You guys should make Goulet-branded travel coffee mugs! Have two different styles: "The Brian" and "The Drew." After some period of time, discontinue the one that sells the least. Then, and only then, will the debate be settled.
This video creates the question, "Why don't more manufacturers have step down models of their 'premium' pens using steel nibs?" The only pen that comes to mind for this is the Pilot Vanishing Point! They offer their gold version as well as their special alloy (steel) version.. If you have an answer for this or perhaps are able to see what kind of demand there is for something like this that would be awesome to hear back!
Dan Ross Kind of a similar reason why not all pens come in multiple colours. It becomes more expensive to produce, that gets reflected in the end cost, and you can't be as competitive. Plus, if you're going to make a really good pen body, you will probably want people to buy it with the gold nib. With a steel nib it becomes harder to explain why a plastic pen body is worth more than other plastic pen bodies. So then you feel pressure to make the pen body more cheaply, and then even with a gold nib the overall quality of the product has decreased as well as your brand's reputation. In short: because of the perceived value of gold in consumers, and the level of quality associated with gold, you can afford to increase the quality of other aspects of the product. It's just a less conspicuous price jump when the gold already makes the product expensive.
When I look at a steel nibbed pen versus a gold/palladium nibbed pen, I feel like the price justification argument holds up only up to a certain point, but after that it becomes moot. What I mean is, take a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age, for example. It comes with a palladium nib and the MSRP clocks in at $775. If the pen came with a steel nib option and the price dropped by, say, $200, would the pen still be justifiable at $575? There are a lot of things that go into whether a pen is justifiable at a certain price point besides just nib material, and it's going to boil down to preference, performance, and perceived value. I got a Stupula Ventidue Tocco Ferro for Chrstimas, and I absolutely love that pen. It's a steel nib pen that is in the $180 range, but it is hands-down my smoothest writer, and the body and cap of the pen being iron is a really nice "cool factor". That being said, I stand with Brian Gray's article on the steel vs gold debate, and for me, unless I feel like I need the flex and bounce that a gold nib offers, I'll choose a steel nib first as long as I feel like the rest of the pen is a good value for what I'm getting.
I started out with Lamy Al-Stars before getting into Pilot and Platinum gold nibs. And though I love my gold nib pens - every one, I believe that I actually began appreciating my steel nib pens even more after getting into the gold nibs if that makes any sense.
My 2 cents. Nibs were gold because of the antirust properties. 14K nibs flexed more than 18K and was cheaper, hence the presence in vintage pens. Then steel was developed and replaced gold as it was cheaper. For modern pens where flex is a non issue, there is no real reason to buy gold (it's a marketing racket). Now if the market ever re-developed superflex and wet noodle pens, then gold will be justifiable again.
Your points are valid on that. The other reason was also because that flex was needed in some shorthand writing because you needed the quick line variation with minimum pressure to maintain a much higher writing speed. Gold is also anticorrosive to a lot of inks because some salt is required in the ink, so it helps keep the pen stable.
I have both in my collection, but I recently purged most of my steel nib pens because they just aren't as comfortable to use/write with as my gold nib EDCs. It's my own personal preference, and I recommend everyone give steel a try first. The only steel nibs I've kept are my Pilot Metropolitans; they're remarkably consistent and great for trying out new inks - when you know how the pen performs, the only variable you're introducing is the ink, so it gives you a good idea of how the ink writes/looks. Basic experiments 101 - look at one variable to get a better result.
Totally agree. When I first started collecting, I thought the pen had to have a gold nib. But over the years, one had such an excellent writing experience with Franklin-Christoph, with twsbi, with your Goulet nibs, that I rarely consider a gold nib.
My Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue has more flex and is softer then my Pelikan M400 or M800 gold nib. In today's alloys both can be hard or soft. Like you said Platinum (or Sailor) has very hard gold nibs. Even in the same brand the gold nib on my Pilot 823 is softer then my gold nib on my Pilot 74/91/92. It might be from the nib being a larger size in that case. It does not make for a clear cut decision on just being gold or not.
I’m trying to understand what you’re looking to achieve with using only the gimbal setup. Why not have a tripod and the gimbal and use the gimbal just for the close ups? I can imagine that the edit time gets longer and with a plan to put out 5 videos a week, it adds up quickly. But visibly, Andy is struggling and the shots are shaky.
Definitely a tripod with a really good fluid head. If the lens isn't a prime, the camera should be fine to remain stationary. If the camera MUST move, maybe a monopod? I have used one in a situation where I needed to get physically closer. I extended the monopod about half-way and had it resting on a small table in front of me for the main shot. When I needed to move it was long enough to help stabilize but short enough to not be awkward.
