Pilot Custom Urushi vs. 845: Writing experience

[miig]

Hey guys,

I'm quite fondly looking at those two. I think the red looks brilliant and I like the two Pilot pens I have very much (743 and 912 with their very different FA nibs).

I am wondering though how different the nib feelings are. There is a lot of praise for both pens out there, but few direct comparisons, which surprises me, since they seem so natural to compare.

I read that the Custom Urushi nib is a bit bouncier, other people write they're very close.

 

I can say that between M800 and M1000, there also is a big difference.

 

So if some of you who own both are able to tell me how both feel, I'd appreciate that. Thanks!

[whichwatch]

I think that the description of the Custom Urushi being a bit bouncier is a reasonable description.  Similar comparisons can be made between Pelikan M1000 and M800 or Sailor King of Pen and 1911L.

 

If you can feel a big difference between M800 and M1000, I think you will also feel a big difference between the two Pilots.

 

 

[miig]

Thank you.

Yeah I'm getting quite the difference between M800 and M1000. With the Pelikans, I think it is a lot a matter of taste - the M1000's nib is somewhat controversial, I'd say. But the price difference between the two is not super pronounced. I am even more concerned with the difference between #10 and #15 FA nibs, which are soooo different.

Custom 845 is half the price of the Custom Urushi, that's something that makes one wonder if the difference in the nib is as pronounced as well. Obviously, mileages will vary here, but I'd love to hear what people have to say who can compare them directly.

[whichwatch]

Perhaps I could have explained myself more clearly.  I have both pens and DID compare them directly by writing with each  And as I tried to say, the Custom Urushi nib is bouncier, in the same way I find the King of Pen nib bouncier than the 1911L.   I took pictures, but even at the smallest size the FPN system says the file is too large and it won't allow me to post them here.

[miig]

Thanks, that's great!

Hmm, weird... I just looked, I could upload up to 19 Megabytes in images, which is quite a bit, unless you're using an uncompressed format like BMP.

 

Anyhow, I really appreciate the feedback (no pun intended). Do I read you right that they are generally somewhat similar than their more affordable counterparts, but with bouncier nibs?

One of my absolute favorite writers its the 912 FA. Only trouble is that the pen body is so small and that the FA nib is very picky when there are even smallest amounts of grease on the paper - still I am regularly having spots where it will stop writing and it is difficult to get it again. So if something of that would be found in the Custom, I'd be all over it.

 

Of course the Custom Urushi is not a flex nib...

[miig]

Basically, I am wondering if I should wait for a Custom Urushi within Europe, or get a 845 from Japan now.

The most affordable C.U. pens from Japan are about 600€, which makes them close to 800€ / 900USD with import fees and everything. That feels a bit too much for me at the moment. If I could find a used one here, it should be much more affordable. But who wants to wait...

 

An 845 could be had for about 400€ import fees included from Japan, that sounds doable. We'll see. I just put a price offer for a KOP within the E.U... i probably won't get it, but that might ruin my whole calculation if the seller accepts

 

[The Duck Hunter]

I have two Custom Urushis (a "B" and a "M/F", and two 845's (a "F" and an "M").  I find the Custom Urushi to be much softer and a bit bouncier than the 845.  I don't think it is quite as much difference between a Pelikan 800 and the M1000 (own both), but it is in the ballpark.  I love both models, but much prefer the Custom Urushi.  YMMV.  

[miig]

I don't know why everyone is avoiding my question. I simply wanted to know if the Custom Urushi is better or just bigger.

 

That was a joke

 

Obviously, no one can answer that for me, but it is still very interesting to read what people who can compare the two are thinking about it. So thanks @The Duck Hunter for your impressions!

I'm quite sure that I will eventually be sharing my impressions here. For the moment, this will have to wait a bit - the seller accepted my offer and I now got a secondhand KOP on it's way to me. That means my fountain pen budget has been used up for the moment

 

 

 

[XYZZY]

I don't know why you think people are avoiding your question.  However, FPN's traffic seems to be at a low point so it probably does take longer to get responses.  I blame the economy for that: less money for pens apparently means less interest in talking about them.

 

I have a CU and think it's #30 nib is much bouncier than #15 nibs I have tried.  Unfortunately we're trying to describe perceived differences using adjectives that are relative, and they're being written/read by people who (mostly) don't know each other outside of FPN.  Stop if you say down with my pens you might decide "much" is an overstatement.  Or understatement.  

 

It sounds like you've fallen into a trap that I have too: not sure you want to spend for that expensive pen, so buy something almost as expensive instead . But a KoP won't let you down, it's a fantastic nib, too.

[miig]

Thanks @XYZZY for your nuanced response.

I was joking about people avoiding my question - it's all good! I know that this is very subjective and all I can reasonably expect is that people describe their subjective experiences.

