Goulet Q&A 165: Designing Tomoe River Notebooks, Useless Ink Swabs!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- For links to the products mentioned and Brian's answers, check out the Q&A 165 blog post: bit.ly/GouletQA165
In this episode, I talk about useless ink swabs, designing a Tomoe River notebook, and where I disagree with the whole fountain pen community!
Pens/Writing - (3:35)
1) Evan M.- Facebook - (3:36)
So I just got a new aurora flex 88. my question is. is there a break in period or anything with it? because my dreamtouch and m1000 nibs flex wayyyy more than this one. it's not disappointing or anything it goes from xxf to b but I expected more from a "vintage flex".. ps best company ever
2) zdia- Instagram - (8:25)
I've always wondered what exactly a converter converts. Why is it called a converter? What does it convert, and into what? A boring cartridge pen into an exciting breadth of ink possibilities? That's my best guess... can you help?
Ink - (12:48)
3) mnmlscholar- Instagram - (12:50)
Ink reviews often have huge swatches of the ink smeared or swabbed onto a page. But in my experience, inks rarely look like that when I write with them. So I tend to focus on the writing samples in the reviews to guesstimate what it might look like in my own pen, and on my own paper. What should I be learning about an ink from the giant ink swatches on GouletPens (and reviews)?
Paper - (19:40)
4) acosta_maite- Instagram - (19:41)
In Q&A Episode 163 @48:33, regarding TRP, you mentioned that you would have to design a new notebook format for meetings, etc. Is that something you would seriously consider? A Goulet Journal with TRP in A5 Dot Grid with tons of pages would be awesome. Do you think that is something we could hope for anytime soon?
Personal - (26:13)
5) Hope F.- Facebook - (26:15)
Do you have any opinions/preferences that aren't popular in the fountain pen community? I myself love hearing some feedback while I write, and I find something oddly satisfying about a little bit of echo on the page, but I find that not many people agree. Your videos are what got me into fountain pens. Thank-you to you and the Goulet Pen team.
QOTW: What fountain pen opinions/preferences do you have that seem to be against the tide of the rest of the pen community? - (39:42)
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Hi! I know I am late to the party concerning these videos, but I just wanted to say how very much I appreciate them, number one, and number two, how much I appreciate your transparency, and genuine respect for your viewers! Your sense of humor is awesome, too! Thanks for all you and Rachel put out into the world...God bless you and your family! 🙂
I just backed the hippo noto kickstarter. Their 500 page A5 TRP notebook is so exciting. Nice to know people are branching out to ideas like this.
I did too! I went with the option that included the Robert Oster ink (I adore that brand of ink). I can't decide which notebook color I want though - have you picked one?
I backed it too! I'm getting two because I couldn't decide between the two brighter colours, but I have no idea if I want lined or dot grid or plain. I've only ever used lined so I'm worrying about getting dot grid if I don't like it. I can't wait to get them!
Napalm Candy I saw the green today, and although I probably never would have chosen that color usually, I like the richness of it compared to the blue and pink. I'll probably get the green. I got two hippo inks! I'm so into the literal color if the pinkish brown/purple of the ink. I'm so excited for it. What about you?
I wish I was into a dot grid, but it's just not strict enough of a guide for me. Dot grids look so minimal and cool, but I need lined for sure
I actually really like the proposed green as well, but the black and blue is a classic combo that I've been eyeing too. The only reason I've considered the pinkish one at all is because it would match the ink a bit better. The turquoise is my least favorite (it's a bit too pastel for my tastes), although it's not a bad color either!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE INK! Robert Oster makes some of the coolest inks I've ever used. I should probably get a second bottle as well; purple is basically my favorite color, and I think it having the brown undertones is going to be so charming!
One thing to keep in mind regarding the A5 notebook is that Nanami Paper is doing a 480 page TR notebook for $24 (at the time of writing). For someone outside of the US who has shipping and import duty to consider, if the cost of the notebook is around $24 I would consider purchasing it.
I'm so with you on the broad nib issue.
There are two downsides to the Nanami Paper book, though. One is cream paper. I like cream, but not all the time. And the second is it doesn't come in dot grid. I know they have the Crossfield, but that is never in stock. I have and like their A5 book, but I wish the paper was white and they had different ruling. But I agree on the price. They give you a phenomenal book for $24.
Thanks for letting us know. We'll have to look into those as well. - Colin
The Crossfield has, sadly, turned into a full grid notebook, but the Writer was recently refreshed to have white paper and blue lines.
Oh I didn't know that. Thanks!
No idea if the Crossfield is going back to dot-grid, but currently both the "new," full grid Crossfield and the new Writer have white Tomoe River paper. And yes, the Seven Seas/Nanami TR notebooks are great!
Agree completely with what Brian is saying here about ink swabs. While a writing sample does give a truer picture of what an ink will look like in a pen, the swab makes for much easier comparison between similar colors. Speaking of comparisons, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, your new and improved Swab Shop! The way inks can be be brought up all on a page, in the browse by color group is a spectacular bonus! So easy to cross reference colors by different makers, generally graded by nearest hue. Great stuff!
As to broader vs finer nibs, paper quality definitely matters, but so does handwriting size. Smaller script does become illegible with broader nibs because the greater ink flow fills in the loops and flourishes, while with a larger handwriting it smoothes out wiggles and irregularities. Nib choice may also have something to do with standard line width, in lined papers. Many printed forms have very small lines for signatures and comments.
The FP preferences I have which would be most derided in the community? My preference for so-called 'bland' medium nibs, my preference for practical over pretty when it comes to pen choice and my love of permanence (lightfast/waterproof qualities) in my inks. And yes, cartridge converter pens are equal or preferable to all other filling mechanisms for me too.
Thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much! I think you're the first one to notice the new comparison tools. Let us know if you have any feedback on it as we're still fine tuning it. - Colin
Brian is so humble and polite. A very decent and practical man!
I would 100% buy an A5 TRP notebook! I know so many people in the bullet journal and art journaling world would be obsessed!! I would pay 20-30 for a notebook like that because it's EXACTLY what I'm looking for and I would so much rather have a book like this and pay a bit more than pay less for one I don't really want.
