Customer Reviews

I had been using Nikko brand Tama nibs and after trying the Zebra, I just can't go back! These types of nibs are great for background work and lots of repetitive details because of the stiffness. The Nikko brand nibs tore the paper and wore out quickly. The Zebra nibs almost feel like ballpoint pen on paper! Excellent stuff!

Sam
thatdarnkat.deviantart.com

These are good nibs if you know what you want to use them for and also how to prepare them for work.

I'd like to reply to the other user's review and say that, like all good quality nibs, you have to get rid of the coating they are packaged with (to prevent rust) before using or else the ink will slide right off. I recommend soap and water because using a lighter could be risky after more than a few seconds.

I feel bad wasting money on these. They catch paper. They are so chromey and smooth that the ink slides right off and blots your paper (I tried Kaimei drawing and lettering ink and a few others). And when they do write they skip and can't draw a consistent line. BOO HOO.

I just put one nib in some freshly squeezed lime juice, boiled some water with a small amount of dish soap, dropped it in for a little pulled it out(without putting my fingers on it at all) and dried it with a paper towel. after which I put it on my nib holder using the paper towel licked it and let it dry, all without putting any of my skin oils on the nib, and it works just fine. it picks up ink like it's no ones business

Love this nib. It makes the thinnest lines possible with just skimming the paper and can also make thick lines. Holds a lot of ink. Perfect for manga artists. I'm giving up my Speedball nibs for these.

On a side note: When I got these, I was stupidly eager and went ahead and prepared all of them for usage (getting off the wax). It never occurred to me that I'm never going to go through 10 nibs soon and that it can possible rust form storage. Just prepare the ones you are going to use.

Zebra G-Pen, by far the most popular of the G-Pen Nibs used in Japan. Is this just hype or is there a valid rason as to why the popularity of the Zebra G deserves the hype? When the nib is fresh out of the box, it has a distinctive hard,stiff touch comparible to that of the Tachikawa. Unlike the Tachikawa, however, this nib makes a far more variety of lines compared to that nib and despite the hard feeling, it doesn't feel stiff at all. The hardness is also a very good indicator that it is still very good to use, and also allows the finest lines that this G-Pen can make, similar to that of the MaruPen, however a little thicker than what Type A Hard-type Maru-Pen can make, but still at a satisfying thinness. As the pen gets used up, the stiffness disappears, indicating that the pen has a little more freedom in making varied lines a little easier but gradually loses the ability to make the Maru-Pen like thin lines, however it can still make thin lines when it is at a "medium used" stage. By this time the pen can be able to express thick lines much better and switch between variation with ease. I have also noticed that this pen can be used for a very long time, especially if you're using a strong waterproof ink like Kaimei Lettering Sol or Kuretake Manga Ink, if you constantly wipe the ink off with a solution or water. Awesome use-span! Let's say that it can last for a good 20 -30 pages if taken care of properly. In closing, the Zebra G-Pen is by far one of the best pens to use out there, especially if you're doing a manga and calligraphy, this pen is a must. It also pairs up with any ink, whether black or colored,waterproof or water-soluble, perfectly.

I’ve tried many different types of nibs for drawing and I really like these a lot, they have a great amount of flexibility and line variation they also hold a decent amount of ink. The other G nibs I’ve tried are nice as well but I prefer the Zebra ones they seem to retain their ability to do very fine line for longer than the other types I’ve tried. If you’re interested in inking or comics or cartooning I’d recommend give these a shot.

Zebra Round Pen Type A(Hard)

Zebra Round Pen Type A, as an important tool for Manga Artist, can this pen live up to it's G-Pen's sibling's repuation? Let's take a look. For people who have not used this pen or will be using this pen in the near future,the first time you use this, it will be hard to handle. Esp. if you're not used to using a mapping/or small tip pen, this pen really takes a while to get used to. The problem that most users will find is its tendency to scratch the paper and carry debris. However,I have noticed that after you find a certain angle with this pen, the problem won't occur as much. Also, another problem that people may run into is its resistance to flow. This will happen a lot! However it's still able to draw the line you want, but as mentioned before, this pen is a little difficult to handle,probably a little more than the G-Pen, but after you find the right angle for the pen tip to draw, the true function of the Zebra Type A Round Tip shows. By far from my handling of Comic Nibs, this pen makes the FINEST lines of any round pen I've tried(even more fine than Nikko, Deleter, and Tachikawa Round Nibs). For people who are obsessed with doing very small and extremely fine detailing, this pen is FOR YOU! Also this pen is capable of drawing even a thick line! Probably close to that of the G-Pen's capabilities! But for it's advantages, this pen is a must for any artist looking to work with a very good mapping/round pen! But be warned, there is a learning curve to using this and it will take a while to master the Type A Round Pen in order to get the satisfying result you want. When mastered, The Zebra Type A Round Pen does rival the G-Pen's reputation!

the line width can very a lot with this pen nib. I've found that i haven't had to alternate pens as much. can't say much else! try it out and enjoy! practice makes perfect with dip pens and this comes with 10 nibs so if you mess up somehow you still have more chances.

Great nib. The ink flow is perfect, and i love how you can change the thickness of the line by applying pressure. If you draw manga, (not only manga, it goes well with another drawing styles) this is a must have.

