Great response. The entire idea of the hobby, at least for me, is just the enjoyability. None of us have to write with fountain pens, we just enjoy doing so. If you find you like gold nibs, get yourself a gold nib, if not, just stick with steel nibs. People that get pretentious with any hobby are the worst. No one should be telling you what you should be enjoying. Suggestions are one thing, but straight saying "this is the way you should be enjoying this" is just straight up arrogance.
Spot-on answer re: steel vs gold nibs. My Pilot E95s provides an excellent and affordable gold-nib writing experience, but my TWSBI steel nib performs equally smoothly.
I agree with Brian. I currently own two gold nib pens. One is my favorite pen and the other is my least favorite. I also own several steel nib pens which are a joy to write with. While I will likely buy more pens with gold nibs, it is certainly not necessary, nor does it even guarantee a good writing experience.
I think Brian is right on. Usually Gold nibs (just because the manufacturer wants to charge you for "gold") are better QC'd. That said, give me a Diplomat Pen (any of them) with a steel nib any day. They are second to none as far as I'm concerned with their steel nibs. I have 3 Diplomats (2 Aero and a Excellence A+) and they are all fantastic (steel nibs). I think in my collection the only other steel nib that comes close to Diplomats is the Faber Castell e-motion. That steel nib is literally like writing with butter. In terms of just being right -- as a writing instrument (ie: consider the whole pen, not just the nib) -- to me the M800/805 takes the cake. It's just "Right". But to answer your question, don't concentrate on Gold vs. Steel, go to a store/show/meetup and actually USE the pen for a bit. FP's are a lot like Headphones.......There is no one "right" sound......you need to make up your own mind about what's enjoyable to you.
As an audio enthusiast and a pen enthusiast. Yeah! There are so many different sounding headphones (Harman, bassboosted, V-shaped, dark, mid-foward…) that it can get confusing… Just like nibs (Smooth, feedback, springy, flex…), feeds (wet, dry…) and bodies (heavy, balanced, ergonomic…) And honnestly… There are no objectively bad ones As an example, I like bright headphones. With a little treble spike that adds « sparkle » if I can explain it that way. I have a friend that prefers neutral, nothing is boosted, everything is equal. Same with fountain pens, the same friend loves Diplomat pens, because they’re heavy, stiff and smooth. I…Haven’t found my cup of tea lol! I also have a Diplomat that I love, but I also like my small Sailor Compass that has some good feedback to it. I’m also interested in gold nibs even though my friend wants nothing to do with them. It’s all about preferences Now that I think about it, I’m kind of like Brian Goulet, touching and everything and anything
Okay so here is a challenge. Do a blindfold test. Each of you pick 3-5 steel and gold nibs for the other to test, and see if blindfolded you can tell the difference between the gold and steel nib. I think that would be great fun. One rule to keep in mind is to make sure the pen is not distinguishable by feel, ie the Hook Lock threads would be a dead give away. Leonardo Grande, Pelikan M200&400 are 2 pens that I can think of that can go both ways. I hope someone at Goulet reads this, and you guys will try it out.
I’m struggling with this too - not sure I need a gold nib pen, honestly! I love trying new pens and switching between different ones to the point where I get excited for my ink to run out so I can ink up a new one, and for my budget, that means sticking with steel nibs. Maybe someday though!
I’m not sure that I need anything beyond my starter pens. I really enjoy writing with them and don’t really see why I need to purchase more expensive pens. I like to call them “affordable” rather than “starters,” as I think that I will continue writing with then for a long time. People tell me that they like my handwriting, and I can say that the look of the writing that comes out of my affordable pens does appeal to me. I would say that over the years I have spent about $500 on my collection of about fifteen to twenty pens. I was thinking yesterday that if I wanted to sell them, I probably would have to sell them at a fraction of what I paid for them. If I had purchased a single pen for the same $500, and I had to sell that pen, I might be able to sell it at a profit over my investment. But would not have nearly as much fun writing with my single $500 pen than I do with my fifteen or so affordable ones. I’ve also learned about how pens work, how to adjust them, tune them, disassemble them, clean them, grease them, and so many other things. That’s what I think is so great about this hobby - that people can pursue it in any way that they can afford and that they find satisfying. A person who enjoys using their Lamy Safaris can be as serious a pen aficionado as a person who collects Pilot Namikis.
I have been using and collecting fountain pens for just over 40 years and have consistently found that current steel nibs (TWSBI, Sailor, New Esterbrook, Kaweco, Lamy) are much more likely to write perfectly “out of the box” than gold nibs (even on very expensive pens such as Pelikan 600, 800, 1000). Current gold nibs, in my experience, will require some sort of tuning or smoothing about 90% of the time. Current gold nibs labelled EF are more likely to be medium to broad, in practice, than steel nibs which are usually true to their labelled nib width.
I’d disagree when it comes to Aurora and Sailor gold nibs. I have 20 gold nib Aurora pens (the other eight are steel), and 14 gold nib Sailor pens (four are steel). Only one pen among these (an Aurora Ipsilon) came with 14c broad nib that was a little ‘off’ and required adjusting and tuning to my satisfaction. edit: I don’t own a single Pelikan. The inconsistencies of both their steel and gold nibs is one reason why. Montblanc is another that is somewhat dodgy with their gold nibs on their premium priced pens.
Thank you so much for bringing up this topic! I was wondering the difference between golden and steel nibs, and didn't find a satisfying answer until now.
Generally, Lamy gold nibs perform much better than their steel counterparts, likely because their steel nibs are mass produced with minimal quality inspection and their gold nibs given some TLC before shipment.
I was skeptical towards gold nibs. But decided to pull the trigger after trying a Custom Heritage 92 Borad (so more akin to EU mediums). Suddenly I got to understand *why* the gold nibs. An expensive revelation coming from the Lamys. What still bothers me is that the old school Looms (not the new ones) offer an almost similar experience. That being said, I 've gold nibbed some of my Lamys and still get the scratchy feedback which makes the whole experience so much sub-par. It's a shame really because the proposition of getting a decent Lamy (e.g. an LX) and then adding up the cost of a gold nib is perilously close to getting a Pilot and the infinitely more smooth glissanto experience it offers.
I've enjoyed this conversation! I own two gold nib pens. The rest of my collection are steel. Like Brian suggested, my first gold nib was a vintage Parker which I took to a nib master to convert into a calligraphy nib. Great pen, affordable, and I enjoy the feel of the nib. My second was a gift, a Platinum 3776. It is one of my main pens and is a smooth writer. Yet, I write with my steel nib pens and find them comfortable. There has been a definate upgrade in quality to steel nibs over the past ten years that I have noticed. I no longer seek out a gold nib for how they write, even though I love my two goldies.
My fountain pen journey has been in the reverse. My first pen at age 12 was a gold nibbed Sheaffer Triumph hand-me-down from my Mom. All subsequent fountain pens that I purchased were those with karat nibs, and one or two in palladium. Call me a Pen Snob, but it would’ve never occurred to me to purchase anything with a steel-nib. Having once experienced the horror of Sheaffer’s $6 carded steel-nib fountain pens offered in office supply stores in the 1980’s- they just weren’t “real” pens in my mind. Then a few years ago I became aware of TWSBI’s. Having found their quirky design aesthetically pleasing, I now own 3 Diamond 580’s, plus a handful of Lamy Safari/AL stars. While I still maintain steel nibs will never rival the writing pleasure of a gold nib, I do enjoy the freedom my “journey of regression” has brought when I carry a TWSBI or Lamy out for field sketching without the fear of inadvertently losing a precious, pricey pen amongst the moss & pine needles.
I was very spoiled when I started out because my father gave me a new Mont Blanc with a gold nib. Later he gave me a Lamy Safari which I really liked. I went on to buy myself a few more pens and with one or two exceptions, they were gold nibs. Back then, they were more affordable and readily available. When I got back into the hobby a few years ago, I bought pens primarily for looks and specialized nibs, many of which don't even come in gold. My gold nibs are wonderful but I have steel ones that are excellent too, to the point where I often can't tell the difference and if I do, it's very slight. Gold is insanely expensive now and probably never going back down to where it was when I started.
I started out with steel nibs of course and have two Gold nibs now ,the Saylor 911 And before that I had the pilot 823. So far although I do love the Saylor my best pens or not gold nibs. So I really appreciate both of your opinions.
