Pilot Custom 74 Vs. Pilot Prera

[terminal]

Does anyone have a Pilot Custom 74 and a Prera to compare?

 

This is appropos of this thread:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/217279-pilot-varsity-vs-lamy-safari/page__p__2286349#entry2286349

 

I'm mainly asking because the Prera is on sale :hmm1:

[SBinMT]

This question inspired me to register on FPN!

 

I've bought both pens, and IMO, the 74 has a much, much better nib. The other parts of each seem to be of comparable quality, I'd say. The Prera feels scratchier and (obviously) more steely, whereas the 74 writes about as well as any of the pens I own.

 

SB

[XiaoMG]

You might be confusing the Custom 74, which has a size 5 14k gold nib, with the 78G, which is a much cheaper pen with a plated steel nib that is closer to a size 3.

 

The Prera and the 78G share the same nib type, though the Prera's is not plated with a gold color. The Custom 74 shares a nib with the Custom Heritage 91 and some other pens.

 

I am not sure if I'm willing to say the C74 is much better than the Prera/78G in terms of nibs. The body is more sturdy and the clip is much nicer on the former, and the nib is much more flexible/springy. However, I have one or two 78Gs that write as smoothly as one of my C74s, and I rather prefer the precision feel of the less flexy nib now...especially when I write in Chinese. I made the all-too-common mistake of letting others online tell me what I should prefer when it comes to nibs, so I have a few pens with somewhat flexy nibs that I don't find useful enough to carry with me regularly. Just got a Sailor Pro Gear Slim, and its 14k nib is fantastic, and reminds me a bit of my Pilot Penmanship EF nibs once smoothed a little. It's more firm than the Pilot nibs, and gives me a much more acute sense of control when writing in Chinese.

[terminal]

Thanks so much for the great answers!!!

 

Welcome SBinMT! Sounds like you're a passionate pen person, which is great!

 

Thanks for the information, I really was wondering if the nibs were the same, I didn't realize the Custom 74 has a 14k nib -- that helps explain the price difference!

[GooseDeluxe]

I'm mainly asking because the Prera is on sale :hmm1:

 

Where is the Prera on sale?

[imadeadend]

I just received my custom 74 Fine today and I have to tell you it's A LOT better than the Prera or 78G

 

My Prera Fine is so feedback-y I rarely use it. The custom 74 fine is the smoothest Japanese fine I've used (in the 5 mins I have had it haha!), with a bit of feedback behind a really smooth (albeit dry) nib. It is comparable to the Sailor 14k Fine nibs like the one on my Sapporo mini. I can't seem to choose between the two in terms of smoothness, but the Sailor is a wetter nib.

 

If I was to use a scale, 1 being dry and 10 being wet, the Sailor would sit around 5-6, and the Pilot around 2-3. Both lovely pens, but the Custom 74 is HUGE! It is every bit the same length as a Lamy Safari. I love it!

 

Comparing to the Prera and 78G, the 78G is a similar style, but is about 1cm or around half an inch short than the custom 74. There's no comparing it to the modern demonstrator Prera, but the Prera is quite small compared to the custom 74.

 

I'll be getting a new 78G in fine (and another in broad) next week hopefully, so I will have to see if the nib is any different to my prera fine is terms of writing ability.

[myyrkezaan]

I just received my custom 74 Fine today and I have to tell you it's A LOT better than the Prera or 78G

 

My Prera Fine is so feedback-y I rarely use it. The custom 74 fine is the smoothest Japanese fine I've used (in the 5 mins I have had it haha!), with a bit of feedback behind a really smooth (albeit dry) nib. It is comparable to the Sailor 14k Fine nibs like the one on my Sapporo mini. I can't seem to choose between the two in terms of smoothness, but the Sailor is a wetter nib.

 

If I was to use a scale, 1 being dry and 10 being wet, the Sailor would sit around 5-6, and the Pilot around 2-3. Both lovely pens, but the Custom 74 is HUGE! It is every bit the same length as a Lamy Safari. I love it!

 

Comparing to the Prera and 78G, the 78G is a similar style, but is about 1cm or around half an inch short than the custom 74. There's no comparing it to the modern demonstrator Prera, but the Prera is quite small compared to the custom 74.

 

I'll be getting a new 78G in fine (and another in broad) next week hopefully, so I will have to see if the nib is any different to my prera fine is terms of writing ability.

