Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen 02 EF Nib Review

I'm making no bones about how much I like this refresh of the Platinum Preppy. From the moment I snapped in the ink cartridge and put nib to page I was impressed. More than impressed, I was wowed. I could not believe how nice the nib is on a $4 pen.

And this is no normal nib. Platinum calls it the 02, which is a standard Japanese EF nib. In the US, Japanese EF nibs aren't the easiest things to come by either. They are there if you dig a little, but most product lines start with fine, not extra fine. There is a reason for this: Japanese extra fine nibs are too fine for most people. I'd rather find that out for $4 not $100, wouldn't you?

Here is your chance to try one out on the cheap that will give you a comparable experience to much, much more expensive pens. I wouldn't buy a Pilot Vanishing Point with an EF nib if you are unsure you will like it. Same goes for a Sailor, Platinum, or any other Japanese pen. The nib in the Platinum Preppy compares to those in size and feel. Seriously. This is a spot-on, accurate match.

Maybe you'll discover that this pen will do just fine for you and don't need on of those more expensive models. If you like the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4 or the Uni-ball Signo DX 0.38 you will like this pen. If you want to try fountain pens and have a nice clean writer that won't make a mess, you will like this pen. If you want a beater you can toss in the car or a bag, you will like this pen. If you don't like Japanese fine lines, you will not like this pen.

That's the only hangup. It's so sharp and fine it is not going to fit every writing style. It fits me, and it can answer questions many of you have about Japanese EF nibs. I'm enamored by this pen.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Fine 03 Nib Review

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is what is a good fountain pen for beginners. Being a fountain pen novice myself I have tried out several and always come back to one that I always recommend: the Platinum Preppy.

The reason I like the Preppy so much is that the nib writes very well for such a low cost pen. I of course prefer the Fine nib, but there is a Medium option if you prefer. When you first snap in the ink cartridge it takes a minute or two of scribbling to get the ink flow going, but once you do it is a solid, steady, and smooth performer. I keep this pen within reach at all times for when I want a no nonsense fountain pen experience.

Seriously, for $3.30 from JetPens you cannot go wrong. If you have never used a fountain pen in your life this is a good, inexpensive way to see if you like writing with a nib. If you do like it, then that is where the trouble begins. :)