Thanks guys.......As a Newbie into the hobby....I have yet to use a Gold nib....but I have gotten to the point where I am starting to tell the difference between the steel nibs.. I was starting to feel like I should buy a Gold nib pen......Thank you for your Honest answer. This is why I Like you guys so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go for the gold! My 146 with its 14k EF nib is amazing! It's difficult to describe the feel; kind of like describing the difference of how different tires affect the handling of your car... You won't know until you try.
my 1st pen was a sliver nib then couple months later saw another pen with gold\sliver that i like and got that too. just get it then get used to the different nibs.
I have and like my Pilot Vanishing Point with a gold nib a lot, but it's more for the rest of the pen and the click than the nib. To me, the nib material and brand has been really secondary to me, as long as the nib is a quality maker. I know every writer is different, but for me and my preferences, the nib material and stiffness is less important than the whole of the pen, size, capping type, etc.
I bought 2 pens from the 1920s with gold nibs. I can only use them as dip pens, (without shelling out a lot of $$ for innards repair) but they are amazing writers. I love stub nibs so usually stick with steel, but the Pilot Vanishing Point stub is lovely to write with. Very good reply to the gold/steel question.
Happy to add my 2c as someone newish to the community (only 2.5yrs solidly using FPs), depends on paper as well. I have three gold nibs, the 823, Lamy and e95s. The 823 I love, only with pilot well lubricated inks on Midori paper. Midori paper is a brat when it comes to any hand oils, and since I work from home, on a rural property, in Australia and it's summer, and always humid where I am, my paper does get oil at the bottom. Not enough to see on the page but the 823 starts to struggle a little and get a little scratchy on the horizontal strokes if it's not using a very lubricated ink. (Not misaligned, looked through the loop, tines maybe a hair too tight but that's pilot for you). Top of the page it glides, other paper it is beautiful, Midori at the bottom half 🤢 But I love, loooove, Midori paper. Lamy goes well, e95s goes well, but out of all my pens I keep reaching for the Benus, the Schmidt nibs are just superb and out perform on the problem patches of the page. They take any ink, they perform like a dream on any paper (with the caveat that even they will struggle with some of the very dry supershaders on Midori if they have been inked for a while and only used for ten minutes here and there per day. But some of those supershading inks are just dry as all hell. I'm sure with a nib tune I could get a better performance but then I'm tuning for the worst performing inks and then could be reducing performance for when they really work well. And who wants to run that risk with a gold nib when a Schmidt replacement is so affordable? And I find stiffer nibs work better on oil sensitive paper. On very humid days I may not have any gold nibs in my rotation bar the e95s.
Well said, gentlemen! I use both. Not because one type is better than the other, but I like a variety of writing experiences. Some can be stiff enough to drive into cured white oak without damaging them, of both types, and they have their use. I have flex. Again in both, and vintage, and though they're not as flexible as the gold nibbed pens, vintage steel flex is still generally more flexible than most modern ones. These have their use as well. And there is a range between both extremes. I think that the discrepancy between the price of steel and gold nibs is more of a constant than you gave credit. In the later 1800s, just before fountain pens really took off, a gold nib (they were called a "pen" and the holder was just that 😉) was around $12 USD, where you could get a gross of steel nibs for no more than $1 USD. Then, as today, there was the prestige factor.😁
I don’t see this as a ‘graduating’ thing at all. I have several steel nib pens at various price points (some at $200+). Many of them feel as great and satisfying to use as my gold nibs. The Aurora Duo Cart and the Montegrappa Montegrappa pens spring to mind as examples of that. Yes, a majority of my pens have gold nibs. And one among some of my first fountain pens was the Parker 51 Vacumatic with a 14c gold nib. That said, many gold nibs seem to me to have unique characteristics that are definitely worth experiencing (just for the often discernible difference in comparison to an average steel nib) for a pen hobbyist who intends to stay in the hobby. But if steel nib is all one buys, uses and loves, I don’t think it’s any big loss to miss out on gold. For once, I agree with most of what Brian said in one of his long-winded answers. 😋
I would mostly agree. If you are happy with your steel nibs then thats perfect! But I really recommend trying a really good gold nib at some point. Not just any old gold nib but a damned good one. Assuming you dont mind potentially running your opinion of your current pens. My first gold nib pen was a very affordable vintage Sheafer’s Flat Top. And OMG is it amazing. Stiff but unbelievably good. But no steel nib can be like that nor can one be like my “best” nib which is an older one on an M1000 that is bouncy and soft, gushingly wet and as smooth as writing on glass but with the ever so slightest amount of feedback. Just perfect.
@@aaron62688 …Interesring stuff! I can only easily second your take on vintage Sheaffer gold nibs. I’ve already commented elsewhere how I find many of the 14c gold nibs (Lifetime, Feathertouch etc..) on my Sheaffer Balance, Flat Top and others to be uniquely delightful writers. Stiff yes, but also quite incomparably smooth and pleasant in their own right. Although I own and adore both the steel and gold nibs by, say, Aurora and Sailor, I will confirm that, overall, their gold nibs are quite incontestably the superior thing.
I haven’t tried Sailor yet. I want to but Id want a KOP size nib and I cant see paying what they ask for an otherwise meh cartridge converter pen. Next on my list is a Visconti 23k Palladium nib. Second hand obviously at this point. Ans one validated to have been either somehow fine from the factory or otherwise corrected. Funny enough I sent my Sheafer’s back to the seller for a repair. (I broke the lever mechanism while overzealously cleaning it.) And he replied that after testing it he seriously regretted selling it to me. lol
@@aaron62688 ..I have three KoPs that are in a separate league of my favorite pens of all time. And it isn’t just the admittedly fantastic size (and appearance of the nib) but the absolutely awesome way it writes. I bought all three of mine directly from Japan, at reduced prices (by as much as 25-30% off the customarily crazy pricing in the U.S.). I don’t hold the c/c filling against the KoP. I don’t mind much at all. The pens are totally worth the price I paid for them. I love my Vac-filling Balances. And the seller you referred to is onto something there. I know I wouldn’t sell any of my vintage Sheaffer pens to anybody, at any price. 🙂
Ahhh…thank you for sharing your knowledge online for free like this. As a complete noob in this, I thought gold nibs was the “next step” in this hobby.
I am lucky enough to have been left some vintage pen,s so I went straight into using a gold nib .I have used steel nibs as well and to be honest I wright just as good with both nibs I love the way that a fountain pen helps you wright better I love fountain pens it's such a great feeling to have one 😀
Write with a Pilot Custom 823. No experience quite like it. Like Brian said gold nibs are a significant investment but they deliver if you take care of them :) although steel nib pens are not bad at all. Twsbi Diamond 580 or Eco T are hands down the best and most affordable pens for anyone looking to just dabble into fountain pens
Fun! If going gold is a "graduation" then I've been sent back to school! I've been collecting and using FPs for (egads) nearly 40 years now and for the longest time (foolishly perhaps) disdained steel nibs but for the last 7-9 years, I've come to really appreciate steel nibs -- Faber Castell, Jowo and Boch on my Franklin-Christophs, Edison, Schon DSGN, Karas Kustom and many other maker's pens.
I think it's a matter of utility: what are you trying to achieve and why. I'd rather pay a little more and have a nib customized if it fits the purpose. Material is secondary to the function. Of course if you want a gold nib because it's a piece of jewellery for you, then it works for the purpose. However, gold may not be the best material for every type of nib.
Fab, fair and honest response. Today I returned my Diplomat ELOX with 14ct EF nib. Worst writing experience “ever”. My Aero 14ct F is much better. Perhaps just flawed. Nothing beats my Waterman Edson (M), from MY point of view. But it’s something personal, isn’t it?
In my book the graduation would come as soon as you learn NOT to put so much pressure on a nib as to damage it. That could even be the first time a person uses a fountain pen. My husband will never be allowed to use any of my fountain pens because he uses so much pressure on a ball point that I even cringe when he uses them.😟
Best gold nib I've ever had was a cheap Platinum PTL-5000A. It had a beautiful spring in a medium nib. Unfortunately it was stolen from my bunk (ex navy) where I kept it with my diary, and while they were easy to find 8 years ago, I can't find that model anymore. My other 3 gold nibs are all sailors and honestly I like the aesthetic but they arent something I reach for ahead of my steel pens... unless a small Platinum gold nib presents itself I think my next gold pen will be a pilot because they have my favourite steel nibs.
I must agree with your assessment of the improvement in steel nibs. Your Conklin Endura Abalone (M steel nib) writes with wonderful line variation. I love my gold nibbed pens. But, my Pelikan Souverän m805 Stresemann (18K) doesn't write all that much better than my Hong Dian 885 Mt Qomolangma (14K). Both wonderful, of course -- but a massive price difference!
