Ink Rambling - Sailor Sou-Boku

[Tas]

Does this ink have a lubricated feel like Kiwa-Guro?

 

Ahhh. . . I'm not sure anything quite has the Kiwa_Guro feel.

 

Sou Boku's feel is that of Sei Boku (if that helps) classic Sailor, a joy to use. It has an understated confidence. It knows whatever is written with it shall look beautiful and be permanent.

 

I've searched high and low and far and wide for a dream blue-black and this little bottle (and box) is it . . . for me.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Tas

[Mongoosey]

That's true. I haven't had anything else quite have that Kiwa-Guro feel.

 

That description is good enough for me . I'm glad to hear it has remained such an ink for you. I know how that feels.

 

And I felt that when Kiwa-Guro became my Desert Island ink . It's a big deal. I had a breath of relief when that happened, with inspirations of joy, and also the urge for some stockpiling

The only Blue Black I've ever favored was Noodler's 54th and I loved that color, but it was a heartbreak with how poor it performed and even more so because nothing came close. And seeing as how Souboku is another Sailor Nano ink receiving high praise to the level of being a Desert Island ink... well, it seems like a must-have and my logic tells me not to waste time and money on samples and go straight for the bottle

...so I'm going to skip the sample. I just ordered a bottle. I've never had a sailor ink disappoint and this one is ticking all my boxes.

I appreciate your review and your response. Thank you.

[Tas]

The only Blue Black I've ever favored was Noodler's 54th and I loved that color, but it was a heartbreak with how poor it performed and even more so because nothing came close.

...so I'm going to skip the sample. I just ordered a bottle.

I appreciate your review and your response. Thank you.

 

I ended up pouring my 54th down the drain. Sou Bokou is nicer un every way. A similar colour but with shading and no dramas.

 

I'm delighted you've ordered a bottle. I'm sure you will be too once it arrives.

 

Keep us posted of your findings.

 

[truthpil]

 

I've searched high and low and far and wide for a dream blue-black and this little bottle (and box) is it . . . for me.

 

 

+1

 

 

...so I'm going to skip the sample. I just ordered a bottle. I've never had a sailor ink disappoint and this one is ticking all my boxes.

I appreciate your review and your response. Thank you.

 

 

I did the same and am glad I did. Just be prepared to have a blue-black ink that is just blue and black, no green or other colors sneaking into the mix like with so many other blue-black inks.

 

I ended up pouring my 54th down the drain. Sou Bokou is nicer un every way. A similar colour but with shading and no dramas.

 

I gave my 54th away because it was always dry out on the nib, feather on most papers, and look too chalky on the good stuff.

It's so nice to have drama-free inks!

[Mongoosey]

I ended up pouring my 54th down the drain. Sou Bokou is nicer un every way. A similar colour but with shading and no dramas.

 

I'm delighted you've ordered a bottle. I'm sure you will be too once it arrives.

 

Keep us posted of your findings.

 

 

I'd be happy to post my first first impressions.

 

I did the same thing with my 54th: Poured the bottle right out. It was feathering on Clairefontaine paper out of a Pilot Metro Medium

 

+1

 

 

I did the same and am glad I did. Just be prepared to have a blue-black ink that is just blue and black, no green or other colors sneaking into the mix like with so many other blue-black inks.

 

 

I gave my 54th away because it was always dry out on the nib, feather on most papers, and look too chalky on the good stuff.

It's so nice to have drama-free inks!

 

 

Sounds like what it looks like, just like I need.

 

I haven't been this excited about an ink in a while, and though I can build up pens in my mind before I've tried them, I have tried both Sei-Boku and Kiwa-guro so my anticipation is well grounded in the experience of these very well engineered inks.

 

But I know to stop myself right there until I report back.

-----------------------------------

But I do agree with you. It makes a big difference to have a drama free ink. It becomes arguably as important as the pen itself and I didn't fully understand that until I switched from a Noodler's ink to Kiwa-Guro, which magnified that aspect for me.

[DrDebG]

Thank you! Thank you! for this lovely review!

