Pilot Music Stub vs. Signature vs. Coarse 14kt gold fountain pen nibs

   

Symphony of music nibs blog post

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Opus Cineris The Harmonic Nib Series - a handmade gold fountain pen nib by Anabelle Sophie Hiller

Anabelle Sophie Hiller's Opus Cineris website

Stringsandpedals on Instagram

Opus Cineris on Instagram

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate it and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership, and your support so much - thank you! 

Diplomat Fountain Pens 14kt Gold vs. Steel Nibs - Is the gold that much better? A subjective look!

Thank you to Diplomat Canada for loaning me these pens! This was a tough video in that it's hard to really quantify the value and feeling of writing with different nibs, but I did my best. Enjoy!

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership, and your support so much - thank you! 

Diplomat Aero Flame Fountain Pens - 14kt Gold Nibs Extra fine, Fine, Medium, Broad

A huge thank you to Diplomat Pens Canada for providing these pens so I could share them with you! I've been giving them a hardcore run for the last few months. You can find them at your favorite Diplomat retailer!

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership, and your support so much - thank you! 

Scribo Fountain Pen Nib Writing Samples - Flex and Standard

A huge thank you to Scribo for loaning me the Feel and for providing the additional nib units on loan so I could share them with you! I've had them for quite some time so I am really grateful they allowed me to keep them, test them, and play with them. You can visit Scribo and check out the goodies, and you can shop at Appelboom for your Scribos, which is what I usually do!

SCRITTURA BOLOGNESE
Appelboom - discount code for 10% off 'friend'

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership, and your support so much - thank you! 

Platinum #3776 Star Wars Darth Maul Fountain Pen

Thank you to Appelboom for loaning me this pen - ages ago. Sorry. But you can find other Platinums at Appelboom!

Here's the Platinum nib set video!

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership, and your support so much - thank you! 

Fountain Pen Nib Comparison - Sailor Zoom vs. Platinum Double Broad (Coarse)

 

Sailor Pro Gear (or Pro Gear Slim/1911 Standard/1911 Large)
Platinum #3776 Century

Reviews:

Platinum #3776 Celluloid Karakusa Blue Coarse Nib Fountain Pen
Platinum #3776 Century Black Diamond with Music Nib Fountain Pen

Platinum #3776 Century Bourgogne with Coarse/Double Broad Nib Fountain Pen
Platinum Coarse Nib vs. Nakaya Extra Broad Nib

Sailor Pro Gear Pen Gallery Durian Musang King Fountain Pen - Zoom

Sailor Pro Gear Slim British Racing Green Goldspot Pens Exclusive Fountain Pen - Zoom

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Some of these links are affiliate links. If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership and your support so much - thank you! 

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The P.W. Akkerman x Gourmet Pens Pink Ink Collaboration:
Need some more PINK in your life?

/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\*ᵖᵘʳʳ*

P.W. Akkerman
Vanness Pens
Lemur Ink
Bookbinders Design
Laywine's (call or email)

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A Basic Handlettered Alphabet with a Music Nib Fountain Pen

  

Just some simple, oddly satisfying fun with lots of nib noise!

Pen: Platinum #3776 Carnelian Red
Nib: Music Stub
Ink: Montblanc James Dean Rebel Red + a dip of Montblanc Lavender Purple in the capital alphabet
Paper: Maruman Mnemosyne

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If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership and your support so much - thank you! 

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The P.W. Akkerman x Gourmet Pens Pink Ink Collaboration:
Need some more PINK in your life?

/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\*ᵖᵘʳʳ*

P.W. Akkerman
Vanness Pens
Lemur Ink
Bookbinders Design
Laywine's (call or email)

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Sailor Pro Gear Slim British Racing Green Nice Chonky Nib Fountain Pen

 Woohoo! A chonker! Sailor's zoom nibs are definitely my favorite of their offerings - aside from the specialty ones, but the zoom is great for all things lettering, doodling, inking profusely, and modifying. This zoom is on Goldspot's newest exclusive color - the British Racing Green! It's a fun, chill green that won't make sparkle-haters puke. Enjoy!

