Platinum #3776 Fine Or Medium Nib?

[Ciliegia]

Hi folks

 

I'm about to buy my first Japanese pen (a Platinum #3776 Century) as a daily writing pen. I've heard that the nibs on Japanese pens come up finer than on Western pens, so I'm not sure whether to buy a fine or a medium nib.

 

For comparison purposes, I have 3 fine nibbed pens (a Visconti Michelangelo 1475 LE, a vintage Cross and a cheapie steel nibbed Waterman.) All of these nibs are smooth but not scratchy, and are perfect for my style of handwriting.

 

I also have one medium nibbed pen (a Visconti opera club) - although this is a really smooth writer (probably smoother than the F nibs of the other 3 pens), I don't like my handwriting so much with this pen. I prefer the spidery look that comes with the finer nibs,

 

Is a F Platinum #3776 nib likely to suit me, or would it be too fine and scratchy? Am I better off, with a Japanese pen, choosing a M nib?

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Edited July 27, 2019 by Ciliegia

[BDarchitect]

For what its worth, for my handwriting size and approach (lefty underhand) I prefer Western nibs that are fine, and Japanese nibs that are medium or medium fine. I have a Platinum Century 3776 Nice Pur that is a medium and it is very similar in line width to my Diplomat Aero fine and Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age fine.

[Ciliegia]

For what its worth, for my handwriting size and approach (lefty underhand) I prefer Western nibs that are fine, and Japanese nibs that are medium or medium fine. I have a Platinum Century 3776 Nice Pur that is a medium and it is very similar in line width to my Diplomat Aero fine and Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age fine.

 

That seems to dovetail with what I've heard about Japanese nibs...I made the mistake of buying too broad a nib with my Visconti Opera Club and as a result I rarely use the pen. I love my Michelangelo LE's fine nib, and would love to find a Platinum with the same type of fine but not scratchy nib.

 

Are Platinum nibs easy to replace if I choose badly?

Edited July 27, 2019 by Ciliegia

[stylophilly]

Hi, if I had to guess, I think you'd be happy with a medium Platinum 3776. I only have a broad nib 3776 now, but it's one that's been ground to an italic. So saying anything about that won't be much great help for you. I've also once owned an extra fine and an ultra-extra fine 3776. Both produced very fine lines, too fine for me. Both also had a distinctive feedback to them, so definitely not as smooth a writer as what you're looking for.

 

For a more systematic comparison, below is one resource from John Mottishaw's nibs.com website. The webpage compares nib tipping sizes.

https://www.nibs.com/content/nib-tipping-sizes

 

As far as I know, Platinum doesn't sell their nibs separately. So at least from that standpoint, it'd be hard to replace. Maybe buying one from a retailer that would allow you to return in exchange for a 3776 with another nib size would be a better option.

Edited July 27, 2019 by stylophilly

[ENewton]

I have a Platinum 3776 with a medium nib, two Waterman pens with fine nibs, and a Waterman pen with a medium nib.

 

The Platinum produces a wider line than the Waterman fines but a narrower line than the Waterman medium.

 

I cannot comment on whether a Platinum fine would be scratchy, because I do not own one, but my Platinum medium is very smooth.

[Honeybadgers]

The medium 3776 is a western medium.

 

What it sounds like you're looking for is a western fine. Which is the "FM" or "fine medium" size.

 

If you want it to be a little soft, get the "SFM"

 

Platinum nibs are usually not scratchy, but they can sometimes be set up extremely dry so they feel quite unpleasant. Fixing it is very easy, just look up how to make a nib wetter by SBREbrown on youtube.

 

I like very fine lines, and the SF 3776 I have is a great western extra fine. I also have the B, BB, and UEF.

 

Next on my list for the 3776 line is the music nib.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Ciliegia]

Thanks for your input, everyone. I plumped for the medium in the end, so fingers crossed I've made the right choice!

[BaronWulfraed]

Well -- in desperation one can always have a nib reground to something finer, but the reverse is not possible (except by retipping the nib)

[A Smug Dill]

@BaronWulfraed , I don't necessarily agree with you on that. A Platinum #3776 F nib can easily (if unwisely) be reshaped to leave a broader line than a 'Japanese Fine' without removing all the tipping material, but just by flattening the contact surface at the tip a bit.

[rudyhou]

please keep in mind that Platinum nibs have a 'feedback' feel on paper.

if you're not used to this, and prefer the smoothness of western nibs in general, you may find it feels 'scratchy'.

 

i write small, and i can't use western M nibs. my western fps are all either F or EF.

 

i own Platinum 3776 in M nib and find it to be a good choice, as i find Platinum F rather too thin for my liking. it is still a smooth nib, but it's too 'spidery' for my liking.

 

i do wish they make medium-fine nib like Sailor does, as i find Platinum M line is slightly thicker than i had hoped for. although, it is still finer than many western F.

 

if your paper is not the best type for fountain pen inks and tend to give a feathering effect, then Platinum F may be your answer.

 

but if you're not familiar with or used to using japanese nibs, then maybe best you start with a M nib for Platinum.

[Ciliegia]

please keep in mind that Platinum nibs have a 'feedback' feel on paper.

if you're not used to this, and prefer the smoothness of western nibs in general, you may find it feels 'scratchy'.

