This is a nice comparison. And it's a pleasant surprise to see a Coarse nib; I have one, and the point size is no joke! Re: O-rings, all three reviewed pens do have an o-ring at the top of the threads; you can feel it at the very last moment when threading the barrel back onto the section, and you can see it @16:08
Thanks! There really is a huge variety of nib options. I double checked just now and there isn’t an o-ring (at least not on the 3 that I have). I believe what you’re seeing at that time stamp is just the plastic of the section underneath the gold band. It’s really just a nit pick, and one could argue that little bit of plastic also helps hold the threads down.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens Hey; I have a Custom 74 from '92 and some others from post-2000. My Custom 743 is a '95. My most recent ones are Custom 823 from ~'22, and Custom Heritage 91 from '21. Oh, also a Custom 67 from the mid-late 80s too; all these pens have that o-ring! And I must say, the way it engages when you're almost done threading the cap back on is a very satisfying way to be "done".
@@markritchie7059 sounds like an amazing collection! I’m hoping someday to get my hands on an 823. I did get these on the used market, so maybe the original owner removed it? My barrels don’t easily get unscrewed (hence the nitpick) but now I’m tempted to search for a spare part. Thanks for sharing!
@@ForTheLoveOfPens I am waiting for my Pilot Custom 743 with a Soft fine-medium to arrive to see if I will be able to use it a workhorse. I went for it because I have big hands, hoping this will worth the extra money. I hope selecting the “soft” version of the nib won’t cancel the function I am expecting. Reviews like yours definitely help getting an idea of some things. However, I understand that the same pen can be totally different to different individuals. Still, though, reviews like yours do help! Cheers
@@7_v610 I’m glad you found it useful! Pilot soft nibs provide a little more bounce than their standard ones. But I wouldn’t expect it to cause you trouble unless you write with a very heavy hand. Also grind size is up to each individual in terms of how large they like to write. But for what it’s worth, their SFM has become my favorite offering from Pilot. I swapped one into my Custom 823 and haven’t looked back.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens delighted to hear that, Sir. I have been training myself with my Pilot Custom 912 with an FA nib, lately, but still not managing to make this a workhorse for me. Especially for note-keeping, I don’t see this really happening, … ever! So, I am hoping that 743 will make the difference. 😀 When it arrives, I might give you some feedback from a “heavy writer”! Hopefully, I won’t forget! Have a nice day, Sir! And thanks again!
@@7_v610 looking forward to hear your thoughts! I agree with you on the FA nib. They are fun to write with but take a lot of patience. A great option for nice looking letters but not for note taking.
I think there is a 743 with a different color in the US? I think the 743 is the same size as the 823? I may be in the minority but I like the 743 better than the 823 because of the cleaning. It takes a long time to clean the barrel on the 823. If they made it with a removable section it would be great.
The 743 is available in a few dark opaque colors like the 742 as well as the recently released Verdigris in the USA. Also I don’t personally have an 823, but from what I’ve seen the overall pen length is very similar.
Interesting proposal. I think it mostly depends on your hand size. If you have large or extra large hands the 743 will feel slightly more comfortable. Otherwise I’d go for the 742.
Thank you very much sharing! I'm a little curious, if I plan to buy one for daily writing, which one would be more suitable? Is FA nib only suitable for practicing calligraphy? How is it used in daily writing?
@@lesijider2384 FA is really designed for slow paced writing. If you write with a light hand you could go faster, but in general it’s not a nib I would recommend for things like note taking.
I don’t care at all for the 74, I think maybe I was sent a “lemon” - mine is a fine and it’s so sharp and scratchy. I have a medium 742, very nice - but my favorite is the 743, which I have with an FA nib. Love the big size #15 nib.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens I have other Pilot gold fine nibs, they are much smoother than the 74 I have. The 74 feels like it has zero tipping. Practically scratches the paper. I’m going to get it made into a stub, I think.