Here's those upcoming cyber week deals I talk about in the video.

 

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The P.W. Akkerman x Gourmet Pens Pink Ink Collaboration:
Need some more PINK in your life?

/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\*ᵖᵘʳʳ*

P.W. Akkerman
Vanness Pens
Lemur Ink
Bookbinders Design
Laywine's (call or email)

Oh. Also. I received this free of charge so I could share my thoughts with you and do fun things. I hope this has been helpful and thank you for reading/viewing. If you enjoy and/or appreciate and you want to lend your continued support, please do check me out on Patreon. You can pledge your support and/or undying love for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so. I appreciate your readership, viewership and your support so much - thank you! 

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Sweet Flexy Handwriting with a Fountain Pen

Ahh, a bit of seductive flex and spreading of tines with juicy pools of ink for your Friday. And my Friday. For this Friday and for every Friday hereafter. 

Pen + nib: Parker Vacumatic Major + factory stub (vintage)
Ink: Waterman South Sea Blue
Music: YouTube X Ray Vision - Slynk

You can visit my sponsors and snag a bottle of Waterman South Sea Blue for yourself! Some even offer discounts for you to enjoy. You don't have to use the code and you don't have to shop with them but it helps me out if you do!

Thank you for watching. If you found this useful, enjoyed it, and would like to see more pen, ink, and paper stuff, please like and subscribe! If you have realized that oddly satisfying pens and inks are your jam and you would like to support my creations, please check me out on patreon.com/gourmetpens to help keep the ink flowing!

Goldspot Pens Sailor 1911S Royal Amethyst Purple Fountain Pen

Worn by royalty throughout the ages, the Amethyst stone embodies the pinnacle of luxury. It is also said to have healing properties, relieving stress and warding away negative thoughts. While the Sailor 1911 fountain pen is not made of pure amethyst, you'll feel the luxury and relaxation radiating from the transparent purple body and gleaming gold trims. An exclusive collaboration between Goldspot Pens and Sailor of Japan, we proudly present the Sailor 1911 Royal Amethyst Fall 2019 limited edition.

The 1911's classic, cigar-shaped profile is well-balanced and feels comfortable to hold for long writing sessions. Sailor's gold nibs are some of the finest on the planet, tending to be a size finer than their European counterparts. The fountain pen fills by Sailor's proprietary cartridge or converter (both included) and includes a 1-year limited warranty. - Goldspot

I'm a sucker for Sailor because I love the huge range of colors and nib combinations available to us. Yes, it drives me bonkers that there are exclusives that we cannot easily access but recently North America has been extra lucky to have some exclusives for ourselves. Goldspot brings us the Royal Amethyst fountain pen in the 1911 Standard and 1911 Large models. 

Aside from colors, Sailor's range of standard nibs is extremely exciting for someone like myself who loves nibs and all sorts of nibs - and yes, even though I give extra-fine nibs a hard time, I regretfully admit I understand their purpose and sometimes they're even enjoyable. However, I lean towards the broader end of the nib range - the broad, zoom, and music stub. In this case, I have a 14kt music stub to play with. 

The nibs are yellow gold and the 1911S comes with 14kt nibs and the larger model has the 21kt nib. I have here a 14kt nib as this is the 1911S. They have plastic feeds and a single slit and round breather hole. Unlike other music nibs, Sailor's is a single slit, two-tine that still manages to be stubby and juicy. Does it need three tines? Probably not because it's pretty broad and juicy as is. Aesthetically, it might be more interesting and yet it's fine the way it is. 

