converter go a long way. It really matches Writers Blood ink which writes very wet if you get the maroon version. A lovely unique design. Somehow elegant, classic and distinctive at the same time. I think a really nice unique choice for a first gold nib.
1. Pilot Custom 74 2. Pilot Custom 742 3. Salior 1911 standard 4. Platinum 3776 5. Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo 6. Pilot Stella 90s/ Stargazer 7. Lamy 2000, (alos shown Lamy Dialog 3 and Lamy Safari with gold nib) 8. Pilot Falcon 9. Sailor Pro Gear slim 10. Pilot Custom Heritage 92
Thus far I'm quite satisfied with my steel nibbed Platinum Procyon, TWSBI Eco and a sizeable collection of some cheap but nice Asian steel nib pens I've bought over the last few years on ebay and etsy, as well as a bunch of dirt cheap Chinese novelty and clone pens I haven't really broken in at all. But for a regular writer I find myself drawn to the Procyon over and over, and it's quite true that you get what you pay for. So far it's my most expensive pen, but also by far my most enjoyable and consistent to write with, and my most visually appealing pen to boot (or....figboot?). Cleary, my pen future lies in upgrading to a gold nib. I've had my eye on nearly all the pens on this list and I've favorited the video to come back to soon when I'm ready to make the jump.
Thanks for doing a complete writing sample on the same page. It allows me to see which pen writes wet and which on the drier side. It seems like I’ll be looking at the sailor pro gear slim for work. I have the platinum 3776 uef but it isn’t as reliable for work because it tends to poke holes on the documents. I like how it doesn’t bleed through regular copy paper. In your opinion, which one writes on the drier side when it is filled and not dipped?
My first gold nibbed FP was that Lamy Studio you mention. Unfortunately, I found myself using it less and less because the section is just too slick and with the somewhat small sweet spot on the otherwise wonderful nib, I found I had to adjust my grip more often than I care to. Recently, however, I bought a Lamy Accent and put that great gold nib on it. I'm using that Frankenpen a lot!
I was spoiled… lol my very first fountain pen was a Lamy 2000 given to me as a gift and to this day it is still my favorite daily use pen despite having added several other pens to my collection since then! The capping mechanism is great! I don’t have nearly the issues of ink drying out in the pen that I have in other pens. I really don’t think you can go wrong with that pen. I have the Sailor 1911 Wicked Witch of the West and enjoy it but it feels a little light in the hand for my taste but that’s entirely personal preference. I have a couple Pilot Vanishing Points and REALLY wanted to love them but I have a hard time with them… I don’t know if it’s just that I don’t reach for them enough so they start drying out but I seem to have more flow issues with them then others.
This is my next goal. A good nibbed pen. I JUST bought the Laban 325 which has a gold plated nib but I’m looking forward to trying a legit gold nibbed pen
Awesome video as always, and way more pens to add to my list! I was originally going to wait for the Custom 823 but I think you've swayed me to get one of these first, it costs way less so I can get one sooner. I don't have a lot of gold nibs but my favourites have made this list, and my short list of pens to buy next happen to have a few more from here which makes me feel more confident in the choices I made I've been trying to find out some opinions on the 3776 music nib, I know you compared a lot of the music nibs in one video, but I have a double broad Lamy 2000 as well and was wondering if you know off the top of your head which was broader? Sorry I know that's not entirely related to this video, and please don't feel any pressure to answer. I've been struggling to find a width comparisons with nibs I own to work out if it's going to be too broad, and I know as long as it's narrower than the BB Lamy 2000 it will suit my needs so I couldn't help but ask.
@Eloise Dickson BB nibs are supposed to work at a uniform line across all directions but the music nibs are designed to write music notes from a piano, the music nib will work like a stub nib but less smother also stub show more width the more steep you hold the pen for example holding the pen in 90 degrees. My own advice will be that you remain careful because music nibs can provide a different or similar feel to stub according to your preferences in a stub nib. Think of it like this:- Music Nib: more line width, less smooth Stub Nib: a little less line width, but more smooth However just in case you want to get other opinions from other people i will link a discord channel for fountain pen users if you want to ask questions:- discord.gg/KrRm9D6 also goulet pen company made a fantastic video about different stub nibs from different brands if you're interested:- m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ulnW4du1704.html So really really thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!!
Thank you for enlightening me that I can modify my Safari Field Pen with a gold nib, I am sure my wife will hate you for that! Excellent and informative presentation with a pleasant combination of technical aspects and verve.
Thanks for this highly informative video. The 21K gold nib on my Sailor 1911L is my favorite nib. I'm wondering if you've ever opted for the 14K gold version of the Jowo #6 nib on any of your pens and if it's worth it.
