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tandaina
May 10th, 2014, 10:13 AM
I'm thinking of selling off some of my more valuable but seldom used pens to buy another Nakaya.

I've had my eyes on the raden blue rose and am wondering if anyone hee has one of the nibs.com naka-ai?

How do they compare to the piccolo in girth, and are they too long to fit in a pen wrap and be carried?

Comparison photos would be wonderful! ;)

Apprenti
May 10th, 2014, 10:23 AM
I only (as if you need more than one!) have one naka-ai, in shobu with Spencerian nib. It's perfect...

As for size, I don't actually feel it is that big, certainly it feels like it *should* unposted. As for pen wraps, I made mine and it's 7"(?) long, plenty of space. I'd say you need about 1/2"-1" of space at the end for the pen to fit (beware of the urushi rubbing on other pens though).

I love mine!

tiffanyhenschel
May 10th, 2014, 10:24 AM
I don't have any photos, but it have written with a Naka-ai and compared it with a Piccolo at the Dallas show in 2012. It was right before they hit the market and was John's personal model. They are similar (maybe even the same) in girth to the Piccolo. They are a little longer but nowhere near as long as a desk pen. He carried his in his shirt pocket, and it didn't look out of place at all.

Lady Onogaro
May 10th, 2014, 10:29 AM
The pen is a beautiful choice, Tandaina. Hope you are able to get it soon.

tandaina
May 10th, 2014, 10:50 AM
OK, sold! Now y'all have to buy my pens. ;)

Apprenti
May 10th, 2014, 10:59 AM
Well, that didn't take long ;) haha good choice! :)

Apprenti
May 10th, 2014, 11:00 AM
What sort of nib do you want to get?

reprieve
May 10th, 2014, 02:43 PM
The Naka-ai is probably my favorite of all of the Nakaya sizes. It's a bit longer than the Piccolo, but not quite as hefty as the Neo Standard or as long as the Long. It has those lovely pointed Piccolo ends and the taper of the Desk Pen. It feels just right in my hand, even moreso than my other Nakayas.

Here are a few photos to attempt to show the size:

From left to right: Lamy Studio, unpolished shu Nakaya Naka-ai, Nakaya Piccolo, Nakaya Neo Standard

Capped:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/12678712153_f23cc6a24c_z.jpg

Uncapped:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/12678576555_a30deef30c_z.jpg

And the Neo Standard and Piccolo next to a kuro-tame Naka-ai:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/12500205524_2b5534aa70_o.jpg

trhall
May 10th, 2014, 03:14 PM
Nothing much I can add over @reprieve's photos. If you want a photo of the Ao Tamenuri next to any other pens I may have, let me know.

tandaina
May 10th, 2014, 06:24 PM
Thank you, photos help! Given how short the piccolo is the naka-ai isn't too long at all. :)

I'll probably ask for the same grind as on my ao-tamenuri piccolo but in a slightly narrow nib. The piccolo has a BB ground to an oblique cursive italic that John made to imitate a 50s Pelikan OBB. :) I'd like that in an M or maybe B, something for everyday journaling where the BB italic is just too big and wet!

The OBB is my poetry pen, it just sings and the Piccolo is perfect in the hand but I like the tapered end of the naka-ai, it just looks so elegant.

ExeArco
May 13th, 2014, 09:23 PM
What is that BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL finish is on the Neo-standard?

earthdawn
May 13th, 2014, 09:56 PM
Neo Standard on left and Naka-ai on right
http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac10/thevaporcafe/16634F95-D303-4199-9A4D-CC47ECA98321_zpsmezqbsp2.jpg (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/thevaporcafe/media/16634F95-D303-4199-9A4D-CC47ECA98321_zpsmezqbsp2.jpg.html)

Top to bottom
Neo, Neo, Naka-ai, Neo & Desk Pen
http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac10/thevaporcafe/5way_zpsc17d2879.jpg (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/thevaporcafe/media/5way_zpsc17d2879.jpg.html)

reprieve
May 14th, 2014, 05:19 AM
What is that BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL finish is on the Neo-standard?

