I continue to contemplate buying a gold-nibbed fine width Japanese fountain pen with a "soft" nib that is a little thicker/bigger than what I have (Ahab-sized would be nice). I've been thinking about a 3776 from Platinum intermittently for some time, and wanted to see if y'all had an opinion or experience with this pen. I've read that the 3776 nib, especially the soft fine with some line variation, is a darn fine nib.
I am used to my Pilot Metropolitans/Prera, which I prefer in fine rather than medium. Nice pens, dark thin line, but they are a bit small and have hard/inflexible nibs.
I also have a Platinum Cool (Balance), with a nice semi-flex nib (which I like), which writes a little drier than my Pilots (which don't like as much). It feels like it's made from a cheaper plastic than my Prera, which is another negative.
In short, I'd like a soft nib with a fine, dark like that has a bit of flex in a nice Japanese pen under $150. I really like the look of the 3776 in Chartres Blue, and the thicker grip puts it a bit ahead of their maki-e silkscreened pens. I've thought about the Pilot customs, but I don't know how nice the nibs are (and they don't have the "wow factor" of the Chartres blue). I've looked at the Legno and Legance as well.
I've thought about extra fines from non-Japanese vendors, but every German EF nib that I've tried (JoWo from Goulet or Rosetta) always seems to be a little too thick for my tiny handwriting. The idea of a nice resin pen is, however, really appealing. I thought about a Visconti Rembrandt in EF, but I haven't read great reviews about the nib or the overall pen quality.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I am used to my Pilot Metropolitans/Prera, which I prefer in fine rather than medium. Nice pens, dark thin line, but they are a bit small and have hard/inflexible nibs.
I also have a Platinum Cool (Balance), with a nice semi-flex nib (which I like), which writes a little drier than my Pilots (which don't like as much). It feels like it's made from a cheaper plastic than my Prera, which is another negative.
In short, I'd like a soft nib with a fine, dark like that has a bit of flex in a nice Japanese pen under $150. I really like the look of the 3776 in Chartres Blue, and the thicker grip puts it a bit ahead of their maki-e silkscreened pens. I've thought about the Pilot customs, but I don't know how nice the nibs are (and they don't have the "wow factor" of the Chartres blue). I've looked at the Legno and Legance as well.
I've thought about extra fines from non-Japanese vendors, but every German EF nib that I've tried (JoWo from Goulet or Rosetta) always seems to be a little too thick for my tiny handwriting. The idea of a nice resin pen is, however, really appealing. I thought about a Visconti Rembrandt in EF, but I haven't read great reviews about the nib or the overall pen quality.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!