Italic Vs Stub From M. Masuyama In F-C Site

[menganito]

Hello,

I would like to pick a Pen from F-C and I have doubts between Medium Italic vs Stub in steel from Meister Masuyama. I would like to know your feedback if you have tried both. I would pick up an italic because it is supposed to have more line variation. But I am afraid it to be very scratchy, I don't mind if it has a bit of feedback, like a sailor or so, but not too much that it is bothering. Would an italic from Masuyama be smooth or scratchy? Or something in between?

I am used to write in cursive, since in Spain print script it is not taught in school. Also it would be great to see writing samples. I have seen the white on black samples from the F-C site but they are not very clear to me.

 

Thank you FPN people.

[Randal6393]

Hi, menganito, Welcome to FPN

 

The nibs from Mike Masuyama are noted for being smooth, so don't think you would go wrong with the Medium Italic. If you are writing a broad-edged script regularly, might be a good choice. However, if your cursive is more nearly an American cursive, then would think the stub would be better.

 

Best of luck,

[RareInk]

I'm debating the same thing, but trying to decide between broad italic and broad stub in a FC.

Currently, I have a medium italic on one of my Parson Essentials, and it's not scratchy.

 

Good luck in your decision making.

Edited September 28, 2015 by RareInk

[menganito]

Thank you very much for the input. @RareInk could you please provide me with a writing sample of a Medium Italic? That would be great. Thanks.

[mmg122]

I have both FC Masuyamu nibs you are considering and I prefer the stub. I find the Medium Italic to have a very narrow sweet spot which makes it difficult for me to use. I should add, I have both SS and 18K Masuyamu nibs and find them to be quite comparable so save yourself the premium and go with the SS. Hope this helps.

[Shubhranshu Das]

Thank you... This was very helpful... I've been flirting with FC and the nib options for sometime on whether to go ahead and invest...

[menganito]

I have both FC Masuyamu nibs you are considering and I prefer the stub. I find the Medium Italic to have a very narrow sweet spot which makes it difficult for me to use. I should add, I have both SS and 18K Masuyamu nibs and find them to be quite comparable so save yourself the premium and go with the SS. Hope this helps.

Whoa, thank you very much for your answer. Now I am more doubtful than before hehehe. I have nearly decided for the italic before your post. What would you say about line variation between both nibs?

 

Thank you... This was very helpful... I've been flirting with FC and the nib options for sometime on whether to go ahead and invest...

Choices. Sometimes is difficult to decide. Good luck with yours.

[mmg122]

The line width variation is greater with the italic giving thinner horizontal and wider vertical strokes. The stub, however, is much smoother despite the fact that Mike's italic nibs are cursive italic. As I said previously, the sweet spot on his italic nibs is quite narrow and I had difficulty maintaining it. The good news, however, is...if after you get the nib from FC you are disappointed with it or having problems using it, just call Lori in customer service and they will swap it out for you without hesitation. They want you to be happy with whatever you get. They are a very customer friendly company. Also, when you order your pen, give them an idea about how wet you want it to write and Jim Rouse (their in house nibmeister) will tune it up for you.

Bottom line...you can't go wrong.

[menganito]

The line width variation is greater with the italic giving thinner horizontal and wider vertical strokes. The stub, however, is much smoother despite the fact that Mike's italic nibs are cursive italic. As I said previously, the sweet spot on his italic nibs is quite narrow and I had difficulty maintaining it. The good news, however, is...if after you get the nib from FC you are disappointed with it or having problems using it, just call Lori in customer service and they will swap it out for you without hesitation. They want you to be happy with whatever you get. They are a very customer friendly company. Also, when you order your pen, give them an idea about how wet you want it to write and Jim Rouse (their in house nibmeister) will tune it up for you.

Bottom line...you can't go wrong.

I have had good opinions about F-C but that sounds amazing. If that is the case I will pick the cursive and if I go wrong I will try the stub.

thanks

[tinto]

Just let us know your opinions on smoothness and line variation

[menganito]

Just let us know your opinions on smoothness and line variation

I will for sure. I am still on the waiting list.

[Inkheart]

Adding my thanks to everyone's feedback in answering a question I've been wrestling with as well! F-C's guarantee sure takes the worry out of things though. What a terrific company.

 

About to order my first FC pen.

[latetotheparty]

So what happened? Did you get you nibs and pens? Curious to know!

[dylim1]

The Masuyama medium italic nib that I have is pretty sharp. Depending on the paper that you use and how fast you write, it might be scratchy at times. I find myself writing fairly slow when using the medium italic nib.

[J_MM]

I only have the Medium Italic, but I love it.

[Mulrich]

Any writing samples of Masuyama's stub? I'm thinking of having him work on some of my nibs and am trying to decide what I want done.

[dms525]

I have Masuyama medium and broad italic steel nibs in both the #5 and #6 sizes on F-C pens. I also have maybe a couple dozen italic nibs he custom-ground for me on a variety of pens (Pelikans, Auroras, Conway Stewarts, etc.). Michael does amazing work, but your result will reflect how well you communicate just what you want to him. So figuring this out before you place on order is advised. Michael can probably help you with this, having worked with so many customers.

 

Regarding the F-C nibs: I find the Masuyama nibs narrower that I expected. They are very crisp. (That is, there is marked thin/thick line differentiation.) Yet, they can write smoothly when used for American cursive script, as long as you position them consistently to use their "sweet spots." Now, I write in italic script almost entirely, so I am accustomed to holding pens to get the best from italic nibs. YMMV.

 

 

 

David

Edited December 4, 2015 by dms525

[Shubhranshu Das]

I've found stub nibs to be more "forgiving" and Cursive italics an excellent option for the less experienced like myself.... Italic nibs I require more experience and training to get the best performance.

[Waldiland]

I am also less experienced with cursive italics than stubs and, after speaking with a few people on Instagram, decided on the medium stub. I wasn't disappointed. Here is a writing sample with the medium stub for anyone else wrestling with this question.

 

I own a range of nibs from steel through to 18k gold. The HPS nibs from FC are among the best in my entire collection; a real pleasure to use.

 

Paper: Clairefontain, Ink: Caran d'Ache CotE Caribbean Sea.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Go to Richard Bender's site, and he explains it all. Italic is very sharp, catching paper unless perfect hold and lift at the right time.

Cursive Italic is not so sharp....but needs a good steady hold...but not that hard. Do send a picture of how you hold the pen. I have a CI that is considering the weight of the pen a tad high. If it was a tad lower I'd like it more. It is a fat M or a skinny B, so it is wide enough to sit easy on the paper. Personally I don't see my self using F or less in CI. (I have a set of Italic nibs BB to EF from Osmiroid that fits my Esterbrook, so if I need it, I can go to them.)

 

. Stubb you can be sloppy, in it catches the least...gives the least line variation.

 

You should catch on quickly how to write with your CI...in I recommend a CI if you are not into drawing real fancy letters.

 

Of course if you are a printer...........still I'd go CI before Italic.