I have a question. I know in some aplications, like headphone jacks, some companies put an extremely light layer of gold on them, even for really low quality stuff. But of course its only a few micrometers. could nibs so the same?
My aha gold nib is one, and only, VP. Agree with Brian, as long as know what you enjoy with your pen, no need to explain your collection. Ignore those who are arrogant over choosing only gold, or "aspirational" brand, which will tend to have you shell out more $ just for servicing the gold nib. Time with your pen is worth more than $ any day if the week.
I have one steel nib I consider to be much more reliable and comfortable than some of my gold nibs, even well-known gold nibs. My favorite few nibs are gold... but these are expensive pens, and there is a complete package that adds to the nib.
I do prefer gold nibs but the quality of the steel nibs has improved dramatically. While steel may eventually corrode, regular maintenance will keep the nib working well for years. The Pelikan M200 has a steel nib and compares very much to their gold nibs. My Parker 25 with a steel nib has not corroded and it is almost 40 year old. Gold nibs are softer, usually, and for that it is a different experience (Sailor nibs aside). Smoothness is not as much of an issue, anymore.
Hah I was JUST revving up my comment when Drew said "somebody's going to say they prefer steel..." Yeah Hi. It me. Or at least I have PEN MOODS. Sometimes I want the gold. But honestly the nib in my collection that I just cannot believe the exquisite writing experience is on a freaking Sailor Procolor. It's not even an expensive steel nib. But it's just REALLY GOOD. When I finish my current writing project I plan to reward myself with a new pen. Like a GOAL PEN. What pen do I want most in the world? A Benu. I want, of all the pens in the world that I don't own, a freaking Benu Scepter. We all like different things and there's a pen for everybody.
The Pilot Lucina Medium (steel) pen that I have feels like a gold tip. My Lamy 2000 Med (14k) feels so smooth. My Parket Sonnets (18K F) feels bouncier than their steel counterpart. My PenBBS M round steel nib is also smooth, almost equal to the Lamy 2K. The Gold nibs that I own are in general a little more bouncier than my steel nibs. Agree with Brian : gold vs steel is getting harder to tell apart.
It is relative, the faber castell e-motion is very smooth and the nib its steel, equally for the gold nib lamy or sheaffer or parker, however the lamy 2000 is one of the best nib, this is very very smooth, the sensation its unique.
While I still gravitate towards gold nibs generally, easily some of the best pens I've had were in steel. The Diplomat Magnum was almost as good as my beloved Pilot Custom 823! In fact, I'm genuinely more interested in the Diplomat Aero's steel nib than the gold.
A steel nib can be every bit as smooth as a gold nib. The main difference is gold nibs are generally a bit softer than steel and provide a springy feel, which many pen users prefer.
@@nasshu6259 Many would say, "Yes!" The only way for you to find out is give it a try. Goulet Pen Company has a good return policy if you are unhappy. They have a great customer care team and are happy to answer any questions you have. They truly want you to be happy with your purchase.
@@nasshu6259 I haven't tried Sailor pens yet. I do know they have a great reputation! Good luck and enjoy your pen journey. Goulet will take good care of you.
Lol at the esterbrook j not the Jr huge selections on nibs fun and can be a fun way of filling a well love the lever fill system plus older customers always comment off a younger person using a fountain pen
The nib does not make the pen. BUT higher quality, more likely to be found in gold nib pens, can make the difference. I own perhaps 4 dozen pens. Until two weeks ago, I owned only 3 gold nibs - The Vanishing Point, the Platinum 3776, and Brian's favorite Custom 74. Nothing special about any of them. I continued to prefer my (steel nib) Picasso pens, especially the Sweden Flower King (#903), which I own in several colors. I love the smoothness of the Picassos. But then I watched the Inkquiring Minds video on underrated pens. I found a Pilot Elite 95s for $85 and tried it. WOW! I thought I didn't care about grip. Maybe I do. Maybe that is the factor that makes the Pilot Elite 95s head and shoulders better than any other pen I've ever held in my hand. I think the softness ('springiness') of the gold nib probably helps. Probably half of my pens are smoother than the Pilot Elite. That's because I screened pens and based my purchase on smoothness. But it turns out smoothness, at least for me, is not the defining characteristic of a pen. Some combination of factors makes the Pilot Elite 95s simply the best pen I own and now use every single day--and I write A LOT (I am a novelist). I imagine that magical combination of factors--whatever it is--is going to be different for everyone. Brian swears by his Pilot Custom 74. I'll probably sell mine, or give it away. Maybe I'll give away all my pens now--except for the Pilot Elite 95s!
@@JerryBearry And it looks like comfort may be the characteristic I seek above all else, too. I say 'may be' because I have been trying pens having grip section and barrel shapes similar to the Pilot Elite 95s, and I just haven't found any pens that compete. Some pens are scratchy, some are perhaps weighted differently, and likely there are other factors that make me indifferent to these pens. I think the steel v. gold nib debate is a red herring. Gold never touches the paper, and it can be soft and springy or hard as nails, just as stainless steel can be. My experience with most gold nib pens proves to me that there is nothing magical about gold; most of my pens with stainless steel nibs outperform my gold nib pens. I have yet to find any gold nib pens as smooth as the Picasso Sweden Flower King, for instance. I can imagine that if Pilot were to replace the Elite 95s gold nib with a similarly springy stainless steel nib I would not notice the difference. I now own two pens stamped Pilot Elite but with stainless nibs, but neither performs to expectations. My guess is that these are actually Chinese knockoffs or if they are truly Pilot pens, Pilot used lower quality nibs on them. But these kinds of experiments have already been done, showing conclusively, I think, that steel is every bit as good as gold if the nibs are afforded the same quality control.
@@AncientNovelist Pen comfort is as individual as a fingerprint. I prefer pens with no threads on the grip section and no steps to the barrel. Thicker barrels hinder the free flow of my writing motion. My current favorite pen is the Franklin-Christoph model 20 'Marietta' with their (fine) steel S.I.G. nib. I have the Platinum Kanazawa in my cart as it has a comfortable looking grip section, and it should clip securely into my shirt pockets. Reviewers compare the nib favorably to the Falcon. Hopefully after that, I will be done buying pens for a good long while. I am not a novelist, but I just want that "one comfortable pen" to be my trusted tool for my journaling.
Glad to know I don't "need" an expensive several hundred to thousands of dollar pen that comes with a gold nib, or "need" spend $100~$125 and up for a gold nib to "upgrade" one (or more) of my inexpensive under $15 pens. 😁 Personally, I'd rather spend the money a gold nib costs on more pens, ink, paper, cutlery, and archery supplies ... like arrows, and maybe a hickory English Longbow ... or even a new Kilt, sporran, and Sgain Dubh. 😁
HOLD UP! Can I buy a Gold Nib from you guys at Goulet and then put it into one of my favorite pens? I have been debating on doing this for one of my Visconti Pens. Just to try it, it out. Is that a good option to do a “Gold Nib Test Drive” experience?
Yes! If you have a pen that'll fit a number 6 size nib, and Edison gold nib should fit in there! www.gouletpens.com/collections/replacement-nibs/products/edison-6-18k-nib-unit-rhodium?variant=11884798836779 - Drew
I know what you mean. I pick the pen (nib) that I’m going to use based on the look or type of writing. Eg: a stub with medium to dark ink for letters to a friend whose eyes are bad & for signing greeting cards, addressing envelopes, etc. Extra fine & fine stiff nibs for everyday note writing, drawing quilt blocks on graft paper, bookkeeping and writing on cheap paper. Ultimately my choice of nib size and material depends on what I’m going to write and what the finished product is going to look like.
I would just take it in stride. If you happen to find a pen you can't live without grab it. Who cares about what the nib is made of! I've got some steel nibs that are really very close to my golds.
I have to admit, I have no idea where my fountain pen came from or what brand it is, it was a Yule gift. However the nib looks gold-like, but I’m gonna assume it’s not actual gold, you know?
Didn't you guys answer this not long ago? Isn't the answer that gold nibs are not BETTER than steel nibs; they're just DIFFERENT. I have some steel nibs that are absolutely LOVELY. If you like more feedback, if you want to live worry-free about expensive gold nibs, get a steel nib. Plus it's a lot easier to find and try different stub nibs with steel. I have liked ALL my gold nibs. I have also loved many, many steel nibs. And Goulet lets you buy a Lamy gold nib and swap it out on many pens to see if you like it (kind of pricey for what it is, but it's an entry point).