I personally have been collecting Conway stewart, Mabie Todd and Watermans vintage fountain pens and I adore those pens for their 14 karat gold nibs and the soft springyness for beautiful calligraphy. I prefer these to the Noodlers Ahab which was meant to have some flex, for me the flex was barely there. However I ALSO adore my Lamy Al Stars I have 6 of them and I use my Lamy's everyday for journalling. So for me you can love both gold and stainless steel nibs daily for different things. I have to say I havent had the urge to buy a NEW expensive gold nib pen because my vintage pens offer the same quality. I may change my mind one day if I choose to buy a modern gold nib pen. Ill let you know lol!!!
Depending on what I am going to be doing that day with the pen will influence what nib I want. If I know I am going to be doing carbon copy signatures, I take a stiff steel nib. If I am just grading papers I will choose a smoother, softer nib pen. P.S. Get a picture with Nathan, the dude is like a ghost to those who cant make it to the one or two shows he goes to. I have heard his voice on videos, but is he some middle aged guy or some ancient wise man on a mountain looking dude?
I have tried a lot of steel nibs since I started with low cost pens and over time even some of the higher cost pens with steel nibs are wonderful ... My gold nib experience has been mainly with Japanese brands and they are my preference overall ... No pressure for either as one goes for the brand and whole pen ...
I can not put into words how happy I am that Drew went to Wawa. There is no reason to be this happy over where Drew got his coffee, but it's some how comforting to know GPC is in moderate range to a Wawa.
Currently, I have mostly colored inks (oranges, reds, green, violet, etc.) in my steel nib pens and 'writing' inks (blues of all kinds, black, R&K Verdigris) in my gold nibs. I journal and do other long-term writing with gold, and use steel and colors for calendar, lists, notes, etc.
I've always tried to pick the right tool for the job. When at home or wanting to be more fun and elaborate writing styles, I lean gold (Pilot 74, Pilot VP, Lamy 2000- love this EF almost like an arabic nib the way it's ground). But if I'm at work and jotting serial numbers and notes and post-its, I like a stiffer steel nib with ample juicy flow, Lamy Safari w/ M, or Monteverde F/M, and not worried about shading/sheening. Those factors come into play with gold nibs and when I want to enjoy my writing and the act of it.
Material is just one of the many things that make a nib. A good nib can be made out of gold as well as steel alloy, and the different alloys have different properties too. You don't automatically get a better pen if if has a gold nib. But you do automatically get a more expensive pen. I think often gold nib is chosen for the luxury, not for the function. But that's perfecly legal too. I have 1 gold nib (Platinum) and about 20 steel nibs. Platinum and TWSBI are in continuous use, but that's mostly because they have awesome caps and never dry out. Perhaps the most enjoyable of my pens is Noodler's Neponset. That music nib with a light shading ink is a hoot.
Not having experienced gold I must ask, is flex the main advantage and is it a separate issue from line width variation ala "flex" nib? Would getting a $30.00 nib tuneup trump a $150 gold nib? My tuned TWSBI classic is really nice!
Nice shirt Drew. How about a debate on gold vs steel for writing vs printing. I print most of the time so that means a lot of starts, each letter you are putting pen to paper unlike writing where it is each word. So what does that mean - for me I enjoy the gold nib for it bounce, it give as I print. I don;t mind a little feedback and I love a smooth nib but I really enjoy the bounce of a gold nib. My favorite right now is a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 with a Fine/Med soft nib. There is some flex to it but that isn't how I use it, I just enjoy the soft bouncy feel as I print. Keep up the good work guys and girls.
This is a hobby that I'm just getting back into and I am gathering a relatively small collection of pens; but I'm on a budget. haha I do have ONE gold nib pen right now, a Parker Sonnet 18k in Gold and Black trim. It is the softest, springiest nib I own. However, my other pens (Parker Urban Premium, Italix Parsons Essential, Conklin Duragraph 1.1 stub, and Noodler's Konrad flex are all steel nibs, and none of them are "unpleasant" to write with. They are stiffer though, of course. I agree that you don't NEED a gold nib to enjoy fountain Penning (is that a verb now?).
My one and only use of trigonometry since I left school was to work out my writing angle. “Opposite over adjacent”and all that. 50 degrees, it turns out...
For me, gold nibs will be special occasion pens, or pens I buy when I get a gift certificate and can use it towards the cost of a gold nib pen. I'll also probably stick to the highly recommended pens - my next wish list pen is a Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue with gold trim and fine nib. I don't see me buying a lot of $200+ steel nibbed pens, as there is a high expectation factor that can make for a very disappointing let-down if the pen does not perform to expectations. I have tried three different sized nibs on my Visconti Van Gogh that I received as a gift last year, and have yet to find a combination that makes the pen a truly enjoyable writing experience.
