I wanted to try the priciple ef because I heard high regards of the nib. I inquired about getting some and was told my holder is a "NIKKO" holder and it would be alittle loose. Oh gosh when will the madness end. I had no idea when I purchused the holder (ziller model). The store only had two the speedballplastic and the affore said mention model, I purchused both. As most of you know the speedball is not adjustable so therfore not very much use. How does one try differnet nibs without having to buy 4 differnet holders?
Hi Brad, it should be possible to adjust the flange of the Ziller holder for the Principal. You need to make it a little less round (with the left hand, while holding tightly the foot, to prevent the material from breaking). A tip I got from Brian Smith.
But honestly, the Principal is a nib I personally, well, I don't want to say hate, but it's supersharp and super small. I don't know at which skill level you are, but I would regard myself as an advanced beginner, and I nearly never have nibs catching or scratching, because I have a very light hand. But with this nib I only get scratchy-catchy. So give it a try, but don't be disappointed!
As to the other question – I guess there are different ways to cope. There are not so few pros apparently who found out after a while that they don't need more than, say, 4 to 6 different nibs to achieve what they want. Erica mentioned somewhere that her whole calligrapher life she hasn't had more than 4 or 5 holders, if I remember right?
I, again, beginner, but with a bit of an addiction for beautiful tools, have 6 or 7 holders, and I found out that the flange of the Century holder is very easy to take out and adjust to very different nibs. So I use this when I feel experimental
. The other holders more or I less I only use for one kind of nibs, I often leave them in the flange. The G nibs and Rose nibs for example fit the same flange, and the smaller Gillots etc. I have in another holder.
I know that 4 or 5 holders sound a lot, on the other hand a holder is not so expensive if you think what you have to invest in other crafts, just think about painting or fotography? And also, but I as well needed some time to find out this, usually it's a good idea to stick with one nib when learning one style (except if you really don't get along with it! Than you'd need to find another "workhorse"), it helps with consistency. And, while it can be fun and also useful, no nib (and honestly, especially not the Principal!,) will magically improve the writing … I hope you don't get this wrong!!
When I was at the workshop with Barbara Calzolari, she recommended for the first 2 – 3
years of practice to use only the Nikko G!
I also have a collection of about 20 different nibs though
. But I really
use regularly only 3 or 4 of them, for different stuff – smaller writing, normal size, for reproduction / scanning, Spencerian, flourishing.