 

I also have a Namisu Nova Ti and have been looking for the right ink for it. I've tried several and have only found a few that I like with it. But I have also been looking for a permanent blue-black to use with it. GvFC Cobalt Blue is nice but isn't waterproof.

 

Seeing your review has convinced me that I need to at least get a sample and try it. Thank you again!

[Tas]

Thank you! Thank you! for this lovely review!

 

I also have a Namisu Nova Ti and have been looking for the right ink for it. I've tried several and have only found a few that I like with it. But I have also been looking for a permanent blue-black to use with it. GvFC Cobalt Blue is nice but isn't waterproof.

 

Seeing your review has convinced me that I need to at least get a sample and try it. Thank you again!

You're welcome. Without crahptacular's generosity of a sample vial, this may have stayed on the overwhelingly long wish list and remained but a desire.

 

Small ripples . . .

[Morbus Curiositas]

Excellent job Tas

 

Looks like your not only veey creative and talented at photography

 

Nice colour

[Mongoosey]

Alright. Luckily Goldspot had some Bottles of Souboku and I got mine in today.

 

First Impressions:

• Tas's review is spot on. I can't say it better.
• It is a Noodler's 54th Mass Alternative, but "alternative" would be an insult. It's like sailor took that idea of that color and did it's own thing and then perfected it.
• Smooth solid flow
• Intriguing color: Shades, but isn't muted like Pilot Blue Black, which can suck the passion out of some writing this ink is capable of acknowledging.
• It's serious, formal, yet has character and depth.
• Not boring at all
• Permanent! : )
• OVERALL: I must say, and I wasn't expecting this, it is very well balanced and harmonious. It hits a bullseye balancing effortlessly on that fulcrum of a superb ink.

Ink Comparisons :

• Compared to Kiwa-Guro, Souboku is not as well behaved on cheaper paper, but I don't think any ink is. Kiwa-Guro's that good. BUT Souboku is still a very high quality ink that lives up to the lofty standards of these Nano inks.
• Compared to Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, which was my previous "Blue Black Champion" being a smooth lovely ink..., I honestly find my self in accordance with others in qualifying Souboku as my "Desert Island Blue Black". I think it's that good.

Conclusion: This is my first impression, but I think this may be an ink, like Kiwa-Guro, I'll be stockpiling. Very Very happy with this ink right now .

 

Sidenote: I love the Box and Bottle it comes with.

Edited December 23, 2018 by Mongoosey

[Tas]

Alright. Luckily Goldspot had some Bottles of Souboku and I got mine in today.

 

First Impressions:

IMG_0046.JPG

• Tas's review is spot on. I can't say it better.
• It is a Noodler's 54th Mass Alternative, but "alternative" would be an insult. It's like sailor took that idea of that color and did it's own thing and then perfected it.
• Smooth solid flow
• Intriguing color: Shades, but isn't muted like Pilot Blue Black, which can suck the passion out of some writing this ink is capable of acknowledging.
• It's serious, formal, yet has character and depth.
• Not boring at all
• Permanent! : )
• OVERALL: I must say, and I wasn't expecting this, it is very well balanced and harmonious. It hits a bullseye balancing effortlessly on that fulcrum of a superb ink.

IMG_0047.JPG

Ink Comparisons :

• Compared to Kiwa-Guro, Souboku is not as well behaved on cheaper paper, but I don't think any ink is. Kiwa-Guro's that good. BUT Souboku is still a very high quality ink that lives up to the lofty standards of these Nano inks.
• Compared to Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, which was my previous "Blue Black Champion" being a smooth lovely ink..., I honestly find my self in accordance with others in qualifying Souboku as my "Desert Island Blue Black". I think it's that good.

Conclusion: This is my first impression, but I think this may be an ink, like Kiwa-Guro, I'll be stockpiling. Very Very happy with this ink right now .

 

Sidenote: I love the Box and Bottle it comes with.

🤗🤗🤗 what a relief. Delighted you like it. Woo hoo!

[Mongoosey]

what a relief. Delighted you like it. Woo hoo!

It's a relief to find an ink this good.