 

The Pilot Penmanship, Plumix, 78G, Knight and Prera nibs are interchangeable, only difference is 78G nibs just plated, other than nib style per pen line.

[imadeadend]

I know, I'm just curious to see if my Prera nib is a dud, or if they are all like that

[NJP]

The C74 is a wonderful pen for the price but the prera is also a nice writing instrument. I like the classic looks of the C74 and the nib is also quality. I think it helps that I got a good deal on mine.

 

My personal feeling is the C74 is better value for money. I think the Prera is a bit overpriced for what it is. The 78G on the other hand is the same quality at a much cheaper price.

 

Overall, I think it depends on what type of pen you are looking for.

[CAPT LOVE]

As a proud veteran owner of three Pilot 78Gs(one BB nib recently acquired), I often have a dificult time understanding why there is such a hype/cult following the 78G. IMHO, the only thing worth hyping about the pen is it's dirt cheap price tag couple with relatively "okay" quality...and nothing else really. It's quality is fair at best.. but still exceed it's asking price, which mean great value. While one out of three 78G I have does refuse to write properly before some nib modification, the other two that does write out of the box, does so in no where near as spectacular as some overly excited members may led me to believe.(Some comment like "The 78G made me wonder why I ever pay more for a fountain pen" still resonate and puzzle me to this very day. ) And while the 78g is an "okay" writer for a sub $10 italic nib(both of my B and BB are italic, the M is a regular nib), none would be classified as "smooth" in a remotely similar sense to the Custom 74 SMOOTH ... not in a couple light years IMHO.

[XiaoMG]

I have had pretty good luck with my 78Gs so far, but I frequently pull the nibs and tweak them a little bit to get them running to my satisfaction. When the body is refinished a bit, the threads tighten more smoothly with no squeak or cheap feel, but that can be fair amount of work. Only one nib that I recall has been poor, due to the cut of the slit being poorly centered. Several have needed slight tine alignment, but once running well, they're pretty excellent.

 

Then again, I just played with one of my C74 nibs (F) and got it to write in a way that impressed me a lot more than it did when I first got it and first had its flow adjusted. It's not vastly better than the 78Gs in smoothness, but it is a wonderful nib for all aspects of its feel...and is going to be one of my favorites, I think.

[myyrkezaan]

As a proud veteran owner of three Pilot 78Gs(one BB nib recently acquired), I often have a dificult time understanding why there is such a hype/cult following the 78G. IMHO, the only thing worth hyping about the pen is it's dirt cheap price tag couple with relatively "okay" quality...and nothing else really. It's quality is fair at best.. but still exceed it's asking price, which mean great value. While one out of three 78G I have does refuse to write properly before some nib modification, the other two that does write out of the box, does so in no where near as spectacular as some overly excited members may led me to believe.(Some comment like "The 78G made me wonder why I ever pay more for a fountain pen" still resonate and puzzle me to this very day. ) And while the 78g is an "okay" writer for a sub $10 italic nib(both of my B and BB are italic, the M is a regular nib), none would be classified as "smooth" in a remotely similar sense to the Custom 74 SMOOTH ... not in a couple light years IMHO.

 

 

The reason that people say that is because they have probably received higher priced pens with similar nib problems. I have quite a few Preras and most are better writers than my Sapporos and Rembrandt, with 1 MI Plumix nib and 1 78G BB nib. It is all on a case by case basis, in my case I won on the cheaper pens and lost on the more expensive ones.

[CAPT LOVE]

By the way guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but does Prera comes equipped with an identical nib to the 78G? If so, does Prera's B and BB also are italic nib just like the 78G? Also, does it's M nib exhibit a similar flow problem as does the 78G's M nib?

[myyrkezaan]

78G: gold plated and comes in F, M, B, BB.

 

Prera: F, M

 

Plumix: FI, MI

 

Penmanship: EF

 

Knight: M

 

The nibs are all the same excluding the differences in plating and sizing. I bought some of the other pens to get their nibs for my Preras. My preference is for Prera, have 1 Knight and fill it with pharmacist's iron gall ink.

[amateriat]

I can only speak in regard to the Custom 74: I've had mine (B, clear demonstrator) for about two years, and the thing is truly amazing to write with; about the only pen that surpasses it is my Custom 823 (M, translucent black).

 

Aside from the quality (and material make-up) of the nib, and the pen's finish, the other great hook is its capacity: mine came with Pilot's CON-70 button-fill converter, which is simply capacious in the amount of ink it holds. Lots of writing gets done between fillings, even with that B nib.