It depends so much on the brand. And perhaps if you mostly use gold nibs even a good steel nib won't be good enough for you. I have a Pelikan M205 with steel BB nib which Richard Binder made into a cursive Italic for me, and I think it's heaven. But I've never used a gold Pelikan nib. Brian--you're going to be in my neck of the woods (NH) if you're seeing Richard and Nathan.
Turns out I hold my pens closer to a 60 degree angle, with very light pressure (like Rachel?) and would love to see a discussion of nibs for my sort of hand.
I prefer gold for the perceived increased value, but also because it can perform better. In my experience Drew is right that Jowo gold nibs are just like their steel nibs. Oddly, my Platinum 3776 has a nice springy B nib. There is no steel nib that can touch the performance of my vintage Pelikan, Wahl, Waterman, and Moore nibs. So jealous that Brian gets to meet 2 of my pen heros: Mr. Binder and Mr. Tardiff! (Although it seems they aren't particularly fond of each other).
I own both in my collection and love them all. But I prefer writing with my gold nibs better if I'm being honest - I love the softer, bouncier writing experience they give. Cheers from France, Davie.
Brian, Drew i would say that the best gold nib is on my Pelikan M 400 it is a lovely soft an d springy nib. And for steel nibs my Pelikan M120 has a soft springy nib which surprised me for a steel nib, my Aurora Duo-cart, and Conklin Crescent filler as well. I think my Mont Blanc 146 nib is alright but would prefer it to be a bit softer. Also Drew i think the Queen of England might be liking your shirt. And thank to you both for another interesting and awesome review .
this comment might get a lot of hate, but hey I currently own Pilot Kakuno F and M, Pilot Metropolitan F, and Pilot Metal Falcon SF. Also tried my dad's Custom 74 SM once in a while. All inked in standard Pilot inks, no Iroshizuku involved. I've got to say, I prefer Pilot's steel nib, preferably in F. It is not as smooth as the gold ones, but the amount of feedback it has (they aren't dry writers, mind, and the feedback is not disturbing at all, but you feel the surface you are writing on, like a car with sports-tuned suspension), kinda provides a sense of precision. Also, the line it makes is real fine, slightly finer than the Falcon SF, which is good, especially if used on 70gsm copy paper that I often handle on daily basis. I have some Muji and Kokuyo notebooks which are fountain pen friendly, but that's for personal use only, and office papers often don't perform as nice. Granted, my Falcon SF provides shading that my steel nibs don't (I don't know the exact science), and its smoothness is the best I've ever used, but I don't think for quick notes or marks on documents or EDC, that benefit matters. As a matter of fact, I would like to have my Kakuno or Metropolitan nib be made into VP, and I think that would be the definitive no-frills daily carry pen. I know Pilot makes VP with special alloy nib (heard that it is a slightly drier writing), but it isnt coming to my country, so yeah
I'd like for you to discuss 'gold-plated' vs gold nibs, as well as 14 kt vs 18 kt. As a newbie, It can be confusing to understand. We see 'gold' in the description and jump for it. But gold plated is only for esthetics, not function. I've put down what I think distinguishes them in FB Goulet Nation, May 11th, under Tanya MacAusland Amyote's question about popular/unpopular items. Can you elaborate? (maybe in a Q&A)?
if you flip the page over and you can feel the pen strokes like they've been embossed on the other side it was written with a heavy hand. Also if you see the indent of your writing on the next page that is a tel tale sign
I have both gold and steel nib pens in my "collection", and honestly struggle to tell the diference sometimes. To me what makes the biggest diference, is the paper. At the moment Claifontaie is my favorite, and when writing on less expensive paper both gold and steel perform about the same (i.e. not that well). Maybe I am just not "refined" enough.
Honestly, I think the bigger issue isn't gold nibs vs steel nibs (although, after having a Lamy 2000, I think I do appreciate gold nibs just a little bit more), but cartridge/converter vs built in filling systems (vacuum/pump, piston, various sac fillers, etc). Above $100, I'd rather see an integrated filling mechanism than a cartridge converter, and after $150 to $200, it's practically a requirement for me unless there's something show-stoppingly amazing at play (for instance, a pen with urushi lacquer).
I prefer a steel nib or steel plated with gold or platinum or iridium. I just want a smooth writing pen with little to no flexation in the nib. I have a Parker Vector that I got from my father that has a plain steel nib with an accountants’ nib (.38 - .4 mm). I had two good writing pens but gave one to a friend, so she could learn how to use a fp, these pens are over forty years old and still write like they are brand new. I know that steel is not as forgiving on cheap paper as gold might be.