   

The pen is a really pretty purple - bright enough to be easily recognized as purple, it's clear, and it's topped off with gold trim that makes it look quite warm and inviting. I like the color and I love clear pens for some reason. I used to think it was the ink slosh factor but now I'm not sure - there's not a lot of sloshing going on here and I still am attracted to it. Maybe it's because I ink way too many pens up at the same time and being able to see if a particular pen is inked at a glance is really handy, especially if you can also discern the actual ink color within reason. Blue, green, pink, etc. It doesn't have to be down to the specific ink color or anything.

Thoughts on bananas hit the Instagram feed awhile ago because I had bought four green bananas, thinking they would last me a week before they got weirdly brown. No. Two days later, they were beyond saving (or eating) and they had to be given to a friend who prefers their brown spots. Ew? I spent some time dwelling on the banana saga. I like my bananas barely ripe and I hate the strings and once I’ve eaten it, I want the peel far away from me because I hate how the peel smells without a banana in it. Tell me your banana feelings. 

 

The Sailor 1911 series is a solid one: the two sizes means you get two size options of pen and nib. The pen is really comfortable, it's lightweight and can easily be used for longer writing sessions, it posts snugly and securely, and it's a low maintenance fountain pen. The cartridge/converter system is easy peasy to clean and look after, and although the Sailor converter is pretty small in terms of its ink capacity, I still reach for it more often than using the cartridges. I'm just not a cartridge person. I don't know why. If I really must, I refill the cartridge using a syringe and needle, or even using just a small plastic pipette. The larger 1911 is great for most hands - unposted for smaller hands, and posted for larger hands. 

The music nib is juicy but not a ridiculous gusher. It's great for writing to friends because it shows off your ink color really well and you can do some fun doodles or calligraphy with it at the same time. It's a fairly smooth stub in that the corners are not sharp and will not catch on your page so if it's your first time exploring music nibs or even stub nibs, the Sailor music nib is a safe one to go with. These nibs are quite firm and do not offer line variation. The tines do not split and if they do, it's because you've done a naughty thing to your nib! If you apply pressure, the most you'll get is just a little more ink. Vintage music nibs are flexible but Sailor nibs are not. 

I have several Sailors in my pen case and they are all inked up almost all of the time. If they're not, it's because they're waiting to be cleaned. I don't get bored of them and I somehow keep getting more. They're definitely in the luxurious pen category what with the gold nibs and price, but they aren't so grotesquely priced that I'm afraid to carry them around with me. I comfortably take these to pen meets. 

Are you a Sailor fan?

Available at Goldspot - $220USD for the Standard, $312USD for the Large. Goldspot is one of my blog sponsors and they make so many reviews possible so they have my deepest gratitude for their support. I received this pen free of charge so I could share my thoughts with you. I hope this has been helpful! Thank you for reading. If you enjoy and/or appreciate this type of information and you want to lend your support, please do check me out on Patreon! You can support yours truly for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so, of course. I am most grateful for your readership as is.

Modern Flex Fountain Pen Comparison - Montblanc 149 Calligraphy Flex vs. Aurora 88 Mottishaw Spencerian

Ever since its release, the Montblanc Meisterstück Calligraphy 149 has been pretty exciting for those of us who love flexy writers. We all wanted to know: could Montblanc really get it right? I have used three of these pens: two from personal use and one tester at a Montblanc boutique. That means I have used only three out of however many are out there, so your miles may vary. If you'd like to see the full video, check it out here.

What I wanted to do here was compare the Montblanc Calligraphy nib with an Aurora 88 flex that has a Mottishaw (nibs.com) Spencerian modification on it. Before continuing with handwriting samples, I apologize in advance for my shaky writing. My hand has been unsteady for the last little while and it really shows up in hairlines.