@@geslinam9703 sounds like it may be a defective unit (either the tines out of alignment or poor polishing). I recommend trying to tune it under a loupe before completely changing the grind.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens probably poor polishing. I tried mesh/mylar…or whatever that stuff is called, didn’t help. If I can send it to someone who can make it a smoother fine, or fine medium, that would be great. Anything would be better than what it is.
@@geslinam9703 I’m sorry to hear that. I did make a nib tuning video, which may help. But since it is a fairly expensive pen, it may make more sense to send it to a pro. ua-cam.com/video/quXXWnoywvM/v-deo.html
@@arielcandoleta5347 I prefer to disassemble converters for cleaning, but haven’t been able to take apart any of my con-70s (even though there are videos of people doing it). The best way I’ve found is to put it upright under running water and pump the piston. Also you could inject water with a blunt needle syringe.
One of my favorite UA-cam fountain pen reviewers! Thank you for your video.
Thanks so much!❤️
Thanks for this much needed comparison video..
Thanks, glad it was helpful!
This is a nice comparison. And it's a pleasant surprise to see a Coarse nib; I have one, and the point size is no joke!
Re: O-rings, all three reviewed pens do have an o-ring at the top of the threads; you can feel it at the very last moment when threading the barrel back onto the section, and you can see it @16:08
Thanks! There really is a huge variety of nib options. I double checked just now and there isn’t an o-ring (at least not on the 3 that I have). I believe what you’re seeing at that time stamp is just the plastic of the section underneath the gold band. It’s really just a nit pick, and one could argue that little bit of plastic also helps hold the threads down.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens Hi; all of my Pilot Custom fountain pens have that very thin gauge o-ring in place.
@@markritchie7059 interesting, maybe it’s changed over the years? My 74 is from 1998, and the 742/743 were made in the 2020s. When was yours made?
@@ForTheLoveOfPens Hey; I have a Custom 74 from '92 and some others from post-2000. My Custom 743 is a '95. My most recent ones are Custom 823 from ~'22, and Custom Heritage 91 from '21. Oh, also a Custom 67 from the mid-late 80s too; all these pens have that o-ring! And I must say, the way it engages when you're almost done threading the cap back on is a very satisfying way to be "done".
@@markritchie7059 sounds like an amazing collection! I’m hoping someday to get my hands on an 823. I did get these on the used market, so maybe the original owner removed it? My barrels don’t easily get unscrewed (hence the nitpick) but now I’m tempted to search for a spare part. Thanks for sharing!
Great review, Sir. Thank you!
Thank you!
@@ForTheLoveOfPens I am waiting for my Pilot Custom 743 with a Soft fine-medium to arrive to see if I will be able to use it a workhorse. I went for it because I have big hands, hoping this will worth the extra money. I hope selecting the “soft” version of the nib won’t cancel the function I am expecting. Reviews like yours definitely help getting an idea of some things. However, I understand that the same pen can be totally different to different individuals. Still, though, reviews like yours do help! Cheers
@@7_v610 I’m glad you found it useful! Pilot soft nibs provide a little more bounce than their standard ones. But I wouldn’t expect it to cause you trouble unless you write with a very heavy hand. Also grind size is up to each individual in terms of how large they like to write. But for what it’s worth, their SFM has become my favorite offering from Pilot. I swapped one into my Custom 823 and haven’t looked back.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens delighted to hear that, Sir. I have been training myself with my Pilot Custom 912 with an FA nib, lately, but still not managing to make this a workhorse for me. Especially for note-keeping, I don’t see this really happening, … ever! So, I am hoping that 743 will make the difference. 😀 When it arrives, I might give you some feedback from a “heavy writer”! Hopefully, I won’t forget! Have a nice day, Sir! And thanks again!
@@7_v610 looking forward to hear your thoughts! I agree with you on the FA nib. They are fun to write with but take a lot of patience. A great option for nice looking letters but not for note taking.
Nice review and comparison.
Thank you!
