Pilot Iroshizuku Yama Guri

[Sandy1]

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Grey Scale.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/b4a04182.jpg

- = + = -

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/d71dd184.jpg

Figure 1.

Swabs & Swatch

Paper: HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/347bd8f3.jpg

Figure 2.

NIB-ism ✑

Paper: HPJ1124.

Depicts nibs' line-width and pens' relative wetness.

IMG thumb:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/th_cfbdc8fc.jpg

Pens: L → R: Somiko, P99, C74, 45, Phileas & Prelude.

Figure 3.

Paper base tints:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Waterman%20Havana/a7af56d2.jpg

L → R: HPJ1124, Rhodia, G Lalo white, Royal, Staples Creme, Staples 20 lb.

WRITTEN SAMPLES - Moby Dick

Ruling: 8mm

 

Figure 4.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/cb81a945.jpg

 

Figure 5.

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/09270b43.jpg

 

 

Figure 6.

Paper: G Lalo, Verge de France, white.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/71f47807.jpg

 

 

Figure 7.

Paper: Royal - 25% rag.

http://i783.photobuc...ri/ea321dde.jpg

 

 

Figure 8.

Paper: Staples Pastels, creme, 20 lb.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/d8fd0849.jpg

 

 

Figure 9.

Paper: Staples 20 lb. multi use.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/835cc131.jpg

 

 

Figure 10.

Grocery List

Paper: Pulp. One-a-Day calendar page.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/8d1dea4f.jpg

 

OTHER STUFF

 

Figure 11.

Smear/Dry Times & Wet Tests. ☂

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/7c98eb02.jpg

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

 

Type:

• Dye-based fountain pen ink.

Presentation:

• Bottle. ^★

Availability:

• Available when Topic posted.

Daily writer?

• Almost.

A go-to ink?

• Yes - when a firm neutral brown is desired.

^★ Awarded the Japanese package design grand prix 2011 gold prize of household appliances general miscellaneous goods section.

(If it had a filling aid, I would bestow the Sequin Garter for Funktionality.)

 

USE

 

Business:

(From the office of Ms Blue-Black.)

• In the darker densities I would be happy to receive internal or external correspondence in this ink; but as author I would be hesitant to use it for external and/or upward communication.
• The colour is not overly warm, trending to neutral, so remains business-like rather than too personal.
• Unlikely to be overlooked or downplayed, but is not distracting.
• Just the thing for personal work product, especially with its lack of bleed- show-through on 'lowest bidder' copy paper, water resistance and high readability.
• Py-g allows one's writing to stand-out from the mob of business Blues, without being Teal, shouting or being gauche.
• A tad dark for editing & mark-up of Black-printed text; lacks the zap for error correction & grading of assignments.

Illustrations / Graphics:

• Certainly.
• This is one of the inks that is at its best from a pen; at dilution from a water colour brush tends to lose its lustre though doesn't fall apart.
• As this is not an overly warm Brown, it resides predominantly behind the plane of the ink-bearing surface, making it more suitable as a ground; though it does have the stability to be used as a secondary figure.
• One should be aware of the colour-shift upon exposure to water, so not the best pick as a foundation for wet media.
• Line quality was very high, holding a clean line even in the 'ink pools' on the highly absorbent Royal.

Students:

• Performed very well on all papers used, so one can look forward to using both sides of 'lowest bidder' papers.
• Very comfortable to read, so suits general notes and condensed study notes, even writing that might be exposed to potable liquids.
• I am uncertain if this colour is acceptable for hand-written assignments.

Personal:

• Oh yes indeed.
• This ink won the coin toss to replace the discontinued Parker Penman Mocha, which was my sole brown for years.
• Added a swanky conservative colour to my Blue-centric array.
• During that time, I have used this ink for just about every sort of personal writing, and has proven itself time and again.
• I do not consider Py-g to be a shading ink. That characteristic gives me free reign to use any size and shape of nib without generating a cluttered appearance.
• Billets doux? Nigh impossible - a fire laid without kindling

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE & CHARACTERISTICS

 

Flow Rate:

• Generous.
• Controlled.
  

