Platinum #3776 Music Nib Fountain Pen Review

As I have mentioned once or twice before, I adore the Platinum #3776. It has a classic look, isn’t too blingy, and the nibs are beautiful. A while ago Scribble sent me his black and rhodium #3776 with a music nib and a warning: that I would want one of my own and cost me money. He was right. The one you see in the photos is Scribble’s but I have since acquired my own. (Thanks to a friend contacting me after reading my post on the Pen Haul to say he had one for sale. We all help each other spend our money.)

Price: £165 (UK) $216 (USA)
Nib options: 14k gold music nib, gold or rhodium plated
Barrel options: black plastic, rhodium or gold trim
Filling system: Platinum cartridge/converter
Size: 1.3cm diameter; 14cm closed, 15.9cm posted
Weight: 20g

The #3776 is a classic, some might say conservative, design. It works because it’s finished well. The black is nicely polished and the rhodium trim is understated. It livens up the pen without being unduly ostentatious.

The folded metal clip is reasonably strong. The cap screws on to close and pushes on to post. It posts securely and the balance of the pen isn’t affected unduly.

In the hand, the #3776 is comfortable. It’s light but not so light you don’t know it’s there and it’s a good length. The section is just about long enough to hold without the threads being an issue and it’s a comfortable diameter.

Platinum use their own converters and cartridges. The converter is a piston-screw type and works well enough although it’s a little prone to getting ink on the wrong side of the piston. It’s easily dismantled for a thorough cleaning but this is a weak point in a pen this expensive.

For me Platinum pens are all about the nibs. The 14k gold nibs Platinum use on the #3776 range are quite firm but have a touch more give than most steel nibs. There is just a hint of feedback. I can see why not everyone likes this but when nibs are of this quality it very much comes down to personal preference and these are the nibs for me. When I touch the nib to the paper it brings me joy. The slight feedback lets me know I’m actually writing and lets me feel the texture of the paper. The barest hint of bounce to the nib is like a firm pillow and yet helps me maintain at least some control over my terrible handwriting. You may want different things from a nib: I want this.

This particular pen is all about the music nib, of course. It has two tines instead of the usual one but it’s not as broad as most music nibs. On the one hand, it’s maybe not what you want if you’re buying a pen for a music nib; on the other, it gives a very broad stub-like nib that is actually usable. I’m able to use this for day-to-day writing, which is not something I can say about other music nibs I’ve tried. Flow is good and the tip is smooth and doesn’t catch on the paper (unlike an italic nib, for example). There isn’t much give in it, you are not going to get this to flex. Again, this all suits me.

Quite clearly I love this pen and this nib. I can understand why that might not be a universal view though: the nib isn’t as musical as you might want; the design is very conservative; and the nib has zero flex. Or, if you’re me, the nib is broad but practical; the design is classic and understated; and the nib feels perfect on the paper.

Pros

Great classic design
Good finish
Fun but practical nib

Cons

Not as broad as you might expect in a music nib