I also like Sailor nibs, both in 14k and 21k, but after years of considering Sailor my favourite pens I finally got a Pilot Custom 74 which I always keep inked... Sailor nibs are stiffer but have a tiny ammount of flexibility which makes them quite expresive, not boring as the typical JoWo steel nibs. The nib on the Pilot Custom 74 has a bit more flex and the combo nib + feed as well as the quality control on these Japanese pens makes it as reliable as the Sailor ones, just softer. As for JoWo gold nibs, I have a couple of them, one in a custom Edison Menlo and it writes smoothly but has very little if any flexibility at all, resulting in a rather boring nib which is not very different than a JoWo steel one, except for the fact that it is juicier and draws a broader line than its steel equivalent (I am into Extra Fine nibs, thus I do not like an EF to write like a European F or even a Medium... Just my experience and opinion...
Having owned a few of those I can say the VP and Falcon are awesome, not dissapointed at all. I'd like to throw another pen out there though like the safari mentioned it is a mod. You can if you wish throw an edison 14k or 18k nib on a Jinhao X750, though you really get looks from this, usually confusion.
It might just the current market, but I've found it much cheaper to get into gold nibs in the last year. I bought a Pilot E95s and it came out to less than $140 with shipping, which seems like a steal to me.
The Custom 74 is just as traditional some of their other pens simply bc the Custom 74s available in North America only come in translucent colors, which definitely doesn't look as traditional as those sold in Japon, which only come in 3 solid and traditional colors.
I would like to see a fountain pen that is charged by the back and ink only goes one way. !s there anyone that you know? Thank you and congratulations on your videos.
One of the times I appreciate living in Japan is when I’m buying a new pen and finding them sold at a discounted price. Hearing the price of Japanese pens on reddit makes me feel sorry sometimes. The downside is, some less global European pens and inks are quite expensive in relative, although the major ones like Pelikan and MB are decently priced I think.
I think in most cases gold is overrated. They aren't necessarily softer (David contradicted himself in this video--see Sailor), smoother, bouncier, whatever. I have in e95 I was gifted, and it is amazing. I have a Parker Vacumatic that is a brutal nail, which also points to the fact that vintage does not always equal flexy. If you enjoy your pens, that's all that matters ❤️
@@jacobus57 some people in the forties and fifties didn't want flex either. I have 2 vintage Waterman's lever fill pens from the forties. One has a semi-flex gold nib and the other has a stiff account gold nib. 😀😀 My first modern solid gold nib is a Sailor 1911S with medium nib.
So, now I'm COMPLETELY spoiled! Every other pen seems kind of rough and stiff.... I know....terrible problem to have. Lol... That doesn't stop me from checking out other fountain pens though......
Ok....y'all don't hate me...my very FIRST fountain pen was a Mont Blanc with a gold nib. It was a complete accident to purchase such a nice pen first. I purchased it probably in the mid-1980s, so it's....goodness....FORTY years old now? The really funny thing is that I have only recently started using it with any frequency. I actually didn't even realize I still had it and, until I started watching this channel, didn't know what I had.
Congratulations, I think a Montblanc (not Mont Blanc like the mountain :-)) is a very good choice for a first fountain pen with a gold nib. As you can see from your example, the quality remains when the price is long forgotten.
The Third Number of a Pilot custom pen actually refers to the nib size not the price. No number at all being a size 5, two being size 10 and three being size 15. This also covers on rare occasions some specialty nibs and oversized nibs where the naming convention doesn’t change.
Ok, quick question among the Pilot(s) out there. I have a Custom Heritage 92 Broad which is the smoothest writing experience I 've ever had with a pen. On the other side, XMas *is* coming and I am thinking of pulling the trigger for a Decimo Medium (which shares nib unit with the Capless/ Vanishing Points). So. any chance for a semi-objective opinion on smoothness? The goal is the 0% feedback, 100% hot-knife-in-butter-ness that Custom 92 (esp. broad) gives in spades. Should I pull the trigger? I mean, I like the Custom 92 *really much* but I can't disagree with the snappiness of use of a Decimo, and I kinda have my eyes on it, but if it doesn't offer as smooth an experience as Custom 92, I may as well buy one more 92 to have more colors in the collection :)
many people expect gold nibs to be softer, while David mentions quite some Sailor pens, their standard grind nib is the least suited for writing with pressure, the feedback will feel terrible and chance of it digging the paper is high though the nib is normal, good ink and paper. Now, David has somewhat of writing character that looks like pushing the nib in his writing, In my experience, that way of writing really gives the feedback that rubs me the wrong way, often hurting the paper or tires my hand rather quickly. I have several 14ks and a 21k, it really asks my hand to write a certain way and use certain ink and paper to feel proper, when my hand gets it, it becomes the most addicting character out of 3 Japanese entry level. weirdly the steel offering being often consistently easier to use(but isnt as pretty)
Sailor's 21k nib is my favorite, the feedback is addicting. I have tried 14k nibs as well but they are too bouncy for my liking. The 21k nib digging into paper is true though, you have to adjust your writing pressure to get the most enjoyment out of it.
Glaring omission; Pilot e95. Unlike the Stella it is still in production. The nib is not only a stunning writer, but it is also beautiful. Really odd that you did not include this pen 🤔
There are so many Japanese pens on this list because of how cheaply they're priced in the US. Unfortunately, in the EU, many of them are not quite as affordable. Even some EU-based pens are more expensive in the EU than they are in the US, somehow. It's not just pens, though.
