Advices Request On Pilot Custom 912 Fa Nib

[Feanaaro]

Hello,

 

I think I want to try the FA nib, and I think I want to try it on a Pilot 912 (the 742-743 I don't like aesthetically).

I've read and watched a bunch of reviews around, and they don't seem to agree on a few points, so I'm asking for advice here, and in particular:

– how usable the nib really is for flex writing? I get it was designed for Japanese calligraphy, short strokes etc., but in practice, if I go slow, will I likely be able to use it satisfactorily, or will it railroad every two seconds anyway?

– how thin is the un-flexed line? Is it like the Pilot regular F? Or EF? Or something else?

– is this nib usable for normal writing (with a decently light hand), or is it so soft and flexible that it could not be used, for example, for taking notes?

– is there any significant difference between the FA nib in the 912 and the FA nib in other pens (besides the larger #15 size in the 743, which I would like, but I don't like the body of the pen as I said)

 

Any additional advice would also be welcome, this would be the first pen of this kind (first relatively expensive Pilot with a gold nib) for me.

Thanks a lot.

[ehemem]

I have a 912 with a FA nib and in my experience:

1) it will railroad

2) the unflexed line is about a fine line

3) the ink flow is somewhat inconsistent even without flexing, and I wouldn't and don't use it for extended writing sessions (I have a light hand, so the tines hardly separate if at all unless I apply pressure intentionally)

4) no, it is the same nib and feed setup.

 

There is a hack you can do to the feed to increase ink flow, but then you get a wetter pen. Just my thoughts...

[sirius1906]

The notion of FA nib or the Falcon/Elabo was designed for "Asian writing" is false in my opinion. I grew up in China and practiced Chinese (FP) calligraphy 20 some years ago. I can write/fake a bit Japanese as well,

It does not make sense to use after nib to write Chinese/Japanese, because the horizontal and the Vertical strokes widths would not be consistent. I tried writing Chinese and Japanese using a vintage Waterman 52, and it is just not right. Fude, Zoom or Concord nibs are much better to mimic a brush. For normal writing, a regular nib with minimal flex is more appropriate.

 

I just got my 912 FA last week, it hard starts, skips and railroads out of the box, I tried different inks and it didn't make a difference. I contacted Mike Masuyama at Mikeitwork.com , he told me that the FA nib often suffer from baby's bottom and/or the tines being too for apart out of the box. Those are pretty easy to fix. but I didn't like the thick unflex lines. I asked Mike to grind it to a UEF/needle pt. He make sure I know what I'm asking before accepting the work. I showed him my work with an oblique dip nib, and told him I don't expect the FA nib to Perform like a vintage flex. Anyway, the FA nib is quite easy to flex. Almost full flex status, but is not as responsive (snapback) as vintage. Mike said that's because modern flex nibs are cold rolled; Vintage nibs are forged,

[Feanaaro]

Interesting... on the website it seems that sending the pen for such a modification to Masuyama would run around 70$, is that correct? And based on your experience is it worth it (I guess you can answer after you get the pen back if you haven't already).