Comparison Of Platinum #3376 & Platinum President

[sandy101]

I'm thinking of purchasing a Platinum next and I cannot decide whether to go for the #3776 and the President. I'm just wondering if anyone had any experience of both pens to be able to offer a comparison.

 

Whilst I can appreciate that one has the slip & seal and the other doesn't, I only tend to use washable inks, so it is not such a big deal for me.

 

If anyone has had both, and could offer an opinion then I would be grateful. What's the difference between the 14k and 18k nib? I'll probably go for the medium, as I like the line on my other Platinum medium.

[jar]

I have both the new and older #3776s and also the President and Modern Platinums. I'll try to get some pictures of all of them tomorrow. In the meantime here is a start. Should I include the Izumo in the comparison as well?

 

http://www.fototime.com/9B954EE4231BDC9/large.jpg

[sandy101]

Thank you for the pictures, jar. The Izumo is way out of my budget.

 

 

I have the Herons flying over Mt Fuju modern Make-I. It's got an 18K nib which I find slightly springy - which is a pleasure to use.

 

The question is - is there a significant difference between the #3776 and the President, apart form the price?

 

In the UK the #3776 is £99, and the President is £125.

 

There's lots of reviews of the #3776, and not a lot about the President - and no comparisons. From what I've read the #3776 is slightly smaller, and the medium nib is stiff. How does the President compare? I've been told the nib in the President is the same as the ones they use in the Nakaya pens, but without any information about how this nib performs, it makes a comparison difficult.

[jar]

Thank you for the pictures, jar. The Izumo is way out of my budget.

 

 

I have the Herons flying over Mt Fuju modern Make-I. It's got an 18K nib which I find slightly springy - which is a pleasure to use.

 

The question is - is there a significant difference between the #3776 and the President, apart form the price?

 

In the UK the #3776 is £99, and the President is £125.

 

There's lots of reviews of the #3776, and not a lot about the President - and no comparisons. From what I've read the #3776 is slightly smaller, and the medium nib is stiff. How does the President compare? I've been told the nib in the President is the same as the ones they use in the Nakaya pens, but without any information about how this nib performs, it makes a comparison difficult.

Actually Nakaya uses the nib that is in the #3776; the 14K nib. I find the Modern Maki-e nibs have the most spring; not really flex but soft in feel. The recent #3776 and President nibs are both much stiffer.

 

Here are some pictures I already had that may help.

 

First is a President, then an earlier #3776 and the Modern Maki-e.

 

http://www.fototime.com/47AE51576148167/large.jpg

 

As you can see, the President is both longer and wider than the early #3776.

 

Next, a picture that shows all three Platinums. The early #3776 is second from top, then a current Century #3776 and the Modern Maki-e at the very bottom.

 

http://www.fototime.com/8A4AFFCD49207E0/large.jpg

 

Note that the #3776 Century is shorter than the earlier #3776.

 

Here you can see them capped with the Modern Maki-e at the top, the #3776 Century third from the top and the earlier #3776 at the very bottom.

 

http://www.fototime.com/F0CEADE6FD41861/large.jpg

 

Capped there is not as great a difference in lengths as when uncapped and not posted.

 

Here is a review I did recently comparing the President and the Montblanc 147.

 

I hope this helps.

[bizhe]

Get whichever one you like the looks of. You will be looking at it a lot.

[Buzz_130]

While you may only use washable inks, don't underestimate the usefulness of that slip & seal mechanism in the cap. I have 4 Platinum Century #3776, and I did not originally appreciate the usefulness of that cap design. I have no concerns using nano pigments or other high maintenance inks because I know the pen can sit for a time, and those pens will immediately start up as if I just finished a fill. That mechanism, the lightweight of the Platinum pens, the great balance of the whole pen, the exceptional feedback on the nibs, and the comfortable width make the #3776 a nice pen that also serves as a true workhorse.

 

Unfortunately, I've never held or used a President.

 

Buzz

[jkingrph]

I just received a new President in yellow this morning with an EF nib. I went and compared to a 3776 and it is just a little longer and fatter than the 3776. I was expecting the EF nib to be a little scratchy, but it is very smooth.

[jar]

Yes,as I said.

P is smooth and 3776 is scratchy.

My #3776 nibs are not scratchy nor are my Nakaya nibs which are based on the #3776 nib. My President nibs are also not scratchy.

[jkingrph]

This is my third President, and have several 3776 models, some celluloid, and all are smooth, absolutly no complaints about any. I even like the music nibs on some.

[Dragonmaster Lou]

A little scratchy is better in writting this kind of character:

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/lib/about/event/ch_calligraphy/regular_chi.htm

 

But a smooth nib is better in writtng this kind of character:

 

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/lib/about/event/ch_calligraphy/cursive_chi.htm

 

I think you may be confusing "scratchy" with "feedbacky."

 

"Scratchy" is a sense that the tines are misaligned and feel like they're sticking to and grabbing into the paper (I suppose, can't say I ever experienced a scratchy pen). "Feedbacky" means there's some sound and it's not super-smooth, but you can still feel the paper with the pen.

 

My #3776 is feedbacky, but it's not scratchy.

[sugna]

I own perhaps ten 3776's, and one President. Both are great pens, and I don't think you go wrong either way. They have a lot in common: excellent fit and finish; great writing performance (both smooth, finer nib sizes will have some feedback); and C/C filling system.

 

I agree with Buzz: the Slip & Seal is definitely a "pro" in the 3776 column. I have found these pens to be true workhorses.