Èstas plumillas son hermosas, hacen lìneas finas y gruesas cuando quieres !!! jetpens si te manda los pedidos, yo desconfiaba, pero me equivoquè. thanks jetpens, from Perù.

I had never used a nib pen before so this was my first experience. It was instantly easy to use! There was no learning curve. Right out of the pack I loved drawing with it and was amazed at how fine the lines could be. I have tried other nibs since and none match up to this one. It is awesome.

This nib is one of my absolute favorites-- it's incredibly responsive, lays down a beautiful line, and is so versatile-- thin or thick, it can do it all. As the nib wears out it gets harder to do the super-thin feathering lines, but its flexibility and the control it gives you over laying down varied line widths are amazing. Great for learning nib inking, and great for being a pro at it.

The Zebra G is likely the best G nib being made today. Like the other G pens, the Zebra offers a wide range of line variability from fine to super thick. But it is capable of an even finer line than the other brands I have tried. It's also smoother writing than the others, and can be used in any direction - pushed, pulled, or side to side without catching.

Interestingly, the tines are ground for flexibility instead of stamped. This is an "old fashioned" method of adding flex to a nib, but it works better than stamping rows of grooves into the tines like Nikko, Tachikawa and Leonardt do on their G nibs.

I love these nibs. As a first-time nib user, I found myself fully adjusted to the nib after only a few hours of practice. You can get anything from super thin lines to thick and delicious lines with this nib. Best of all, you can even move the nib from side to side (rather than just toward you) to produce a thin line.

Overall, this is a good beginner nib to start with. I don't see myself even bothering to try anything else. That's how happy I am with the lines this nib produces. I've tested two nibs out of the pack of 10 already and neither was defective. So far, that's a better quality control than what I've heard from people buying a Hunt 102 nib pack. I haven't had any problems with the nibs scratching the paper.

My only complaint right now is that they're out of stock!

Please restock these soon!

These are the aluminum version of the Tama nibs. You can get a little more line weight out of these, but they're still pretty stiff. I find these catch/tear the paper more than the chrome versions and are a little unwieldy.

Das waren die besten Federn die es für die Porzellanmalerei gab. Wo bekomme ich diese jetzt her.
A.H

Ist die beste Fered für Porzellanmalerei, schade dass es diese nicht mehr gibt.

I had read that these were highly recommended nibs for inking comic art. Linked by Amazon to Jet Pens I was very pleased with the service. However, I ended up tossing the box of nibs after many hours spent diligently trying a number of samples. Yes, I cleaned the coating off first. I could not get predictable results and flow after hours of work. I'm not a master of dip pens but can do acceptable work with crow quill, calligraphy, and Speedball nibs. I would give even a lower rating than three-star except for the recognition that it could be my technique. Also, the holders were too loose and short for my taste. When I would clean the pen, the nib would come out too easily. If you try these, I wish you the best of luck but just wanted to post a review that spectacular results are not universally guaranteed, as one might gather from other reviews and comments on the Internet.

By the way, I have a degree in Art and was a student of a well known comic artist so dexterity is not usually an issue.

how do i get my nib started ? do i i ply heat witha lighter or is there another way to get the coating from it?

I got this nib model because I've heard it's ideal for very tiny details, but I have a very hard time getting it to consistently release ink without pressing hard, which makes my lines thick and bold (the opposite of what I need).
I don't know if it's just me, but I cant get repetitive detail lines out of this nib without stopping every minute to struggle with it. When it does work it's fantastic, but the constant problem with ink flow has ruined a number of my drawings.
I've been using the Kaimei Drawing Pen Ink.

Fantastic. Best ever. This is the hard version and it still has flex to it. Super fine lines to thicker lines ..for even thicker super flex lines use Zebra G nibs). I'm forever now giving up on various fibre and technical pens. Converter forever to nibs.

Goes extremely well with Kaimei Sol ink, just to add that in.

I love pen and ink, and have tried both Tachikawa and Nikko brand G-nibs. Zebra beats them both hands down! I though I hated G-nibs, but I think I just hated the brands I was using!

Thank you Jetpens for carrying these! You're the only US vendor that does. :)

Sam
thatdarnkat.deviantart.com

I tested the three types of G-pen: Tachikawa, Nikko and this one, Zebra. I just can say that the Zebra G-pen nib is the very best I have tried in my entire life. Tachikawa and Nikko G-pens get easily damaged and their inking doesn't take very long to get thicker, but the Zebra pen is still as thin or thick as I want it to be, and I can treat it more roughly than the other two. If you are attempting to draw manga or comic, I can warranty that the Zebra G-pen has good reasons to be most manga artists' favorite nib pen. From a line as thin as one made by a Round-pen to one almost as thick as one made by any permanent fine marker, the Zebra G-pen is a must try for any artist, not only those who draw manga or comic.

edit: It takes me a while to realize this... but the scratchy sound will disappear as the nib is used more. New nibs probably have that sound. It is beautifully flexible. (The only complaint I have now is how to get ink to go on it without the ink ending up in bubbles of ink. I did attempt to melt the wax, but did I not do it well enough?)
So- Five stars~ (at least 4.5 Xp)...