Sorry if the joke didn't translate, I wasn't complaining in the slightest.

 

56 minutes ago, XYZZY said:

t sounds like you've fallen into a trap that I have too: not sure you want to spend for that expensive pen, so buy something almost as expensive instead

Haha yeah, that might be true. I wanted to try out both of their nib styles (Sailor with feedback and smooth Pilot nibs) and see what I prefer. I didn't expect to get the KOP for that price, but so be it. It could be months or years until a 845 or CU shows up within the EU for a decent used price... or days lol... who knows.

[TitoThePencilPimp]

I have both. The 845 in F and M

And the CU in FM.

 

To me the CU nib writes like a m1000 nib, but with crisp lines.

 

A pen worthy of its price. Much prefer its nib to the one on the Namiki Emperor.

 

I would save up and buy a CU, and if you want an 845, just get the 823 instead. Better filling system, cheaper, and you can get the number 15 FA nib on it from TokyoQuill.

 

I think I payed about $240 shipped to the US from them. So do the math to see how much it will cost you to import from where you are from.

 

In respect to the KOP nib, I'm sorry but that is a rigid nail. I much prefer sailors gold nib offerings on the 1991 than the KOP.

 

I found the KOP to be overpriced, and writes similary to a Pelikan m4xx_8XX NIB,

 

smooth but boring.

[The Duck Hunter]

A Custom Urushi from Japan is half the price of a Custom Urushi from a North American vendor.  Same with the 845.  I would look to Japan to purchase.  YVVM.  

[miig]

On 8/18/2023 at 4:23 AM, TitoThePencilPimp said:

I would save up and buy a CU, and if you want an 845, just get the 823 instead. Better filling system, cheaper, and you can get the number 15 FA nib on it from TokyoQuill.

 

Thanks, that might happen  

I don't know it I want a CU or an 845 I'd have to compare to find out which one I like more. I have a 743 with a #15 FA and adore it, but more as a regular writer. It takes too much pressure to get cursive writing with flair on this pen. Very different with the #10 FA nib - that thing goes wide when you just look at it. Less practical, but for flair, it's hard to beat.

On 8/18/2023 at 4:23 AM, TitoThePencilPimp said:

In respect to the KOP nib, I'm sorry but that is a rigid nail.

 

It is my first Sailor, since I bought it somewhat by accident I have no comparison to the more affordable models. I dread the converter already lol, and mileages vary drastically. There is a lot of praise for it out there, but the CU seems to be the much more nicely made body. I have no idea if I like the Sailor feedback - but I will find out about that soon. I might agree with you, my  Pelikan 80Xs perform flawlessly, but there are more exciting writing experiences out there...

 

 

On 8/18/2023 at 4:57 PM, The Duck Hunter said:

A Custom Urushi from Japan is half the price of a Custom Urushi from a North American vendor.  Same with the 845.  I would look to Japan to purchase.  YVVM.  

Already on it, thanks Here in the EU, we usually pay about 30% import fees. That makes the  845 still over 400€ (USD 440) , and the CU over 800€ (USD 880). It would be ideal to find a secondhand model within the Customs Union. If I could find that, I'd buy them both and sell the one(s) I don't adore.

[nibtip]

You might be interested by this:

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fhougado%2Fpilot-fkv-5mr-r%2F/N_1

Plus an extra 7% discount every Tuesday to Thursday. Plus an extra 1000 yen coupon discount= 245€ +15€ for small package registered shipping ( one week) and handling= 260€.

 

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fsolo-di-lei%2Fpilot_curushir%2F/N_1

Same arithmetic applies. approx 460€ shipped.

[miig]

Thanks @nibtip! It seems the links aren't working

 

[nibtip]

I just tested. They are working for me.

You may try this:

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/en

then enter links bellow in search field. 

 

845 from Pen gallery on Rakuten

https://item.rakuten.co.jp/hougado/pilot-fkv-5mr-r/?scid=af_pc_etc&sc2id=af_106_0_10001056

Urushi

https://item.rakuten.co.jp/solo-di-lei/pilot_curushir/?scid=af_pc_etc&sc2id=af_106_0_10001056

 

By the way I will selling a like new red 845 M amongst many other pens as soon as I can extract myself from my lascive retirement nirvana comfort and deign take a few picture (x by many pens) and scribble a text on each: sigh.

Ich lebe in der Schweitz.

 

(If you are interested, but not in public, I can share with you a maneuver to lower import taxes dramatically. 

The trick is superfluous for American citizens, since they pay nil zilch nada import taxes).

 

[Lithium466]

1 hour ago, nibtip said:

I

 

(If you are interested, but not in public, I can share with you a maneuver to lower import taxes dramatically. 

The trick is superfluous for American citizens, since they pay nil zilch nada import taxes).

 

I'm interested

[nibtip]

About the stratagem?

Ok then.