The question gets asked a lot, so yeah, I'm sure we've covered this before. Plus, this is an excerpt from a Pencast episode, so you might have seen it already. - Drew
@@grahamjl766 certainly a large part of the cost is the gold itself. Like I said a steel nib can be very good. Some companies will take the time to tune their steel nibs that they get from Jowo or Bock. Which makes a big difference. And some gold nibs are just meh. They come from Jowo and Bock and are put on the pen as is. But… all the very best nibs are gold. Why is that? Several reasons. First gold is softer that steel. You get more give and bounce with a gold nib. (Note: Just because a nib bounces and flexes doesnt mean its a “flex” nib. A nib can flex but the tines dont spread like crazy so there isnt a huge amount of line variation. But it will feel better to write with.) Second is that the best nibs are often huge. Number 8 equivalent or larger. That give you more leverage when you write so they bend more with less pressure which feels better to write with. It also means your hand is naturally farther from the paper which can be better feeling. Third is that with the extra cost they dont skimp on tipping material. I have some cheaper steel medium nibs that have less tipping material than my favorite gold mediums. More tipping material doesnt mean a wider line necessarily. The size of the contact patch is the same but the ball of tipping is fuller and doesnt thin out abruptly. That means that the pen with more tipping can be shaped to have a bigger sweet spot. So its more likely to work with your writing style.
Personally I would be more worried about ruining a gold nib if I haven't learnt how to use a fountain pen properly, whereas steel is more forgiving in price if not also in durability.
C'mon, get over it! i've been writing with fp's for over 50 years, have owned dozens of both steel and gold pens. Steel tips, particularly in my vintage Esterbrooks, are great pens for WORK as opposed to PLAY. If one wishes to slurp and drool over one's pens, then by all means get pens for that. But--not necessarily for the love of writing on paper. These days some of my most pleasurable writing is with one of many Lamy Safaris or Waterman Kulturs. Or--just want to be a fountain pen snob? PS--I gave away my Montblanc Nazi swagger stick huge fp 25 years ago and haven't missed it a bit...
I like what you say about writing for work and writing for play, but I might put it differently. Sometimes I am more interested in the ideas I am writing about than the tools I am writing with. I am a avid journal writer. When I journal, what matters is that I give myself space to develop my ideas. My journals are filled with handwriting that is cramped and difficult to read, showing times when my fingers were not able to move as quickly as my mind could think. In those times, I would rather that I not even notice the pen that I am using. I just want a pen that is light in weight and where the ink flows smoothly. For journaling, a great pen for me is the Lamy Safari with nib of medium width. Recently, I purchased a Lamy cursive nib, and I used it to replace one of the italic nibs in my Lamy Joy. The Lamy Joy with cursive nib really is an excellent pen for journaling because the pen is so light and the ink flows so smoothly and easily from the nib. I also like to perfect my penmanship and to practice calligraphy, and then I like to use different pens that showcase the words, letters, and embellishments. The interest here is more in how the writing looks than in what I write about. I think that the best pens for calligraphy are not fountain pens but nib holders that you dip; however, they can be messy, and most of us would not like to carry them in our briefcase or handbag. I have not found the perfect fountain pen with italic nib, but, for me, the Lamy italic nibs and the Pilot Parallel pens are more than good enough. The Lamy Joy calligraphy set comes with one pen holder and three nibs in three grip secretions, and I wanted three pen holders. I had a few Lamy rollerball pens, so I screwed they grip sections with the italic nibs into the barrel of the rollerballs, and then I popped on the rollerball caps. It all fits, and works, well enough. Once again, I am less interested in what the pen looks like than I am in how it writes. I have to agree that the inexpensive Lamy pens really are great writers. I come back to them again and again.
@@barbarajloriordan2697 I first became a fan of Natalie Goldberg 30+ years ago when "Writing Down The Bones" first came out. This was before the so-chic practice of 'journaling' became a thing. I'm exactly in agreement with you that when I get into my writing (or typing) I completely forget the tool I'm using. The exception is if a pen, pencil or typewriter is not doing its job. Then, it's out. That's why I gave away my 'Meisterstuck' 25 years ago; I found it was distracting me more than helping. I also steer clear of brightly adorned pens or pencils because of that. I miss Sheaffer pens, the good ones made in Iowa. I grew up in the sixties in school with Sheaffer cartridge pens and still enjoy using them on occasion. Something really cool about the pure utility. But then, I like writing with both Esterbrook dip pens and glass pens on occasion. Not to make anything pretty, but because it forces me to slow down. I've been typing well over 100wpm since my teens, so 'stream of consciousness' is much, much easier on a good typewriter. This aging old man wishes you the best from the Houston/Galveston metro area.
@@loveisall5520 Thank you for your kind and interesting post. I also remember using Schaeffer cartridge pens in school. I enjoyed then, and sometimes they leaked! Wishing you all the best in return.
I'm never buying a gold nib I think they're a huge waste of money. My Pilot Prera writes perfectly, my Kaweco Sport writes perfectly, at a fraction of the price.
I buy a $300 pair of designer sunglasses, and I lose them within a month. The ones that cost $20 from Target? 4 years and going strong. I know me. I will never be grown up enough for expensive, nice things.
it does not require any type of qualification or skill to use a gold nib. It is just a better smoother and more premium version of a steel nib. If you got the money and you want to try how it feels to write with a gold nib just buy it. How is that a "good" question
There are some AWESOME inexpensive pens with stubs to get a sense of it. The Sailor Compass HighAce Neo is an amazing value with a 1 mm stub nib that is pretty precise. If you have a Lamy model that let's you swap out nibs, or a KAWECO, you can try a stub on a pen you already own. I have come to LOVE stubs! Definitely give it a try!
@@def1ghi thanks for the reply I'm almost set on the TWSBI Eco for my first fountain pen because I like the idea of a piston fill mechanism instead of a cartridge/converter and I want a demonstrator pen, is this a good choice for a 1st fountain pen with the factory stub nib?
I love my Pilot Plumix pens (which have stub nibs). It doesn't look like Goulet carries them anymore/at the moment, but the Plumix pens are available separately or as a set so you can try a few different widths (at an affordable price). But anyway - stub nibs are awesome, go for it!!
@@enriquekahn9405 I JUST got an ECO with a stub. It's fine. It's a Jowo nib. They make nibs for LOTS of pens. I find the ECO to be a wet pen: it puts out more ink that other pens I have with the same nib. TWSBI's feed may be responsible for this. The internal piston filler looks AWESOME, but you might keep in mind that all piston fillers are a bit harder to clean out between colors. It's a good idea to flush your pen out. The TWSBI pens can be totally taken apart, which will greatly facilitate cleaning, but I've used fountain pens for DECADES and still find that idea a tiny bit daunting. Maybe you are braver than I am! A wet pen like the ECO with a stub will like to write better on higher quality paper and you can find inks that work better for wet pens. Diamine inks tend to be good for this! Have fun! I am now eying a TWSBI vacuum filler because a vac-fill demonstrator is just TOO COOL! 😉
You graduate to a gold nib when you drop your favorite pen and destroy the nib. You feel the pain you know the loss in your heart. Then you are ready for a gold bib.
Great response.
The entire idea of the hobby, at least for me, is just the enjoyability. None of us have to write with fountain pens, we just enjoy doing so. If you find you like gold nibs, get yourself a gold nib, if not, just stick with steel nibs.
People that get pretentious with any hobby are the worst. No one should be telling you what you should be enjoying. Suggestions are one thing, but straight saying "this is the way you should be enjoying this" is just straight up arrogance.
It's not about graduating to a gold nib, but finding the right Gold nib pen at an opportune time.
Spot-on answer re: steel vs gold nibs. My Pilot E95s provides an excellent and affordable gold-nib writing experience, but my TWSBI steel nib performs equally smoothly.
I agree with Brian. I currently own two gold nib pens. One is my favorite pen and the other is my least favorite. I also own several steel nib pens which are a joy to write with. While I will likely buy more pens with gold nibs, it is certainly not necessary, nor does it even guarantee a good writing experience.
I think Brian is right on. Usually Gold nibs (just because the manufacturer wants to charge you for "gold") are better QC'd. That said, give me a Diplomat Pen (any of them) with a steel nib any day. They are second to none as far as I'm concerned with their steel nibs. I have 3 Diplomats (2 Aero and a Excellence A+) and they are all fantastic (steel nibs). I think in my collection the only other steel nib that comes close to Diplomats is the Faber Castell e-motion. That steel nib is literally like writing with butter. In terms of just being right -- as a writing instrument (ie: consider the whole pen, not just the nib) -- to me the M800/805 takes the cake. It's just "Right". But to answer your question, don't concentrate on Gold vs. Steel, go to a store/show/meetup and actually USE the pen for a bit. FP's are a lot like Headphones.......There is no one "right" sound......you need to make up your own mind about what's enjoyable to you.