I have a tremor that makes writing hard in different ways. I'm retraining myself to write with my whole arm so it's less fine motor control and it helps but I agree with you about broad and especially stub nibs! It masks the imperfections and my writing looks much better.
I would probably pay up to $30 for a notebook of that size. Thanks for doing two Q&A recordings this week so we don't miss one next week... really appreciate it!
response to the survey: I'm willing to pay $25~$30 for a tomoe-river a5 notebook from gouletpens.
YES, I love that you use ALL your pens. "Functional Art", what a great phrase.
QOTW: I’m right there with you in most of my preferences, Brian.
1. Definitely Medium to Broad (European sizing) nibs -- I “play” with nibs outside that range, but they *must* be wet writers. They all have their purpose(s), but I really like the Medium to Broads.
2. Converters -- since I don’t write long enough or often enough to keep my interest in a particular ink. Switching frequently is my style and converters are perfect.
3. Ballpoints -- absolutely NOT, with a passion! However, a wet roller ball is acceptable and they are frequently the only tools that will work with chemical copy checks and carbon paper. [Side note: I would very much appreciate hearing your opinions on which ones satisfy your needs when a fountain pen isn’t the right tool.]
4. Pilot and Lamy Pens for the most part, but I enjoy tinkering with and tailoring my pens and learning how they work. Unlike many in the FP community, I appreciate the place Noodler’s pens and inks hold!
5. Smooth papers -- (generally) and a variety of white, cream and light green/grey papers.
6. Dot Grids -- Like many in the FP community, I like the dot grids, but as I age, I would appreciate a larger spacing, say 7mm, rather than the standard (only?) 5mm.
7. One thing you did not mention (nor would I expect you to) is the waterproof paper like the Rite in the Rain notebooks. That paper hates fountain pen inks so you’re unlikely to carry or even use them. However, I just recently succumbed to your (pleasant and much appreciated) pressure to buy some Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts bullet proof, waterproof, eternal ink and tried it on my RiiR notebook and am blown away at how well it worked! Yes, I keep a small sheet of blotting paper stuck between the pages to help the ink dry faster, but it really worked exceptionally well! I’m sure the FP community will now blackball me! At least they (the FP folks) will applaud my minimized use of the Fisher Space (ballpoint, ugh!) pen on the RiiR tablets!
I've found both F and M/stub both work for me in certain circumstances. Writing with a fine point feels natural, but at the expense of color and character; many dark shades, whether blue, green or brown just look dark, though I feel the difference as I write, I imagine. I prefer broader nibs when writing to my younger grandchildren and older relatives because those nibs encourage me to write larger which is easier for those audiences to see/ read. An added benefit of broader nibs is ink colors and characteristics tend to be more noticeable to the readers. I'm so thankful for your wonderful company.
Someone else mentioned this, but I think it's worth mentioning again -- Nanami Paper already makes an A5 notebook with Tomoe River paper with a dot grid (they make a blank and lined version too) that is $24 U.S.
Now, I am a loyal customer of BOTH Goulet Pens and Nanami Paper -- love them BOTH -- and as a customer, I would be excited if Goulet would throw its hat in the mix (more options, better for us customers!) -- but, I must say this ... The Nanami Paper notebooks are OUTSTANDING! (I own, maybe, 5 of them) They are gorgeous, they lay flat, have 480 pages (240 leaves), on and on, and on ...
So, if you're going to design your own, I would highly recommend you take a look at their notebooks. And if you can improve on them, or give us some more variety ... well, more power to us!!
Great as always, but HAD to comment on the most delightful moments in which you describe your looping Ls and Ts and such. Brought me a big smile, thank you!
Well easy answer: I believe when the nib is broader and the line thicker, the little inconsistencies in your lines become a lot less noticable. This is a reason why I have seen people recommend very fine nibs in order to obtain a high level of penmanship - because you will instantly see every little imperfection in your letters and you are forced to practice those letters untill you can draw them in one smooth motion.
My daughter-in-law just came in and saw me writing with my Noodler's Ahab and I was wearing gloves. She chuckled and said "Oh now you have to wear gloves?" I told her that I was currently because I must have put the nib in a little incorrectly when I last cleaned it and I was leaking ink and couldn't write without making my hand a mess. When I think about it I need to go in and see if I can take it apart and make a difference for the better. I love ink a little but not a bunch on my hands, I don't mind a little feedback on the paper, I haven't bought any piston fill pens though I have been tempted so badly to buy a TWISBI. I am in love with the cartridge converter even for the pens like the Noodler's Ahab that can be converted to an eyedropper because I live in California where there is a lot of warm weather and they tend to burp a lot even if I try to keep them rather full so as not to have the air pressure be an issue in burping. I have in the past be one to not even consider the quality of the paper when buying notebooks and have a ton of them in the garage waiting for use. Now after getting involved with fountain pens and lots of inks I find that many of those notebooks need to only use fine nibs or I will have to sell off those books. I love to see the ink colors so I am gravitating to the broader tip nibs now thanks to watching Rachel's videos. I prefer the looks of my writing in the finer nibs but just can't see the actual colors very well and the colors are the reasons I have bought so many actual bottles of your inks and I intend to buy several more no doubt. I think I will have to live to be a couple hundred years old to even make a dent in the bottles I already own and I have only been your customer for maybe a year and a half. I try not to go elsewhere because I want to support you because of all the video training you so painstakingly produce for us. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!
Yep, my writing is exactly like yours, Brian Goulet. If I write with a broader nib, my handwriting looks beeyootiful! And the finer the pen, the more shaky and spidery it looks. At least when it comes to cursive writing. When I'm printing, fine nibs look better because i tend to leave my nib on the paper for a little bit before actually writing, so when I use a big broad nib while printing, there's usually a few blobs dotted across the page from my pen just sitting there, soaking into the page.