Oh for the days when you could get a Schaeffer Targa with a gold nib for$50 ( not for me I'm happy with my ancient beaten up pens which are better then what I can get now ). Shame people can't get the experience. I know all the metalurgical talk about there being no difference, but even a cheap properly tuned gold nib beats a steel nib. Even hard gold nibs like Duofold nibs or Aurora nibs. I can't quite say why. Maybe because you can make gold nibs that are thinner and can be worked more easily. And it's not just wetting, gold nibs are better then gold plated nibs too. As for price, in the old days Farney's FPN, Flax would have catalogs. In these catalogs the pens would be laid out by pen line. The MB 149 ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pen would be shown side by side. Same for Duofolds or M1000s. Every line, low end, high end the same thing was always true. The value of the fp was always twice the ballpoint. So I figured that at the time the general value of a nib was half the value of the pen. Looking at sites just now, I see it is hard to do such a side by side comparison.
The only gold nib I have is the 823 medium. It’s great compared to my steel nibs. I would also say it’s fine for a begginer too, so not sure about the golf analogy because there’s a lot more skill involved in something like that. Anyone with half a brain can use an FP (perhaps with the exception of flex), so I’d recommend gold to newbies too
TWSBI pens also have decent steel nibs. I think the best steel nibs I’ve found are on Pelikans. M200 and M120s. I love the nib on my new TWSBI Precision. But I don’t feel that the Montegrappa steel nib pens are worth the cost based on the nib. They’re pretty but the nibs are not worth the cost.
I doubt iridium is used on any pens made now, perhaps an alloy with 1-2% iridium but even that seems too much. I'd say tungsten is more like it, as it can be welded on the nib more easily.
I have a soft hand with about a 38 degree writing angle (or so I have been told) and I prefer a steel or steel plated in gold over a true gold nib. One thing I have noticed in the fountain pen world is that the more expensive a steel nib pen is the more etching is done on the nib. I know that the etching is to make the pen and the nib look nice, but all that etching does nothing for the writing quality of the pen in my opinion. A friend gave me a Parker Vector from 40 years ago with a super plain steel nib and it is one of the best writing fountain pens I now own.
I believe it is because Mr. Goulet talks at the back of his throat and trails off at the end of his sentences. He should wear the clip on mic that he uses in Q&A. Mr. Drew's voice projects more and has a higher frequency.
Keallei I absolutely agree he should wear the clip on mic! I'm hard of hearing and unless I'm wearing earbuds I miss a lot of what Brian is saying... And that's never what I want to do 😉
Jinhao rocks the two-tone steel nibs more than any other brand I'm familiar with! The x450 especially: www.gouletpens.com/collections/all-fountain-pens/products/jinhao-x450-fountain-pen-frosted-black?variant=11884806144043 - Colin
You mention Jowo steel vs gold and FP history, yet in the same breath you say you don’t know for sure, and don’t know the history. How about making a video after you do some research and bring on an expert nibmeister instead nearly 20 minutes of talk? I appreciate what you’re trying to do here but this doesn’t educate people. The shakey camera is also not desirable.
You guys should make Goulet-branded travel coffee mugs! Have two different styles: "The Brian" and "The Drew." After some period of time, discontinue the one that sells the least. Then, and only then, will the debate be settled.
This video creates the question, "Why don't more manufacturers have step down models of their 'premium' pens using steel nibs?" The only pen that comes to mind for this is the Pilot Vanishing Point! They offer their gold version as well as their special alloy (steel) version.. If you have an answer for this or perhaps are able to see what kind of demand there is for something like this that would be awesome to hear back!
Dan Ross Kind of a similar reason why not all pens come in multiple colours. It becomes more expensive to produce, that gets reflected in the end cost, and you can't be as competitive. Plus, if you're going to make a really good pen body, you will probably want people to buy it with the gold nib. With a steel nib it becomes harder to explain why a plastic pen body is worth more than other plastic pen bodies. So then you feel pressure to make the pen body more cheaply, and then even with a gold nib the overall quality of the product has decreased as well as your brand's reputation. In short: because of the perceived value of gold in consumers, and the level of quality associated with gold, you can afford to increase the quality of other aspects of the product. It's just a less conspicuous price jump when the gold already makes the product expensive.
Drew: "Comfortability."
Grammar Police: That's not a word.
Goulet Nation: [Draw pens like swords] It is NOW!
Hali Chambers, this is a "Drewism" Drew occasionally throws these out.
Yes, I sum-ised that. That's a Hali-ism; summing up without the "R."
When I look at a steel nibbed pen versus a gold/palladium nibbed pen, I feel like the price justification argument holds up only up to a certain point, but after that it becomes moot. What I mean is, take a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age, for example. It comes with a palladium nib and the MSRP clocks in at $775. If the pen came with a steel nib option and the price dropped by, say, $200, would the pen still be justifiable at $575? There are a lot of things that go into whether a pen is justifiable at a certain price point besides just nib material, and it's going to boil down to preference, performance, and perceived value. I got a Stupula Ventidue Tocco Ferro for Chrstimas, and I absolutely love that pen. It's a steel nib pen that is in the $180 range, but it is hands-down my smoothest writer, and the body and cap of the pen being iron is a really nice "cool factor". That being said, I stand with Brian Gray's article on the steel vs gold debate, and for me, unless I feel like I need the flex and bounce that a gold nib offers, I'll choose a steel nib first as long as I feel like the rest of the pen is a good value for what I'm getting.