As an audio enthusiast and a pen enthusiast. Yeah! There are so many different sounding headphones (Harman, bassboosted, V-shaped, dark, mid-foward…) that it can get confusing… Just like nibs (Smooth, feedback, springy, flex…), feeds (wet, dry…) and bodies (heavy, balanced, ergonomic…) And honnestly… There are no objectively bad ones
As an example, I like bright headphones. With a little treble spike that adds « sparkle » if I can explain it that way. I have a friend that prefers neutral, nothing is boosted, everything is equal. Same with fountain pens, the same friend loves Diplomat pens, because they’re heavy, stiff and smooth. I…Haven’t found my cup of tea lol! I also have a Diplomat that I love, but I also like my small Sailor Compass that has some good feedback to it. I’m also interested in gold nibs even though my friend wants nothing to do with them. It’s all about preferences
Now that I think about it, I’m kind of like Brian Goulet, touching and everything and anything
Okay so here is a challenge. Do a blindfold test. Each of you pick 3-5 steel and gold nibs for the other to test, and see if blindfolded you can tell the difference between the gold and steel nib. I think that would be great fun. One rule to keep in mind is to make sure the pen is not distinguishable by feel, ie the Hook Lock threads would be a dead give away. Leonardo Grande, Pelikan M200&400 are 2 pens that I can think of that can go both ways. I hope someone at Goulet reads this, and you guys will try it out.
I’m struggling with this too - not sure I need a gold nib pen, honestly! I love trying new pens and switching between different ones to the point where I get excited for my ink to run out so I can ink up a new one, and for my budget, that means sticking with steel nibs. Maybe someday though!
I’m not sure that I need anything beyond my starter pens. I really enjoy writing with them and don’t really see why I need to purchase more expensive pens. I like to call them “affordable” rather than “starters,” as I think that I will continue writing with then for a long time.
People tell me that they like my handwriting, and I can say that the look of the writing that comes out of my affordable pens does appeal to me.
I would say that over the years I have spent about $500 on my collection of about fifteen to twenty pens. I was thinking yesterday that if I wanted to sell them, I probably would have to sell them at a fraction of what I paid for them. If I had purchased a single pen for the same $500, and I had to sell that pen, I might be able to sell it at a profit over my investment. But would not have nearly as much fun writing with my single $500 pen than I do with my fifteen or so affordable ones. I’ve also learned about how pens work, how to adjust them, tune them, disassemble them, clean them, grease them, and so many other things.
That’s what I think is so great about this hobby - that people can pursue it in any way that they can afford and that they find satisfying. A person who enjoys using their Lamy Safaris can be as serious a pen aficionado as a person who collects Pilot Namikis.
I like your shorts because people can get more focused on a single theme in the comments 🥰
That's the idea! Thanks for watching! - Drew
This was a very good discussion. I can honestly say that I have both gold and steel nib pens and I enjoy writing with both, equally.
I have been using and collecting fountain pens for just over 40 years and have consistently found that current steel nibs (TWSBI, Sailor, New Esterbrook, Kaweco, Lamy) are much more likely to write perfectly “out of the box” than gold nibs (even on very expensive pens such as Pelikan 600, 800, 1000). Current gold nibs, in my experience, will require some sort of tuning or smoothing about 90% of the time. Current gold nibs labelled EF are more likely to be medium to broad, in practice, than steel nibs which are usually true to their labelled nib width.
I’d disagree when it comes to Aurora and Sailor gold nibs. I have 20 gold nib Aurora pens (the other eight are steel), and 14 gold nib Sailor pens (four are steel). Only one pen among these (an Aurora Ipsilon) came with 14c broad nib that was a little ‘off’ and required adjusting and tuning to my satisfaction.
edit: I don’t own a single Pelikan. The inconsistencies of both their steel and gold nibs is one reason why.
Montblanc is another that is somewhat dodgy with their gold nibs on their premium priced pens.
Thank you so much for bringing up this topic! I was wondering the difference between golden and steel nibs, and didn't find a satisfying answer until now.
Generally, Lamy gold nibs perform much better than their steel counterparts, likely because their steel nibs are mass produced with minimal quality inspection and their gold nibs given some TLC before shipment.
I was skeptical towards gold nibs. But decided to pull the trigger after trying a Custom Heritage 92 Borad (so more akin to EU mediums). Suddenly I got to understand *why* the gold nibs. An expensive revelation coming from the Lamys. What still bothers me is that the old school Looms (not the new ones) offer an almost similar experience. That being said, I 've gold nibbed some of my Lamys and still get the scratchy feedback which makes the whole experience so much sub-par. It's a shame really because the proposition of getting a decent Lamy (e.g. an LX) and then adding up the cost of a gold nib is perilously close to getting a Pilot and the infinitely more smooth glissanto experience it offers.
I've enjoyed this conversation! I own two gold nib pens. The rest of my collection are steel. Like Brian suggested, my first gold nib was a vintage Parker which I took to a nib master to convert into a calligraphy nib. Great pen, affordable, and I enjoy the feel of the nib. My second was a gift, a Platinum 3776. It is one of my main pens and is a smooth writer. Yet, I write with my steel nib pens and find them comfortable. There has been a definate upgrade in quality to steel nibs over the past ten years that I have noticed. I no longer seek out a gold nib for how they write, even though I love my two goldies.
My fountain pen journey has been in the reverse. My first pen at age 12 was a gold nibbed Sheaffer Triumph hand-me-down from my Mom. All subsequent fountain pens that I purchased were those with karat nibs, and one or two in palladium. Call me a Pen Snob, but it would’ve never occurred to me to purchase anything with a steel-nib. Having once experienced the horror of Sheaffer’s $6 carded steel-nib fountain pens offered in office supply stores in the 1980’s- they just weren’t “real” pens in my mind. Then a few years ago I became aware of TWSBI’s. Having found their quirky design aesthetically pleasing, I now own 3 Diamond 580’s, plus a handful of Lamy Safari/AL stars. While I still maintain steel nibs will never rival the writing pleasure of a gold nib, I do enjoy the freedom my “journey of regression” has brought when I carry a TWSBI or Lamy out for field sketching without the fear of inadvertently losing a precious, pricey pen amongst the moss & pine needles.
I was very spoiled when I started out because my father gave me a new Mont Blanc with a gold nib. Later he gave me a Lamy Safari which I really liked. I went on to buy myself a few more pens and with one or two exceptions, they were gold nibs. Back then, they were more affordable and readily available. When I got back into the hobby a few years ago, I bought pens primarily for looks and specialized nibs, many of which don't even come in gold. My gold nibs are wonderful but I have steel ones that are excellent too, to the point where I often can't tell the difference and if I do, it's very slight. Gold is insanely expensive now and probably never going back down to where it was when I started.
I started out with steel nibs of course and have two Gold nibs now ,the Saylor 911 And before that I had the pilot 823. So far although I do love the Saylor my best pens or not gold nibs. So I really appreciate both of your opinions.
Thanks guys.......As a Newbie into the hobby....I have yet to use a Gold nib....but I have gotten to the point where I am starting to tell the difference between the steel nibs.. I was starting to feel like I should buy a Gold nib pen......Thank you for your Honest answer. This is why I Like you guys so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for watching! - Drew
Go for the gold! My 146 with its 14k EF nib is amazing! It's difficult to describe the feel; kind of like describing the difference of how different tires affect the handling of your car... You won't know until you try.
my 1st pen was a sliver nib then couple months later saw another pen with gold\sliver that i like and got that too. just get it then get used to the different nibs.
I have and like my Pilot Vanishing Point with a gold nib a lot, but it's more for the rest of the pen and the click than the nib. To me, the nib material and brand has been really secondary to me, as long as the nib is a quality maker. I know every writer is different, but for me and my preferences, the nib material and stiffness is less important than the whole of the pen, size, capping type, etc.
I bought 2 pens from the 1920s with gold nibs. I can only use them as dip pens, (without shelling out a lot of $$ for innards repair) but they are amazing writers. I love stub nibs so usually stick with steel, but the Pilot Vanishing Point stub is lovely to write with. Very good reply to the gold/steel question.
Happy to add my 2c as someone newish to the community (only 2.5yrs solidly using FPs), depends on paper as well. I have three gold nibs, the 823, Lamy and e95s.
