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Review: Nakaya Neo Standard Kuro-Tamenuri (black-red) finish, gold trim


jigesh

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Nakaya Neo Standard Kuro-Tamenuri (black-red) finish, gold trim, Broad nib and custom Maki-e

 

In December last year, while I was shopping for my toddler daughter’s clothes at Children’s Place, I overheard a middle-age woman exclaim: “How beautiful clothes! So cute! Makes me want to have a baby!” A couple of months before this incident, I saw FPN reviews (and blog) by Leigh Reyes and her beautiful handwriting made me to want a Nakaya in XF nib. How easy it is to equate getting a tool for achieving the capability! While I was growing up as an elementary/middle school student, we had a saying in one of the Indian languages, which roughly translates as “dumb pupils possess multiple pens.” At that time, I thought parents invented this saying as an excuse so as not to give in to the demanding kids. Now that it’s too late to be clever, what harm possibly could come in possessing many beautiful pens?

 

I got a chance to see John Mottishaw at the NYC Pen Show last year. He had many beautiful Nakaya pens with a variety of nib types. I tried XF, F and M (soft/hard) and somehow did not get thrilled. XF and F were more on the toothy/scratchy side. Of course, John can do wonders with custom tweaks. I sought opinions from FPN members. Decided to get started with a broad nib. So, as you can see, I started setting my goal for an XF nib, and ended up getting one with a broad nib. How worse I must be at aiming?

 

The ordering process at Nakaya direct was straightforward. Exchanged e-mails and finalized specifications. Golden monotone broad nib, custom maki-e, and Kuro-Tamenuri (black-red) finish for the Neo Standard model. Took around 4-5 weeks and got it in time before Christmas 2009.

 

To avoid repeating information, I would enlist these suggested links for interesting details on:

 

1. Maki-e

2. Process of penand nib making

3. Neo Standard model page

4. Dimensions

 

Appearance and first impression:

 

The pen comes in a nice box accompanied by a couple of papers and Japanese cloth pen-pouch as shown in the first two pictures at this link.

 

Neo Standard, unlike other models, comes only in portable writer size and does not come clip-less. The Kuro-Tamenuri (black-red) finish gives elegance and conservative (i.e., non-flashy) characteristics to the writing instrument. With ageing, the red in the black should become more visible. At various joints or at the points where the pen shape changes, you can clearly see the underlying red tints.

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0083_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0046_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0052_2-1.jpg

 

The grip section is perfect to my taste and imagination. I was looking for the grip section that is long enough (that is, has more distance between threads for cap and nib unit), has gentle taper and “lips” at the end. You may find it strange or too picky, but this was one of the main reasons I set on the Neo Standard model. The other reasons were dimensions and shape/appearance.

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0076_2.jpg

 

By default, the Makie-e appears on the feeder side of the pen. The handwritten Maki-e phrase in gold that I chose means (I am told) “I love my wife and daughters very much.” Now you know how my budget for this pen got approved.

 

Physical Dimensions:

The link I mentioned earlier provides dimensions. However, since these pens are hand made, there can be some variation. That’s why I list the dimensions of my pen as below:

 

Total length: 6-inches (15.3 cms), Barrel plus nib section: 5.3 inches (13.5 cms)

Total weight: (no ink) 1 oz (28.35 gms), Barrel plus nib section: 0.7 oz ( 19.85 gms).

As you can see, for its length, the pen is relatively light.

 

Comparative Dimensions:

To give relative idea of its size, below are a few pictures with Montblanc 146 pen nearby.

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0087_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0066_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0072_2.jpg

 

It might also help to show how pen holds in the hand:

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0099_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0113_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0120_2.jpg

 

Nib and Writing Performance:

 

I chose a stiff, broad nib. It writes almost like a western medium. The nib writes nicely wet (but not overly wet). There is no scratchiness/sharp tooth at all. It just glides on the paper with a nice feedback that gives you sense of control and direction. It’s not buttery smooth like Sailor’s medium nibs are, but still I would call it smooth with a healthy dose of feedback.

 

The monotone nib is beautiful and simple.

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0042_2.jpg

 

I like how passionately nib and feeder give each other a nice tight hug.