In my opinion, this is the best Write Now thus far! Thanks for discussing this fascinating topic.
I started out with Lamy Al-Stars before getting into Pilot and Platinum gold nibs. And though I love my gold nib pens - every one, I believe that I actually began appreciating my steel nib pens even more after getting into the gold nibs if that makes any sense.
If you are looking for a discussion on steel and gold nibs, this has the most balanced and practical arguments of all.
My 2 cents. Nibs were gold because of the antirust properties. 14K nibs flexed more than 18K and was cheaper, hence the presence in vintage pens. Then steel was developed and replaced gold as it was cheaper. For modern pens where flex is a non issue, there is no real reason to buy gold (it's a marketing racket). Now if the market ever re-developed superflex and wet noodle pens, then gold will be justifiable again.
Your points are valid on that. The other reason was also because that flex was needed in some shorthand writing because you needed the quick line variation with minimum pressure to maintain a much higher writing speed. Gold is also anticorrosive to a lot of inks because some salt is required in the ink, so it helps keep the pen stable.
I have both in my collection, but I recently purged most of my steel nib pens because they just aren't as comfortable to use/write with as my gold nib EDCs. It's my own personal preference, and I recommend everyone give steel a try first.
The only steel nibs I've kept are my Pilot Metropolitans; they're remarkably consistent and great for trying out new inks - when you know how the pen performs, the only variable you're introducing is the ink, so it gives you a good idea of how the ink writes/looks. Basic experiments 101 - look at one variable to get a better result.
Totally agree. When I first started collecting, I thought the pen had to have a gold nib. But over the years, one had such an excellent writing experience with Franklin-Christoph, with twsbi, with your Goulet nibs, that I rarely consider a gold nib.
Now I lowkey want that corgi shirt, Drew😂
I just smile whenever Drew wears the Corgi shirt! -Margaret
My Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue has more flex and is softer then my Pelikan M400 or M800 gold nib. In today's alloys both can be hard or soft. Like you said Platinum (or Sailor) has very hard gold nibs. Even in the same brand the gold nib on my Pilot 823 is softer then my gold nib on my Pilot 74/91/92. It might be from the nib being a larger size in that case. It does not make for a clear cut decision on just being gold or not.
I’m trying to understand what you’re looking to achieve with using only the gimbal setup. Why not have a tripod and the gimbal and use the gimbal just for the close ups? I can imagine that the edit time gets longer and with a plan to put out 5 videos a week, it adds up quickly. But visibly, Andy is struggling and the shots are shaky.
It seems that they are trying to make this series more "Active" and it's a situation where the tripod just wouldn't work.
Definitely a tripod with a really good fluid head. If the lens isn't a prime, the camera should be fine to remain stationary. If the camera MUST move, maybe a monopod? I have used one in a situation where I needed to get physically closer. I extended the monopod about half-way and had it resting on a small table in front of me for the main shot. When I needed to move it was long enough to help stabilize but short enough to not be awkward.
Completely agree. I'm getting motion sick watching this.
All good feedback. Definitely looking to improve going forward, so suggestions like these go a long way! - Colin
I personally have been collecting Conway stewart, Mabie Todd and Watermans vintage fountain pens and I adore those pens for their 14 karat gold nibs and the soft springyness for beautiful calligraphy. I prefer these to the Noodlers Ahab which was meant to have some flex, for me the flex was barely there.
However I ALSO adore my Lamy Al Stars I have 6 of them and I use my Lamy's everyday for journalling. So for me you can love both gold and stainless steel nibs daily for different things. I have to say I havent had the urge to buy a NEW expensive gold nib pen because my vintage pens offer the same quality. I may change my mind one day if I choose to buy a modern gold nib pen. Ill let you know lol!!!
Drew, I'm wearing the surfing corgis today! Thank you for being my corg-spiration, and for the shout out. :)
Depending on what I am going to be doing that day with the pen will influence what nib I want. If I know I am going to be doing carbon copy signatures, I take a stiff steel nib. If I am just grading papers I will choose a smoother, softer nib pen.
P.S. Get a picture with Nathan, the dude is like a ghost to those who cant make it to the one or two shows he goes to. I have heard his voice on videos, but is he some middle aged guy or some ancient wise man on a mountain looking dude?
I have tried a lot of steel nibs since I started with low cost pens and over time even some of the higher cost pens with steel nibs are wonderful ... My gold nib experience has been mainly with Japanese brands and they are my preference overall ... No pressure for either as one goes for the brand and whole pen ...
