Pilot Falcon Soft-Fine Vs. Pilot Custom 74/91 Soft-Fine

[mog_genius88]

Greetings!

 

I am brand new to these forums and rather new to the hobby itself! Why is this hobby so addicting? I haven't taken notes by hand for more than 10 years (I'm a relatively fast typist and am way into mechanical keyboards) but for some reason I can't stop looking at pens!

 

Anyway, I am looking to make my a big purchase and would really appreciate some advice from someone who owns or has owned both a Pilot Custom 74/91 AND a Falcon both in Soft-Fine.

 

Does the Falcon SF have more 'give' than a Custom 74/91 SF (I am 100% aware these are not flex or even semi-flex and don't intend to flex them)?

 

I noticed that the Falcon nib is oddly shaped and is thinner so I can see how it MAY have more give... but from my research I am finding a lot of mixed responses. I have had read people say that they didn't notice any difference in the springiness of a Falcon SF vs a Custom 74/91 SF, while others say that the Falcon is significantly springier. I've even read someone say that the Custom 74/91 is springier than the Falcon!

 

Can anyone help me out? Thanks so much!

[Scribblesoften]

I have a resin Falcon/Elabo SF and a Custom Heritage 91 in SF. Between the two I would say that the Falcon/Elabo is a bit softer. I think they are close enough to one another that it could be perception. Both pens are very smooth and have a bit of spring. When I see people pushing them for real flex, I cringe. I like the look of the 91 better and it can take the larger Con-70 converter. If i had to use only one it would be the 91. Of course your experience may vary from mine. I look forward to reading the responses from other forum members.

[mog_genius88]

@Scribblesoften

 

Thank you for your input sir! It's much appreciated.

 

I currently have a CH 91 in SF and was wondering how much softer the Falcon is in comparison. I was looking to pick up a 912 with a PO nib because it is different from anything that I have now, but was having second thoughts and thought that I would pick up a Falcon in SF instead if people found it to be even springier than the CH 91 in SF.

 

From your experience, I guess there's not that much of a difference, and I can see the benefit in being able to use a Con-70 in my CH91. I guess I will wait for a few other people to comment before making my final decision.

 

PS: I have no intention of even semi-flexing my Falcon or the CH91. I want these pens to last and I know they weren't designed for this purpose.

Edited November 6, 2016 by mog_genius88

[EdeIstein88]

IMHO it's better u get 912 with fa nib. Rather than falcon or 91.

[mog_genius88]

@Edelstein88

 

I would except I read a lot about how the FA's feed can't keep up with daily writing. Also, I am just looking for a soft fine at this point. I think I will keep an eye out for a better modern flex pen to make its debut in the future.

[Bluey]

I have a Falcon in SEF and a Custom 74 in SF and the Custom 74 is a lot softer. The Falcon nib(FA) on the Pilot 912/743/742 is softer still than the Custom 74.

 

So if it's give/springiness/softness you're after, Pilot Custom 912/743/742 > Pilot Custom 74 > Pilot Falcon

 

 

I would except I read a lot about how the FA's feed can't keep up with daily writing.

 

It can, unless you're daily writing is ornate copperplate with lots of large swells. It's absolutely fine for normal daily writing. All of them are fine as a daily writer.

Edited November 6, 2016 by Bluey

[miel]

I do own (and use, for sure ) a CH 91 SF and a CH 912 FA.

 

The FA is far more soft than the SF.

My experience is the following: If your don't flex it, the feed is no problem. If you do (moderate) flex, you have to slow down your writing, if you want the feed to keep up with the writing.

[mog_genius88]

I have a Falcon in SEF and a Custom 74 in SF and the Custom 74 is a lot softer. The Falcon nib(FA) on the Pilot 912/743/742 is softer still than the Custom 74.

 

So if it's give/springiness/softness you're after, Pilot Custom 912/743/742 > Pilot Custom 74 > Pilot Falcon

 

 

 

It can, unless you're daily writing is ornate copperplate with lots of large swells. It's absolutely fine for normal daily writing. All of them are fine as a daily writer.

I dont know how to summon a user haha. ON the phone so pardon spelling errors. THanks for your input! I was actually interested in the FA for everyday writing but i didnt plan to flex. i write small and fine and what i was looking for was a pen with flexibility that almost gave me a feeling as though i was writing with a brush. IF i write fine with minimal flex will the feed keep up?

[Bluey]

I dont know how to summon a user haha. ON the phone so pardon spelling errors. THanks for your input! I was actually interested in the FA for everyday writing but i didnt plan to flex. i write small and fine and what i was looking for was a pen with flexibility that almost gave me a feeling as though i was writing with a brush. IF i write fine with minimal flex will the feed keep up?

I think the Pilot 912/743/742 will be the best for you, or even the Custom 91/74. For daily writing it will give you a nice cushioned ride. It won't keep up if you're trying to produce large swell as in copperplate/spencerian, but it will keep up for adding a little flair to your writing now and again.

 

For true flex, dip pens are far superior to any fountain pen.

[mog_genius88]

I think the Pilot 912/743/742 will be the best for you, or even the Custom 91/74. For daily writing it will give you a nice cushioned ride. It won't keep up if you're trying to produce large swell as in copperplate/spencerian, but it will keep up for adding a little flair to your writing now and again.

 

For true flex, dip pens are far superior to any fountain pen.

