I just want to say, please never stop your reviews. They are wonderful and intelligent and truly a standard for me if I want to buy a new pen. Thank you!
You can tell a lot of thought goes into the design of each Pilot pen and the quality is always top notch. I always recommend that people start out with a Pilot or Lamy fountain pen. I've not had a bad experience with either of these brands and bad first impression can permanently turn people away from this hobby. In fact, I had to deal with a couple bad pens last year.
I wish I could buy my higher end Pilot pens from local retailers, but paying an extra 45% - 60% is more than I'm willing to pay. I also wish Pilot offered more of there pens here in the U.S. like the opaque Custom 74 and the Custom Heritage 91.
I was researching a good matching ink for my Pilot 74 (F). Oxford Blue seems to be a very nice choice. Diamine Majestic Blue seems to also have good qualities from afar as well. “An Ink Guy” has excellent technically oriented reviews and gave Oxford Blue a very high note. You both have different yet complimentary channels. I look forward to try this ink. Thank you
Just received my new custom 74. I watch your videos all the time but somehow I missed this one prior to my purchase. Inked mine with oxford blue and then found this video. I love the inks you and pens you choose. I find that my taste matches your preferences. Also, I love my kaweco brass sport for work and I’d love to know if you’ve looked into their gold nibs. The cost is extreme but if they felt right I’d consider.
Thank you Jason! I've never used a Kaweco gold nib and I don't recall if I've ever seen a review of one. I just did a quick search and wow, they are expensive!
Pilot has created a problem for me. I now want a custom 743 with a SM and custom 823. I do find the 74 extremely comfortable to write which makes me look at other colours with different nibs and the problem continues... 🥲
Pilot is creating problems for me also. I've been complaining about Pilot's lack of innovation regarding the colors and materials that they use for their mid-tier pens. Well, they started making the green Custom 74, which would pair nicely with some of my favorite green inks. Then I learned about store exclusive pens in Japan that can be bought through courier services. And now Pilot is making a Custom SE in several interesting resins. Unfortunately the price of gold nib pens are increasing. 😭
I have a pearly white Pilot Decimo vanishing point with a 18k Rhodium plated medium nib. Soft and bouncy. I use it with Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink. I am getting a Platinum Plasir in lilac trim with a lilac purple coloured nib! I ordered a converter separately to use in it so I can use the Iroshizuku ink. I have never used a Platinum pen before. Fingers crossed.
I've never tried a Vanishing Point, but yours sounds beautiful. I've also never used a Platinum Plasir. I've thought about buying one several times, but I couldn't decide on a color...they are all so pretty! P.S. I have a Preppy, which looks very similar to the Plasir. I think you'll like it.
I think you made the right choice. I bought almost all of my Japanese gold nibbed pens (14 out of 16) directly from sellers in Japan and usually paid about half of the list price.
Would you say the Prera fine is slightly finer? When I got my first pens, I was obsessed with finding the finest nib....but now, several months later, I’m finding I don’t prefer very fine nibs anymore. I am thinking of getting a Custom 74 tomorrow, but I don’t want it to be as fine, or more fine, than a fine Prera.
In my experience the Custom 74 doesn't feel as fine as the Prera. The difference is small but noticeable. The Custom 74's gold nib is softer and puts down more ink than the Prera.
@@gadgetstop321 thank you. There is a pen company near me that rents store space once a month, and I’m going today. It’s going to be either the 74, or a Pelikan M200 - or maybe both. Or, I might just buy the 823. Really, I shouldn’t be buying anything, considering I just bought a Franklin Christoph pen on Thursday....but what the hell.
@@gadgetstop321 don’t laugh, I bought all three. And here I’ve been, patting myself on the back for the remarkable restraint I’ve shown since getting bitten by the fountain pen bug. That all ended yesterday. No more pens for me, NO MORE, for at least...two weeks.
@@geslinam9703 Oh, I'm laughing. 🤣 Anytime I start thinking about how content I am with the pens I have, you can bet that within a week I'll have another pen on the way. In all seriousness though, those are some impressive pens you just got!
Great video! I was wondering if yours was as well-writing as it is now when you received it? I ask because I received a Fine Custom 74 a few days ago and it's dry and skipping and basically doesn't put ink on the upstroke and left-strong, unlike my Metropolitan which pretty much writes perfectly in all directions.
My Prera has the same steel nib as your Metropolitan, and I have noticed that it puts down a more consistent line than the gold nib of of my Custom 74, but I've never had any trouble with it skipping. You may need to flush it out and re-ink it. Maybe even try a different ink.
