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Acquisition advice requested. Tatara masamune nodachi daily use?

my skill level doesn't allow me to hold the proper angle and a lack of blade feel.

I feel like trying to solve skill-related problems with new razors can be a road to disappointment. Not to say you shouldn't get a new razor if you want one, and I agree that angle management can be more difficult with low exposure razors, but you should still try to work on improving your angle control because it will help you get a better shave from whatever razor you choose. Basically, new razors are fun, but they aren't a magic bullet.

Anyway. I like my Nodachi a lot. It's a little bit too efficient for me to use as a daily shaver. The deep BBS shaves I can achieve with it mean that after 24hrs I only have a bit of sandpaper stubble to work on, and I prefer that the razor has more to do when I come to shave. As with other aggressive razors, I feel like a 36hr gap between shaves is the sweet spot for me, but I can use it daily for shorter periods if necessary.

In terms of aggression and other razors discussed here:

R41: Did not like it at all. Too much blade chatter. Sold it.
Rocca: Didn't like the ratio of gap to exposure. Felt closer to a DE89 than an R41 to me in terms of efficiency, but not particularly smooth or pleasant to use. Like @Iridian I feel that it just did not stand out in any way and prefer my Gamechangers, Lupos and Tatara. Sold the Rocca.
Nodachi: Almost as efficient as the R41, but without the hideous blade chatter. Smooth and intuitive to use whilst being a grade A whisker whacker. The level of exposure means that the rigidity at the edge takes a little hit, but it's pretty much the best compromise between rigidity and high exposure that I have found in a razor so far. Obviously it costs significantly more than the other two, but for me it is also the significantly better shaver than either of them.

Contrary to what someone else has said, I would not get the Tatara plates and cap to use on another handle. The Tatara baseplates have a gap which the handles "lock" into for maximum structural rigidity. If you want a Tatara, get the full package.

FWIW I also use my Nodachi head on a Masamune handle.
 
Or, you can mix and match all the parts. With either a Masamune or Nodachi handle, there can be as many as 8 combinations. The difference between each step in efficiency is noticeable but small. The difference between full Masamune and full Nodachi is very significant--even more so between Masamune SB and Nodachi OC. Personally, I love the smoothness of the SB versions.

You can mix and match SS and Ti parts too. I tried that for awhile, but it defeats the balance that's an important part of the design. A non-Tatara handle also tends to defeat the design and reduces rigidity, as Goblin described it.
 
Or, you can mix and match all the parts. With either a Masamune or Nodachi handle, there can be as many as 8 combinations. The difference between each step in efficiency is noticeable but small. The difference between full Masamune and full Nodachi is very significant--even more so between Masamune SB and Nodachi OC. Personally, I love the smoothness of the SB versions.

You can mix and match SS and Ti parts too. I tried that for awhile, but it defeats the balance that's an important part of the design. A non-Tatara handle also tends to defeat the design and reduces rigidity, as Goblin described it.
Yes, the interchangeability of the two versions is a big bonus in my book!

Out of curiosity, what combination do you use most often?
 
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I really like the full Masamune Ti. Before I bought that one, I used the SS versions, and the full Masamune was my definite favorite.

But with the Ti, I'm experimenting--now with a Nodachi cap and my 1st Tatara blade. Next will be a Nodachi baseplate and after that a full Nodachi head. Then, of course, different blades. So it will be awhile before I settle on a favorite, if I ever do. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
 
I really like the full Masamune Ti. Before I bought that one, I used the SS versions, and the full Masamune was my definite favorite.

But with the Ti, I'm experimenting--now with a Nodachi cap and my 1st Tatara blade. Next will be a Nodachi baseplate and after that a full Nodachi head. Then, of course, different blades. So it will be awhile before I settle on a favorite, if I ever do. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Don't worry, I was just curious.
What I hope to learn from this thread is the relative aggression and blade feel of the nodachi compared to the Mühle r41 and r89.
The Masamune I don't even need to ask as it is known to be one of the most gentle and mild razors.

At this moment my personal preference lies with a razor with some blade feel so the full masamune falls out either way.
 
“We’ve created the following table to give you a clear overview of our models.”

“Check out the Tatara razor scale to find the perfect razor that matches your preferences.”

1729546731542.jpeg


Chart from recent Tatara email is quite helpful when considering overall performance from their razors

Owning all three razors, Muramasa gives consistent BBS shaves with Personna Med Prep blades with First pass on setting 4 (WTG) Second pass on setting 4 (ATG) and another WTG Pass on setting 5 will provide the closest shave with No irritation.

Nodachi razor (Closed) is quite aggressive and best used every other day or limited to two passes. Masamune is a Mild everyday shaver and similar to Feather AS-D2 Razor
 
“We’ve created the following table to give you a clear overview of our models.”

“Check out the Tatara razor scale to find the perfect razor that matches your preferences.”

1729546731542.jpeg


Chart from recent Tatara email is quite helpful when considering overall performance from their razors

Owning all three razors, Muramasa gives consistent BBS shaves with Personna Med Prep blades with First pass on setting 4 (WTG) Second pass on setting 4 (ATG) and another WTG Pass on setting 5 will provide the closest shave with No irritation.

Nodachi razor (Closed) is quite aggressive and best used every other day or limited to two passes. Masamune is a Mild everyday shaver and similar to Feather AS-D2 Razor
Thank you for the insight. The muramasa is a little too pricey for my taste. I could buy one of their razors and buy the other head and it will still be cheaper compared to the muramasa.
I also have no adjustable and am a bit hesitant to the idea. I like the elegant simplicity of three piece.
 
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