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STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!

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  • Performance of various pens.
  • Note heavy feathering when fountain pen ink is pooled on thick with a dip pen (in my opinion, the ultimate test for writers)
  • There is heavy bleed with the dip nib and Pilot blue-black ink. Not as much bleed with the broad and fine-medium nibs, but it is still there. For that reason, I won't call this paper 'fountain pen friendly', at least not compared to the old Tomoe River 52 gsm paper. Other non-fountain pens seem to do ok.
  • Close-up of other pens.
  • Close-up of more pens and pencils.
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  • Next to the Hobonichi Techo. Both have a 3.7mm grid.
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Price:
$13.00
Rating:
( 83 product reviews )
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Introducing the new "Zen" paper. Great for ballpoint pens, gel pens, various other kinds of pens, pencils....but for fountain pens, not so much. Too much bleed-through! So, if you want a high-quality, high page count notebook, and don't intend to use fountain pens, this may be the book for you!

To be honest, I really had high hopes for this paper as a Tomoe River 52gsm replacement. But, it was not meant to be, and the search goes on. And, who knows, maybe in the future, this paper can be reformulated with a thicker sizing (coating) so that it is more bullet proof.

I thought about not selling this at all, but it would be a shame to make it unavailable, because in every other respect, it is still an excellent notebook - our partner in Japan really has the craft down, and everything about it is just so...beautiful. But - I also don't think I can justify the same price as Tomoe River, so for now, we are lowing the price.

 

Finally...please note: the slip case says "3.5mm grid", but it is really a 3.7mm grid, as stated on this product page.

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The Zen paper is very similar to 52 gsm Tomoe River paper; slightly thicker than the "old" Tomoe River, perhaps about the same as the "New" Tomoe River. The writing experience lies somewhere in between the old and new TR, but it's so subtle that I am not really sure. It IS somewhat toothier than the old TR, which some people will like, others may not.

Finally, because of the slightly thicker paper, the page count has been reduced from 480 to 432...it makes a difference of about 1mm.

 

PLEASE NOTE: All reviews dated before 6/16/2021 are for the prior version which used the OLD TR paper!

 

If you'd like to try our new ZEN paper, please ask for a free sample by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

 

Nanami Paper
Att: Samples by Mail
P.O. Box 17422
Irvine, California 92623-7422

 

I'm confident that you will like this this paper as long as you don't expect it to be fountain-pen-bullet-proof like Tomoe River, but I always encourage "trust but verify", so please don't hesitate to ask for a sample.

 

Specifications:

 

  • Size A5, 210x148mm, 8.3x5.8 inches
  • White-color ZEN "Notebook" paper,  52gsm
  • 432 pages (216 leaves) with rounded corners and 3.7mm grid
  • Lay-flat thread binding
  • Flexible, tough, thin water-resistant coated-fabric cover
  • Ivory-colored end sheets
  • Comes with one A5 blotter paper
  • Made in Japan
 

ABOUT MANUFACTURING VARIATION: We've found that thin paper is unlike working with "regular" weight papers such as 20 lb bond, laid, wove, etc. papers (we have actually be unable to find any binders in the US that are willing to work with 52gsm). Thin paper is very sensitive to humidity, and when bound in a thick book by machine as ours are, some unexpected variations can occur. So far, we've experienced the following (also please see the pictures):

 

  1. Rippled pages
  2. A subtle "waviness" on the edge of the book block
  3. Dog-eared pages (rare)

 

Except for a torn page, none of these issues affect the writing surface or quality of the writing experience, and it's not practical for us to go through each book page-by-page (these issues can be quite random). However, if for any reason you are not satisfied with the book you receive, please let us know (dave@nanamipaper.com) and we'll do our best to rectify the situation. Thank you for your understanding!

 

For more information and design goals, please read the Seven Seas Journal Fact Page.

If you'd like to compare this journal to the cost of other journals, please see our notebook value comparison table.

Did you know that Hemingway wrote with a pencil? We like to think that, had he known about the Seven Seas Writer, he would have used a fountain pen. Here's the full story.

 

 

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Product Reviews

Showing reviews 1-10 of 83 | Next

  1. Exactly what I was looking for. 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 5th Dec 2023

    I was on the hunt for a plain, bound notebook with as many pages as possible so I could start a common planner. After comparing a number of different options, I went with this Studio Note and I'm a satisfied customer. The zen paper is totally fine for me. I'm not a fountain pen user, so I didn't have to factor that into my decision. At this price point, it blows the competition out of the water.