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0058_2.jpg

 

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0074_2.jpg

 

The pen accepts cartridge-converter and ink cartridges. If you are using European cartridges, you will need a $1 adapter. If you use Platinum cartridges, no such adapter is needed. Some other inspirational ideas can be found here.

 

Some prefer piston fillers more. I like piston-fillers as well as converter-type. It’s often easier to clean a converter type pen than a piston-filler pen unless nib can easily be removed, like in Pelikans, when a better cleaning is needed.

 

Here are writing samples:

 

Smooth paper:

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0092-1.jpg

 

“Normal” paper:

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0094_2.jpg

 

Close up:

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0096-1.jpg

 

Conclusion:

This is a beautiful pen with perfect ergonomics. You can have it for special occasion writings (if you are overly concerned about scratching the beautiful Urushi lacquer) or as a daily writer (if you don’t mind changing cartridges/filling up converters). The current base price is $460 and other options add up. It’s not cheap but you can have a pen that is specifically designed with your choices and options in mind. If you want to tweak your nib further (cursive, stub, wetness, flex, etc.), John Mottishaw should be your first choice. Whether you order directly or through other sources, you will be amazed and awe-struck.

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great pen and great writing :) thanks for sharing

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

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You have written an excellent review of the pen: very specific details, precise measurements, excellent photos including a well-known pen for comparison, and a conversational description of how and why you bought this particular pen. Your insight into getting your family's approval is excellent.

I hope you enjoy the pen for many years,

gary

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You have written an excellent review of the pen: very specific details, precise measurements, excellent photos including a well-known pen for comparison, and a conversational description of how and why you bought this particular pen. Your insight into getting your family's approval is excellent.

I hope you enjoy the pen for many years,

gary

 

Thank you, Gary; you paid very good attention to details!

 

 

Your pictures are really nicely done. Thanks for posting - beautiful pen.

 

 

Thanks for the comprehensive review.

 

 

nice review of a beautiful pen!

 

thank you

 

 

Great review, thanks.

 

 

 

Thank you, all.

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Thank you for your nice review and beautiful pen. I have also become happy owing to

your feelings of warmth. Are your dearest wife and child interested in fountain pens?

How do they like your beautiful Nakaya?

 

rokurinpapa

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...Are your dearest wife and child interested in fountain pens? How do they like your beautiful Nakaya?

...

 

Thank you for the compliment. My wife and daughters (12 and 5) love my pens (including Nakaya) and my hobbies, occasionally try them out as well. My elder daughter is also into calligraphy so she has her own (not too expensive) kinds of pens. They have their own different interests more important to them than pens, so the degree of affection towards my pens may not the same as I would have for example. I suspect they think my pen hobby as an offshoot of my mid-life crisis and the FPN as my support-group.

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  • 1 month later...

Nice review and a very nice classy looking pen too.

"If we faked going to the Moon, why did we fake it nine times?" -- Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4447835438_d7314170bf_o.png

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Great review for an amazing pen! How much did you pay for the kanji script in the barrel? I assume that's an added option?

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Thank you, mikebee, Juicyjones and soloworx.

 

 

....How much did you pay for the kanji script in the barrel? I assume that's an added option?

 

$25 additional charge for Maki-e by hand.

 

Regarding the text, I posted what I wanted to convey, in a Chinese language forum; got some ideas, and ran them through Nakaya. They made some changes and gave me a couple of equivalent phrases and I consulted my Japanese and Chinese colleagues at work and selected one.

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  • 3 months later...

Wonderfull review and very nice pictures. If I may ask you something:

on this picture

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/jigesh_patel/DSC_0076_2.jpg it looks like it has a lot of scratches. Does it easilly scratches?

Poetry I write: http://eendichter.nl (mostly english, occasional dutch)

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someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think your makie sentence says that you love your wife and mother the most, instead of wife and daughter.

Please check out my blogshop for fountain pens and inks at http://inkoholicanonymous.blogspot.com/ Reviews of my pens can be found there too!

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someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think your makie sentence says that you love your wife and mother the most, instead of wife and daughter.

 

The sentence seems to say "Most" "love" "wife/dearest" "daughter". The third character is often used by modern Japanese to denote "dear" as opposed to the older terms for husband (danna-"master") and wife (kanai "in the house"). It is a very good choice, I think.

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