Which Pilot Custom 74?

[mitaccio]

I am looking to move beyond my TWSBI 580 into the next level and have had my eye on the Pilot Custom 74. There seems to be a big difference in price between the Japanese gold nib pens and the American rhodium nib pens. I get that the body colors are different but do they both write the same? What makes the rhodium nibs cost so much more?

[A Smug Dill]

I am looking to move beyond my TWSBI 580 into the next level and have had my eye on the Pilot Custom 74. There seems to be a big difference in price between the Japanese gold nib pens and the American rhodium nib pens.

 

What do you mean by that? To which specific models do you refer?

 

Searching for 'Custom' in the product name on Pilot Pen's US web site returned no matches for any Custom 74 models. On Pilot Japan's web site, the Custom 74 models are the same price irrespective of whether it has a plain 14K gold nib (on the FKKN-12SR-B/DR/DL/DG) or a rhodinated 14K gold nib (on the FKKN-12SR-NC), unless you want a Coarse nib or a Music nib. If you find any FKK-1000R-* models, they are old stock that used to have an MSRP of ¥10,000+tax, from before the recent price increase by Pilot Japan.

 

Edit: Oh, you mean the coloured demonstrator models not listed on Pilot Japan's web site today? I suppose you can call the price differential a "demonstrator tax"; some consumers are apparently prepared to pay more to get a demonstrator model with exactly the same technical design and specifications as the opaque models in the same product line. If they think they'd be happier with (or see more beauty in) a demonstrator, that it makes sense that a company that "understands" its customers will charge more for that "value-add".

Edited May 20, 2019 by A Smug Dill

[Honeybadgers]

the custom 74 doesn't have a rhodium plated nib - that's the custom 91. they're slightly different pens, in that the 74 is a cigar shape and the 91 is a flat top. (the section and nib performance/size are completely identical though - just pick the one you like more)

 

If you're looking at the price difference between japanese market and US market prices, it's all a scam the japanese pen companies pull on the rest of the world. Just buy the japanese model on amazon or ebay and save half the money. The only difference is that -technically- pilot won't honor the warranty (though they have no way of knowing you bought the pen gray market since they're identical, so they will actually honor the warranty) and the US market pen comes with an included converter. Japan sells the 91 same as the US, the prices are just kind of arbitrary and based on what the suppliers can get. The 74 and 91 from japan are absolutely and utterly identical to the ones sold by US retailers, apart from the box not including a converter.

[A Smug Dill]

the custom 74 doesn't have a rhodium plated nib

Some models of the Pilot Custom 74 do.

[Pensei]

I'm holding in my hand right now a Custom 74 with rhodium hardware, so I can confirm that. It's a clear demonstrator with a CON-70, which means everything on the pen is black, clear, or rhodium, more or less in alternating stripes. It looks pretty cool.

[Honeybadgers]

Yes, there are special editions of the 74 with rhodium trim. I have the demonstrator model too (and I agree that it looks amazing with a con-70)

 

I was thinking the OP was asking about standard trim pens. If we're talking about special editions, then it's kind of obvious that the "special edition" is the reason it costs more than a thin layer of rhodium plating, and that shouldn't be what we're discussing because of how obvious it is.

 

Also, my argument still stands. The demo custom 74 is only a tad more expensive than the standard one on amazon.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fountain-Custom-Transparent-FKK-1MR-NC-F/dp/B0018HHWFK/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=pilot+custom+74+demonstrator&qid=1558503732&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

 

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fontain-Custom-M-Nib-FKK-1000R-DL-M/dp/B001AX3T4A/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=pilot+custom+74+demonstrator&qid=1558503732&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

Edited May 22, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Shaggy]

Yes, there are special editions of the 74 with rhodium trim.

I have the standard US model clear blue with rhodium Trim. In no way is it a special edition.

 

Here are a bunch of rhodium ones at Jet Pens.

https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Custom-74-Fountain-Pens/ct/4033

Edited May 22, 2019 by Shaggy

[TSherbs]

I think that the price difference you are seeing is Japan vs USA prices.

 

I bought mine from Japan cuz I couldn't justify the price increase to get it from an American retailer. (I am in America)

[Olya]

The Custom 74 demonstrators (i.e. rhodium trim) are only produced for the US market.

 

Which is why the price difference.

 

If those choices were available in/ from Japan, you could get them for the same price as the opaque ones.

 

Why are the opaque ones so cheap on JetPens?

 

Because JetPens seems to acquire products straight from Japan without a distributor, as e.g. the opaque 74 or also Pilot Blue Black ink are not officially available on the US market.

 

Due to cutting out a US distributor they have lower import bills and can offer products (like the 74 opaque) closer to Japanese domestic market prices.

 

Note also that Jetpens seems to only offer the black 74, there are blue, green and red ones available in Japan, but no demonstrators like in the US (this, because it is a US product (which does not mean it is made in the US!), must be offered by the price Pilot USA want).

Edited May 22, 2019 by Olya

[A Smug Dill]

there are blue, green and red ones available in Japan, but no demonstrators like in the US

No coloured demonstrator models of the Custom 74 for the Japanese domestic market, true, but I'd say the FKK–1MR–NC* and FKKN-12SR-NC* models available in Japan count as demonstrators ("NC" denoting "no colour", or clear pen body).

 

On Amazon.co.jp: current model with Fine nib; current model with Medium nib

On Rakuten Ichiba: (search for "Pilot FKKN NC")

[Olya]

No coloured demonstrator models of the Custom 74 for the Japanese domestic market, true, but I'd say the FKK–1MR–NC* and FKKN-12SR-NC* models available in Japan count as demonstrators ("NC" denoting "no colour", or clear pen body).

 

On Amazon.co.jp: current model with Fine nib; current model with Medium nib

On Rakuten Ichiba: (search for "Pilot FKKN NC")

Thank you for the correction! I don't remember seeing the clear version, either I had wool over my eyes or it's new!?

 

Not a demonstrator fan, but the lilac, blue, teal, and bordeaux look very appealing! Even the orange and boring smokey one!

A shame they are only available on the US market.

 

I wish Pilot would broaden their offer a bit in Europe.

[Shaggy]

 

 

 

Note also that Jetpens seems to only offer the black 74, there are blue, green and red ones available in Japan, but no demonstrators like in the US (this, because it is a US product (which does not mean it is made in the US!), must be offered by the price Pilot USA want).

No, jetpens offers all colors. I posted their link.

 

Not to be That Guy. Just trying to keep the info here accurate.

Edited May 22, 2019 by Shaggy

[Olya]

No, jetpens offers all colors. I posted their link.

 

Not to be That Guy. Just trying to keep the info here accurate.

No worries, corrections are important!

 

I see only the black opaque Custom 74 on JetPens, not the blue, red or green.

 

They do have all demonstrator versions though.

[Honeybadgers]

I have the standard US model clear blue with rhodium Trim. In no way is it a special edition.

 

Here are a bunch of rhodium ones at Jet Pens.

https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Custom-74-Fountain-Pens/ct/4033

 

 

Again, while yes, they are regularly offered, the "Standard" custom 74 comes in black, maroon, and I believe a navy blue. Those are the colors which are available with all pilot #5 nib sizes. The rhodium trims come in only a few nibs, and the custom, 91 has all the #5 nibs of the 74 in rhodium trim.

 

I'm not bothering with this thread anymore. Semantics are pointless and I'd argue the OP was clearly talking about trim when if he was looking at the demonstrators vs the opaque models, he would have mentioned why blue plastic suddenly added $40 to a pen.

 

Colored versions are special editions for the US/international market, just not limited ones.

Edited May 23, 2019 by Honeybadgers