 

The only possible excuse for my letting it go is a hankering for a 74 in Smoke, which I'm seriously considering.

 

 

- Barrett

[Garageboy]

My 742 WA nib lays down smooth lines that are just wet enough to not be called dry. Almost feels like a vintage Sheaffer

[cocojj]

I have the 78G (F), the Prera (F) and the Custom 74 (SF), and as much as I hate to admit it coz I really wanted to love the Prera, I agree that the nib of the Custom 74 is much better. The very first time I wrote with the Prera, I found it scratchy (I realize on hindsight an M would have been better). I don't believe this is a dud because it writes just like my Pilot 78G. The nib improved after I broke it in, but it just doesn't compare to the Custom 74.

 

I do love the look of the demonstrator Prera and would have justified its price based on that, but I dropped my pen a couple of times or so and the colored material is already showing little cracks. This is my first pen (not counting the Preppy) that cannot hold up to my clumsiness. Don't get me wrong, I'm still using my Prera and I still find it pretty, but I wouldn't have been willing to pay as much as I did for it if I had known all these things.

Edited May 11, 2012 by cocojj

[imadeadend]

I have the 78G (F), the Prera (F) and the Custom 74 (SF), and as much as I hate to admit it coz I really wanted to love the Prera, I agree that the nib of the Custom 74 is much better. The very first time I wrote with the Prera, I found it scratchy (I realize on hindsight an M would have been better). I don't believe this is a dud because it writes just like my Pilot 78G. The nib improved after I broke it in, but it just doesn't compare to the Custom 74.

 

I do love the look of the demonstrator Prera and would have justified its price based on that, but I dropped my pen a couple of times or so and the colored material is already showing little cracks. This is my first pen (not counting the Preppy) that cannot hold up to my clumsiness. Don't get me wrong, I'm still using my Prera and I still find it pretty, but I wouldn't have been willing to pay as much as I did for it if I had known all these things.

 

The reason it writes just like the 78G is because the nib is identical minus the gold plating.

[cocojj]

I have the 78G (F), the Prera (F) and the Custom 74 (SF), and as much as I hate to admit it coz I really wanted to love the Prera, I agree that the nib of the Custom 74 is much better. The very first time I wrote with the Prera, I found it scratchy (I realize on hindsight an M would have been better). I don't believe this is a dud because it writes just like my Pilot 78G. The nib improved after I broke it in, but it just doesn't compare to the Custom 74.

 

I do love the look of the demonstrator Prera and would have justified its price based on that, but I dropped my pen a couple of times or so and the colored material is already showing little cracks. This is my first pen (not counting the Preppy) that cannot hold up to my clumsiness. Don't get me wrong, I'm still using my Prera and I still find it pretty, but I wouldn't have been willing to pay as much as I did for it if I had known all these things.

 

The reason it writes just like the 78G is because the nib is identical minus the gold plating.

 

Yes, but I thought my 78G was a dud because every one else had good things to say about it, so I thought my Prera would write better. :embarrassed_smile:

Edited May 11, 2012 by cocojj

[imadeadend]

I have the 78G (F), the Prera (F) and the Custom 74 (SF), and as much as I hate to admit it coz I really wanted to love the Prera, I agree that the nib of the Custom 74 is much better. The very first time I wrote with the Prera, I found it scratchy (I realize on hindsight an M would have been better). I don't believe this is a dud because it writes just like my Pilot 78G. The nib improved after I broke it in, but it just doesn't compare to the Custom 74.

 

I do love the look of the demonstrator Prera and would have justified its price based on that, but I dropped my pen a couple of times or so and the colored material is already showing little cracks. This is my first pen (not counting the Preppy) that cannot hold up to my clumsiness. Don't get me wrong, I'm still using my Prera and I still find it pretty, but I wouldn't have been willing to pay as much as I did for it if I had known all these things.

 

The reason it writes just like the 78G is because the nib is identical minus the gold plating.

 

Yes, but I thought my 78G was a dud because every one else had good things to say about it, so I thought my Prera would write better. :embarrassed_smile:

 

I found my Prera to be scratchier than my equivalent 78g, but I bought my Prera at a time where I was not obsessed with fine nibs and the tooth they brought with them. Today I received my Platinum 3776 with a UEF nib (the finest nib I now own), and I consider it to be very smooth. How things change!