I can not put into words how happy I am that Drew went to Wawa. There is no reason to be this happy over where Drew got his coffee, but it's some how comforting to know GPC is in moderate range to a Wawa.
Currently, I have mostly colored inks (oranges, reds, green, violet, etc.) in my steel nib pens and 'writing' inks (blues of all kinds, black, R&K Verdigris) in my gold nibs. I journal and do other long-term writing with gold, and use steel and colors for calendar, lists, notes, etc.
I've always tried to pick the right tool for the job. When at home or wanting to be more fun and elaborate writing styles, I lean gold (Pilot 74, Pilot VP, Lamy 2000- love this EF almost like an arabic nib the way it's ground). But if I'm at work and jotting serial numbers and notes and post-its, I like a stiffer steel nib with ample juicy flow, Lamy Safari w/ M, or Monteverde F/M, and not worried about shading/sheening. Those factors come into play with gold nibs and when I want to enjoy my writing and the act of it.
Material is just one of the many things that make a nib. A good nib can be made out of gold as well as steel alloy, and the different alloys have different properties too. You don't automatically get a better pen if if has a gold nib. But you do automatically get a more expensive pen. I think often gold nib is chosen for the luxury, not for the function. But that's perfecly legal too. I have 1 gold nib (Platinum) and about 20 steel nibs. Platinum and TWSBI are in continuous use, but that's mostly because they have awesome caps and never dry out. Perhaps the most enjoyable of my pens is Noodler's Neponset. That music nib with a light shading ink is a hoot.
Not having experienced gold I must ask, is flex the main advantage and is it a separate issue from line width variation ala "flex" nib? Would getting a $30.00 nib tuneup trump a $150 gold nib? My tuned TWSBI classic is really nice!
Nice shirt Drew. How about a debate on gold vs steel for writing vs printing. I print most of the time so that means a lot of starts, each letter you are putting pen to paper unlike writing where it is each word. So what does that mean - for me I enjoy the gold nib for it bounce, it give as I print. I don;t mind a little feedback and I love a smooth nib but I really enjoy the bounce of a gold nib. My favorite right now is a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 with a Fine/Med soft nib. There is some flex to it but that isn't how I use it, I just enjoy the soft bouncy feel as I print. Keep up the good work guys and girls.
This is a hobby that I'm just getting back into and I am gathering a relatively small collection of pens; but I'm on a budget. haha I do have ONE gold nib pen right now, a Parker Sonnet 18k in Gold and Black trim. It is the softest, springiest nib I own. However, my other pens (Parker Urban Premium, Italix Parsons Essential, Conklin Duragraph 1.1 stub, and Noodler's Konrad flex are all steel nibs, and none of them are "unpleasant" to write with. They are stiffer though, of course. I agree that you don't NEED a gold nib to enjoy fountain Penning (is that a verb now?).
My one and only use of trigonometry since I left school was to work out my writing angle. “Opposite over adjacent”and all that. 50 degrees, it turns out...
The steel nib on the Montegrappa Copper Mule is probably the best writing steel nib I have though. Very happy with that pen!
Drew’s Corgi shirt is awesome! And what ever happened to the Contigo, Brian?
Wendy Bowman perhaps it decided to stay in Atlanta? 🤷🏽♀️ But it was "missing" before they left so...
omg Drew's corgi shirt.
For me, gold nibs will be special occasion pens, or pens I buy when I get a gift certificate and can use it towards the cost of a gold nib pen. I'll also probably stick to the highly recommended pens - my next wish list pen is a Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue with gold trim and fine nib. I don't see me buying a lot of $200+ steel nibbed pens, as there is a high expectation factor that can make for a very disappointing let-down if the pen does not perform to expectations. I have tried three different sized nibs on my Visconti Van Gogh that I received as a gift last year, and have yet to find a combination that makes the pen a truly enjoyable writing experience.
It depends so much on the brand. And perhaps if you mostly use gold nibs even a good steel nib won't be good enough for you.
I have a Pelikan M205 with steel BB nib which Richard Binder made into a cursive Italic for me, and I think it's heaven. But I've never used a gold Pelikan nib.
Brian--you're going to be in my neck of the woods (NH) if you're seeing Richard and Nathan.
Turns out I hold my pens closer to a 60 degree angle, with very light pressure (like Rachel?) and would love to see a discussion of nibs for my sort of hand.
All my fountain pens have steel nibs. I have never tried gold nibs. My hand pressure varies depending on several external factors.
I prefer gold for the perceived increased value, but also because it can perform better. In my experience Drew is right that Jowo gold nibs are just like their steel nibs. Oddly, my Platinum 3776 has a nice springy B nib. There is no steel nib that can touch the performance of my vintage Pelikan, Wahl, Waterman, and Moore nibs. So jealous that Brian gets to meet 2 of my pen heros: Mr. Binder and Mr. Tardiff! (Although it seems they aren't particularly fond of each other).
