What Is The Difference Between Apica And Tsubame?

[YoungPenmanship]

Hello FPN,

 

I recently discovered these two notebooks at the Book Kinokuniya here in NYC and I was very intrigued because they look so alike but feel so different to the touch. However, I did not purchase them because I would first like to see where they stand within the FPN community.

 

What do you guys think? Looking at the history of the topic here, it's rarely discussed so I would like to get into that.

 

I personally would think that the Apica, by touch, would be more ink-friendly compared to the Tsubame, again by touch, which is thin and might lead to bleed-through.

 

Apica

 

Tsubame

Edited January 10, 2014 by YoungPenmanship

[Titanic9990]

I use the Apica wirebound notebooks (different cover but same paper inside) and they work beautifully. No bleedthrough, showthrough or feathering with any inks I have used on it, although I'm sure some really poorly behaved inks might. I personally found the reviews of the Apica series on Ink Nouveau to be quite helpful. I have never heard of Tsubame and being so cannot comment on them. I find it a bit surprising that the covers are so close in design, I wonder... which came first the Apica or the Tsubame?

[YoungPenmanship]

I find it a bit surprising that the covers are so close in design, I wonder... which came first the Apica or the Tsubame?

 

My goodness, that is a good question...

[TMac]

I use the Apica notebooks and love them. The paper handles any combination of ink and pen that I have used. I use mostly fine nibs with an occasional medium. Paper is very thin but holds up well. I have never used the Tsubame notebooks.

[inkypete]

Apica are very good notebooks. I really like them and they are more available now in Australia. Don't know the Tsubame at all but the cover looks very Apica'ish.

[YoungPenmanship]

Looks like I'll attempt to do a proper review of these once I get my hand on them.

Edited January 10, 2014 by YoungPenmanship

[Lyander0012]

If possible, I'm hoping you'll be able to get a sample of each, so you can do a comparison between the two later on. Apica is a fairly well-known name 'round these parts, but I quite honestly knew nothing of Tsubame (the notebook, not the Japanese word for "swallow").

 

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin

[gsalazar]

Apica has a more glossy, glassy texture while Tsubame paper is a bit more matte. I feel that the glossy coat of the Apica mitigates feathering when using very wet, flex nibs. Ink dries faster on Tsubame, but when I used a vintage wet noodle, it did feather at times. I haven't experienced bleedthrough with either paper, but ghosting appears if you lay thick, wet lines.

 

Apica also has it's Premium CD line which has this great velvety texture but it's very pricey (worth it for me). Apica are almost as good as Clairefontaine paper, so if you're looking for a grey or cream alternative to CF's rather bright white, they're both viable. Personally, I prefer to stock up on Apica Premium CD despite the price.

 

I'm at work at the moment, but I'll try to scan some samples when I get home.

Edited January 10, 2014 by gsalazar

[gsalazar]

Here's a comparison of the two papers, with Tsubame at the top, and Apica below:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/11879167996_62909890d6.jpg

 

I used Diamine Ancient Copper on a vintage Waterman 52. I find that Tsubame has more tooth to it when writing, while Apica was much smoother and enjoyable to write on, especially with a flex pen. Also note the feathering in the Tsubame when my pen was flexed, which isn't present on Apica (the extra lines are ink left on the feed, as I hadn't fully wiped my pen off when I had refilled it).

[mm1624124]

I am almost exclusive to Tsubame primarily because of the attributed "tooth" of the paper. I love how it feels when I write. It is my notebook of choice for most tasks.

 

I also have Apica, the premium series, CD series, and basic series. As gsalazar mentioned, the premium series has a "glassy" texture. I'm always tentative when I begin to write on the paper where Tsubame has a friction that is comfortable for me. The CD series is very popular and the basic not so much mainly because the recycled paper in the basic series meets with some criticism as compared to the CD series, but it is still a very good notebook and paper.

 

Bleeding, show through, feathering, etc. is very dependent on ink, pen, and writer for both brands. I have inks that feathered on Apica that did not on Tsubame and vice versa. Tsubme will also show some sheen; not as dramatic as Tomoe River, but it's there.

 

Both are excellent brands, both will take 99% what you throw at them. It will be more a matter of personal preference.

 

Tsubame

[YoungPenmanship]

Here's a comparison of the two papers, with Tsubame at the top, and Apica below:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/11879167996_62909890d6.jpg

 

I used Diamine Ancient Copper on a vintage Waterman 52. I find that Tsubame has more tooth to it when writing, while Apica was much smoother and enjoyable to write on, especially with a flex pen. Also note the feathering in the Tsubame when my pen was flexed, which isn't present on Apica (the extra lines are ink left on the feed, as I hadn't fully wiped my pen off when I had refilled it).

 

This very good to know. I'll take a look at it in person the next time I'm downtown and probably do some research on it for personal reference.

[Lyander0012]

Hmm, what with the conflicting reports, it seems to me the only real solution would be to get some of both, then play around with a bunch of different pens, haha

Thanks for the great writing sample, gsalazar, and nice penmanship

[YoungPenmanship]

Hmm, what with the conflicting reports, it seems to me the only real solution would be to get some of both, then play around with a bunch of different pens, haha

 

I look forward to exactly that next week because I'll be getting me some of this stuff and comparing them. But I guess the conflicting reports come from Tsubame not being that big of a paper brand here in the fountain pen community.

[Lyander0012]

Haha, best of luck with that! And yeah, I believe I've already mentioned this earlier, but I only just heard of Tsubame on this thread. Still, it seems like a perfectly good paper for non-firehose FPs.

[mm1624124]

Haha, best of luck with that! And yeah, I believe I've already mentioned this earlier, but I only just heard of Tsubame on this thread. Still, it seems like a perfectly good paper for non-firehose FPs.

 

 

Au contraire! I've tested Tsubame with very wet flex pens and it does wonderfully! Again, my biased preference.

[inkypete]

Try a little is always a good piece of advice. What is good for some may be bad for others. Paper is personal and some people are happy to accept degrees of showthorugh and bleeding that others are not. I am always astonished that anyone could buy moleskin as I have virtually never had one that I have used past the first few pages. Every now and then I buy one to try and always wonder why I was so dumb. Others find moleskin ok. So try a little and see before you buy a larger supply.