Speaking of paper, because Tomoe River paper is my hands down favorite, I'll pay $25-28 for a blank A5 notebook with around 250-300 pages. If you would sell a nice plastic insert that could go behind the page so I could see the lines through the paper as I'm writing on it, and write nice straight sentences, I'd buy that too. And, if there was another insert that had dots or a grid instead of lines, I'd probably buy that one too. And probably pay another $4-6 for it. And if you had yet another insert that was French ruled, I'd buy that too, in a heartbeat. Because French ruled is the best for practicing penmanship. In fact, if it was available as a set for pre-order, I'd get it as a pre-order.
The notebooks I've been using lately, because I'm stupid lazy and haven't placed an order with GPC lately, is US letter size, has a flexible plastic cover, 140 pages, is lined (which is good for journaling), spiral bound, and made from Optik Paper, which i have to admit, i adore (just not as much as TR paper). However, the notebook is $12 and i buy it locally at a chain brick and mortar office supply store down the street from me. It's not a pretty notebook tbh, but it's economical and gets the job done. I'd rather have Tomoe River. I do hope you're able to bring it at a decent price.
That's great feedback on the notebooks, thanks! Hopefully, we can figure something out that makes sense, because I know I'd get one. - Colin
I would pay $30-35 for the TRP, specially for 68gms, I love the Endless Recorder for that reason, but would love to have a bigger notebook than the Endless (more pages).
The Tomoe River notebook would (for me) be competing with the Seven Seas by Nanami Paper (which I see a few others have mentioned already). Their notebooks use 52gsm (which I prefer over the 68gsm), but if you can land somewhere near the same price ($24), I'd at least pick up one or two to try them out. I don't know if I'd be a repeat buyer with the 68gsm. For what it's worth, Nanami doesn't have a true *dot* grid and I've long wished they did!
That's good to know! Definitely seems like the dot-grid option is the gap in the market. - Colin
QotW: (1) When writing with black ink, I prefer that it have some shading over being flat and absolutely black. (2) Until about a year ago my standard set of pens was a set of 5 Kaweco Liliputs; I've branched out since then, but I still enjoy small and slender pens.
I think you are 100% right about broad nibs and lousy paper. Most paper is just not fountain-pen friendly.
QOTW: I'm not really active in the fountain pen community per se, so I don't have an accurate gauge of how popular my opinions are in the community as a whole. A couple opinions I have, though, as a somewhat casual user:
1.) I'm pretty anti-cartridge as I feel disposable anything in fountain pens defeats the purpose of using a fountain pen over a ball-point pen. I'll *USE* the provided cartridges so I don't feel like I'm wasting the ink in it, but once those are spent, I'll switch to bottled ink. For the same reason, I don't like the Pilot Varsity conceptually. The cartridge converter is the route I've gone because of what you've said, but I'd like to try an eyedropper sometime.
2.) I like what I perceive to be a classic pen style (e.g. cigar-style)-nothing that looks cheap to me. That was part of what drew me toward the Pilot Metropolitan when I was starting at the beginning of the year, and I've received compliments about it. I like the idea of having more ink capacity, though, so I'd love to have Pilot Custom 74.
Thanks Brian for this weeks Q&A I look forward to them every week and i appreciate all the work that you and your staff do to make these happen.
QOTW: Well i agree on cartridge convertor pens being my favourite filling Mechanism, i have piston fillers etc... this is not widely the choice of most FP People. I wouldn't not buy a pen because it was a bulb filler or a aerometric , i have both and many others i just find Cartridge convertors convenient.
I also don't exclusively use fountain pens in any situation but i do try to whenever i can & it's appropriate, so probably 98% of the time, although i agree with brian's pragmatic approach.
Regarding the Note book 300 pages tomoe river paper well i did buy your original notebooks with tomoe river paper (A5) and i think they were priced at about 9 USD each ,48 sheet, so for 150 sheets (i'm not sure if brian meant sheets or pages so ill assume the latter ) you have gotta be in the 30-35 USD mark.
I have a question for Q&A : Do Brian and the team watch other pen and ink reviewers channels and if so which ones are there favourites. Also what is the process that selects people that may receive samples to review on there channel of either ink, pens or note pads.
I can't speak for everyone, but since I live in UA-cam land, I tend to watch a lot of other channels. Figboot on Pens is a favorite of mine (especially the Game of Thrones pen review!). Larry Berrones was just a commenter on this channel that has started doing videos within the last year, lots of content there.
As for collaborating with them, it's usually just a relationship built by Brian & Rachel, either with them reaching out or vice versa. Then just being strategic about what we're sending out & the type of content we're looking for. - Colin
Six years later…I’ve started to only partially fill my pens because I like to switch inks more often. Also, I have a Montblanc 146 but I prefer my Lamy Al Stars much more for everyday writing.
QotW: my preference for small, light pens with unostentatious finishes bucks a few trends. I also dislike "glassy smooth" nibs (but do like smooth paper). As for opinions, the notion that the lever is the best filling system and never mind the ink capacity seems to have fallen out of favour. ;-)
Regarding nib sizes and writing speed, what Brian says makes perfect sense to me. The needlepoint dip nibs I use for Spencerian are utterly ruthless for showing every last wobble, and the only way to get over it is not to be hesitant. Besides, if you write American cursive, it's a business hand intended to be written briskly. So yes, speed and confidence are important, especially with fine nibs.
Answer to the QOTW: I don't really feel the love for vintage pens that many pen folks absolutely swear by. There are surely some pros of vintage pens like flex nibs, cool filling systems, cool designs etc. but there are cons too. The materials may be of poor quality (what I mean is that we probably make better and more durable materials today because we know more than we did 80 years ago), the pens may be more prone to leaks, finding one in NOS condition is difficult, they can be very very expensive.
My wish would be to have pen companies like Parker, Sheaffer, Waterman reintroduce some of their vintage pens that are as close to the original in terms of design and performance with improvements to things that did not work well.
I also concur with Brian's thoughts about C/C filling pens and the use of rollerball and gel pens.