The 823 I love, only with pilot well lubricated inks on Midori paper. Midori paper is a brat when it comes to any hand oils, and since I work from home, on a rural property, in Australia and it's summer, and always humid where I am, my paper does get oil at the bottom.
Not enough to see on the page but the 823 starts to struggle a little and get a little scratchy on the horizontal strokes if it's not using a very lubricated ink. (Not misaligned, looked through the loop, tines maybe a hair too tight but that's pilot for you). Top of the page it glides, other paper it is beautiful, Midori at the bottom half 🤢
But I love, loooove, Midori paper. Lamy goes well, e95s goes well, but out of all my pens I keep reaching for the Benus, the Schmidt nibs are just superb and out perform on the problem patches of the page. They take any ink, they perform like a dream on any paper (with the caveat that even they will struggle with some of the very dry supershaders on Midori if they have been inked for a while and only used for ten minutes here and there per day. But some of those supershading inks are just dry as all hell.
I'm sure with a nib tune I could get a better performance but then I'm tuning for the worst performing inks and then could be reducing performance for when they really work well. And who wants to run that risk with a gold nib when a Schmidt replacement is so affordable? And I find stiffer nibs work better on oil sensitive paper. On very humid days I may not have any gold nibs in my rotation bar the e95s.
Well said, gentlemen! I use both. Not because one type is better than the other, but I like a variety of writing experiences. Some can be stiff enough to drive into cured white oak without damaging them, of both types, and they have their use. I have flex. Again in both, and vintage, and though they're not as flexible as the gold nibbed pens, vintage steel flex is still generally more flexible than most modern ones. These have their use as well. And there is a range between both extremes.
I think that the discrepancy between the price of steel and gold nibs is more of a constant than you gave credit. In the later 1800s, just before fountain pens really took off, a gold nib (they were called a "pen" and the holder was just that 😉) was around $12 USD, where you could get a gross of steel nibs for no more than $1 USD. Then, as today, there was the prestige factor.😁
I don’t see this as a ‘graduating’ thing at all. I have several steel nib pens at various price points (some at $200+). Many of them feel as great and satisfying to use as my gold nibs. The Aurora Duo Cart and the Montegrappa Montegrappa pens spring to mind as examples of that.
Yes, a majority of my pens have gold nibs. And one among some of
my first fountain pens was the Parker 51 Vacumatic with a 14c gold nib.
That said, many gold nibs seem to me to have unique characteristics that are definitely worth experiencing (just for the often discernible difference in comparison to an average steel nib) for a pen hobbyist who intends to stay in the hobby. But if steel nib is all one buys, uses and loves, I don’t think it’s any big loss to miss out on gold. For once, I agree with most of what Brian said in one of his long-winded answers. 😋
I would mostly agree. If you are happy with your steel nibs then thats perfect! But I really recommend trying a really good gold nib at some point. Not just any old gold nib but a damned good one. Assuming you dont mind potentially running your opinion of your current pens. My first gold nib pen was a very affordable vintage Sheafer’s Flat Top. And OMG is it amazing. Stiff but unbelievably good. But no steel nib can be like that nor can one be like my “best” nib which is an older one on an M1000 that is bouncy and soft, gushingly wet and as smooth as writing on glass but with the ever so slightest amount of feedback. Just perfect.
@@aaron62688 …Interesring stuff! I can only easily second your take on vintage Sheaffer gold nibs. I’ve already commented elsewhere how I find many of the 14c gold nibs (Lifetime, Feathertouch etc..) on my Sheaffer Balance, Flat Top and others to be uniquely delightful writers. Stiff yes, but also quite incomparably smooth and pleasant in their own right.
Although I own and adore both the steel and gold nibs by, say, Aurora and Sailor, I will confirm that, overall, their gold nibs are quite incontestably the superior thing.
I haven’t tried Sailor yet. I want to but Id want a KOP size nib and I cant see paying what they ask for an otherwise meh cartridge converter pen. Next on my list is a Visconti 23k Palladium nib. Second hand obviously at this point. Ans one validated to have been either somehow fine from the factory or otherwise corrected. Funny enough I sent my Sheafer’s back to the seller for a repair. (I broke the lever mechanism while overzealously cleaning it.) And he replied that after testing it he seriously regretted selling it to me. lol
@@aaron62688 ..I have three KoPs that are in a separate league of my favorite pens of all time. And it isn’t just the admittedly fantastic size (and appearance of the nib) but the absolutely awesome way it writes. I bought all three of mine directly from Japan, at reduced prices (by as much as 25-30% off the customarily crazy pricing in the U.S.). I don’t hold the c/c filling against the KoP. I don’t mind much at all. The pens are totally worth the price I paid for them.
I love my Vac-filling Balances. And the seller you referred to is onto something there. I know I wouldn’t sell any of my vintage Sheaffer pens to anybody, at any price. 🙂
@@sajjadhusain4146 If the did the KOP in the Trinity finish and the price was reasonable I would be very tempted!!!!
Ahhh…thank you for sharing your knowledge online for free like this. As a complete noob in this, I thought gold nibs was the “next step” in this hobby.
I am lucky enough to have been left some vintage pen,s so I went straight into using a gold nib .I have used steel nibs as well and to be honest I wright just as good with both nibs I love the way that a fountain pen helps you wright better I love fountain pens it's such a great feeling to have one 😀
Write with a Pilot Custom 823. No experience quite like it. Like Brian said gold nibs are a significant investment but they deliver if you take care of them :) although steel nib pens are not bad at all. Twsbi Diamond 580 or Eco T are hands down the best and most affordable pens for anyone looking to just dabble into fountain pens
Fun! If going gold is a "graduation" then I've been sent back to school! I've been collecting and using FPs for (egads) nearly 40 years now and for the longest time (foolishly perhaps) disdained steel nibs but for the last 7-9 years, I've come to really appreciate steel nibs -- Faber Castell, Jowo and Boch on my Franklin-Christophs, Edison, Schon DSGN, Karas Kustom and many other maker's pens.
I think it's a matter of utility: what are you trying to achieve and why. I'd rather pay a little more and have a nib customized if it fits the purpose. Material is secondary to the function. Of course if you want a gold nib because it's a piece of jewellery for you, then it works for the purpose. However, gold may not be the best material for every type of nib.
Yet another amazing shirt!
Fab, fair and honest response.
Today I returned my Diplomat ELOX with 14ct EF nib. Worst writing experience “ever”. My Aero 14ct F is much better. Perhaps just flawed.
Nothing beats my Waterman Edson (M), from MY point of view. But it’s something personal, isn’t it?
In my book the graduation would come as soon as you learn NOT to put so much pressure on a nib as to damage it. That could even be the first time a person uses a fountain pen. My husband will never be allowed to use any of my fountain pens because he uses so much pressure on a ball point that I even cringe when he uses them.😟
Good call! - Drew
Best gold nib I've ever had was a cheap Platinum PTL-5000A. It had a beautiful spring in a medium nib. Unfortunately it was stolen from my bunk (ex navy) where I kept it with my diary, and while they were easy to find 8 years ago, I can't find that model anymore. My other 3 gold nibs are all sailors and honestly I like the aesthetic but they arent something I reach for ahead of my steel pens... unless a small Platinum gold nib presents itself I think my next gold pen will be a pilot because they have my favourite steel nibs.
Just graduated to my own pilot falcon (ordered from goulet of course) after using two different lamy pens for maybe a year. Any time is a good time!
Thanks for the support, Eric! - Drew
My Diplomat Aero writes as smoothly as my Lamy 2000. But that's a pretty small sample space. Definitely try gold nibs and buy what you like.
I must agree with your assessment of the improvement in steel nibs. Your Conklin Endura Abalone (M steel nib) writes with wonderful line variation. I love my gold nibbed pens. But, my Pelikan Souverän m805 Stresemann (18K) doesn't write all that much better than my Hong Dian 885 Mt Qomolangma (14K). Both wonderful, of course -- but a massive price difference!
I have a question. I know in some aplications, like headphone jacks, some companies put an extremely light layer of gold on them, even for really low quality stuff. But of course its only a few micrometers. could nibs so the same?
My aha gold nib is one, and only, VP. Agree with Brian, as long as know what you enjoy with your pen, no need to explain your collection. Ignore those who are arrogant over choosing only gold, or "aspirational" brand, which will tend to have you shell out more $ just for servicing the gold nib. Time with your pen is worth more than $ any day if the week.
I have one steel nib I consider to be much more reliable and comfortable than some of my gold nibs, even well-known gold nibs. My favorite few nibs are gold... but these are expensive pens, and there is a complete package that adds to the nib.
