Pilot Custom 74 Or Pilot Stargazer?

[Mezzie]

If all goes well, I should be rid of my PMI payment in less than a year, an occasion that I believe is traditionally marked with the purchase of a mid-range pen (the truly expensive pens are for paying off the entire mortgage, of course). I think I've narrowed the choices down to two, but there are pros and cons to each, and I can't seem to decide. Maybe those of you with one or both of the pens can help.

 

Pilot Stargazer:

Pro:

Looks pretty, and I don't have a white pen yet.

Uses a piston converter.

Con:

Has a snap-on cap. I'm not a big fan of those, and I have too many already.

 

Pilot Custom 74:

Pro:

Comes in purple.

Has a screw on cap.

Con:

Has a button converter. That makes me nervous.

 

So... They come in about even, as you can see. Does anyone know if you can replace a con-70 with a con-50 if it turns out I really hate that button system? I know the con-70 holds more ink and is longer, but I don't know if the base that connects to the pen is the same size. If it is and I could switch to a con-50 if I become frustrated, then I think the Custom 74 might be the winner. If not, then I'd love to hear about your experiences with that kind of filling system.

 

I've only read a few reviews of the Stargazer/Stella 90 on here -- it seems to not be a very popular pen for some reason. I'd love to know why if that is the case. I really can't imagine Pilot making a dud.

 

Thanks for your help. This pen will be fully funded by saved up loose change, so I've got plenty of time to think about it (and to consider other choices, though I'm fairly set on a Pilot).

[I.M.]

You should have no problem using a Con-50 in a Custom 74. The only differences between the two is ink capacity and operating system. The dimension of the necks will be the same.

[napalm]

I don't have a 74, however I do have a Stella 90s and a 912. Both are very fine pens. As long as nib / writing performance is concerned, they are both excellent. The difference is in size and bling. The Stella is a very handsome "miniature" pen, but you would need to post the cap to comfortably write for longer sessions. The click cap mechanism works deliciously well. OTOH it will fit in shirt pocket / small purse whatever. It is beautiful. It looks more feminine. If you want a beautiful pen this is it. The 912 is a large "workhorse" type of pen for males with big paws. Similar overall looking but less adorned. Works great without posting the cap. With CON-70 holds lots of ink. The CON-70 works just great, however it's interchangeable with 50 and 20 (same fitting diameter).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2014 by napalm

[inn3rs3lf]

Personally, I would throw the Custom Heritage 92 from a Japanese seller into the mix.

 

Overall, I prefer everything about the pen to the Custom 74 and the Stargazer. Mind you, I am a sucker for demonstrators.

[NobleDel]

You didn't ask this question, but I think this is an important point. Several dealers sell Pilots. I suggest you buy from a dealer who tests and adjusts nibs for smoothness and flow before sending you your pen. They usually do this for free as part of the sale price. A year ago I bought a Pilot from a dealer who didn't test/adjust nibs, and I got a very dry writing nib that I needed to have adjusted. Not the end of the world, but needless hassle.

 

BTW - What makes you nervous about a button converter? I have one in my Pilot. It's very easy to use, never had any problems.

[parnesh]

Great choice with pilot. they have really spoiled me. Know whenever I want to buy a new pen, I end up comparing to one of my pilots and usually I can't justify getting another pen.

 

Have a look at custom 91, custom 92 (m600 size piston demo) and custom 912 from japanese sellers. great value for money.

[vnnil]

I have both pens in F, and they are awesome in their own way. Like 98% of Pilots, mine wrote excellent out of the box.

 

The stargazer is a very practical, although heavier pen. Like napalm said, posting is necessary because of its size. It does not take CON-70, but if you need good ink capacity you can always use cartridges or syringe-fill them. The nib is a #3, but I find it to be different of the normal Pilot nib, it has some kind of springy feel that's hard to describe.

 

The C74 is a plastic, longer, lighter pen, more suitable for long writing sessions. If you consider the japanese opaque versions, you will have many more nib options. Also, you could get it at about half the price... You could buy both !

 

In my opinion you can't go wrong with either.

 

PS: CON-70 is awesome!

[Mezzie]

Thanks -- this is really helpful.

 

NobleDel -- my nervousness about the button is simply fear of the unknown. I'd hate to spend a ton only to find the filling mechanism is a dealbreaker.

 

I'll look at the other pens you guys mentioned. Thanks.

[Algester]

the only downside of the CON-70 is that it's a very hard converter to clean easy to fill but hard to clean unless you can fully disassemble the converter which is possible but the threading glue is very hard I have it on my CH91 which I already did a written review over all I won't say its a deal breaker for 1.1ml of ink but again cleaning it will be a pain unless you have something like a compressed air can then that would make cleaning the converter a breeze

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I love my Custom 74 and the Con-70 converter. A trick to cleaning the converter more effectively is clean it when it is still attached to the pen. This flushes out the tube which sometimes isn't thoroughly flushed out when the converter is cleaned separately from the rest of the pen. Cycle the plunger when the converter is completely full to clean the tube.

 

Dillon

Edited July 21, 2014 by Dillo

[AlejoPlay]

I am in the process of selling some pens and one of them is a Custom 74 with a custom stub that is too broad for me. I want an F nib as I have been writing a lot with Japanese microtip gel pens and I think my writing looks better with finer nib sizes . .. I heard such awful stuff about the stock F nibs on the 74. I love the look of the smoke demonstrators, but I found a good deal on a black Custom 91 with an SF nib. How do those compare? Do they take care of the dry writing of the Custom 74 nibs or is that issue overreported?

 

Do the 92s use the same nibs? I like the smoke demonstrators on that.

