You don’t like the grip of the GG500!? But if it is similar to that of Mono Zero! The Tombow’s grip is slightly wider and the texture is different, but other than that it’s basically the same, a knurled cylinder. I have the Mono Zero in 0.5 and 0.3 and I find it to be a good pencil, but to say that it is the best modern pencil is going too far, tastes aside. It’s very nice, yes, but the button is very hard and, using the same lead in both pencils, the GG500 is lighter on paper.
1 Like
Those grips are nothing alike—the Tombow grip is effectively shorter because there is no uncomfortable gap. The end result is you will experience slippage with the GG500 unless you grip it above the gap (which is too far from the paper for me to write as precisely as I like).
In practice, the Tombow grip design enables the user to hold the pencil wherever he wants, but the GG500 (and GG1000) affords the user no such luxury.
1 Like
My opinion on comfort ranking of the affordable pencils that I have on my desk right now. Left being most comfortable, right being least.
2 Likes
Oh well yeah the GG500 has that gap and then a smooth part and it’s certainly an issue.
1 Like
I don’t dig the polka-dot grip or the massive spring clamp style clip (bulky). If I could let go of those associations, I’d probably like the GG1000… 
5 Likes
I have thousands of pieces but only one GG1000 (gold limited). I just can’t really get into anything with even the slightest bit of rubber on it.
They are really great quality pieces though. The clip mechanism is super strong and reminds me of the Rolly but stronger.
5 Likes
Hahahaha🤣
2 Likes
I really dislike the feel of the rubber nubs on the Pentel pencils - Smash, GG1000, Orenz AT etc., So I really can’t recommend them.
Since the OP says widely available and not necessarily cheap, I would recommend the Faber Castell TK-matic. Yes it’s vintage, but it’s certainly not rare and has one of the finest automatic mechanisms ever made. The design is timeless and elegant with a wonderfully distinctive knurling pattern. You can grab one for around $100, which is in the same price range as a lot of the EDC machined pencils out there and IMO significantly better value.
8 Likes
There are few things worse to touch than old sticky rubber grips.
9 Likes
It’s really fascinating, the chemistry behind the development of polymers. Sometimes a blend is achieved that’s fantastic, while others can end up as ticking timebombs (at a future date, all of the sudden the chemistry breaks down and you have a sticky mess).
I have some pencils and pens with rubber grips from 20+ years ago that are still fine, while some are about 10 years old and already showing signs of becoming tacky & sticky. You can sometimes get lucky and all you need do is rub an alcohol wipe on it to remove the sticky layer leaving an acceptable surface behind. But others can end up decaying so badly, they’re beyond help. You can also have rubberized plastic that falls apart before even becoming sticky.
7 Likes
Well I’ve been comparing the GG500 and the Mono Zero and heck, the GG actually has a harder button than the MG, hehe😅. Also the Mono doesn’t stick to the paper as much as I remember. I’m going to leave it in a tie. Grips still looks pretty much the same to me.
6 Likes
I like the MONO. I get a “space capsule” vibe from the nose cone and being someone who grew up during the Apollo space missions, it’s just one of those things… you know?
6 Likes