I too am backing the Hippo Noto Notebook (Pocket A5 size, 500 pages) at $30. For the TRP Goulet notebook, I'd probably be willing to shell out $25-30 for a true A5 size. Thank you for the very informative videos! Keep up the great work GPC team!
no hate to the Platinum Preppy. It is the perfect pen to take with you to university and let other students borrow. It is 'hip' because of the coloured nibs and is even comfortable to write notes with for 2-hour sessions. It can also resist quite some rough handling. And all of that for just 3 euro's.
I like my Cross and Parker fountain pens, which I keep at home, more, but the Preppy is the perfect pen to use in environments where pens generally don't last very long.
I'd go $30 on the Tomoe River A5 dot grid Goulet notebook.
Totally agree with you about cartridge converters and stubs/broad nibs. My handwriting looks terrible with fine nibs but great in stubs. I can’t imagine how anyone would try to use a fp in every situation. That just sounds stupid frankly.
Question Of The Week:
Frankenpens. I swap feeds, nibs, sand down nibs and create smooth sweet spots, affix o-rings to barrel ends so the cap posts more securely, etc. It's hard to say which pens I use, because my collection is like a scrap yard.
That's pretty interesting! Do you have a favorite frankenpen combo? - Colin
Yes, thanks Colin. Platinum Plaisirs with a 02 nib taken from a Preppy. I've also ground wide italics from Preppy nibs. But a simple nib swap on a Jinhao 159 to a Jinhao "Fude" nib is my favorite.
Regarding the TRP notebook, as others have said, I can get an official Writer or Crossfield for $31 including shipping. However, I never have bought one from Nanami, and probably never will. I prefer white paper and 68 gsm stock, and really enjoy my small, 68 gsm lined TRP notebook from Goulet. I'd be willing to sacrifice number of pages for the heavier stock, and pay for convenience/availability, rather than wait several weeks for shipping - if what I want is even in stock at Nanami.
I don't really care whether it's dot grid or lined, as I currently use both. So if you offered a notebook with approximately 180-200 pages, 68 gsm white paper, and A5 size, I would pay $30 before shipping.
One thing about the Leuchtturm and other notebooks is that they have sturdy, attractive covers. I often write in my lap or on a slanted surface, not a flat table - if you offered separate covers, or a bundle option with the notebook + cover, I'd be happy to pay an additional $15 to have a portable writing surface. But if you wanted to sell the cover you showed on the sample, as long as it didn't give me paper cuts, I'd still happily buy one.
Rewatching this, I realized that Brian is talking about close to 300 pages, not 200. But I bump into a weird mental block about how much I'm willing to spend on a notebook, especially a plain one. I think $35 is about my limit, no matter how many pages I would get, or the quality of the paper. So there's that, for what it's worth.
I would love a trp notebook in an a5 size for $25-$30.
Also a trp hardbound a4 size notebook/journal would be awesome at any price.
I love the videos, you guys rock.
Can we talk about how cool it is how open you are about your faith? I love it!
Also, comment on the ink samples, swabs, etc. There are a few ink colors I LOVE (Monteverde's California Teal and Noodler's Whaleman's Sepia come to mind) but I hate the way they write.
Don't forget how open he seems to be open/accommodating with other faiths. He doesn't seem to downplay/discredit other religions or people who don't practice a religion. Or course, I think most people are/should be like this but there are definitely some that like to shove their religion in other people's faces. Brian seems like a really cool guy and I'm glad that Goulet Pens is doing well!
I absolutely agree with both Sara and Hugh! Thank you, Brian, for being open about your faith. It's a good witness.
Sara Habetz thanks! My faith does definitely drive me, and I completely respect that others have their own beliefs that drive them too! -Brian
Hugh Huynh thanks Hugh, that's definitely how I try to be. Even when I do talk about my faith publicly I try to approach it very much in a way that is inclusive and open. -Brian
Inclusiveness is absolutely key and should be inherent by definition. Anything less, especially during these contentious times, would be off-putting.
I know this video is older, but I agree 1000% about broader nibs. I write almost exclusively with broad nibs. Im fact im receiving yet another order from you guys tomorrow with my Prussian blue Twsbi and Diplomat magnum both in BROAD! 😁
I also think that I get on the finer vs the broad nibs, My handwriting is better on medium than in fine and the broader it gets, the easiest for me to write becomes. But I have found the reasons (I mostly have to use medium or fine for the size I am required to handwrite) the finer the nib is the more "details" you can see and many many times those details aren't exactly good ones. You can clearly see a sloppy trace while in broad nibs they are barely noticeable. If you have time to write, then you can be super careful and may be get a better end result with a fine nib since you can put all those extra details, but if you write for speed-quality, unless you are very very good at handwriting the "details" will show the mistakes done.
I'm a full on fountain pen user, I had to use a ballpoint for the first time in years the other day and realised what a strain it is on the hands! I was that crazy person filling my pens from a bottle of ink before exams...
30:49 I feel the same exact way, Brian! I want to write, and do write, with ultra extra fine, extra fine, and fines but my handwriting suffers and looks like chicken scratch! I find I have to slow way down and get into a smaller and tighter writing style. But if I use a medium, broad, or stub it smooths out my uneven, and as you said, shaking looking letters. So I’m with you all the way. I have been choosing, as of late, to write with one of my Platinum President’s with an Ultra extra fine. I’m trying to see if I can work on my lettering and my spacing. Because my spacing between each letter, whether printing or cursive, is very uneven. I just don’t know why I do not have the same kind of hand control as most others do? I’m at a loss. Even when I practice, it’s bad. So if I want anything to look clean and handsome, I have to concentrate very hard and go as slow as a snail. That doesn’t work when needing to get down ones thoughts though. So I’m the end, I’m with ya all the way, Brian. Oh, and I’m only five years late to this video! Lol. Better late than never! Happy Writing! Cheers
@GouletPens
And as for my against the tide opinions - I personally love broad nibs. I use them for headings, emphasis on words in my notes, and general doodling.
I love an obnoxiously coloured pen. Give me bright colours, give me pink, give me neon. I'll fill it with an equally obnoxious ink colour and doodle on everything!
I don't really see the appeal or functionality in a flex nib pen. I found myself wanting one but then I realised... when am I going to use it? I don't write letters, all of my writing is pretty functional - notes in work, journalling, college notes... no real place for a flex nib!