MONTBLANC

• ~ $1000USD⁣ - this is a heck of a purchase. It's a splurge and then some.
• Large, girthy pen⁣. I find it quite thick in my grip so I don't have as much control over this pen as I do over something smaller - like the 146 or the Aurora. However, it is usable, but of all the nib options available on the 149, this one is the hardest for me to control.
• Without pressure, the nib puts down a Western fine⁣. It's not an excessively wet nib but it performs well and ink flow is consistent.
• Fairly smooth writing experience overall⁣. It's quite pleasant as a daily writer even if you choose not to use pressure. In fact, unless you have a particularly heavy hand, it can easy be used for regular writing.
• Moderate pressure gives you up to a double broad line - the softness feels like a super flex⁣ to me.
• It does not offer a whole lot of feedback when you are pushing it too far so you can railroad⁣ and run it dry. It also means it's easier to spring it so it takes some practice to get to know the nib. This is really the case for any pen with a soft nib but pay attention as you are writing and watch the tines. Look for how they're responding and if they're starting to develop a crease or something that indicates the metal is becoming fatigued.
• Snap back is a little slow but as a result, it's fairly easy to achieve smooth lines⁣ (unless you have my shaky hand).
• Line variation is decent but not Copperplate-type variation⁣. The contrast is not super crisp.

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AURORA/MOTTISHAW SPENCERIAN GRIND

John Mottishaw at nibs.com offers a Spencerian modification:

The Spencerian starts from a semi-soft 14k nib and adds additional flex and a regrind to needlepoint to create a specialized writing point used for copperplate calligraphy. 

• $585USD + $130USD for mod (also available on other less expensive pens, or equally expensive pens!)⁣
• Pen size is likely more comfortable for most users⁣. The section is nowhere near as thick as the Montblanc and because the nib is smaller, I can also get closer down, which gives me more control.
• Without pressure, puts down a Western extra extra-fine⁣. It has been reground to be a needlepoint so you're really getting something precise.
• Sharp, crisp writing experience. It nears the realm of feeling scratchy and it requires a light hand.⁣ If you apply too much pressure, the nib can catch and make horrible sounds and do terrible things as you cross the page. Remember: very, very light hand. Never, ever apply pressure on the upstroke or cross stroke. When you apply pressure, make sure it is only on the downstroke and it's best to keep the tines aligned with the angle of your downstroke so the pressure is applied equally to both tines.
• Moderate pressure gives up to a generous broad - a little softer than the Montblanc⁣
• Gives some feedback - nib starts to resist when you're pushing it too far. Ideally, you'd want to stop before this resistance so as to not damage nib⁣. This nib needs to be treated with great care and attention. It's easy to spread the tines too far and even if they don't get sprung, you can inadvertently change the alignment or gap between the tines, which can make it write too wet. Your needlepoint won't be a needlepoint anymore!
• Snap back is fast so it requires careful control to achieve the variation and lines you want⁣. The result is delicious.
• Nice, crisp line variation⁣. The hairlines are exquisite and the contrast is outstanding.

I thoroughly enjoy both of these nibs. For ease of use and forgiveness, the Montblanc nib is a great choice. The major downsides are the price and the size of the pen. The Aurora (or any other option that can take the Spencerian modification) is likely to be a more usable size pen for most writers, it costs less, but it is more delicate and less forgiving. I think it's safe to say the Spencerian modification is for more experienced users. That's not to say a new fountain pen user can't use it; it just must be taken up with great care and attention.

The joys of "modern flex"! The honest truth is nothing compares to a dip nib in terms of flex, versatility, and cost but a flexy nib fountain pen is just so much fun!⁣ A good rule of thumb for flex nibs: never, ever apply pressure on the upstroke or cross stroke. When you apply pressure, make sure it is only on the downstroke and it's best to keep the tines aligned with the angle of your downstroke so the pressure is applied equally to both tines.

Where to buy? I purchased my Montblanc Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy flex pen at Appelboom. The Aurora is on loan from a friend but you can get an appropriate pen for the Spencerian grind by visiting this page and seeing your options. 