I own both in my collection and love them all. But I prefer writing with my gold nibs better if I'm being honest - I love the softer, bouncier writing experience they give. Cheers from France, Davie.
Brian, Drew i would say that the best gold nib is on my Pelikan M 400 it is a lovely soft an d springy nib. And for steel nibs my Pelikan M120 has a soft springy nib which surprised me for a steel nib, my Aurora Duo-cart, and Conklin Crescent filler as well. I think my Mont Blanc 146 nib is alright but would prefer it to be a bit softer. Also Drew i think the Queen of England might be liking your shirt. And thank to you both for another interesting and awesome review .
No Bank holiday for goulet pens?
this comment might get a lot of hate, but hey
I currently own Pilot Kakuno F and M, Pilot Metropolitan F, and Pilot Metal Falcon SF. Also tried my dad's Custom 74 SM once in a while. All inked in standard Pilot inks, no Iroshizuku involved.
I've got to say, I prefer Pilot's steel nib, preferably in F. It is not as smooth as the gold ones, but the amount of feedback it has (they aren't dry writers, mind, and the feedback is not disturbing at all, but you feel the surface you are writing on, like a car with sports-tuned suspension), kinda provides a sense of precision. Also, the line it makes is real fine, slightly finer than the Falcon SF, which is good, especially if used on 70gsm copy paper that I often handle on daily basis. I have some Muji and Kokuyo notebooks which are fountain pen friendly, but that's for personal use only, and office papers often don't perform as nice.
Granted, my Falcon SF provides shading that my steel nibs don't (I don't know the exact science), and its smoothness is the best I've ever used, but I don't think for quick notes or marks on documents or EDC, that benefit matters. As a matter of fact, I would like to have my Kakuno or Metropolitan nib be made into VP, and I think that would be the definitive no-frills daily carry pen.
I know Pilot makes VP with special alloy nib (heard that it is a slightly drier writing), but it isnt coming to my country, so yeah
I'd like for you to discuss 'gold-plated' vs gold nibs, as well as 14 kt vs 18 kt. As a newbie, It can be confusing to understand. We see 'gold' in the description and jump for it. But gold plated is only for esthetics, not function. I've put down what I think distinguishes them in FB Goulet Nation, May 11th, under Tanya MacAusland Amyote's question about popular/unpopular items. Can you elaborate? (maybe in a Q&A)?
Okay, this may be a somewhat subjective question, but what differentiates between a "lighter" or a "heavier" hand?
if you flip the page over and you can feel the pen strokes like they've been embossed on the other side it was written with a heavy hand. Also if you see the indent of your writing on the next page that is a tel tale sign
Can you make carbon copies?
I have both gold and steel nib pens in my "collection", and honestly struggle to tell the diference sometimes. To me what makes the biggest diference, is the paper. At the moment Claifontaie is my favorite, and when writing on less expensive paper both gold and steel perform about the same (i.e. not that well). Maybe I am just not "refined" enough.
Honestly, I think the bigger issue isn't gold nibs vs steel nibs (although, after having a Lamy 2000, I think I do appreciate gold nibs just a little bit more), but cartridge/converter vs built in filling systems (vacuum/pump, piston, various sac fillers, etc). Above $100, I'd rather see an integrated filling mechanism than a cartridge converter, and after $150 to $200, it's practically a requirement for me unless there's something show-stoppingly amazing at play (for instance, a pen with urushi lacquer).
YOU FORGOT TITANIUM NIBS! 💔
Mask Salesman perhaps another show? Good suggestion.
I prefer a steel nib or steel plated with gold or platinum or iridium. I just want a smooth writing pen with little to no flexation in the nib. I have a Parker Vector that I got from my father that has a plain steel nib with an accountants’ nib (.38 - .4 mm). I had two good writing pens but gave one to a friend, so she could learn how to use a fp, these pens are over forty years old and still write like they are brand new. I know that steel is not as forgiving on cheap paper as gold might be.
I'm jealous of Drew's brew. Just moved to Texas from the New Jersey and I miss my Wawa coffee.
I was really hoping for some talk on titanium nibs. I have one in my Karas Kustoms Fountain K, and I love it.
Mickey G Carroll good suggestion for a next show? Titanium and Iridium, etc. ?
Oh for the days when you could get a Schaeffer Targa with a gold nib for$50 ( not for me I'm happy with my ancient beaten up pens which are better then what I can get now ). Shame people can't get the experience.
I know all the metalurgical talk about there being no difference, but even a cheap properly tuned gold nib beats a steel nib. Even hard gold nibs like Duofold nibs or Aurora nibs. I can't quite say why. Maybe because you can make gold nibs that are thinner and can be worked more easily. And it's not just wetting, gold nibs are better then gold plated nibs too.