  2. Lovely notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 7th Jul 2023

    While it’s not Tomoe River paper, it’s still a beautifully made notebook. For all the writing and various projects I use them for, and when I’ve gifted them to others, they are good notebooks and the paper is amazing. Fountain inks for ghost a bit, but I’m using my Uni Jetstream pens and it’s a dream. Also use the Pilot G-7 fine nib pens and it writes well. Overall a steal for what this book does for me!

  3. Best Notebooks Around 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 23rd Feb 2023

    I love these things! Hands down my favorite notebooks.

  4. Still my favorite notebook! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 15th Jan 2023

    I stocked up on these before the Tomoe River paper change in case I didn’t like the new paper, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I do still prefer the old paper, but I don’t notice the difference nearly as much as I thought I would. I primarily use fine or extra fine fountain pens and have personally had no issues with the paper at all. I’m very pleased to say that they are still one of my absolute favorite notebooks!

    The only gripe that I have with them is that I wish these had the little paper covers like the cafe notes have instead of the box style slip cover. I appreciate that it’s more durable, but I usually leave the little paper covers on my cafe notes because I like how they look, especially if you throw a clear cover over it or put them in a notebook cover that shows the front of the notebook and I would love to be able to do that with my studio notes as well.

  5. Still an excellent notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 11th Nov 2022

    As I tend towards F/EF nibs (mostly Japanese, not European) and drier inks, I can generally get away with using my fountain pens on this paper still. Don't use a Retro51, though, at least with the standard refill. (I'm usually using gel pens in this one, though, and it's fantastic.)

  6. Perfect! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 4th May 2022

    Love this notebook! It is perfect for my needs and the quality is outstanding. Thank you!

  7. It depends on your pen 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 25th Jan 2022

    This is a great notebook if you're using pencil, ballpoint or gel. Not the best for fountain pens unless your ink is very fast-drying. The binding is super durable. I'm now using it as a sketch book.

  8. Its great paper at a good price 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 26th Nov 2021

    I was looking for a journal to log my reading for 2022 and as I average about 200 books a year I figured that with the amount of pages this book has, if I could only use one side of the paper, I would be fine. Luckily, my sweet spot with pens tend to be in the EF to F range and this paper works well for that. It's a shame I can't add pictures.

    I fine that as long as I'm not dealing with a dry ink that I had to add Vanness' White Lightning to or anything super wet, none of my ink and pen combos feather.

    None of my Diamimne inks in EF or F nibs bleed (Indigo, Salamander, Terracotta, Ancient Copper, Tobacco Sunburst, or Classic Green).

    None of the Noodler's Inks (Black Swan in Australian Roses, Bulletproof Black, Air Corps Blue Black, or Turquoise) bleeding EF or F nibs

    None of my Vinta Inks bleed (tested Aegean 1944 Armada and Leyte)

    My Troublemaker inks are wonderful on this paper (I was able to use petrichor and milky ocean in broad Lamy Nibs without any problems. No bleeding what so ever).

    Sailor black ink bled even in a fine nib and Sailor Manyo Nadeshiko bled and feathered in a medium nib, but was okay in a wet EF nib.

    I was able to even use a 1mm stub and some private reserve ebony blue with no issues. No bleeding or feathering.

    So if you are someone who enjoys a good fine nib, then this paper will not disappoint. You may be able to get by with a medium nib if you use a dry ink, but If you like super wet pen or broader nib sizes you'll have to use 1 side of the paper and could POSSIBLY experience a little feathering.

    If you're a rollerball or gel pen user, BUY NOW.

  9. Thank you for not holding this back! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 4th Sep 2021

    Dave, thank you very much for not holding back on this notebook. I'm not a fountain pen user (haven't fallen down that rabbit hole, yet) so this paper is great for my needs. I absolutely love the Cafe Notes grid in all sizes and I hope you never take this full grid notebook design away.

    While I do miss the original TRP like everyone else, I sincerely appreciate your efforts to find us the next best thing.

  10. Zen paper is everything I was looking for 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 29th Aug 2021

    This new paper is wonderful! I loved the Tomoe RP but wished it was just the tiniest bit thicker and I feel like this Zen paper completely nails it. It reminds me of the paper the Kokuyo Jibun Techo planners started using last year.

    I am not a fountain pen user so I can't speak to that, but I use gel pens - Pilot G2 and the Hi-Tec-C family, as well as Pentel Brush Sign Pens. I don't have any bleed-through with any of them, even the darker colors. They write beautifully on the paper, just like on the Tomoe RP. It's actually better with the Pentel pens, there is almost no ghosting where there was a lot with Tomoe RP.

    I hope you keep stocking this paper, it's fantastic!

Showing reviews 1-10 of 83 | Next