Having own most of the popular entry-level fountain pens, many of the mid-range pens and some of the more expensive pens, I think I now recognise my own preference about fountain pen nib.
One thing I won’t be talking about, though, is the nib size. I think nib size is purely preferential, and my own preference lie on smaller size. I prefer Japanese F to M, and Western EF to F. I do have a few broad nib and I don’t particularly like them, as I mostly use a pretty small notebooks. I also like a small stub nibs.
The nib material
I would say I prefer a gold nib because of the softness/bounciness. But this might not actually be the case.
I actually do prefer softer/bouncier nibs because I find them more pleasant to write with. But I do think that steel Lamy and Platinum nib are also quite soft. Unlike Jowo’s steel nib though, which is very stiff. They are used on TONS of pens though, and some of them I still use daily.
I also love my Lamy gold nib. They are so soft and wet.
Nib feedback
I don’t think I am in a majority here. I love some feedback. The gold-nib on my Sailor and Platinum are so fun to write with due to the feedback. That’s a reason why I have not got any of the Pilot Custom series fountain pen, because I think they might be too smooth for my liking.
For the steel side of the field, I love Lamy nib. Platinum steel nib is a bit too smooth. And again, with many pens nowadays with Jowo nib — they are very smooth. Which is usually good, but I still prefer the feedback of Sailor or Platinum nib.
Currently Inked
…and whether I find it soft or hard/stiff; and whether I think it has feedback or not (smoothness).
- Esterbrook Camden EF — Pilot Blue-Black (Jowo? #6)
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Smooth
- Diplomat Aero F — Diamine Fireside Snug (Jowo #6)
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Smooth
- Platinum Plasir F — Robert Oster Melon Tea
- Softness – Mid; Feedback – Smooth
- Sheaffer VFM M — KWZ Honey
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Smooth
- LAMY Safari Kanji Nib — LAMY Black
- Softness – Mid; Feedback – Mild
- Pilot Prera M — Diamine Ancient Copper
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Mild-Smooth
- TWSBI SWIPE F — TWSBI Black (Jowo)
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Smooth
- Kaweco Liliput F — Sailor Yurameku Sukigokoro (Jowo?)
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Mild-Smooth
- Sheaffer 100 M — Sheaffer Blue (Jowo?)
- Softness – Stiff; Feedback – Smooth
- Platinum PTL-5000A 14k EF — Diamine Oxblood
- Softness – Mid; Feedback – Toothy
- Platinum 3776 14k EF — Platinum Black
- Softness – Soft; Feedback – Toothy
- Pilot Decimo 18k F — Iroshizuku Fukurokuji
- Softness – Soft; Feedback – Mild
- Sailor Pro Gear Slim 14K MF – Diamine Earl Grey
- Softness – Mid; Feedback – Toothy
- Lamy aion 14k EF – Diamine Weeping Willow
- Softness – Very Soft; Feedback – Mild Tooth
The following image was written on a Rhodia Ivory Paper and scanned in.