So much m I re goes into the "writing experience"...
the pens size in "your" hand, if you like broad or fine, flex or not.The nib is only one aspect!
Ordered a vanishing point Matte black not even 10 hours ago. I’m already running out of patience I need this thing in my hand
I do prefer gold nibs but the quality of the steel nibs has improved dramatically. While steel may eventually corrode, regular maintenance will keep the nib working well for years. The Pelikan M200 has a steel nib and compares very much to their gold nibs. My Parker 25 with a steel nib has not corroded and it is almost 40 year old.
Gold nibs are softer, usually, and for that it is a different experience (Sailor nibs aside). Smoothness is not as much of an issue, anymore.
Hah I was JUST revving up my comment when Drew said "somebody's going to say they prefer steel..." Yeah Hi. It me. Or at least I have PEN MOODS. Sometimes I want the gold. But honestly the nib in my collection that I just cannot believe the exquisite writing experience is on a freaking Sailor Procolor. It's not even an expensive steel nib. But it's just REALLY GOOD.
When I finish my current writing project I plan to reward myself with a new pen. Like a GOAL PEN. What pen do I want most in the world? A Benu. I want, of all the pens in the world that I don't own, a freaking Benu Scepter. We all like different things and there's a pen for everybody.
Hah! Yes! Thank you! - Drew
The Pilot Lucina Medium (steel) pen that I have feels like a gold tip. My Lamy 2000 Med (14k) feels so smooth. My Parket Sonnets (18K F) feels bouncier than their steel counterpart. My PenBBS M round steel nib is also smooth, almost equal to the Lamy 2K. The Gold nibs that I own are in general a little more bouncier than my steel nibs. Agree with Brian : gold vs steel is getting harder to tell apart.
It is relative, the faber castell e-motion is very smooth and the nib its steel, equally for the gold nib lamy or sheaffer or parker, however the lamy 2000 is one of the best nib, this is very very smooth, the sensation its unique.
While I still gravitate towards gold nibs generally, easily some of the best pens I've had were in steel. The Diplomat Magnum was almost as good as my beloved Pilot Custom 823! In fact, I'm genuinely more interested in the Diplomat Aero's steel nib than the gold.
In that case, I'll just stick with the different endless flavors of Lamy Safari and Pilot Metropolitan. Not. Gotta experience them all. Thank you.
I respect that.
I have a question, does gold nib make difference than steel nib ? does it make smoother?
A steel nib can be every bit as smooth as a gold nib. The main difference is gold nibs are generally a bit softer than steel and provide a springy feel, which many pen users prefer.
@@JerryBearry But is it worth it ?
@@nasshu6259 Many would say, "Yes!" The only way for you to find out is give it a try. Goulet Pen Company has a good return policy if you are unhappy. They have a great customer care team and are happy to answer any questions you have. They truly want you to be happy with your purchase.
@@JerryBearry Yeah i might try a Sailor gold nibs, im stuck with my sailor lecoule`s steel nib
@@nasshu6259 I haven't tried Sailor pens yet. I do know they have a great reputation! Good luck and enjoy your pen journey. Goulet will take good care of you.
I think the rule of thumb is: try it before buy it. Thanks for the video.
Lol at the esterbrook j not the Jr huge selections on nibs fun and can be a fun way of filling a well love the lever fill system plus older customers always comment off a younger person using a fountain pen
The nib does not make the pen. BUT higher quality, more likely to be found in gold nib pens, can make the difference. I own perhaps 4 dozen pens. Until two weeks ago, I owned only 3 gold nibs - The Vanishing Point, the Platinum 3776, and Brian's favorite Custom 74. Nothing special about any of them. I continued to prefer my (steel nib) Picasso pens, especially the Sweden Flower King (#903), which I own in several colors. I love the smoothness of the Picassos. But then I watched the Inkquiring Minds video on underrated pens. I found a Pilot Elite 95s for $85 and tried it. WOW! I thought I didn't care about grip. Maybe I do. Maybe that is the factor that makes the Pilot Elite 95s head and shoulders better than any other pen I've ever held in my hand. I think the softness ('springiness') of the gold nib probably helps. Probably half of my pens are smoother than the Pilot Elite. That's because I screened pens and based my purchase on smoothness. But it turns out smoothness, at least for me, is not the defining characteristic of a pen. Some combination of factors makes the Pilot Elite 95s simply the best pen I own and now use every single day--and I write A LOT (I am a novelist). I imagine that magical combination of factors--whatever it is--is going to be different for everyone. Brian swears by his Pilot Custom 74. I'll probably sell mine, or give it away. Maybe I'll give away all my pens now--except for the Pilot Elite 95s!
Pen comfort is tops on my list for a fountain pen.
@@JerryBearry And it looks like comfort may be the characteristic I seek above all else, too. I say 'may be' because I have been trying pens having grip section and barrel shapes similar to the Pilot Elite 95s, and I just haven't found any pens that compete. Some pens are scratchy, some are perhaps weighted differently, and likely there are other factors that make me indifferent to these pens. I think the steel v. gold nib debate is a red herring. Gold never touches the paper, and it can be soft and springy or hard as nails, just as stainless steel can be. My experience with most gold nib pens proves to me that there is nothing magical about gold; most of my pens with stainless steel nibs outperform my gold nib pens. I have yet to find any gold nib pens as smooth as the Picasso Sweden Flower King, for instance. I can imagine that if Pilot were to replace the Elite 95s gold nib with a similarly springy stainless steel nib I would not notice the difference. I now own two pens stamped Pilot Elite but with stainless nibs, but neither performs to expectations. My guess is that these are actually Chinese knockoffs or if they are truly Pilot pens, Pilot used lower quality nibs on them. But these kinds of experiments have already been done, showing conclusively, I think, that steel is every bit as good as gold if the nibs are afforded the same quality control.
@@AncientNovelist Pen comfort is as individual as a fingerprint. I prefer pens with no threads on the grip section and no steps to the barrel. Thicker barrels hinder the free flow of my writing motion. My current favorite pen is the Franklin-Christoph model 20 'Marietta' with their (fine) steel S.I.G. nib. I have the Platinum Kanazawa in my cart as it has a comfortable looking grip section, and it should clip securely into my shirt pockets. Reviewers compare the nib favorably to the Falcon. Hopefully after that, I will be done buying pens for a good long while. I am not a novelist, but I just want that "one comfortable pen" to be my trusted tool for my journaling.
I disagree with Brian. You should ABSOLUTELY buy a fountain pen with a gold nib! 😜
Glad to know I don't "need" an expensive several hundred to thousands of dollar pen that comes with a gold nib, or "need" spend $100~$125 and up for a gold nib to "upgrade" one (or more) of my inexpensive under $15 pens. 😁
Personally, I'd rather spend the money a gold nib costs on more pens, ink, paper, cutlery, and archery supplies ... like arrows, and maybe a hickory English Longbow ... or even a new Kilt, sporran, and Sgain Dubh. 😁
This guy should be a philosopher 😂
HOLD UP! Can I buy a Gold Nib from you guys at Goulet and then put it into one of my favorite pens? I have been debating on doing this for one of my Visconti Pens. Just to try it, it out. Is that a good option to do a “Gold Nib Test Drive” experience?
Yes! If you have a pen that'll fit a number 6 size nib, and Edison gold nib should fit in there! www.gouletpens.com/collections/replacement-nibs/products/edison-6-18k-nib-unit-rhodium?variant=11884798836779
- Drew
The role of subjectity cannot be ignored, beware of over generiztions.
There are times where a stiffer nib is a better tool for the job. Tracing along a straight edge is much easier with a thin, fine, stuff nib.
That's a good point, Ben! - Drew
I know what you mean. I pick the pen (nib) that I’m going to use based on the look or type of writing. Eg: a stub with medium to dark ink for letters to a friend whose eyes are bad & for signing greeting cards, addressing envelopes, etc. Extra fine & fine stiff nibs for everyday note writing, drawing quilt blocks on graft paper, bookkeeping and writing on cheap paper. Ultimately my choice of nib size and material depends on what I’m going to write and what the finished product is going to look like.
I would just take it in stride. If you happen to find a pen you can't live without grab it. Who cares about what the nib is made of! I've got some steel nibs that are really very close to my golds.
I have to admit, I have no idea where my fountain pen came from or what brand it is, it was a Yule gift. However the nib looks gold-like, but I’m gonna assume it’s not actual gold, you know?