[Mezzie]

You guys are exactly the wealth of information I was hoping you would be.

[rdh]

One other Pilot pen you might want to look at is the Elite 95S. It is an improved version of the old Pilot Elite from the 1970s. It has a very cool gold nib and is a limited edition pen. If you order it from Japan, you can get it for under $100, shipped. You will find some very positive reviews of it here on FPN. I have a Custom 74 that I like, but am spoiled by the Custom 823. Although they look similar, they feel, fill and write entirely differently from one another. I rotate all of my pens, but the 823 always stays inked.

 

Dave

[Algester]

I am in the process of selling some pens and one of them is a Custom 74 with a custom stub that is too broad for me. I want an F nib as I have been writing a lot with Japanese microtip gel pens and I think my writing looks better with finer nib sizes . .. I heard such awful stuff about the stock F nibs on the 74. I love the look of the smoke demonstrators, but I found a good deal on a black Custom 91 with an SF nib. How do those compare? Do they take care of the dry writing of the Custom 74 nibs or is that issue overreported?

 

Do the 92s use the same nibs? I like the smoke demonstrators on that.

CH 91 and CH 92 sport the same number 5 nib I wont say they are dry though but then again I used a wet ink, Iroshizuku Take-Sumi on my CH91 however CH92 will not sport the same nib selections as with a BLACK CH91 (SF, SFM, SM nibs to be in particular), the other CH 91 colors will otherwise sport the same nib selection as the CH 92 or the CH912 just so you know if ever like say you want a soft nib on a CH92 then you would have to buy both pens unless they can accept custom nib selection orders unless say you want the look of the Custom Series then go get the Custom 74 and Custom 742 either way they are the same different pen shape

unless say you like the Falcon nib, Waverly nib, Posting nib, Corse, Music, Stub nib on a Custom 74 or CH 91 then you have to buy their respective 2 models hence Custom 742 and CH912 then place it on the Custom 74 and CH 91 bodies they are threaded BTW so you can easily replace them they are a bit bigger than their Custom 74 and CH 91 cousins as they also sport the number 10 nibs

 

Either way you can get a C 74 with a CON-50 converter if your frantic about it it will fit and will fit most Pilot pens if ever you need one CON-70 will only fit a good selection of pens either way

Edited July 22, 2014 by Algester

[Algester]

One other Pilot pen you might want to look at is the Elite 95S. It is an improved version of the old Pilot Elite from the 1970s. It has a very cool gold nib and is a limited edition pen. If you order it from Japan, you can get it for under $100, shipped. You will find some very positive reviews of it here on FPN. I have a Custom 74 that I like, but am spoiled by the Custom 823. Although they look similar, they feel, fill and write entirely differently from one another. I rotate all of my pens, but the 823 always stays inked.

 

Dave

 

uhh... Elite 95S is not a limited edition pen unless you looking for other finishes then yes they are LE like the clear demo 823

[Dillo]

 

uhh... Elite 95S is not a limited edition pen unless you looking for other finishes then yes they are LE like the clear demo 823

 

They were supposedly limited and made for the 95th anniversary. I'm not sure when they stop making them, but my impression was that they were making them only for a limited time.

 

Dillon

[Algester]

 

They were supposedly limited and made for the 95th anniversary. I'm not sure when they stop making them, but my impression was that they were making them only for a limited time.

 

Dillon

in fact it's so currently in production that it's going to hit the US soon as the E95S... yes DON'T ASK ME ABOUT PILOT US NAMING SENSE but again I think they had a Maki-e finish once back in the 80s as a Namiki pen but weather or not that was true is beyond me

Edited July 22, 2014 by Algester

[AlejoPlay]

CH 91 and CH 92 sport the same number 5 nib I wont say they are dry though but then again I used a wet ink, Iroshizuku Take-Sumi on my CH91 however CH92 will not sport the same nib selections as with a BLACK CH91 (SF, SFM, SM nibs to be in particular), the other CH 91 colors will otherwise sport the same nib selection as the CH 92 or the CH912 just so you know if ever like say you want a soft nib on a CH92 then you would have to buy both pens unless they can accept custom nib selection orders unless say you want the look of the Custom Series then go get the Custom 74 and Custom 742 either way they are the same different pen shape

unless say you like the Falcon nib, Waverly nib, Posting nib, Corse, Music, Stub nib on a Custom 74 or CH 91 then you have to buy their respective 2 models hence Custom 742 and CH912 then place it on the Custom 74 and CH 91 bodies they are threaded BTW so you can easily replace them they are a bit bigger than their Custom 74 and CH 91 cousins as they also sport the number 10 nibs

 

Either way you can get a C 74 with a CON-50 converter if your frantic about it it will fit and will fit most Pilot pens if ever you need one CON-70 will only fit a good selection of pens either way

 

 

I ended up ordering the Black Custom 91 with an SF nib and the CON-70. The aesthetics of the pen are borning but I erred on the side of getting a good nib. I have not read one bad review of the SF. I don't need flex, just smoothness and cushion.

Edited July 22, 2014 by AlejoPlay

[napalm]

 

I ended up ordering the Black Custom 91 with an SF nib and the CON-70.

 

That's a safe bet. And IMHO the 91 with its flat ends and rhodium trim looks more modern than the 74.

[Algester]

 

That's a safe bet. And IMHO the 91 with its flat ends and rhodium trim looks more modern than the 74.

because it is... the Heritage series is the "modern" esthetics to the Custom's "retro" esthetics I'm quite exagerating to say that Justus 95 is in fact Custom Heritage 95... because of it's looks

this is the same for Sailor's Profit and Professional gear series, Profit being the retro to Pro-gear's modern

Edited July 22, 2014 by Algester