Nib Dry-out:

• Not seen.

Start-up:

• Prompt.
• With confidence.
  

Lubrication:

• Excellent.
• Ran very smoothly from all pens on all papers.
• If running a slick nib on smoooth paper, fine control may be a challenge.

Nib Creepies:

• Not seen.

Staining:

• Not seen.

Clogging:

• Not seen.
• Seems unlikely.

Bleed- Show-Through:

• Not seen on papers used.

Feathering / Woolly Line:

• Not seen on papers used.

Smell:

• Absent.

Hand oil sensitivity:

• Not seen.

Clean Up:

• Thorough and very prompt with plain water.

Mixing:

• No stated prohibitions.

Archival:

• Not claimed.

Smear/Dry Times & Water Resistance:

• Please see Figure 11.

✍ Now that, dear readers, is another lovely performance profile.

 

THE LOOK

 

Presence:

• Inviting, yet not invasive.
• Interesting without distraction.

Saturation:

• High

Shading:

• Elusive.
• Attractive when it appears.

Variability:

• Pen+nib combos used:
  • Not so much.

  [*]Papers used:

  • As expected - nicely done.

  [*]Malleability:

  • Moderate.
  • As with most fairly saturated inks, there is not a great capability to alter The Look.
  • That characteristic makes it a good go-to ink if one often uses whatever pen and paper is to hand: Py-g may not dazzle under such circumstances, but it will certainly not disappoint.

Hi-Res Scans:

(Originals are 30x60mm.)

 

As I do not aspire to the sobriquet '帯域幅のバンディッツの女王', these are IMG-thumbs only. Kindly click the image to view as intended.

 

Somiko on HPJ1124:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/th_d1d1114e.jpg

C74 on Rhodia:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/th_f127cf9a.jpg

45 on G Lalo:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/th_1354eb9a.jpg

Prelude on Royal:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20yama-guri/th_bb4bcd59.jpg

FIDELITY

 

Is the name appropriate?

• No idea.

SIMILAR COLOURS:

 

PAPERS

 

Lovely papers:

• Does well on a wide range.
• Py-g ♡ paper!

Trip-wire Papers: ☠

• Not seen.
• Seems to me that if it is writing paper, then Py-g will do well.

Tinted Papers:

• Did well on the natural G Lalo and the Creme.
• If kept at high density, this could be used on any reasonable tint.

Pre-Printed Papers:

• Forms:
  • It will do the necessary, but seems rather a waste of a beautiful ink.
  • As it is so attractive, it may draw unwanted interest/scrutiny. i.e. lacks stealth.

  [*]For charts & graphs:

  • Quite a good pick.

Is high-end paper 'worth it'?

• Not so much.
• Py-g performs well on a range of papers, so paper is very much a matter of preference over performance.
• If one does pursue the [low] shading potential, hard-surface high-end papers seem in order.

ETC.

 

Majik:

• Not quite.
• Just doesn't have the latent energy or malleability to be conjured.

Personal Pen & Paper Pick:

• Prelude on the HPJ1124.
• I like the density of Py-g on the slightly absorbent paper; foregoing shading to promote stability.
• Even though the % coverage from the wide nib is high, it does not become clunky or crowded.
• The stub nib adds a bit of variation and fluidity to the plain white page.

Yickity Yackity:

• This one has done well by me for a fair while. It has not been found wanting, but rather has caused me to look for other Brown inks, not in the way that Waterman's Brown might be appetiser, rather Py-g as the main course, but wondering what's for dessert.
• Ah kushbaby, this one really is quite wowderful.

= = = =

 

NUTS & BOLTS

 

Pens

 

IMG-thumb

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/Pen_Scans/th_1541b447.jpg

Written Samples:

• Sailor Somiko + TIGP F nib.
• Pelikan P99 + steel F nib.
• Pilot Custom 74 + 14K SFM nib.
• Parker 45 + g-p steel M nib.
• Waterman Phileas + steel B nib.
• Sheaffer Prelude + steel B stub nib.