I hope this has been helpful! Thank you for reading. If you enjoy and/or appreciate this type of information and you want to lend your support, please do check me out on Patreon! You can support yours truly for as little as $1. You are in no way obligated to do so, of course. I am most grateful for your readership as is.
⁣

Oddly Satisfying Sexy Flexy Handwriting

It is a roasty toasty day out here in Toronto so I thought to myself, Ziza, what better way to spend such a day than to be a blob in front of a fan in a pile with no pants on while you assemble some super hot and bothersome sexy flexy vintage nib video footage? ...  There are better things, in fact. Like a scoop of ice cream in a waffle cone, chocolate chip cookie dough, being in the ocean when it's this hot out, a gooey half raw cookie fresh from the oven but definitely without raisins in it. There are more things, but in the meantime, I hope this one tickles your fancy.

Pen: Webster's Flat Top in green jade (vintage)
Nib: Warranted music nib (also vintage)
Ink: Waterman South Sea Blue/Obsession Blue. Whatever they call it now. I wish they'd stop renaming it and Obsession Blue is a stupid name

Music: BenSound

Montblanc Donation Pen Homage to George Gershwin Fountain Pen

The Montblanc Donation Pen Collection is honouring world-famous classical musicians of the past decades. The Donation Pen supports carefully selected cultural projects from pioneering artists the world over with a donation of 20 euros per fountain pen and 10 euros per ballpoint or rollerball. This year's edition pays tribute to George Gershwin, an American composer and pianist. The clip is in the shape of a clarinet - a tribute to the clarinet opening from Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". Another tribute to "Rhapsody in Blue" is the ink window which features a blue colour. The cap ring is inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge to symbolise the close relationship George Gershwin had with his place of birth. The cap and barrel are made out of black precious resin combined with platinum-coated fittings. The special gift box additionally contains three prints of the Brooklyn Bridge. - Montblanc

Thanks to Appelboom for loaning me this Montblanc Donation Pen Homage to George Gershwin Fountain Pen. Get yours at Appelboom! If you use the discount code 'friend', you will receive 10% off your purchase but Montblanc excludes their products. Useless to share it on a Montblanc post maybe, but perhaps you'll see something else you like.

Oddly Satisfying Writing with a Vintage Music Nib Fountain Pen

Two vintage fountain pens with music nibs: a Waterman 94 and a Waterman 42.
I used two inks: PW Akkerman Royal Akkerman Blauw and Montblanc Oyster Grey.
Notebook - I can't remember but I suspect a Rhodia pad.

Just some fun scribbles to test inks, play with paper, make a mess.

Scribo Feel Fountain Pen - Writing with a Fine Flexible Nib and a Broad Nib

I purchased these Scribo Feel fountain pens awhile back from Appelboom and because the nibs are supposed to be very similar to the dearly departed Omas nibs, I really wanted to try them out. I couldn't decide so I ended up with a 14kt fine flexible nib and an 18kt broad nib.

This is just a little writing snippet with appropriate music but I also have a full review of the pens up. If you'd like, you can order your own from Appelboom using the discount code 'friend' for 10% off! No commission, just a sweet deal for you.

Kinky music from BenSound!

Music Nib Fountain Pen Satisfying Inky Fun!

I bought a Warranted music nib several years ago and although I do not use them for their "intended purpose", I enjoy just writing with them. They're smooth, super juicy, and soft, which are all features I love in a fountain pen writing experience. Please enjoy this fun and inky video!

Aurora Alpha Sky Blue Fountain Pen

Thank you to Appelboom for loaning me this Aurora Alpha Sky Blue fountain pen to review! If you'd like, you can use the code 'friend' at Appelboom for 10% off your purchase - excludes Montblanc, though.

Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore vs. MomentoZero Fountain Pens with Gold & Steel Nibs

Shop Leonardo Pens at Appelboom

Discount code: 'friend'

Shop Leonardo Pens at Casa della Stilografica

Discount code: FLORENCE

No commission, just a sweet deal for you.

Leonardo Furore Emerald Turquoise Fountain Pen + 14KT Stub Nib

Thank you to Leonardo Pens for sending this pen for me to check out. You can shop Leonardo pens at some of my sponsors using the provided discount codes! No commission, just a sweet deal for you. 

Music: BenSound