 

I really liked Sei-Boku... 'cept for the color so that wouldn't do.

 

I honestly don't like having a lot of inks. I have a bunch that I won't use because I stick to a very select few especially since Good Water Resistance is important to me:

• Noodler's Heart of Darkness
• Sailor Kiwa-Guro
• Saior Souboku, now
• And Scabiosa for an "off color" that's still great as a daily writer.

I have my preferred colors among Pilots, Iroshizukus, Sailors and Kobe's, Pelikan Edelstein's, De Atramentis, and they work so beautifully, especially the Iroshizukus, but I always find I switch back to an ink with good Water Resistance/waterproofness, and I find I rather just have a maximum of a few pens inked, preferably 1 or 2.

 

I'm rather a minimalist with Fountain Pens, so finding this Souboku and having it now inked in my Daily Writer with the utmost satisfaction is almost serendipitous. It's a beautifully engineered ink.

 

Thank you again Tas, and thank you for the encouragement. This was a wonderful find and I've never been so happy with an ink OOTB.

[amberleadavis]

Tas, if I haven't mentioned it recently, I really love the stick dude on the beach.

[Tas]

Tas, if I haven't mentioned it recently, I really love the stick dude on the beach.

 

Thank you.

x

[Flaxmoore]

I really need this. It’s like a permanent version of my dregs bottle.

[Mongoosey]

How has this ink behaved in your guys's pens over the long term?

 

I have a Lamy 2000-M on the way and was looking to ink Souboku in it, though it's competing with Iroshizuku Shin-Kai and possibly Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite.

 

Souboku is my favorite Blue Black I've tried, but...

 

...But I'm worried about it clogging or affecting my pen in a negative way.

 

I've used Sailor Nano inks before, but always in a pen that used a Jowo nib unit or something of the likes I could affordably and easily replace with spares I have if need be.

 

Right now I'm using my new Pilot Custom 74-M (had for a little less than a week) which has blown me away being everything I've looked for in a fountain pen and more and I haven't put it down. It's perfect with Iroshizuku Yama-Guri and I am in this caregiver state of mind where I don't want to use any other inks besides Ioshizuku's so I don't clog the pen or something and lose this practically perfect writer.

 

And I feel that way about my soon to arrive Lamy 2000, which I was planning on inking with Souboku.

 

What do you think? Is Souboku safe enough? Are the Nano's safe enough for a Lamy 2000? Has anyone had experience with difficult clogging issues with Nano inks?

 

I would never put Water Resistant Noodler's inks in my Pilot Custom 74 and I feel that way about the Lamy 2000. I like some of those Noodler's inks, but that silt residue is impossible to clean out of small and hard to reach crevices and that does associate some worry with the Water Resistant Sailor Nano's.

[truthpil]

 

What do you think? Is Souboku safe enough? Are the Nano's safe enough for a Lamy 2000? Has anyone had experience with difficult clogging issues with Nano inks?

 

I would never put Water Resistant Noodler's inks in my Pilot Custom 74 and I feel that way about the Lamy 2000. I like some of those Noodler's inks, but that silt residue is impossible to clean out of small and hard to reach crevices and that does associate some worry with the Water Resistant Sailor Nano's.

 

I haven't used Souboku for a long period of time, I'm kind of hoarding the bottle and saving it for special writing purposes since I love the ink so much, but my experience with other Sailor pigmented inks is that they can leave little behind between the nib and feed if you keep it in the pen for weeks or more. I just had to do some serious scrubbing on the underside of the nib of a 78G to get all the Seiboku off after a couple months of use with refilling. Thus, I would probably reserve Souboku for pens that you can easily take apart to clean, and that could include the Custom 74. I'm too scared of my Lamy 2000 leaking were I too take it apart and put it back together again, so I'll never use anything other than the tamest stuff in it.

[LizEF]

... my experience with other Sailor pigmented inks is that they can leave little behind between the nib and feed if you keep it in the pen for weeks or more. I just had to do some serious scrubbing on the underside of the nib of a 78G to get all the Seiboku off after a couple months of use with refilling. ....