Ooooh, my wallet hates you (in a good way)! Side note: Have you played with the Petit1 or Petit3? I am really enjoying them both for portability and quality. Petit3's are "brush", kind of a felt tip, but refillable, and the Petit1's are the same nib as the Varsity. Stamped but reliable. Both models post very securely and are eye-dropperable if desired. The 3's are also really fun to draw with, and seem durable after 3 months. Irridescent inks seem fine in both btw, although I flush them (Petit1) frequently. Not quite so shimmery with the Petit3's but they do still seem to flow it fine. As a teacher myself once, guarantee some of your students will say "Whaaaat... is that you wrote on my paper?" Honestly though, I'm going for a Diplomat Aero next... At least at the moment!
Sorry 😁 I don't know what it is about fountain pens...Before I discovered them I was all about mechanical pencils. I would use one pencil for years until I lost it or it was stollen, then I would get another. But for some reason I feel compelled to have a different pen for every writing function. I've used a Petit 1 and I had 3 Sunday School students a couple years ago who were fascinated with my fountain pens. I got them Petit 1s and little Apica notebooks for Christmas and they loved them. (My students at school asked me to get them fountain pens for Christmas this year, but I just couldn't afford that - I have 78 students). I've never used a brush pen of any kind though.
@@gadgetstop321What a nice teacher they have/had! Seriously, try the Petit3's if you feel inclined. The line variation is fun, and using different inks adds another dimension. I don't like running pigmented inks in my more expensive ones because... well, I dunno! Really haven't had an issue, but feel if I did it would be because of my ignoring the recommendations! I just like having a few sitting on my desk to grab whenever I suppose, and yeah, they grow legs occasionally.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I just want to say, please never stop your reviews. They are wonderful and intelligent and truly a standard for me if I want to buy a new pen. Thank you!
Thank you Jacob!
I have this pen and I love it, too. Actually I love all my Pilot pens.
You can tell a lot of thought goes into the design of each Pilot pen and the quality is always top notch. I always recommend that people start out with a Pilot or Lamy fountain pen. I've not had a bad experience with either of these brands and bad first impression can permanently turn people away from this hobby. In fact, I had to deal with a couple bad pens last year.
Ditto!
I agree Pilot Custom 74 F is very decent choice. Online sellers in Japan and Taiwan offer around 110 USD.
I wish I could buy my higher end Pilot pens from local retailers, but paying an extra 45% - 60% is more than I'm willing to pay. I also wish Pilot offered more of there pens here in the U.S. like the opaque Custom 74 and the Custom Heritage 91.
I was researching a good matching ink for my Pilot 74 (F). Oxford Blue seems to be a very nice choice. Diamine Majestic Blue seems to also have good qualities from afar as well. “An Ink Guy” has excellent technically oriented reviews and gave Oxford Blue a very high note. You both have different yet complimentary channels.
I look forward to try this ink.
Thank you
Just received my new custom 74. I watch your videos all the time but somehow I missed this one prior to my purchase. Inked mine with oxford blue and then found this video. I love the inks you and pens you choose. I find that my taste matches your preferences. Also, I love my kaweco brass sport for work and I’d love to know if you’ve looked into their gold nibs. The cost is extreme but if they felt right I’d consider.
Thank you Jason! I've never used a Kaweco gold nib and I don't recall if I've ever seen a review of one. I just did a quick search and wow, they are expensive!
gadgetstop321 I know!!!! It seems really unreasonable. Is there some other way to get a gold nib on my sport?
Pilot has created a problem for me. I now want a custom 743 with a SM and custom 823. I do find the 74 extremely comfortable to write which makes me look at other colours with different nibs and the problem continues... 🥲
Pilot is creating problems for me also. I've been complaining about Pilot's lack of innovation regarding the colors and materials that they use for their mid-tier pens. Well, they started making the green Custom 74, which would pair nicely with some of my favorite green inks. Then I learned about store exclusive pens in Japan that can be bought through courier services. And now Pilot is making a Custom SE in several interesting resins. Unfortunately the price of gold nib pens are increasing. 😭
I have a pearly white Pilot Decimo vanishing point with a 18k Rhodium plated medium nib.
Soft and bouncy.
I use it with Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink.
I am getting a Platinum Plasir in lilac trim with a lilac purple coloured nib!
I ordered a converter separately to use in it so I can use the Iroshizuku ink.