I would pay in the $30-35 dollar range for that notebook. I would love dotgrid with a ton of pages. Not a huge fan of TRP though, I would drop $40 for a 300 page rhodia webbie.
I'm with you on the whole converter over other filling mechanisms. I thought I was the only one so thank you. I also seem to prefer very inexpensive pens as apposed to more expensive pens. I have pens that cost less than $5 that I enjoy the writing experience of more than some of my $100-$200 pens. I'm pretty sure that makes me weird but so be it, I know what I like. Thank you for all you do for the FP community.
I think a lot of people feel the same way. I prefer writing with my Metro or Kakuno over a lot of expensive pens. - Colin
for an A5 tomoe notebook with 200+ pages I'd pay in the 20-30USD range. it's a nice paper.
I can definitely sympathize on alot of those opinions. broadest nibs I can find and a fairly smooth paper are a great pairing.
I've found nibs that are just way too fine for my taste. the medium nib on the Pilot Metropolitan is about as fine as I can stand.
I also find a single stroke swab to be quite useful. shows everything from a pool of the ink to a light application.writing with many nibs will hit all of those depths of colour.
I've been buying Stalogy notebooks on Amazon in both A6 & A5 because I like the paper quality (Tomoe paper) and quantity (365 pages). I would DEFINITELY buy notebooks from YOU!
As far as a fountain pen preference that I have, [whispers] I don't really care about ink colour. I like Noodler's black and all my pens are inked up with that. It's smooth, it's consistent, it's gorgeous on the page. Recently I inked up one of my flex pens with Noodler's purple wampum. I also have a Noodler's brown for a vintage vibe. The only blue I have is in cartridges I don't use. (Sorry Brian!)
Speaking of cartridges, when you read that cartridge question I was hearing it with Jerry Seinfeld's voice. "What's the DEAL with cartridges?" :-)
That is definitely an 'against the grain' opinion! I couldn't fathom sticking with just Noodler's Black, there's so many options, even black ink options! To each their own. :) - Colin
Thanks for the Stalogy notebook tip @labyrinthrockgal -- had no idea these existed! I've been buying the Seven Seas notebook from Nanami Paper. Glad to see there are more alternatives out there!
Hi Daniel! I prefer blank, but the grid (a tad less than 1/2 cm) on these is very faint and unobtrusive. Also, it's great to have 365 pages and the binding has held up well in my Travelers Notebooks.
Pens & ink that have worked well: Metropolitan Pilot all the way! I've also used my Nemosine Singularity & Noodler's Ahab. However, that's all with Noodler's Bulletproof Black. I've gotten bleed thru with Heart of Darkness in my Platinum Preppy & my Nemosine Singularity, and my Noodler's Konrad with Purple Wampum. So I think it's not just the pen but also the ink. Perhaps this is why I stick to Bulletproof. :-)
I'm pretty sure stalogy notebooks are NOT Tomoe River paper, just saying, I'm almost positive they're not, if someone could provide a link proving they ARE that would be great, thanks.
Definitely ~$30usd because I agree that the leuchtturm works so well and gets the job done at a reasonable price. I'm tempted to say more since I make my own slim, tomoe notebooks but it's just for personal use in my traveller's notebook; and I know I would want to ask for no less than ~$10usd if I were to sell my slim books. Hand making is completely different than mass production, though and having it already made would be soooo convenient!
Every topic hit home on this. Feedback on a TRP notebook: First, it is difficult not to compare to what I feel I overpay for a Hobonichi every year. I would consider paying upwards to $60 for an A5 with around 200 pages from a company like Goulet Pens that I trust. It would have to lay flat when opened, have reliable binding and a flexible and somewhat rip-resistant cover.
My ideal price would be around $45. I probably wouldn't buy an A6. Not enough room and I have a lot to say. Hahaha! Plus I'm a stub nib enthusiast for similar reasons you stated you like broad ones.
I'm going to provide more reasoning (before people start yelling at me) behind my price of the TRP notebook after seeing a number of $30 suggestions. I think for that price you are talking bulk, BULK sales and will have to give a little in overall quality of the notebook. First, I'm comparing it to the Hobonichi, for which we in the US pay increased shipping and duties, while waiting WEEKS for it to ship from Japan. So if I'm willing to pay that to a company in Japan, why wouldn't I pay that to Goulet Pens in my home country? You cannot diminish the Cousin for it's overall quality. My Cousin is a catch-all for EVERYTHING, so the cover and binding as well as the paper has to stand up to an entire year of scribbling, pasting, taping, sketching, watercoloring... It stands up to movement from briefcase to bag, being pulled in and out of it's cover occasionally, and remains a solid platform for me to input whatever I intend using whatever medium I'm inspired to use whether it be lying on my desk or purched on my leg sitting in a park. Because I use it more for journalling and planning, I keep my notebooks and will refer to them for years to come. Those qualities are worth another $20 over the course of many years.
QOTW: I prefer heavier beefier pens. I have for instance a Conklin and a TWSBI 580 they both write great and work fantastic but they're so light. At least the twsbi feels a bit heavier with ink in it.
I would love the notebook in your hand at A6 even around $20, the A5 at around $30. The TRP is worth every dime to be able to not just use my inks, but watercolors too. I'm wanting to go from my Hobonichi back to a straight bullet, but I don't wanna give up the TRP.
QOTW: I may be weird because I tend to use boring Lamy inks. I can't really get crazy with colors at work, where I use fp the most. I like them because they dry quick and are well behaved.
Brian, Taroko shop already make a 384 page, 64gsm TRP notebook in dot grid which are sold for $30. Anything that can match or beat that price and I think your golden.
Yeah, it's good to know other notebook options are out there like this and do well. I think $30 is the sweet spot for sure. - Colin
Brian I shake and agree the finer the min the worse my handwriting is, at the minute I use mediums but just had a 1.5 stub and my handwriting looks beautiful so going to try a broad on my next pen
I agree that fountain pens aren't the best option for every situation. I use fountain pens at school pretty much exclusively but at my job where I'm a waiter, carrying a fountain pen is impractical (unless of course you're using a Pilot Capless) but also dangerous because I don't want to drop my (relatively) expensive pen from a height while I'm standing up.