 

Thank you for sharing this. I was afraid it was just me. The underside of my Stargazer (Seiboku pen) nib was kinda black after flushing everything else. It came off with a Q-Tip (which reached the edges better than my fingers).

[Tas]

I've had Sou Bokou in my Aurora Archivi Storici 012 since the day I bought it in early October this year.

Granted, I use the pen alomost every day, although not always. A week can sometimes pass with it not being used.

I was warned by milk0bat that the Aurora doesn't like being left alone. Thankfully I've had no issue with dry out or clogging. I've not rinsed the pen yet either, only refilled, but plan to do so next fill.

Rest assured, the day I notice any issues with Sou Boku, I will let you all know. I've been bigging it up for so long it would only be fair to warn anyone of its shortcomings.

 

So far, none for me.

(Sei Boku in my Pilot Custom 91 for over a year, no problem whatsoever there either - similar use)

The Lamy 2000 is seriously easy to clean, no?

[Mongoosey]

I appreciate the input and I'll keep it in mind.

 

The gloriousness of my Pilot C74 with Yama-Guri does motivate me to use Shin-Kai with the L2K, but I'm having a lot of trouble saying no to my Desert Island Blue Black: Souboku.

 

I may just have to go with Souboku and if worse comes to worse I'll have to be a little more careful and invest in some pen flush. The Nano's sound like they are on the safer side of being permanent and they tame the line width.

 

Though I did see Shin-Kai in a review write an agreeable line width with in an L2K-M, I also saw another reviewer had an Iroshizuku turn the Medium into a broad : (

 

Kiwa-Guro did flow consistently in my Pilot Custom 74-M, yet with a much narrower line than with Yama-Guri. I didn't mind that, but Kiwa-Guro is so lubricated that the feedback was diminished to the point that the beautiful engagement was virtually lost to glassiness and the gloriousness gone.

 

But the Lamy 2000 is heavier which would add more feedback so I'll have to see.

 

It all really depends. And Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite is like my middle ground ink. I've found it produces a line width in between my Iroshizuku's and my Sailor Nano's.

Edited December 30, 2018 by Mongoosey

[A Smug Dill]

...But I'm worried about it clogging or affecting my pen in a negative way.

 

What do you think? Is Souboku safe enough? Are the Nano's safe enough for a Lamy 2000?

 

Yes. But then, I don't have a Lamy 2000 and never used one, and I don't think highly enough of the model or its market price to worry about it. Let's just say I was happy enough to put Sailor kiwaguro ink in my Pilot Hannya Shingyo pen (with a list price of ¥100,000) when I used to use it at the office, and I just filled my new Pilot Vanishing Point (with blue matte barrel and black ion-plated 18K gold nib, in roughly the same price range as a Lamy 2000) with Sailor souboku, even though kiwaguro has managed to eat away some of the same type of ion-plating on my matte black Pilot VP over several years leaving clear evidence of nib creep.

 

I've used Sailor Nano inks before, but always in a pen that used a Jowo nib unit or something of the likes I could affordably and easily replace with spares I have if need be.

The Lamy 2000 is seriously easy to clean, no?

 

I'm pretty sure the nib on the Lamy 2000 can be replaced for less than the price of a whole new pen, in any case, just as I can replace the 18K gold nib on the Pilot VP if need be. (Actually, I have four 'spare' Pilot Capless nib assemblies – of different width grades – sitting in the drawer.)

 

The occasional warm bath in my temperature-controlled ultrasonic cleaning tank, followed by flushing with a bulb syringe, has never failed to remove dried up kiwaguro from the nib and/or the inside of the trapdoor on my black Pilot VP.

 

I'm kind of hoarding the bottle and saving it for special writing purposes since I love the ink so much

Why? It's not a limited edition ink that is out of production. The local Kinokuniya store in Sydney wanted double the Japanese list price for 50ml bottles of Sailor pigment inks, and about three times what it would cost me to buy a bottle (tax inclusive, delivery excluded) on Rakuten, so I ended up ordering six bottles of the inks in the past few months. I even gave a bottle of souboku away at Christmas just now.