 

Hrm if I did purchase the FA I was actually planning on using it just as you described - regular fine writing with tiny bits of flair here and there. I have no interest in copperplate/spencerian writing with deep swells. I'll look into a bit more.

 

Also, thanks for the recommendation! I guess I can save some $$$ by purchasing a Custom 91/74 over a Falcon. If imported the Falcon is almost double the price of a Custom, but I was willing to pay that price if the Falcon's soft nibs were significantly springier than the Customs.

[mog_genius88]

I do own (and use, for sure ) a CH 91 SF and a CH 912 FA.

 

The FA is far more soft than the SF.

My experience is the following: If your don't flex it, the feed is no problem. If you do (moderate) flex, you have to slow down your writing, if you want the feed to keep up with the writing.

 

Does your FA keep up when/if you take notes for extended periods of times with it? Any hard starting and/or skipping issues if you don't flex the pen?

[Kataphract]

The Falcon SF is slightly softer, capable of slightly more line variation, and is slightly wetter. If you don't intend to really get any line variation, buy the cheaper pen. The difference in soft qualities is there, but it is small. At the standard no more than 20% off through Pilot USA distributed dealers, I'd get the Falcon unless I just had to have the larger con-70 ($152 vs $160). At gray market prices, the 91/74 price goes a lot lower.

[miel]

I don't use the FA nib for notetaking.

I bought this pen/nib for improving my handwriting and to write Thank you cards and (short) letters.

 

For me it works well for training because it's softness urges me to write slow.

[LizEF]

PS: I have no intention of even semi-flexing my Falcon or the CH91. I want these pens to last and I know they weren't designed for this purpose.

 

I have the Falcon SEF, but none of the others, so I can't compare. I can tell you the following though:

1. It seems to have smoothed out and softened a little with use compared to "out of the box".
2. Normal writing involves increasing and decreasing pressure (even if only slightly), and unless I make a deliberate effort to avoid that, I get a tiny bit of line variation / increased or decreased ink output (darker or lighter lines). (It really does require intentional effort to use "negative" pressure and write as thin a line as this thing will write - nothing I have will write thinner, and I have mostly EFs. When I do that, it's almost like the nib isn't touching the paper.)
3. I "flex" this thing - to the extent that feels safe to me, and the ink you use makes a big difference in whether the feed will keep up. I haven't done enough to give detailed comparisons, but I can tell you that diluted (and undiluted) Sailor Yama Dori seems incapable of railroading. I can write sentences and sentences flexing on the down stroke, or lines the length of the page, and this stuff will not railroad. I haven't had that many different inks in it, but I don't remember another that I could say that about (possibly Noodler's Apache Sunset, but I can't remember for sure).

FWIW.

[Bluey]

 

I have the Falcon SEF, but none of the others, so I can't compare. I can tell you the following though:

1. It seems to have smoothed out and softened a little with use compared to "out of the box".

It doesn't soften with use. What's happening is that you get more accustomed to it.

[LizEF]

It doesn't soften with use. What's happening is that you get more accustomed to it.

 

I can believe that too. Maybe my muscles are, ahem, flexing...

[Bluey]

 

I can believe that too. Maybe my muscles are, ahem, flexing...

I wish it were true, though.

[Kataphract]

It doesn't soften with use. What's happening is that you get more accustomed to it.

 

Mine certainly has gotten softer with time. In comparison, my Platinum 3776 SF, which I've had the same amount of time, hasn't. So either it really happens, or I selectively fool myself. :-)

[mog_genius88]

The Falcon SF is slightly softer, capable of slightly more line variation, and is slightly wetter. If you don't intend to really get any line variation, buy the cheaper pen. The difference in soft qualities is there, but it is small. At the standard no more than 20% off through Pilot USA distributed dealers, I'd get the Falcon unless I just had to have the larger con-70 ($152 vs $160). At gray market prices, the 91/74 price goes a lot lower.

 

Hrm, honestly I think I'm gonna have to hold it in my hands and write with it to see if I want to dish out extra $ for the Falcon. Gaaaah if only fountain pens were more popular and we had B&M stores around >_< why does nobody care about the things I care about?!

[mog_genius88]

 

I have the Falcon SEF, but none of the others, so I can't compare. I can tell you the following though:

1. It seems to have smoothed out and softened a little with use compared to "out of the box".
2. Normal writing involves increasing and decreasing pressure (even if only slightly), and unless I make a deliberate effort to avoid that, I get a tiny bit of line variation / increased or decreased ink output (darker or lighter lines). (It really does require intentional effort to use "negative" pressure and write as thin a line as this thing will write - nothing I have will write thinner, and I have mostly EFs. When I do that, it's almost like the nib isn't touching the paper.)
3. I "flex" this thing - to the extent that feels safe to me, and the ink you use makes a big difference in whether the feed will keep up. I haven't done enough to give detailed comparisons, but I can tell you that diluted (and undiluted) Sailor Yama Dori seems incapable of railroading. I can write sentences and sentences flexing on the down stroke, or lines the length of the page, and this stuff will not railroad. I haven't had that many different inks in it, but I don't remember another that I could say that about (possibly Noodler's Apache Sunset, but I can't remember for sure).

FWIW.

 

I don't mind variation coming out via natural pressure as I write. I have the CH91 SF right now and when I write normally there is 0 line variation. I have to intentionally flex it to get ANY variation out of the pen. Maybe the Falcon just has more give and/or because your's is a soft EXTRA fine it is easier to see the variation.