Item Description
A brief intro
I have to admit that I don't understand the Filarmonica Frenesia that seems to have caught everyone and his dog in the last six months. I own several Fillies (#10 Doble Temple, #13 and #14 Sello de Oro, #14 Especial and this #14 EPBD); they're wonderful razors (and the gold wash on the old Especial really is a work of art) but come on, they can't be as good as a custom made one and surely can't be three times better than a Dovo, Puma or TI. Then why their price has spiralled so high?
Enough whining, let's get to the votes.
Price
I paid 30 € (about 40 $) for mine, because of a chip in the edge and a not-so-good condition. I won't speak about the actual prices on the Bay (250 $?! Puh-lease!).
Craftsmanship
Big, meaty blade with a not-so-deep acid etching. The neck has a rubber protection (mine hasn't). The scales are Filarmonica standard: thin, flimsy plastic. Overall is quite unbalanced.
Easy to Sharpen
I removed the chip myself, using a diamond plate #300 grit. Then, since I had to visit Mastro Livi, I let him do the honing. He said that it was "easy and funny" to hone and defined the steel "very good".
Lasting Edge
It maintains a very good edge, needing only a good passing on the strop (a wonderful Tony Miller Red Latigo Artisan). After two months, no touchup needed.
Shaving Smoothness
In our italian forum we are still discussing what makes this razor "Special [made] For Hard Beards". Two engineers are still working, with no results on the horizon. Nevertheless, this razor is a blessing for people with tough beard and silky skin
Glides like a penguin on ice, despite being quite singing.Easy to Maintain
Easier than his gilded cousins. But be careful, the rubber insert is prone to water infiltrations; the neck of the razor can develop quite a lot of rust.
All in all, a very very good razor, even for today standards.