It is hard to see in my photos, but it is the shiro-tame Fox with 9 Tails (http://www.nakaya.org/en/review.aspx?id=16029&type=body).

purplepencils
May 14th, 2014, 06:48 AM
Wow. That fox is gorgeous.

Alex2014
May 18th, 2014, 02:40 AM
My Nakaya Naka-ai is a Chinkin "Housoge" Kikyo/Platinum. A very comfortable FP with a SM Stub nib reground to FM (0.35 mm). Here are some photos:

tandaina
May 18th, 2014, 03:39 PM
I'm horrible with abbreviations... So that's a soft medium ground to a fine medium stub? Would you give us a writing sample? How soft is it?

mtnbiker62
May 18th, 2014, 04:42 PM
I have never before been as jealous as I am right now...thanks for sharing with us.

reprieve
November 14th, 2014, 08:20 AM
Hi all,

I know that I am a little late into the game, but I was wondering what you thought of the Naka ai vs the Neo Standard. I am really looking to get one of the two, but I really can't decide between either of them.

Personally, I prefer the Naka-ai. Aesthetically, I love the pointy Piccolo-inspired ends and the more dramatic taper of the barrel. The Naka-ai weighs less also, and I find it to have a nicer balance in my hand. The Neo Standard takes several turns to uncap whereas the Naka-ai uncaps in just a couple of turns. If you're planning to use this pen as a daily carry and you jot down a lot of quick notes (with lots of capping and uncapping), that might be something to consider.

The Neo Standard has a longer section. Depending on how you hold your pen, you might find the Neo Standard more comfortable. These pens are all very light, too, so if you're used to heavier pens you might like that tiny bit of extra weight.

I have both models and like them both a lot. But my Naka-ai is the one that is always inked and never leaves my rotation.

reprieve
November 14th, 2014, 11:02 PM
Thanks for the info. I also like the look of the pointy ends.

For your Naka ai, do you prefer clip or clipless, or it doesn't seem to make too much of a difference?

It depends on how you plan to use the pen. Aesthetically, I prefer the look of the clipless. Practically, I like having the clip to fasten the pen to a notebook or just to keep the cap from rolling off the desk. I go back and forth over this.

sixmr
November 15th, 2014, 07:42 PM
Thanks for the info. I also like the look of the pointy ends.

For your Naka ai, do you prefer clip or clipless, or it doesn't seem to make too much of a difference?

I think most Nakayas look and perform great as either the cigar (clipless) or writer (with clip). It just depends on whether you want the added functionality of a clip. I have a Portable cigar which is so simple and elegant but not as practical for carrying around throughout the day if you're use to clipping your pen to notebooks/pockets/etc.. My Naka-ai writer accompanies me almost every day to work though. The sad, or happy, truth of it is that once you buy one, you'll just find an excuse to get the other. :D

tandaina
November 15th, 2014, 07:59 PM
I don't use clips (girl, no shirt pockets) So I love Nakaya roll stoppers. They keep the pen from rolling off the table (or the cap) and are pretty instead of just a boring clip. :)

GING GING
November 17th, 2014, 12:16 PM
[QUOTE=reprieve;79014]The Naka-ai is probably my favorite of all of the Nakaya sizes. It's a bit longer than the Piccolo, but not quite as hefty as the Neo Standard or as long as the Long. It has those lovely pointed Piccolo ends and the taper of the Desk Pen. It feels just right in my hand, even moreso than my other Nakayas.

Here are a few photos to attempt to show the size:

From left to right: Lamy Studio, unpolished shu Nakaya Naka-ai, Nakaya Piccolo, Nakaya Neo Standard

Capped:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/12678712153_f23cc6a24c_z.jpg

Uncapped:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/12678576555_a30deef30c_z.jpg

And the Neo Standard and Piccolo next to a kuro-tame Naka-ai:
[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/12500205524_2b5534aa70_o.

What kind of wood are these made from

tandaina
November 17th, 2014, 01:06 PM
None of those pens are wood. The Nakayas are all ebonite with urushi...