For lines & labels:

• Pilot kiri-same from Pilot 'Lady' + H882 g-p steel F nib.

Papers:

• HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.
• Rhodia.
• G Lalo, Verge de France, white.
• Royal, 25% cotton rag.
• Staples Pastel, creme.
• Staples 20lb. multi use.
• Pulp. One-a-Day Calendar page.

Imaging

• An Epson V600 scanner was used with the bundled Epson s/w at factory default settings to produce jpg files.
• Figures shown were scanned at 200 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Hi-Res Images linked were scanned at 300 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• No post-capture manipulation of scanner output was done, other than dumb-down by Epson, Photobucket & IP.Board s/w.

Densitometer Readings:

HPJ1124

• Red 124
• Grn 111
• Blu 101
• Lum 111

Fine Print

The accuracy and relevance of this Review depends in great part upon consistency and reliability of matériel used.

Ink does not require labeling/notice to indicate (changes in) formulation, non-hazardous ingredients, batch ID, date of manufacture, etc.

As always, YMMV, not only from materials, methods, environment, etc., but also due to differences between the stuff I used, and that you may have; and manner of use.

Also, I entrust readers to separate opinion from fact, to evaluate inferences and conclusions as to their merit, and to be amused by whatever tickles your fancy.

 

-30-

 

Tags: FPN Fountain pen ink review pilot iroshizuku yama-guri brown Sandy1

 

Edited April 27, 2012 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Pilot iroshizuku yama-guri is the tenth ink to be reviewed in the 'One of the Eleven' (OOTE) group of Brown inks.

 

When complete, the intention is to have the OOTE inks reviewed in the same manner, to the maximum practical extent.

 

Hopefully the OOTE reviews will assist practitioners in choosing their Brown/s, and avoid unintentional purchase of equivalent ink/s.

 

The Written Samples' format and scans are designed to support comparisons through manipulation of browser windows. Consequently, for the OOTE series, separate comparison posts will be generated only from material included in the Ink Reviews when the OOTE series is complete, as I see fit, and upon Members' request.

 

I will be the first to admit that my experience with Brown inks is somewhat lean, so OOTE seems to be an interesting voyage of discovery - for me at least.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

 

= = = =

 

Prior OOTE Ink Reviews:

 

• Diamine Chocolate : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/213005-diamine-chocolate/#entry2225878
• Herbin Lie de The : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/218604-herbin-lie-de-the/page__view__findpost__p__2304271
• Monteverde Brown : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/176304-monteverde-brown/page__gopid__1769767#entry1769767
• Nooder's Original #41 Brown : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/190272-noodlers-41/page__view__findpost__p__1922093
• OMAS Sepia : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/198139-omas-sepia/
• Pelikan 4001 Brown : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/196260-pelikan-4001-brown/#entry1987331
• Private Reserve Chocolate [sic] : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/187273-private-reserve-chocolate/page__view__findpost__p__1890629
• Visconti Sepia : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/207460-visconti-sepia/
• Waterman Havana (Absolute Brown?) : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/201046-waterman-havana/

_ _ _ _

 

Prior Comparison:

 

• Noodler's Original #41 was compared to what's currently on the market, Noodler's 41-2012: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/213949-comparison-noodlers-41-brown-41-2012/

[drgoretex]

Sandy1 - Thanks once again for a thorough and extremely useful review. Thanks as well for the rest of the 'brown' reviews!

 

I am always hunting for inks that 'fit the bill' for me, especially inks that are relatively serious, NO bleed/showthrough, and water proof/resistant (I have been mostly using Iron Gall inks lately).

 

I have a bottle of Yama Guri that I have not been using, mostly because I assumed it would be quite washable and therefore useless to me. Thanks to your water test, Yama Guri is back on the menu!!

 

...the only thing remaining is for me to test the longevity of this ink on paper for fading etc...

 

Cheers,

 

Ken

Edited April 27, 2012 by drgoretex

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting. Some pen/paper combinations made it look almost blue/violet/grey on my screen, while others were obviously more in the sepia/brown tone.