I have never used a Platinum pen before. Fingers crossed.
I've never tried a Vanishing Point, but yours sounds beautiful. I've also never used a Platinum Plasir. I've thought about buying one several times, but I couldn't decide on a color...they are all so pretty!
P.S. I have a Preppy, which looks very similar to the Plasir. I think you'll like it.
Ordered a Custom 74 (F) for $100 from a japanese stationery store, hoping for the best!
I think you made the right choice. I bought almost all of my Japanese gold nibbed pens (14 out of 16) directly from sellers in Japan and usually paid about half of the list price.
Gracias
I just realized we have the exact same handwriting and I'm kind of freaked out.
Great video.
Would you say the Prera fine is slightly finer? When I got my first pens, I was obsessed with finding the finest nib....but now, several months later, I’m finding I don’t prefer very fine nibs anymore. I am thinking of getting a Custom 74 tomorrow, but I don’t want it to be as fine, or more fine, than a fine Prera.
In my experience the Custom 74 doesn't feel as fine as the Prera. The difference is small but noticeable. The Custom 74's gold nib is softer and puts down more ink than the Prera.
@@gadgetstop321 thank you. There is a pen company near me that rents store space once a month, and I’m going today. It’s going to be either the 74, or a Pelikan M200 - or maybe both. Or, I might just buy the 823. Really, I shouldn’t be buying anything, considering I just bought a Franklin Christoph pen on Thursday....but what the hell.
@@geslinam9703 😂
@@gadgetstop321 don’t laugh, I bought all three. And here I’ve been, patting myself on the back for the remarkable restraint I’ve shown since getting bitten by the fountain pen bug. That all ended yesterday. No more pens for me, NO MORE, for at least...two weeks.
@@geslinam9703 Oh, I'm laughing. 🤣 Anytime I start thinking about how content I am with the pens I have, you can bet that within a week I'll have another pen on the way. In all seriousness though, those are some impressive pens you just got!
Hi. Which one is thinnest between lamy ef and pilot custom 74 F?
The Pilot fine nibs are thinner than Lamy extra fine nibs.
Great video! I was wondering if yours was as well-writing as it is now when you received it? I ask because I received a Fine Custom 74 a few days ago and it's dry and skipping and basically doesn't put ink on the upstroke and left-strong, unlike my Metropolitan which pretty much writes perfectly in all directions.
My Prera has the same steel nib as your Metropolitan, and I have noticed that it puts down a more consistent line than the gold nib of of my Custom 74, but I've never had any trouble with it skipping. You may need to flush it out and re-ink it. Maybe even try a different ink.
Ooooh, my wallet hates you (in a good way)! Side note: Have you played with the Petit1 or Petit3? I am really enjoying them both for portability and quality. Petit3's are "brush", kind of a felt tip, but refillable, and the Petit1's are the same nib as the Varsity. Stamped but reliable. Both models post very securely and are eye-dropperable if desired. The 3's are also really fun to draw with, and seem durable after 3 months. Irridescent inks seem fine in both btw, although I flush them (Petit1) frequently. Not quite so shimmery with the Petit3's but they do still seem to flow it fine. As a teacher myself once, guarantee some of your students will say "Whaaaat... is that you wrote on my paper?" Honestly though, I'm going for a Diplomat Aero next... At least at the moment!
Sorry 😁 I don't know what it is about fountain pens...Before I discovered them I was all about mechanical pencils. I would use one pencil for years until I lost it or it was stollen, then I would get another. But for some reason I feel compelled to have a different pen for every writing function.
I've used a Petit 1 and I had 3 Sunday School students a couple years ago who were fascinated with my fountain pens. I got them Petit 1s and little Apica notebooks for Christmas and they loved them. (My students at school asked me to get them fountain pens for Christmas this year, but I just couldn't afford that - I have 78 students). I've never used a brush pen of any kind though.
@@gadgetstop321What a nice teacher they have/had! Seriously, try the Petit3's if you feel inclined. The line variation is fun, and using different inks adds another dimension. I don't like running pigmented inks in my more expensive ones because... well, I dunno! Really haven't had an issue, but feel if I did it would be because of my ignoring the recommendations! I just like having a few sitting on my desk to grab whenever I suppose, and yeah, they grow legs occasionally.
Which paper did you use in this review?
I used a Leuchtturm Bullet Journal which uses the same paper as the 1917.
@@gadgetstop321 Thanks
Pilot Custom 74 SF nib top!
I just love Japanese nibs.
You and me both, Mark! 😀