It might be gold! It'll usually say 14k or 18k on there if it is, though. - Drew
Didn't you guys answer this not long ago? Isn't the answer that gold nibs are not BETTER than steel nibs; they're just DIFFERENT. I have some steel nibs that are absolutely LOVELY. If you like more feedback, if you want to live worry-free about expensive gold nibs, get a steel nib. Plus it's a lot easier to find and try different stub nibs with steel. I have liked ALL my gold nibs. I have also loved many, many steel nibs. And Goulet lets you buy a Lamy gold nib and swap it out on many pens to see if you like it (kind of pricey for what it is, but it's an entry point).
The question gets asked a lot, so yeah, I'm sure we've covered this before. Plus, this is an excerpt from a Pencast episode, so you might have seen it already. - Drew
Are gold nibs necessarily better than steel? No. Are all the absolute best nibs gold? Yes.
Well said! 👏
Right on the money! 👌
@@grahamjl766 certainly a large part of the cost is the gold itself. Like I said a steel nib can be very good. Some companies will take the time to tune their steel nibs that they get from Jowo or Bock. Which makes a big difference. And some gold nibs are just meh. They come from Jowo and Bock and are put on the pen as is. But… all the very best nibs are gold. Why is that? Several reasons. First gold is softer that steel. You get more give and bounce with a gold nib. (Note: Just because a nib bounces and flexes doesnt mean its a “flex” nib. A nib can flex but the tines dont spread like crazy so there isnt a huge amount of line variation. But it will feel better to write with.) Second is that the best nibs are often huge. Number 8 equivalent or larger. That give you more leverage when you write so they bend more with less pressure which feels better to write with. It also means your hand is naturally farther from the paper which can be better feeling. Third is that with the extra cost they dont skimp on tipping material. I have some cheaper steel medium nibs that have less tipping material than my favorite gold mediums. More tipping material doesnt mean a wider line necessarily. The size of the contact patch is the same but the ball of tipping is fuller and doesnt thin out abruptly. That means that the pen with more tipping can be shaped to have a bigger sweet spot. So its more likely to work with your writing style.
When you think you have more cash to burn than to save. That's when. Get Ti.
My Jovo glides on the paper compared to my Gold Sailor
When should I graduate to a gold nib?
When i have enough money...
Personally I would be more worried about ruining a gold nib if I haven't learnt how to use a fountain pen properly, whereas steel is more forgiving in price if not also in durability.
Gold is a precious metal but not more precious than steel for writing quality
Heylo!
Heya Gengar! - Drew
I’ve been using fountain pens for 50 years and I’ve never felt the need for a gold nib.
C'mon, get over it! i've been writing with fp's for over 50 years, have owned dozens of both steel and gold pens. Steel tips, particularly in my vintage Esterbrooks, are great pens for WORK as opposed to PLAY. If one wishes to slurp and drool over one's pens, then by all means get pens for that. But--not necessarily for the love of writing on paper. These days some of my most pleasurable writing is with one of many Lamy Safaris or Waterman Kulturs. Or--just want to be a fountain pen snob? PS--I gave away my Montblanc Nazi swagger stick huge fp 25 years ago and haven't missed it a bit...
I like what you say about writing for work and writing for play, but I might put it differently. Sometimes I am more interested in the ideas I am writing about than the tools I am writing with. I am a avid journal writer. When I journal, what matters is that I give myself space to develop my ideas. My journals are filled with handwriting that is cramped and difficult to read, showing times when my fingers were not able to move as quickly as my mind could think. In those times, I would rather that I not even notice the pen that I am using. I just want a pen that is light in weight and where the ink flows smoothly. For journaling, a great pen for me is the Lamy Safari with nib of medium width. Recently, I purchased a Lamy cursive nib, and I used it to replace one of the italic nibs in my Lamy Joy. The Lamy Joy with cursive nib really is an excellent pen for journaling because the pen is so light and the ink flows so smoothly and easily from the nib.
I also like to perfect my penmanship and to practice calligraphy, and then I like to use different pens that showcase the words, letters, and embellishments. The interest here is more in how the writing looks than in what I write about. I think that the best pens for calligraphy are not fountain pens but nib holders that you dip; however, they can be messy, and most of us would not like to carry them in our briefcase or handbag. I have not found the perfect fountain pen with italic nib, but, for me, the Lamy italic nibs and the Pilot Parallel pens are more than good enough. The Lamy Joy calligraphy set comes with one pen holder and three nibs in three grip secretions, and I wanted three pen holders. I had a few Lamy rollerball pens, so I screwed they grip sections with the italic nibs into the barrel of the rollerballs, and then I popped on the rollerball caps. It all fits, and works, well enough. Once again, I am less interested in what the pen looks like than I am in how it writes.
I have to agree that the inexpensive Lamy pens really are great writers. I come back to them again and again.
@@barbarajloriordan2697 I first became a fan of Natalie Goldberg 30+ years ago when "Writing Down The Bones" first came out. This was before the so-chic practice of 'journaling' became a thing. I'm exactly in agreement with you that when I get into my writing (or typing) I completely forget the tool I'm using. The exception is if a pen, pencil or typewriter is not doing its job. Then, it's out. That's why I gave away my 'Meisterstuck' 25 years ago; I found it was distracting me more than helping. I also steer clear of brightly adorned pens or pencils because of that.
I miss Sheaffer pens, the good ones made in Iowa. I grew up in the sixties in school with Sheaffer cartridge pens and still enjoy using them on occasion. Something really cool about the pure utility. But then, I like writing with both Esterbrook dip pens and glass pens on occasion. Not to make anything pretty, but because it forces me to slow down. I've been typing well over 100wpm since my teens, so 'stream of consciousness' is much, much easier on a good typewriter.
This aging old man wishes you the best from the Houston/Galveston metro area.
@@loveisall5520 Thank you for your kind and interesting post. I also remember using Schaeffer cartridge pens in school. I enjoyed then, and sometimes they leaked! Wishing you all the best in return.
I'm never buying a gold nib I think they're a huge waste of money. My Pilot Prera writes perfectly, my Kaweco Sport writes perfectly, at a fraction of the price.
I buy a $300 pair of designer sunglasses, and I lose them within a month. The ones that cost $20 from Target? 4 years and going strong. I know me. I will never be grown up enough for expensive, nice things.
it does not require any type of qualification or skill to use a gold nib. It is just a better smoother and more premium version of a steel nib. If you got the money and you want to try how it feels to write with a gold nib just buy it. How is that a "good" question
Related question: When is it time to graduate to a stub nib? Is it OK to start out with one?
There are some AWESOME inexpensive pens with stubs to get a sense of it. The Sailor Compass HighAce Neo is an amazing value with a 1 mm stub nib that is pretty precise. If you have a Lamy model that let's you swap out nibs, or a KAWECO, you can try a stub on a pen you already own. I have come to LOVE stubs! Definitely give it a try!
@@def1ghi thanks for the reply
I'm almost set on the TWSBI Eco for my first fountain pen because I like the idea of a piston fill mechanism instead of a cartridge/converter and I want a demonstrator pen, is this a good choice for a 1st fountain pen with the factory stub nib?
I love my Pilot Plumix pens (which have stub nibs). It doesn't look like Goulet carries them anymore/at the moment, but the Plumix pens are available separately or as a set so you can try a few different widths (at an affordable price). But anyway - stub nibs are awesome, go for it!!
@@enriquekahn9405 I JUST got an ECO with a stub. It's fine. It's a Jowo nib. They make nibs for LOTS of pens. I find the ECO to be a wet pen: it puts out more ink that other pens I have with the same nib. TWSBI's feed may be responsible for this. The internal piston filler looks AWESOME, but you might keep in mind that all piston fillers are a bit harder to clean out between colors. It's a good idea to flush your pen out. The TWSBI pens can be totally taken apart, which will greatly facilitate cleaning, but I've used fountain pens for DECADES and still find that idea a tiny bit daunting. Maybe you are braver than I am! A wet pen like the ECO with a stub will like to write better on higher quality paper and you can find inks that work better for wet pens. Diamine inks tend to be good for this! Have fun! I am now eying a TWSBI vacuum filler because a vac-fill demonstrator is just TOO COOL! 😉
@@Catherinzsl I've been dying to get a Pilot stub nib....
New subscriber…Where does Montblanc fit in pen world ?
Mediocre pens targeting old men with bad taste.
Why do they call them "gold nibs" and not "golden nibs"? 🤔
You graduate to a gold nib when you drop your favorite pen and destroy the nib. You feel the pain you know the loss in your heart. Then you are ready for a gold bib.
Steel for me