As always, an exemplary review. Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into these.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[geoduc]

Thanks, Sandy. Another stellar review.

 

I've tested over 25 brown inks looking for some that I would be happy to use on a regular basis. The ones that rose to the top were yama-guri for the occasions when I need an interesting yet conservative ink that behaves well on all papers and tsukushi when I want a color that is more warm and personable. I found a few other nice ones, but none have managed to move past the Iroshizukus into my regular rotation.

 

I'm curious. Which ink lost the toin coss to replace your Parker Penman Mocha?

[Uncle Red]

Thanks Sandy. It's a great review. Now if I want to stop using CdA Grand Canyon I have a more expensive alternative. :roflmho: Neutral brown must be hard to do for some reason.

[Sandy1]

Sandy1 - Thanks once again for a thorough and extremely useful review. Thanks as well for the rest of the 'brown' reviews!

 

I am always hunting for inks that 'fit the bill' for me, especially inks that are relatively serious, NO bleed/showthrough, and water proof/resistant (I have been mostly using Iron Gall inks lately).

 

I have a bottle of Yama Guri that I have not been using, mostly because I assumed it would be quite washable and therefore useless to me. Thanks to your water test, Yama Guri is back on the menu!!

 

...the only thing remaining is for me to test the longevity of this ink on paper for fading etc...

 

Cheers,

 

Ken

 

Hi Ken,

 

You're welcome!

 

Glad to have put Py-g back on your radar.

 

I often pick inks that are if not 'relatively serious', at least have some stability to them and do not distract too much from what's written. Yet I do have a penchant for Turquoise inks, and the warm inks are making their presence known.

 

For the most part I do not consider water resistance when choosing an ink for personal writing, unless I know that the recipient/s are accident prone, like to read in the baths, or have an aquatic aspect to their lifestyle.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited April 27, 2012 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Interesting. Some pen/paper combinations made it look almost blue/violet/grey on my screen, while others were obviously more in the sepia/brown tone.

As always, an exemplary review. Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into these.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Hi Ruth,

 

You're welcome!

 

Interesting indeed!!

(I am glad those subtleties are depicted on your monitor. )

 

Py-g is can be run at a low density so that the base tint of the paper is added to the ink's native colour, or it can be run at high density so that it becomes opaque, covering the paper.

 

To me, that is a very attractive property of an ink: variable opacity, and performs well throughout that range. Tuning of paper and pen can result in subtle changes not only of tone, but colour as well; and being a relatively 'neutral' Brown, Py-g can be given a nudge without going offside.

 

Bye,

S1

[wastelanded]

I think I want to give this one a shot, thanks!

 

You maven of ink. How many different shades are on your labcoat?

[PaperDarts]

Ah, Sandy1 - you are personally assembling the classic canon of inks. Thank you for another fantastic review.

[Sandy1]

Thanks, Sandy. Another stellar review.

 

I've tested over 25 brown inks looking for some that I would be happy to use on a regular basis. The ones that rose to the top were yama-guri for the occasions when I need an interesting yet conservative ink that behaves well on all papers and tsukushi when I want a color that is more warm and personable. I found a few other nice ones, but none have managed to move past the Iroshizukus into my regular rotation.

 

I'm curious. Which ink lost the toin coss to replace your Parker Penman Mocha?

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I reckon you're far ahead of me, as are many others, in the exploration of Brown inks - the exercise of finding a replacement for PPM did not encompass a wide array of inks.

 

tsukushi was indeed a contender, but struck me as a bit too 'warm and personable' for a replacement. (Though some warm Browns are indeed very attractive.)

 

Ah, I'm afraid I won't be satisfying your curiosity as to the ink that didn't win the coin toss - though it shall be revealed in time. Let the suspense build . . .

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Thanks Sandy. It's a great review. Now if I want to stop using CdA Grand Canyon I have a more expensive alternative. :roflmho: Neutral brown must be hard to do for some reason.

