Should I Get A Fine Or A Medium Nib On A Pilot Custom 74

[vicki92]

Hello,

 

I still really want a Custom 74 and have finally saved up enough to get one!

 

I am going to go the online route as the brick and mortar store near me stocks only european made pens (and overcharges for them). So trying them first is unfortunately not an option.

 

However, I am conflicted as to which nib size I should go for. Fine or Medium.

 

The only Pilot pens I have experience with are the V-Pen and the Plumix, both of which are medium nibs, and quite a bit too wide for my standard writing (though the inexpensive medium italic on the Plumix is lovely for calligraphy). However, I have heard that usually Japenese nibs run one grade finer than western nibs.

 

Most of time right now, I am using a Lamy studio or al-star with a Fine nib. I also own one with an extra-fine that is is closer to fine that I like quite a lot too, the other Lamy extra-fine nib I own is much too fine.

 

As far as medium nibs go, I quite like the size of the medium nib on the Monteverde Artista Crystal, but am not fond of the width of the medium nib on my Parker 51, and strongly dislike the width of a medium Pelikan nib.

 

And so, I am leaning towards the fine nib on the Custom 74... But I am worried that it may be too fine.

 

Would anyone have any insight as to which way I should go (or photographs comparing say a Lamy nib to that of the Custom 74)? Thank-you very much for your help!

 

Cheers

[OcalaFlGuy]

Contact Member Chrissy with your questions. Tell her I suggested you do so. She should be able to answer your questions.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[alc3261]

Pelikan (gold nibs) & Parker tend to be a touch broader than the rest of Western nibs. A Lamy Fine = Pilot Medium.

[XiaoMG]

A medium is probably what you're after, as the fine will be a little dry and pretty narrow unless you open up the tines a bit.

 

I just ordered one of the 2014 limited edition Pilot C74s in metallic grey with an FM nib, since I already have F and EF that I like. M is probably a bit too chunky for me. I don't know when my pen will ship, but if I get it soonish, I'll do some writing and post a pic to show line width.

Edited September 8, 2014 by XiaoMG

[UDog]

Get a Soft-Fine (SF) and have the best of both an F and M.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

I have a fine-medium nib on Custom Heritage 92. You could get the same on a custom 74. It's a good in-between width which I like. The only catch is that the U.S. sellers I'm familiar with don't sell this width. I got mine from a Japanese eBay seller.

[Falconerguy]

Remember that a Pilot fine is going to be like a Lamy Extra Fine. If you aren't a fan of super fine nibs, go for the medium.

[tomkeb]

Lamy Al-Star <F> = Pilot <M>. Have you tried this?

[Kugelschreiber]

Get a Soft-Fine (SF) and have the best of both an F and M.

 

Or a Soft Fine-Medium. Wonderful nib.

[Blue_Moon]

Or a Soft Fine-Medium. Wonderful nib.

+1

[FoszFay]

The only Pilot pens I have experience with are the V-Pen and the Plumix, both of which are medium nibs, and quite a bit too wide for my standard writing

If you have Pilot pens with medium nibs, and they are too broad, then get a fine. A Pilot medium nib in one pen, is the same as a medium nib in another Pilot.

 

Tom.

[nakiana]

If you have Pilot pens with medium nibs, and they are too broad, then get a fine. A Pilot medium nib in one pen, is the same as a medium nib in another Pilot.

 

Tom.

+1. I have a Custom 74 with a medium nib and it writes too broad for my tastes. Other than that it is a great pen.

[parnesh]

A Fine median or soft fine medium. Pilot fine is like lamy EF. Pilot M is like pelikan M (steel) but thinner than Lamy M.

[Algester]

get FM if you still doubt from my experience these pens come as western as you can get if you like semi flex get the soft nib

Edited September 8, 2014 by Algester

[elenita]

Have you tried this?

 

Excellent suggestion. The Goulet's nib nook really is a great tool, made to answer just these kind of questions. Definitely check it out if you haven't already!

[vicki92]

Thanks for the nib nook suggestion.I had tried that, but neither was quite the same, so I was hoping to hear from people who have experience with custom 74... Plus comparing to a Lamy nib can be problematic as there can be quite some variation in like width between two nibs of the same width.

 

Thanks for all of your help!

[Algester]

Thanks for the nib nook suggestion.I had tried that, but neither was quite the same, so I was hoping to hear from people who have experience with custom 74... Plus comparing to a Lamy nib can be problematic as there can be quite some variation in like width between two nibs of the same width.

 

Thanks for all of your help!

I have a soft medium I can give you a writing sample then?

http://i.imgur.com/ENc1Rmul.jpg

 

PS: if your getting from goulet which would mean it the demonstrator C74 your not going to get the S... PS: I wrote a mistake thats a SM not SFM

so again either go F or FM or their soft equivalents EF can go in here as well or go PO which... well isnt available outside Japan FOR NOW and it isnt available on the C74 but on their bigger cousins the C742 and C743

PPS: C stands for Custom CH stands for Custom Heritage

Edited September 9, 2014 by Algester

[vicki92]

Algester! Thank-you! That is exactly what I was hoping for. I won't be getting it from Goulet (though the nibnook feature is very helpful) as import fees into Europe would be rather outrageous, but the model I am looking at is the demonstrator (in violet - I really like demonstrators - it is one of the things that has made me want a C74). The SM looks significantly too broad for my small writing...

[Algester]

Algester! Thank-you! That is exactly what I was hoping for. I won't be getting it from Goulet (though the nibnook feature is very helpful) as import fees into Europe would be rather outrageous, but the model I am looking at is the demonstrator (in violet - I really like demonstrators - it is one of the things that has made me want a C74). The SM looks significantly too broad for my small writing...

the Pilot nibs are true to their western counterparts this may not apply to the Cocoon/Metropolitan but true to the Custom series line if you want something finer get a EF or PO

[Duke of Buckingham]

I think I'm a little late to the party, but there's another useful nib width comparison page at nibs.com:

http://www.nibs.com/TippingSizespage.htm

 

It's interesting, because it puts a Pilot medium (0.55mm) as between a Parker fine (0.4mm) and medium (0.65mm).

 

I personally find Parkers write wet, and Pilots are dry, and that this tends to make them seem respectively broader and finer.

Edited September 12, 2014 by Duke of Buckingham