I think that the $25-30 range for an A5 TRP is fair. A5 is my preferred size, so I might be willing to go a little higher, but overall 25-30 is good.
Feedback FIRST: Tomoe River paper and custom A5 notebook. I now love A5 the best. Second, I love dot grid the most IF it is not staring at me like a 1,000 eyed Medusa. The dots should be barely visible. Third, I don't like Leuchterm (or w/e spelling). Fourth, I'd compare the Tomoe notebook more to an Apica Premium than to Leuchterm. And guess what? Apica premium does not have a dot grid. If they had, I'd have bought it long ago. Cost-wise, I'd pay $30 if this notebook fulfills the promise it sounds like.
Also, I also love cartridge converters the most. I particularly like them in demonstrators, and I also like to change colors a lot.
I also learned about the pain of color correction the hard way. I feel your pain. On the swabs, I am one of those artsy types who loves to "pull out" the colors of penwork with a waterbrush.
Wow, thorough feedback! Definitely things we'll take into consideration, thanks! - Colin
I know I'm late to the party, but I wanted to chime in on the TRP idea- bear in mind that Hobonichi Techo planners (TRP, six month calendar with a monthly, weekly, and daily calendars) run about $60 each, I would be more than happy to pay $40-60 for a 300 page TRP notebook in dot-grid.I don't know if everyone understands how expensive that kind of thing would be, and Hobonichi would be a large part of your competition- especially if it's "perfect" binding (where edges are squared off and glued at the binding).
That notebook looks awesome. I would be willing to pay between $25-$30. I also share your opinion when it comes to broader nibs. I started using fountain pens and just buying mediums. When I got my first fine, I didn't like it much. I got a broad, which is really a stub, with my 78G and it first I thought something was wrong with it, but my handwriting looks so much better with it, and for someone with terrible handwriting, who loves pens, ink and paper, I'll take any improvement I can get.
An A5 notebook with TRP? I would think up to $27 would be doable. The Hippo Noto is going for $33 for 500 pages, but that almost seems too big (fat?) for me.
This is a very helpful review -- I will be getting some Tomoe River notebooks soon - right now I have the loose pages and it's so awesome that of course I have to have a notebook! They look great!
For a plain 300 page A5 notebook with 68 gsm TRP I would pay around the $30 to $35 range. If there were embellishments, like a hard cover, a pocket, or closing band I could see paying into the $40+ range. I am very interested in a notebook that large with that many TRP sheets.
I'm very much of the 'if you bought it, use it' mode of thinking, which is why I've only used bought two pens so far, and the second one only because I wanted to use Zero G nib with it for drawing. (Turns out, can't get Zero G nibs in Canada, and shipping costs from the USA these days are redunkulous.) I love writing with a fine nib, but I'd love to get more of a flexible nib for drawing.
I have used FP for many years and my difference with the community is around gold nibs. Yeah, they are pretty, there is a prestige factor and some gold nibs have a little bounce but the writing experience with many good SS nibs in my opinion is just as good. Maybe it is because I am not into flex and my handwriting is more functional than artistic but I've just never really gone ga-ga over gold nibs.
I looked at the Kickstarter for Hippo Noto and it got ~$75,000 pledged. At ~$30/notebook, that's roughly 2,500 notebooks in preorder! That is a substantial number of notebooks with just one person launching a Kickstarter campaign. Goulet could easily sell 5,000 with the much larger fan base (I'm guessing).
Catholic here, too! Theologian actually. Love your channel, and I am now hooked on fountain pens.
YES, YES, YES Bring us the A5 with Tomeo River Paper in a true dot grid like the Leuchtturm 1917. Seven Seas offers similar at $24.00. With a nicer cover and page markers like a Leuchttrum I would pay $30.00.
I agree with you on converter pens. Easy to clean and swap inks. The cleaning bulb trick is the best!!!
QOTW: To me, the Pilot Metropolitan is neither attractive nor comfortable to hold. I absolutely agree that it's a fantastic starter pen, a great value, and functions beautifully. I just don't love mine and choose it last every time.
Love the idea of a TRP notebook! I was one of the first 100 backers of Hippo Noto and have been following the progress as it has been blowing up. Obviously there is a big desire for this product. What I don't know is if Hippo Noto will continue to be available long term: if I want to give a notebook as a gift, a year or two from now, for example. I would actually like to see an A6 dot grid notebook that matches up in dimensions to the Hobonichi Techo.
For a notebook, in a size a5 - lined or dotted, with a durable cover, I would pay up to 25$ I normally buy Moleskine, and they cost around that mark, when you buy them in Europe. I would love to buy these from your site, no matter the coloring.
Not to toot my own horn, but I have exceptionally nice handwriting and I agree with you, Brian, the finer the nib the worse it looks. I prefer a juicy medium nib, western nib to be specific, but then I don't have teeny tiny script.
If you have larger handwriting, the fine nib just doesn't go as well. I think the opposite it true, smaller writing with a broad nib can be a disaster in legibility. - Colin
QOTW:
Nibs: I'm with you on broad versus fine nibs. I don't understand why anyone wants super ultra mega fine nibs that let you copy the Bible on a grain of rice unless you are an artist who draws on grains of rice.
Notebooks: I prefer my notebooks blank. If you make me get printed pages, I prefer ruled. Dots and grids are right out.
Pens: I like ballpoint pens, and use them at work, but mostly those from Tactile Turn and Karas Pen Co.
As far as nib sizes go, it depends on my mood. I just got a GP broad nib to put in one of my x750's I'm going to use it with the shimmer inks I have. For just normal everyday writing I usually use a fine or a medium.
Yeah, a broader nib is definitely the way to go if you want to show off a particular ink. - Colin
Funny, I was thinking of shooting you guys an email asking if you would consider a partnership with Nanami Paper for their Tomoe River notebooks. Personally, I'm not so interested in dot grid, but if you offered it in 7mm lines instead, I'd be willing to pay at least $24 (same as the Seven Seas Writer) if it would lay flat and have a similar number of pages.