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

At times it is difficult to choose amongst wee luxuries, but to me ink is a gift to the reader, so I persevere with the choosing.

(Though some are expedients or pranks.)

 

I still have trouble wrapping my blonde head around the idea of a 'neutral Brown' - the colour itself is so impure that it seems to defy having a centre, unlike spectral colours such as Blue.

 

Bye,

S1

[Soot]

Sandy1--

 

Maybe I need to try your batch of Yama-Guri, my bottle of Yama-Guri feathers on most paper I use, to the point that I don't really use it anymore. It has mostly become testing ink to test out my pens; fill it, write with it, and down the drain it goes.

 

Costly testing ink. Ha...

Edited April 28, 2012 by Soot

[Sandy1]

I think I want to give this one a shot, thanks!

 

You maven of ink. How many different shades are on your labcoat?

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I had to Google the American-ism 'maven' - thanks for the compliment!

 

I hate to shatter your illusion of me in a lab coat when preparing the reviews, but I'm sure your vivid imagination can come up with something far far more interesting.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Ah, Sandy1 - you are personally assembling the classic canon of inks. Thank you for another fantastic review.

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Bye,

S1

[wastelanded]

I think I want to give this one a shot, thanks!

 

You maven of ink. How many different shades are on your labcoat?

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I had to Google the American-ism 'maven' - thanks for the compliment!

 

I hate to shatter your illusion of me in a lab coat when preparing the reviews, but I'm sure your vivid imagination can come up with something far far more interesting.

 

Bye,

S1

 

"A maven (also mavin) is a trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. The word maven comes from Hebrew, via Yiddish, and means one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge."

 

Yep, pretty much.

 

Nothing wrong with a labcoat! Aubergine pocket protector, perhaps? "Good heavens, Miss Nakamoto!"

 

(edited for spellings)

Edited April 29, 2012 by wastelanded

[Sandy1]

Sandy1--

 

Maybe I need to try your batch of Yama-Guri, my bottle of Yama-Guri feathers on most paper I use, to the point that I don't really use it anymore. It has mostly become testing ink to test out my pens; fill it, write with it, and down the drain it goes.

 

Costly testing ink. Ha...

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with Py-g, especially as it is not consistent with the experience of many others.

 

As you have tried it from several pens and a range of [FP-friendly?] papers, it appears that your experience is beyond 'YMMV', but caused by a rogue bottle.

 

There is often tolerance in a QA/QC process, and I would expect Pilot has a QA/QC process and is capable of its execution. However, not every bottle is sampled - that is up to the consumer.

 

I suggest that you raise the issue with the Vendor and send them a sample, with the intent of having your ink replaced, and perhaps having the cause of the rogue bottle determined.

 

Please feel free to post sample/s showing the feathering, and indicate the pen and paper used.

 

Bye,

S1

[ObserveClosely]

Sandy, thank you for a thorough review of a wonderful ink. I use it for sketching and for pen+wash drawings. It "washes" into a lovely brown with a touch of mauve-ish burgundy. Just enough of a tint to enliven the wash but not so much contrast with the line that it distracts. Great ink.

[Ruminator]

Sandy, you rock. I love your reviews.

 

-=d

[Sandy1]

Sandy, thank you for a thorough review of a wonderful ink. I use it for sketching and for pen+wash drawings. It "washes" into a lovely brown with a touch of mauve-ish burgundy. Just enough of a tint to enliven the wash but not so much contrast with the line that it distracts. Great ink.

 

Hi,

 

This being FPN, I feel compelled to keep the scope of Review on point - pen-based. I hope the dilution swab and wet tests are of some use for those who may also use ink in other ways, and that my comments on illustrations & graphics are relevant.

 

I would dearly looove to see some samples of your work with a brush. We do have the ICS&T SubForum next door, so perhaps that could be a home for samples of painting & drawing using FP inks.

 

You may also find the Cd'A Grand Canyon of interest - it leaves an aqua/cyan line behind when overworked with water. LINK

 

Bye,

S1

Edited April 30, 2012 by Sandy1