If nibs could sing.

Ah, music nibs. They transform lists to lyrics, to-dos to haikus. Or so I would like to believe, even if music nibs on paper are indistinguishable from stubs and cursive italics. In form, they are quite distinct from other nibs, as they have two slits, resulting in three tines rather than the usual two. They were designed for quick music notation, capable of making hairlines for bars and staves, and wider lines for notes.

I have six pens with music nibs, three vintage and three modern.

I have 6 pens with music nibs
Pilot E, no name, Waterman, Platinum, Platinum for Kamakura Pens, Nakaya

The Pilot E from the seventies has a fingernail music nib. It’s the only one I’ve seen designed like this.

Pilot E music nib
Pilot E music nib

The tipping is thin. The effect is closer to an italic rather than a stub.

Pilot E music nib, side view
Pilot E music nib, side view

The no name overlay pen has a warranted music nib that flexes like there’s no tomorrow.

Warranted music nib
Warranted music nib

Warranted nibs were the generics of their time, and could go into any pen. They were warranted, or guaranteed, to be gold as stamped on the front. I love how this nib looks like it’s been run over by a carriage. Someone must have used it a lot; the tipping is worn down.

I found this vintage Waterman music nib on eBay – just the nib. Tom popped it into a Waterman safety. This is one of my favorite pens.

Waterman vintage music nib, front
Waterman vintage music nib, front

One of the signs of a nib with good flow is that slight space between the tines that allows capillary action to work its magic. Of course that space must disappear at the tip: the nib needs to “close.” In this close-up you can see both both slits with just the right space. I usually check tine spacing by holding the nib up against the light and squinting until my eyes hurt.

Two Platinums and a Nakaya
Two Platinums and a Nakaya

There is a tiny difference in the way the Platinum and the Nakaya music nibs write, even if they come from the same maker.

Music nibs writing sample
Music nibs writing sample

I can’t carry a tune, so these nibs will have to do the job for me.