One compromise if A5 notebooks aren't an option is B5 instead - personally, I'm really interested in that notebook size anyway, so I might still be looking at Nanami Paper if you decide not to offer them. For B5, the absolute maximum I would be willing to pay is $20, assuming your covers look similar to that prototype you showed us.
Re: Broad vs Fine Nibs
Personally, I like fine nibs a lot because they make my handwriting seem a little daintier, but I feel you on the shaky quality that it can grant you. It doesn't show up very much when I write very small (like on my dot grid Rhodia notebook), but if I write bigger I do tend to get that shaky quality. It's for that reason that I think my next purchase will be either a Fine Conklin Duragraph or a Medium Pilot Prera (speaking of which, is there any chance we might see some of the opaque colors make their way to Goulet Pens? I love that ivory model) and perhaps a cursive italic grind from a nibmeister.
QOTW: Honestly, I don't think I really have any opinions that go against the grain. Perhaps the most "controversial" opinion I have is that I just find that I'm not a big fan of the way the Pilot Metropolitan feels in my hand or the fact that's just painted metal. The nib and feed are _wonderful_, don't get me wrong, but the grip is far too narrow for my taste, the step is far too extreme, and I'm not a fan of the fact that the paint can just chip off if you ever accidentally drop it.
Hi Brian! For TMR and that many pages, I'd be willing to pay $30-35, maybe up to $40. I love my pens and paper, so it's not a big deal for me. I'd rather have one or two great notebooks instead of many lesser quality ones. Dot grid, of course. :D
I also love how open you are about your faith. We are recently converted Catholics trying to figure out all of the Holy Week things and get a bit overwhelmed still sometimes. I know we'll figure it out. :)
I'd pay $25-30 for that notebook in A5. A little more if you ever decided to do a B5 size which is my favorite, but realize that size isn't as popular.
ive legit passed on buying a lamy pen 3 times now while buying pens in the lamy price ranges even though ive looked at them each time. it always came down to the same reasons for passing: the added cost and inconvenience of buying a lamy converter seperstely and the fact that the cartridges and converter are propietary those are ultimately minor quibbles but the lamy wasn't offering something more compelling than the pens that i did buy that either did have a universal converter included or didn't need a converter. ( which were 2 TWSBI's and a monteverde btw). so lamy is screwing up pretty badly by ignoring the demand for converters. now the next pen i buy will probably be an eye dropper demonstrator and after that maybe a super gucci pen eventually. so a lamy pen isnt even in the list of options i would look at anymore. they couldve sold me at least 2 pens realistically if they mended their ways. it just kind of baffles me what is on offer that is enticing about a lamy a kaweco i can understand but why a lamy if they have a penalty to buy and they dont seem outstanding in some way.
I'd buy the A5 Tomoe River dot grid notebook for somewhere around $25, but if it had a semi-hard or hard cover (which would be ultimate) $30, I don't know if that's anywhere near reasonable but there you go. 😁
For what it's worth and as late as this is in time, I'd pay around 30-40 for a notebook. In fact just ordered one for $65.00 because it has the right paper.
I think $30 is reasonable for a 300 page a5 with TRP. I would personally be more interested in the a6 size you showed here, though.
Very interested about the A5 size notebook in dot grid you were talking about the 24 minute mark. If this will be available with a lay-flat cover, then I think you will have a winner here.
Oh, I would definitely hope it'd be a lay-flat cover. That's a must for me when it comes to notebook purchases. - Colin
I would LOVE an A5 size in grid paper, would buy dot, if that's all you sell. I think $30 would be reasonable. Reduce the sheet count if that allows you to hit the price point. Would rather have to buy more notebooks and have it affordable.
And now medium nib Preppies are getting to be limited. Or is that because I love the color green?
There is something unique: much love fountain pens in green, the louder the better.
I’d buy anything with more tomoe river paper cause it’s just so awesome. Especially with high sheet counts. My use case would depend on price. But I’d definitely be willing to pay more for TRP even at the same sheet count. It’s just that good. I only wish they made thicker ones so there was less ghosting, but I love the sheen you get with it even in just normal writing.
I really love a European medium nib and would love to try a broad, but recently I've been getting finer on my nib options purely because of society. The metropolitans medium seemed like a good every day me duel, and then I couldn't find another #6 mind in to match it. My Noodlers Konrad with a fine Nemosine nib is perfect as a everyday carry for me. It's not too fine, and the noodlers feed keeps it from being too dry, but it's still fine enough to fit on tiny lines and cheap paper. If receipts, contracts and other every day items were made of good paper with large blanks I'm sure I'd be carrying around something broader (very tempted to buy some nice paper and one of Nemosine's unique broad sizes sometime).
Actually, I love to use TRP 52 much much much much more than 68. I really hope Goulet would have TRP 52 paper notebook, and not just A5 size, but also A6 size. The prize..hmmm, I would say, similar to Hobonichi's is acceptable and reasonable. That would be: A5 $35 and A6 $20(both are TRP 52). The max prize I can accept is: A5 $38 and A6 $25(TRP 52). But if talking about TRP 68, hmmm, totally different feeling, and less interesting. Comparing STALOGY 365 notebook, I would say A6 $20, A5 $25.
Good to know you lean more towards the 52g! We've looked at A6 size as well, but thought the demand might not be there, but we may be wrong! - Colin
I would love to see A6!!
I'd pay $25-$35 easily for an A5 TRP notebook, definitely. If it got up to the $40 range, then I'd probably end up sticking with my Hobonichi, which does have a few bells and whistles with the design of the actual pages.
$25-30 for a TRP notebook in A5, dot grid. Even as high as $35-37 if it had a hard cover, bookmark, and elastic band.
$30 all day on the notebook. The exclusiveness and customer service alone makes this a item we all would love to be able to get. Such a great job you guys do over there. I wonder if there could be a way you guys could have us get a discounted price and buy into it getting started up and then you be able to see how many actually are wanting this. We all would know that it would be a take awhile but would be well worth the investment.
