Japanese Music Nib shootout

[jandrese]

Contender #1 (top): Sailor 1911 (full-size) with 21K music nib.

Contender #2 (bottom): Platinum 3776 with 14K music nib.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3694425841_ed34400aed_o.jpg

 

Although both pens are about the same length the Sailor has more girth and feels more substantial. While few praise the feel of Sailor's injection moulded plastics it does appear to be higher quality than Platinum's plastic. Both pens are reasonably balanced when posted, yet, the Platinum is more so.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3695235050_8aab059d78_o.jpg

 

Each pen feeds from a converter so neither has an advantage here. Platinum's converter (top) holds more ink though.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3695235658_9bbfa1cd81_o.jpg

 

Aside from the shape of the pen body the most obvious difference is in the nibs. Sailor's has a single slit while Platinum uses two. The Platinum has no flex at all while Sailor's nib will flex a little bit if a moderate amount of pressure is applied.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3694426049_259934a5a1_o.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/3695235010_a021feeca4_o.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3695235252_f888047410_o.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/3694426491_74476a83dc_o.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3695235524_f70ea81b2b_o.jpg

 

While I like looking at the Sailor better I like using the Platinum much more. The Platinum writes an very consistent line and ink flow is perfect, even if the pen sits around for a few days. The Sailor had terrible flow out of the box whereas the Platinum wrote right away. Re-setting the nib fixed the Sailor but I had to do that myself, which a lot of people would not do I think. Here is a writing sample.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/3800912645_e47e005251_b.jpg

 

So, what is the conclusion? I think the Platinum is the better writing pen and is a better value. The Sailor has a lot of strong points but I just don't use it as much. Both are exceptional stub nibs that are worth owning and I'm glad that they exist. Of note, the Sailor nib as a huge amount of tipping material and could be easily modified into just about whatever; oblique, medium stub, more flex, etc. The Platinum nib can only be what it is, which is certainly not a bad thing.

[ampersand]

Thanks for this -- I have the Sailor music nib and have been wondering whether to pick up the Platinum one, especially since the general consensus seems to be that Sailor's is kind of awkward. (I don't think so myself, but then I've never written music with it.)

 

Incidentally, sorry to hear about the bad nib -- both of mine were fabulous right out of the box, even though I ended up exchanging the first one for an extra fine. (Which I then regretted - fortunately Swisher Pens had a music nibbed Sapporo in their attic for a superb price. )

[I am not a number]

Very useful comparison!

 

Thanks for posting this.

[Strand]

Nice review,

 

A brief comment: Is not the purpose of the music nib to write music scores (sheet music)? The line variation available with the Sailor nib seems the more appropriate for this purpose?

 

P.,

[Saturninus]

Next up: Pilot vs Platinum?

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for this very interesting information. I have a Platinum music.I like the two slits of it.

 

rokurinpapa

[greencobra]

This was an original and informative comparison of the two nibs. Nicely done. Never saw writing samples of a music nib before, at least I don't remember seeing any before.

[jandrese]

Nice review,

 

A brief comment: Is not the purpose of the music nib to write music scores (sheet music)? The line variation available with the Sailor nib seems the more appropriate for this purpose?

 

P.,

 

 

I believe that music nibs, while suited nicely for writing sheet music (hence the name), were not created with only this in mind. I wonder if anyone even writes sheet music anymore, let alone use a fountain pen to do so. Having never written music I cannot say which nib would be better. While the Sailor nib can make a broader downstroke it takes more skill to use this nib. With the Platinum nib one could write very fast and still get large variations in line width that are supremely reproducible.

[MYU]

Very nicely done! Good to see another nib focused review--added to the nib review section. It would be great to see the Pilot music nib included as well (hint, hint).

[PaulK]

Nicely done. I have the Sailor 1911 w/the Music Nib as well. Great signature pen and when desiring large bold letters. Although there might be some debate, I'd have to call this nib nearly BB in size.

 

I've been fortunate. I just picked mine up after had being set down for well over a week: started right up.

 

-P

[bitterwonder]

Own a Platinum music pen; it is a joy. Draw and occasionally write with it.

[Deirdre]

Since I own a Platinum music nib, I'd only ever consider a two-tine one. That said, I'd get pretty much any other Sailor nib.

[Flourish]

Sailor is prettier to me but the Platinum nib is more to my liking. So I'll go with the Platinum music nib. And if you want flex send it to Mr.'s Mottishaw or Binder.

[chkuo]

Thanks for a very informative comparison. I haven't tried a Music nib from Sailor yet but I am very happy with the one on my Platinum 3776.

[Ed Ronax]

Thanks for this great comparison.

[james0tucson]

I wonder if anyone even writes sheet music anymore, let alone use a fountain pen to do so.

 

Many do, myself included. It is in fact one of the big reasons I've gotten back into ink and pens. If I ever write reviews, music notation will be one of the elements I evaluate.

 

Maybe "nobody" hand writes music anymore, just like "everybody" writes on computers or with rollerball pens nowadays... But it isn't so. Even when I transpose music in the computer, and even when I compose using MIDI, my work ends up on paper. I had been using mechanical pencils and finishing (often with a disposable Rapidograph), but I've discovered fountain pens, and like any other situation where one discovers fountain pens, I have no intention of going back :-)

 

My apologies for responding to such an old thread, but I felt I had to chime in here to speak up for the composers.

[joelchan]

wow! nice and good review ! I happened to have both these pens and the review is very detail and acturate !!

 

Thank You!!

 

joel

[Bruno Taut]

Very nicely done! Good to see another nib focused review--added to the nib review section. It would be great to see the Pilot music nib included as well (hint, hint). <img src="https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/164754-pilot-742-music-vs-platinum-3776-music/page__p__1644942#entry1644942

 

http://estilofilos.blogspot.com/2010/08/ongaku.html

 

Cheers,

 

Iosepus

[hari317]

Excellent review!

Edited May 21, 2011 by hari317

[alvarez57]

Very good review! I owned a Platinum Music nib which was confiscated by my nurse (she's a good friend too ) . I'm not much of a broad nib person, so I was ok with the "mischief". Don't have a Sailor music nib, but that Platinum is soft!