 

I also agree with bizhe: at the end of the day, go with the one you think you'll enjoy looking at/holding the most. For me, it would be the 3776. I don't know why, but they just feel a little more substantial in my hand than the President (ironic considering that it's the flagship pen).

[Kevan]

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I've been researching the President lately. Some reviews say the "fit and finish is perfect," while others say the plastic is cheap-feeling and the cap wobbles and cross-threads. Is the QC on them bad or something? I really like the look of the burgundy one and was thinking about it.

 

I have a 3776 Century and while I like it, the nib on it is just a tad dry for my taste and always seems to get stained with ink no matter what ink I have in it. That's more of a cosmetic concern, but I was wondering if the extra $100 or so for a Celluloid 3776 is a better bet than going for a President.

[jar]

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I've been researching the President lately. Some reviews say the "fit and finish is perfect," while others say the plastic is cheap-feeling and the cap wobbles and cross-threads. Is the QC on them bad or something? I really like the look of the burgundy one and was thinking about it.

 

I have a 3776 Century and while I like it, the nib on it is just a tad dry for my taste and always seems to get stained with ink no matter what ink I have in it. That's more of a cosmetic concern, but I was wondering if the extra $100 or so for a Celluloid 3776 is a better bet than going for a President.

Some folk complain, some folk don't. Some folk have different standards than other folk. YMMV really is true.

 

The wetness of a nib can be changed and changed pretty easily and inexpensively. I'm not sure where you are but there are great folk out there that can adjust wetness for you for about $25.00. Ink on a nib is pretty normal so don't worry about it and the material of the body will not influence that anyway.

[sugna]

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I've been researching the President lately. Some reviews say the "fit and finish is perfect," while others say the plastic is cheap-feeling and the cap wobbles and cross-threads. Is the QC on them bad or something? I really like the look of the burgundy one and was thinking about it.

 

I have a 3776 Century and while I like it, the nib on it is just a tad dry for my taste and always seems to get stained with ink no matter what ink I have in it. That's more of a cosmetic concern, but I was wondering if the extra $100 or so for a Celluloid 3776 is a better bet than going for a President.

 

I have a bunch of 3776s, including several celluloid models, as well as a President. My President doesn't exhibit any of the QC issues you mention, but IMO the plastic definitely feels less "expensive" than that used in the 3776s, or the celluloid used in the celluloid models. I got it via MassDrop with a monster C nib, which I later had ground to an architect nib, it writes beautifully and is lots of fun to use. It's hard to describe, but the plastic just seems to look "flatter" and less rich. Feels weird to talk about plastic in this way but, oh well...

 

I have had pretty good luck with the celluloid 3776s on eBay, most of them are earlier Japanese market models with 18k gold nibs and an extra scrollwork engraving around the nib, usually for a great price. I did have one bad experience: received the calico model only to find that several celluloid parts had shrunk so that the section barely screws into the barrel and the cap ring falls off.

 

Seeing as I own both, I'd say I prefer the celluloid (specifically, the tortoise). The material is very rich looking, and the pen feels like a high end pen in the hand. Both pens, however, are well made, and as jar says, both could be easily tuned to your liking if they don't write the way you like out of the box. There is also, as you mention, the issue of price, but I don't think the difference is as large. President's street price is around $190, and if I remember correctly I ordered my tortoise celluloid for around $230 from Japan.

[gmax]

Hello, can anyone please confirm whether nibs are interchangeable between the President and 3776 models?

 

Any help appreciated

[jar]

Hello, can anyone please confirm whether nibs are interchangeable between the President and 3776 models?

 

Any help appreciated

No. Not interchangeable thank God.

[gmax]

Jar, thanks for your clarification.

 

I tried the President nib in an Izumo pen some time ago, and liked it very much, but the pen leaked everywhere and went back. I have just ordered a new President

[hsianloon]

Thanks Jar for the wonderful pics. Hard to find the Burgundy president in pics ( besides the official ones)

 

I'm surprised amounts the comments comparing the 3776 and President with the former being superior. I thought the president was their flagship excluding the maki/urushi lines?

[sugna]

Thanks Jar for the wonderful pics. Hard to find the Burgundy president in pics ( besides the official ones)

I'm surprised amounts the comments comparing the 3776 and President with the former being superior. I thought the president was their flagship excluding the maki/urushi lines?

According to Platinum's own marketing material, the President is the company's the "flagship line". However, I think consumer perception, at least outside of Japan, might be somewhat different (I am not sure about the President line's appeal in Japan).

 

As someone who owns and enjoys both #3776 Century and President pens, the #3776 Century pens feel higher end in terms of the plastic itself, the inclusion of Platinum's Slip & Seal technology, and the variety of materials and colors. The President does feature an 18k nib, and is a larger, more substantial pen in terms of size but is also quite light. I think the ideal pen for me would combine the best of both worlds: materials from the #3776 Century range with the Slip & Seal mechanism in a President-sized body.

 

Interestingly, the LE #3776 Century models have the same price as the rhodium trim Presidents.

[minddance]

 

I think you may be confusing "scratchy" with "feedbacky."

 

"Scratchy" is a sense that the tines are misaligned and feel like they're sticking to and grabbing into the paper (I suppose, can't say I ever experienced a scratchy pen). "Feedbacky" means there's some sound and it's not super-smooth, but you can still feel the paper with the pen.

 

My #3776 is feedbacky, but it's not scratchy.

When you see paper being scraped off, it is scratchy, and that happens with my 3776 medium. Sure, there is feedback, AND scratch, even on a perfectly aligned nib.

 

The broad nib is, however, totally different. Feels like two totally different pens compared to the medium. But still relatively dry for a broad nib.

Edited October 31, 2017 by minddance