As for price, in the old days Farney's FPN, Flax would have catalogs. In these catalogs the pens would be laid out by pen line. The MB 149 ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pen would be shown side by side. Same for Duofolds or M1000s. Every line, low end, high end the same thing was always true. The value of the fp was always twice the ballpoint. So I figured that at the time the general value of a nib was half the value of the pen. Looking at sites just now, I see it is hard to do such a side by side comparison.
I know you guys are talking about nibs but I love you shirt Drew!
Super jealous you get to hang out with Richard!! Please make a video about it!
The Great Debate. But maybe a Vintage Gold 14K nib is a good place to start in the gold family. Yes, more on Titanium.
Thank you Brian and Drew.
1 advice
Please use RED 8K camera for recording
Videos output will be of different level
Let us know when to expect the $50k check you're sending to utilize such a tool! - Colin
You should definitely record and show us your meeting with Nathan.
If a pen works like I want it to I couldn't care less if it's steel or another precious metal, but I do like the bounce of Gold.
Did you just contradict yourself?
The only gold nib I have is the 823 medium. It’s great compared to my steel nibs. I would also say it’s fine for a begginer too, so not sure about the golf analogy because there’s a lot more skill involved in something like that. Anyone with half a brain can use an FP (perhaps with the exception of flex), so I’d recommend gold to newbies too
TWSBI pens also have decent steel nibs. I think the best steel nibs I’ve found are on Pelikans. M200 and M120s. I love the nib on my new TWSBI Precision. But I don’t feel that the Montegrappa steel nib pens are worth the cost based on the nib. They’re pretty but the nibs are not worth the cost.
They don't make insulated plastic containers?
The tipping material, at least on Aurora's pens, is iridium. Are they going to use a material so expensive on say, a Lamy All-Star? I'd be surprised.
I doubt iridium is used on any pens made now, perhaps an alloy with 1-2% iridium but even that seems too much. I'd say tungsten is more like it, as it can be welded on the nib more easily.
I have a soft hand with about a 38 degree writing angle (or so I have been told) and I prefer a steel or steel plated in gold over a true gold nib. One thing I have noticed in the fountain pen world is that the more expensive a steel nib pen is the more etching is done on the nib. I know that the etching is to make the pen and the nib look nice, but all that etching does nothing for the writing quality of the pen in my opinion. A friend gave me a Parker Vector from 40 years ago with a super plain steel nib and it is one of the best writing fountain pens I now own.
I also use a 40 degree angle. I can't possibly Imagine using a 65 degree angle!
it is surely one great advice... thank tho...
Mr. Goulet I would just like to request to check your audio equipment your voice sometimes becomes indiscernible but not with Mr. Drew's
Sharanya Bhattacharya I love how formal this is.
Easily the most formal TH-cam comment I've ever seen
I believe it is because Mr. Goulet talks at the back of his throat and trails off at the end of his sentences. He should wear the clip on mic that he uses in Q&A. Mr. Drew's voice projects more and has a higher frequency.
Keallei I absolutely agree he should wear the clip on mic! I'm hard of hearing and unless I'm wearing earbuds I miss a lot of what Brian is saying... And that's never what I want to do 😉
Love your corgi shirt. Do you owns a corgi? I have two.
I am hoping to try a gold nib. Really trying to research for the best quality for price......saving my pennies for one soon!
If you search for Platignum on eBay you might get lucky and pickup a vintage Pressmatic pen with 14K gold nib for under 20.
Do you have a few in mind that you're leaning towards? -Margaret
I was thinking about the Pilot e95s
Skadoosh! Daily I say this. I pretty much only watch Write On.
I want that blue TWSBI Eco
Please get a video with Nathan!!! We want to know what he looks like!!
Ok, I need to know if there's any online shop that sells this shirt. My boyfriend want one reaaaaally bad 😂
He’s got the loenardo momento zero in his coat pocket ! I want the Hawaii
If a pen is over $200 it needs to be gold nib.
Is that a Leonardo Officina in Drew's shirt pocket?
don't care for gold nib, just want good looking two tone nib, but they are almost always gold.....
Jinhao rocks the two-tone steel nibs more than any other brand I'm familiar with! The x450 especially: www.gouletpens.com/collections/all-fountain-pens/products/jinhao-x450-fountain-pen-frosted-black?variant=11884806144043 - Colin
Since my Lamy 2000 only comes in gold....
GOLD FLEX
The queens dogs
You mention Jowo steel vs gold and FP history, yet in the same breath you say you don’t know for sure, and don’t know the history. How about making a video after you do some research and bring on an expert nibmeister instead nearly 20 minutes of talk? I appreciate what you’re trying to do here but this doesn’t educate people. The shakey camera is also not desirable.