 

i write small, and i can't use western M nibs. my western fps are all either F or EF.

 

i own Platinum 3776 in M nib and find it to be a good choice, as i find Platinum F rather too thin for my liking. it is still a smooth nib, but it's too 'spidery' for my liking.

 

i do wish they make medium-fine nib like Sailor does, as i find Platinum M line is slightly thicker than i had hoped for. although, it is still finer than many western F.

 

if your paper is not the best type for fountain pen inks and tend to give a feathering effect, then Platinum F may be your answer.

 

but if you're not familiar with or used to using japanese nibs, then maybe best you start with a M nib for Platinum.

 

This post makes me feel that I've made the right choice in plumping for a medium (I'll find out tomorrow, when the pen arrives!). I like some feedback - I'm not a fan of buttery smooth nibs, I like to feel the movement of the pen on the paper, and I like the scritch-scratch sound as the pen moves across the page. All but one of the western nibs I own are F, and the one M nib I own (A Visconti Opera Club) is too broad for my taste.

 

As for paper, most of my journals are Clairefontaine, so I'm not anticipating any problems with the paper.

 

My worry was that the F Platinum nib would be too spidery for me - from what you've said, that seems to have been a valid concern. Fingers crossed my M nib is perfect!

[ENewton]

 

I'm not a fan of buttery smooth nibs.

 

 

My medium felt too smooth to me at first, especially on slick papers like Clairefontaine, but ink makes a difference also.

 

I look forward to reading your report once you have the new pen in your hands!

[rudyhou]

 

This post makes me feel that I've made the right choice in plumping for a medium (I'll find out tomorrow, when the pen arrives!). I like some feedback - I'm not a fan of buttery smooth nibs, I like to feel the movement of the pen on the paper, and I like the scritch-scratch sound as the pen moves across the page. All but one of the western nibs I own are F, and the one M nib I own (A Visconti Opera Club) is too broad for my taste.

 

As for paper, most of my journals are Clairefontaine, so I'm not anticipating any problems with the paper.

 

My worry was that the F Platinum nib would be too spidery for me - from what you've said, that seems to have been a valid concern. Fingers crossed my M nib is perfect!

 

i hope it works out perfectly for you. i enjoy my Platinum M nib.

 

once you've gotten used to Platinum M and want to move on to something with a slightly more scritch-scratch sound, then maybe try their F nib.

 

OR try Sailor. Sailor nibs tend to give that type of sound with their nibs when gliding on paper, more than Platinum nibs would. even with their M nibs.

 

either way, it's a joy to use them both.

Edited July 31, 2019 by rudyhou

[eharriett]

My one Sailor pen is an MF nib. I’m happy with the line. It is the first higher end Japanese pen line width I’m happy with. I’d say it is pretty close to a euro F.

[BDarchitect]

My one Sailor pen is an MF nib. I’m happy with the line. ... I’d say it is pretty close to a euro F.

+1

[Ciliegia]

The verdict - the M nib was a perfect choice!

 

Just the right about of feedback - if anything, smoother than all of my F nib pens.

 

The handwriting sample shows that - if amything - the M Platinum is finer than the Grifos, Visconti and Cross F nibs, and considerably finer (thank heavens!) than the Visconti medium nib.

 

The writing sample is deceptive as the notebook is only 9 x 14 cm size - the paper is Rhodia.

 

I think I'm going to enjoy this pen!

Edited July 31, 2019 by Ciliegia

[Steveg58]

I have two Platinum 3776 Century pens one is a fine and the other a medium. The medium line width is only about 25% wider than the fine and noticeably narrower than my Waterman Carene medium or my Sheaffer Targa medium.

I have Platinum Carbon Black in the fine and an unnamed Platinum cartridge that came with the pen in the medium.

I have seen a Platinum broad in action and that was like twice the width of the medium.

[A Smug Dill]

I have Platinum Carbon Black in the fine and an unnamed Platinum cartridge that came with the pen in the medium.

There should be markings on the side of the ink cartridge to indicate to you what is in it; for example,

P BB

would be Platinum Blue-Black ink.

[rudyhou]

The verdict - the M nib was a perfect choice!

 

Just the right about of feedback - if anything, smoother than all of my F nib pens.

 

The handwriting sample shows that - if amything - the M Platinum is finer than the Grifos, Visconti and Cross F nibs, and considerably finer (thank heavens!) than the Visconti medium nib.

 

The writing sample is deceptive as the notebook is only 9 x 14 cm size - the paper is Rhodia.

 

I think I'm going to enjoy this pen!

 

glad to know you found the right nib

[TSherbs]

The verdict - the M nib was a perfect choice!

 

Just the right about of feedback - if anything, smoother than all of my F nib pens.

 

The handwriting sample shows that - if amything - the M Platinum is finer than the Grifos, Visconti and Cross F nibs, and considerably finer (thank heavens!) than the Visconti medium nib.

 

The writing sample is deceptive as the notebook is only 9 x 14 cm size - the paper is Rhodia.

 

I think I'm going to enjoy this pen!

Look at the size of those Visconti nib lines!

 

The Platinum medium looks great to me, too.