Mikado Vs Custom Urushi Vs Emporer As An Xl Daily Writer

[Betweenthelines]

Hi everyone,

 

So from my other thread I have narrowed my choices down to these 3 for the daily driver for my big hands. I just can't bring myself to buy a Conid when the urushi option is there. Call me vain. Anyone who has or currently owned these 3, how do they compare as a daily writer?

 

From my perspective:

 

Custom Urushi: +lower price +amazing soft nib +/- c/c system -less impressive urushi /design -plastic section and details

 

Mikado: -higher price -Bock nib (I might need to regrind down to be finer for my daily writing) +stunning urushi options +eyedropper capacity

 

Emperor: -higher price -/+ limited urushi designs that are better than the Custom, but not as interesting as the Mikado (I prefer tamenuri finishes) + wonderful design/quality and a nice nib - hard to find FM nib, will probably need to grind down + ED ink capacity

 

Any input would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Mew]

I don't own a mikado, but I do have the other 2.

Bought custom urushi middle of last year and it has gone thru 4-5 fills. Nice pen, very comfortable to hold and write with for extended period of time. Nib is soft, but with my regular writing it doesn't feel so much because of very little pressure that I apply.

 

Emperor Vermillion, bought it in 2015, and have written more than 700 pages. For normal writing I consider it the best pen in my collection. Great ink capacity (Custom Urushi runs out of ink in 5x A4 pages) and the nib is a wonderful writer. Rigid.

 

I picked up another pen last week that I had commissioned last year. Tohma Kumataka 55. Has all 3 in one: Tamenuri finish, soft nib (softer than custom urushi), and Japanese eyedropper. Nib is bigger than Namiki Emperor.

 

http://i.imgur.com/HyzCfyL.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/anyRZnk.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/0gNWSXv.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/d8pDY7a.jpg

[hari317]

Wow. I had no idea about the 55. Thanks for letting us know.

[mongrelnomad]

Wow. Id never heard of it either. Any chance of some more information?

[Namo]

Are you sure Mikado's nib is Bock? I though the biggest Dani nibs were homemade (or was it from another source?)

 

Edit to add: seems it's Bock n°8 indeed.

Edited April 4, 2019 by Namo

[Mew]

Wow. Id never heard of it either. Any chance of some more information?

I really don't have any more info of it. But he's in Ginza, so if you are interested I can send you the address and you can visit whenever you are here? Let me know and I will do so.

Do note please - I am interested in getting another one but he declined as he does not plan on making any more.

[zaddick]

Are you sure Mikado's nib is Bock? I though the biggest Dani nibs were homemade (or was it from another source?)

 

Edit to add: seems it's Bock n°8 indeed.

The largest nibs used by Danitrio are about #50 size and used only only the top end Yokozuna model maki-e pens. They are made by a specialist. For regular production pens it is indeed a customized Bock A380 nib.

Edited April 4, 2019 by zaddick

[zaddick]

For me it is the Mikado. It fits my hand well and I like the softness to the nib. Ink capacity is also great.

[Mew]

The largest nuns used by Danitrio are about #50 size and used only only the top end Yokozuna model maki-e pens. They are made by a specialist. For regular production pens it is indeed a customized Bock A380 nib.

Danitrio no longer uses #50 nibs that were made by Kohei Kubo. They now use the Tohma nib. Check the thread posted a few weeks ago. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/343285-the-exuberance-of-danitrio-some-hyper-pens/

[zaddick]

Danitrio no longer uses #50 nibs that were made by Kohei Kubo. They now use the Tohma nib. Check the thread posted a few weeks ago. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/343285-the-exuberance-of-danitrio-some-hyper-pens/

 

Thanks for the link Mew. I actually did not mention the maker, but this is a good reminder. There is also a recent thread about Kubo not delivering a pen so I wonder if this switch is due to similar difficulty from Danitrio.

[zaddick]

and I actually prefer the aesthetics of the older Kubo nibs with the sumo. Looks like me.

[Mew]

 

Thanks for the link Mew. I actually did not mention the maker, but this is a good reminder. There is also a recent thread about Kubo not delivering a pen so I wonder if this switch is due to similar difficulty from Danitrio.

Ah, my apologies.

As for Kubo not delivering the pen, that was Kawakubo I believe? That's not Kohei Kubo. Kubo only makes the nibs afaik. Kawakubo is a different maker who makes only pen bodies while using existing nibs.

[Doug C]

I have a Mikado and although I don't use it as a daily pen, I could.

 

Enormous capacity, and even though it is large, it is light weight and is easy to write with. I don't feel it is much different from any of the other Dani's I have.

 

 

[Namo]

 

Thanks for the link Mew. I actually did not mention the maker, but this is a good reminder. There is also a recent thread about Kubo not delivering a pen so I wonder if this switch is due to similar difficulty from Danitrio.

Thanks Mew, Zaddick for link and info. Beautiful work on the other thread, which I missed for somewhere reason.

[zaddick]

Ah, my apologies.

As for Kubo not delivering the pen, that was Kawakubo I believe? That's not Kohei Kubo. Kubo only makes the nibs afaik. Kawakubo is a different maker who makes only pen bodies while using existing nibs.

 

Thank you Mew for setting the record straight. My confusion could have added to a poor reputation for the wrong person so i am thankful you were patient enough to educate me in a polite and courteous way.

[25_15_3]

Thanks for the info on Tohma Mew. I did message Tohma on facebook maybe a year or two ago but I never got a response back. Guess I won't be able to get a Tohma now.

[hari317]

Danitrio no longer uses #50 nibs that were made by Kohei Kubo. They now use the Tohma nib. Check the thread posted a few weeks ago. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/343285-the-exuberance-of-danitrio-some-hyper-pens/

Hi Mew, can you tell me more about Tohma? or where to learn more about them.

 

Thank you

[jandrese]

In reply to the original question I personally prefer the Mikado. I suppose that is why I have 5 of those and neither of the others despite trying them many times here and in Japan. I find the Mikado is a good every day pen.

 

Custom urushi: Nice pen at a good price. For me the nib is too soft and that is my barrier.

Emperor: Great pen with a statement nib. Aside from the black and red versions they are priced beyond my ability to pay (maybe I should just save up instead of buying lots of other urushi pens ha ha) but the maki-e quality is amazing.

 

I like Danitrio more I guess. I mostly get them with stub or broad nibs, which I prefer and which are no so available than on the other pens. Danitrio artists also sign their pens, which gives me some connection to the process. I like collecting certain artists.

 

That said, I'm sure there is an Emperor in my future.