They are not. One has the regular 14k nib and the other a special nib. Now I would say that the one with the special nib would be a bit more expensive than the regular one. Besides that, if David is reccomending two Sailor pen models which, in their standard versions, sport the same nibs it might just be because of the different shapes of the bodies. One issue with the 1911 standard is that it is too similar to the Montblanc equivalent (albeit cheaper and with a better nib than a small Montblanc such as the Solitaire). I like these pens but tend to prefer the Professional Gear in order to avoid confusion and further explanations...
personally, I like it more than the vp/decimo. snap cap makes it equally convenient, it’s small when carrying, and I just like the nibs to be visible :)
What exactly do you mean by entry level gold nib? how are they qualitatively different from any other gold nib? That fact that you may spend ludicrous amounts on a pen does not relate to the nib being any good. There have been plenty of gripes about expensive pens needing work out of the box. So I am really interested in exactly what you mean here.
Well, IMHO and my experience, many expensive (particularly Italian) pens do need nib adjustment. Now in order to realise the difference in quality and/or performance I would suggest going to a brick and mortar shop or to a pen show and try, a JoWo number 6 gold nib, a Sailor in 14k, a Pilot Custom 74 and then a Nakaya, a Pelikan 1000 or a Montblanc 149 (all bigger nibs than a JoWo number 6), for example, to feel the difference between say a Volkswagen Beattle and a Rollls Royce, particularly thinking of the suspension of both cars, that is the flexibility and bouncyness of the nib... Sailor nibs are very reliable, and precise, but have a bit more feedback than others. Some of us don't object to that, but some would not like it. The Pilot Custom 74 has a fantastic nib for its price but one that cannot be compared to the bouncyness on a Pelikan 1000 or a Montblanc 149 bigger nibs. I would consider the pens on the video (or most of them) to be "entry level" because or their price, and quality/price relationship. I tend to aggree with David. I would reccomend these pens to anyone wanting a first gold nib. Those are all well proven and reliable pens, which went, at the factory, through a good quality control and nib fine tuning, and yet are quite affordable at less than 200 USD (most of them).
@@HookahBurdar And I think that is representative of the snobbery that exists in this hobby. Expensive gold nibs are not objectively better than cheaper gold nibs by any metric. The characteristics of bounce or any kind of flexibility is not a measure of a better nib, just a different nib. A lot of people like writing with really firm nibs , just as some like bouncy nibs. In your example I most heartedly disagree. The Pilot Custom 74 nib is every bit as good a writer as an MB149 or Pel 1000 nib. What you are talking about is personal preference, not any objective measure. Edit to add: a bigger nib is also not an indicator of it being better than a smaller nib. The world of vintage pens will quickly disabuse of that fallacy.
@@davyj5216 Well, if I understood correctly, David mentioned vintage pens but focused on current ones. I agree with you, and most people, when you suggest that many vintage gold nibs were vastly superior to most contemporary gold nibs, regardless of sizes, at least in terms of flexibility, which I consider important in terms of quality and required know how. The smoothness of a nib might have more to do with the iridium tip and, true, the fine tuning before leaving the worship or factory. True as well, some people prefer stiff nibs, but I still believe a bouncy nib, and of course a semi-flex or a fully flexible nib require more work and skill to produce them. Small nibs can indeed be fantastic and some were very good in the past, but in my experience bigger nibs nowadays are way better than small ones in terms of flexibility, and particularly of springiness. The nibs on my 4 vintage pens are all fantastic, and some of them are small ones (like a Conklin Toledo (probably a number 5) on a 1934 Conklin Endura Symetrik, or the one on my 1920’s Parker Duofold… but the Kaweco number 5 gold nib (15 k) bought for my Dia 2, is more expressive than the original steel nib, but cannot be compared with bigger and better nibs. As for the Pilot Custom 74 it is indeed my favourite writer and the only one I always keep inked… but I consider the nibs on the Pelikan 1000 or the Montblanc 149 to be better, even impressive. Anyhow, I still believe that by “entry level” David just means affordable good quality gold nibs on current fountain pens. He sure now collects and reviews some very expensive and fancy pens, but also a whole bunch of very affordable even the cheapest ones, and as many other “aficionados” and reviewers started the hobby with such cheap pens. The same happened with Matt Armstrong or even with the seller Brian Goulet. I don’t consider them snobs… but true, there are loads of snobs in this as in other hobbies.
@@HookahBurdar Bigger and better nibs? See, that is all wrong. While I agree that flexible gold nibs require different techniques to produce, the fact is that nobody is making full flex nibs today. All you get is a bounce or semi flex at best. Furthermore, a flexible nib is not a better nib than a stiff nib. It is only a different nib. Your preference for a bouncy nib is just your preference and has no meaning with regard to the quality of the nib objectively speaking. In other words, you are being subjective and not objective.
There are lots of people who use fountain pens for art and drawing. Being able to produce a thinner line with the same pen is an important feature for them.