That's an interesting idea. I know the inconsistent stock from manufacturers is always a red flag when it comes to pre-orders so this would be similar. - Colin
Ink swabs vs. writing samples. People also need to recognize that even with writing samples the size of nib (F, M, B, etc) will also make a difference in presentation.
Yeah, like Brian says in the video, getting a sample of the ink is the best way to really make a judgment. It'll look different depending on the pen/nib/paper used. - Colin
QOTW: try not to hate me but I don't get the hype for the pilot metro or the lamy safari... My first pen was a medium Jinhao I bought for 3$ and it was awesome. My problem with the Metro was the skinny section. It just wasn't comfortable to hold... and the lamy safari was such an investment compared to all the other entry-level pens I didn't get it until I had money left over from graduation. I thought the cap was way too big looking (the Jinhao nock-off looked better styled to me) and 36$ for something with a pure utility design was a bit steep. After receiving it I loved how it wrote but still the section and design weren't for me. Jinhao and Nemosine seem like better options to those pens... or even a Twisbi Eco which is cheaper than the lamy safari. I'm not going to say the Safari or Metro are bad, but I don't get their popularity when their sections aren't for everyone, and the Safari doesn't exactly scream "fountain pen."
Loads of respect with the "Pens are made to be used" position. It's like buying a $10k Rolex and never wearing it. It's meant to be worn / used.
36:55. I also use rollerball pens. I found Retro 51 and fell hard. These are easy called collectible pens for sure with all of the body finishes and designs one can chose from.
I believe I have 5 pens now from that company. The only thing I have run into that is bugging me is that if I am writing anything, as in my journal, a list of things to do, etc., the rollerball ink goes from an initial juicy, thick solid line of black, to a thin weak line. It feels like it is running out of ink, even though it isn’t. I don’t know if you are familiar with Retro 51 pens or not. But if you know, what I will call name brand rollerballs that’s are more than a couple of bucks, then I’ll assume you’ve probably experienced this happening. But maybe you haven’t. Either way do you know why I would be having this issue? Have you had this issue? I haven’t looked into what kind of other brand rollerball refills might fit into these Retro 51 tornadoes but it seems it’s hard to find this kind of information anywhere when I looked into it. They sell their Retro 51 refill cartridges in blue and in black. That’s another good reason to ask if other brand refills work with these is for want of more colors to chose from. I was wondering if you know anything about these and if this may just be a lemon of a refill I’m dealing with, a brand issue, etc. And also what other refill cartridges may fit into these Retro 51’s? Any info you may be able to share will be most appreciated. Cheers
Brian, I currently spend $ 26.00 for a Nanami paper TR notebook, A-5 size. sounds like a similar notebook. I like a dark blue cover. It is very important that the cover is sturdy. 300 pages of TR lasts a long time, so that cover must be toughish. Hope this helps. I look forward to giving you more of my money.😜🤑
I want that TRP journal!!! Oh pls oh pls.
I paid $20 for my hobonichi techno, so I would be willing to do the same for this journal. The hobonichi has 464 pgs. I like the size of the prototype instead of A5 though.
Thanks a lot for answering my question!!! I'm so glad you are considering the A5 Goulet Journal/Notebook with TRP. As feedback, taking into account your awesome product quality and costumer service, I would definitely buy the notebook from GPC for $30 - $35. Hope that any final decision you make is the best for you and your business.
I have the new A6 Enigma ( 288pgs) from Taroko Shop( the one you featured). I LOVE it!!! 68 gsm Tomoe River is amazing! It accepts marker, fountain pen, etc. I paid $20 + shipping ($9) from Taiwan for mine. Supporting an American company I would pay $20-$25 for the A6. I would be happy if you included A6 in your Goulet thinner TR notebooks that you make.
Would *love* a TRP notebook like the one you've shown!!! The $20-30 range would make it an appropriate price for the expected quality/size
Interested in the A5 TR notebook. I like TR 68gsm.
Your prototype looks like my Techo Planner, I love it, I've been buying mine from Jetpens, so the A5 with a similar page count I'd pay $30-35. I can live without a ribbon or a pouch. I prefer white to cream and dot grid is fine. Emboss the GP logo on the front, basic black Take my money!
Not sure if adding the logo would be an option, but that'd look sharp! - Colin
QOTW: Oooooo... I have a few. Here goes.
1) I hate the amount of leather that is prevalent in the fountain pen community- I don't use it and finding a good pen case, that I like and carries the amount I want it to, almost impossible.
2) I use a pencil case to carry my pens. Just a cheapie. I know so many people would balk at that. Lol.
3) I also prefer cartridge/converter pens. I'll happily use other pens, but I have no desire to take my TWSBI apart and dread the day that I'll have to.
4) I hate Rhodia paper. Hate it. Something about the way it is with a few of my pens, I never ever use it anymore.
Wow, hating Rhodia! That's against the grain for sure. I love using my Rhodia dotpads. To each their own, What's your preferred paper? - Colin
I actually prefer TRP and Leuchtturm paper. I like a little feedback, but it has to be a fairly specific feedback. When I use Rhodia with some of my pens, it makes them feel dry, which I hate the feeling of, makes me cringe. I've only used the 52g TRP, I'm itching to give the 68g a try.
I'd pay as much as 25 to 30 dollars for that notebook in A5. A4 would be even better for school notes or something like that, but A5 TR paper with a dot grid would be amazing
$24- that's in consideration of me not living in the States so having to account for higher shipping costs when I'm considering purchases.
I pretty much exclusively write with fountain pens, but I keep a couple of Jetstream pens and Uniball Vision Elites at the bottom of my purse for emergencies. As for nibs, I like medium to broad nibs, but I can't stand stubs. I've tried to like them, but they make me have to slow down too much, and I don't have time for that. My favourite nibs right now are the TWSBI Vac Mini broad, the Lamy 14K medium (writes like a broad) and the Edison Nouveau medium.
I'm thinking about getting the broad nib unit for my TWSBI Mini, currently have it with an fine nib but want to show more of the ink! - Colin