I think there is a 743 with a different color in the US?
I think the 743 is the same size as the 823?
I may be in the minority but I like the 743 better than the 823 because of the cleaning. It takes a long time to clean the barrel on the 823. If they made it with a removable section it would be great.
The 743 is available in a few dark opaque colors like the 742 as well as the recently released Verdigris in the USA. Also I don’t personally have an 823, but from what I’ve seen the overall pen length is very similar.
@@ForTheLoveOfPensThe 743 is an 823 but with a cartridge-converter instead of the vac filling mechanism.
I can either buy 3 custom 743 pens or 5 custom 742 pens for the same price.
Which option would you go for?
Interesting proposal. I think it mostly depends on your hand size. If you have large or extra large hands the 743 will feel slightly more comfortable. Otherwise I’d go for the 742.
I'd suggest you to buy 2 743s, FA & SM/ SF; 2 742s, FA & C, 1 74, SM/ SF. It'd complete everything.
@@Abid_Zamangenius
Excellent review.
@@richardkoeni6169 thank you!
I have to start saving money for a 743.
lol, at least it’s cheaper than the 823
Thank you very much sharing! I'm a little curious, if I plan to buy one for daily writing, which one would be more suitable? Is FA nib only suitable for practicing calligraphy? How is it used in daily writing?
@@lesijider2384 FA is really designed for slow paced writing. If you write with a light hand you could go faster, but in general it’s not a nib I would recommend for things like note taking.
Pilot Custom 742 with an FA nib will give your handwriting some very nice flair.
The FA is a fun nib!
I just accidentally was sent a 743 with a FA nib - it wasn’t what I ordered. LOVE it!!
I don’t care at all for the 74, I think maybe I was sent a “lemon” - mine is a fine and it’s so sharp and scratchy. I have a medium 742, very nice - but my favorite is the 743, which I have with an FA nib. Love the big size #15 nib.
Thinner nibs will naturally have more feedback. Glad you found ones you love in the other models!
@@ForTheLoveOfPens I have other Pilot gold fine nibs, they are much smoother than the 74 I have. The 74 feels like it has zero tipping. Practically scratches the paper. I’m going to get it made into a stub, I think.
@@geslinam9703 sounds like it may be a defective unit (either the tines out of alignment or poor polishing). I recommend trying to tune it under a loupe before completely changing the grind.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens probably poor polishing. I tried mesh/mylar…or whatever that stuff is called, didn’t help. If I can send it to someone who can make it a smoother fine, or fine medium, that would be great. Anything would be better than what it is.
@@geslinam9703 I’m sorry to hear that. I did make a nib tuning video, which may help. But since it is a fairly expensive pen, it may make more sense to send it to a pro.
ua-cam.com/video/quXXWnoywvM/v-deo.html
I think that the 743 and the 823 share the same nib size but I could be wrong.
You are right, they’re both #15 nibs
@@ForTheLoveOfPens if I can find the 743, I'll go for it for the sake of easy clean up.
@@arielcandoleta5347 It is less disassembly, but the con-70 isn’t all that easy to clean. I do show how to disassemble the 823 in that video.
@@ForTheLoveOfPens I'm rewatching it just so I could learn how to clean a con 70.
@@arielcandoleta5347 I prefer to disassemble converters for cleaning, but haven’t been able to take apart any of my con-70s (even though there are videos of people doing it). The best way I’ve found is to put it upright under running water and pump the piston. Also you could inject water with a blunt needle syringe.
❤❤❤❤
Custom 74 has the smallest but best nib of the three in my opinion.
@@stricht8 As I try more, I really enjoy the #10 nibs
Nice but expensive
The Custom 74 is pretty affordable but the price does go up fast
thank you but I had to stop at 11.49. It's a fake comparison and it's useless. A comparisn between different pens requires you use the same size.
I hear you, unfortunately I couldn’t find a 742 in a SM for a reasonable price. Maybe someday.
Pipe down