Joel, Great review, as always. I've been eying this brush for a while myself. I have small hands and I feel it would be a good fit. But I can't decide Best or Super?
Joel, Great review, as always. I've been eying this brush for a while myself. I have small hands and I feel it would be a good fit. But I can't decide Best or Super?
Joel,
Thank you. This is extremely helfpul & timely info as I have been thinking about a Simpson's and specifically the Chubby. I wanted to hear your thoughts, and others', on some of the topics of this review and of Chubby/Simpson in general:
- A lot of the reviewers echo your observations that the Super is going to be firmer and provide a more invigorating/scrubby action compared to Best.
I am curious why that is. It seems like a lot of vendors' offerings get scrubbier the lower down the quality/cost totem pole you go but a lot of the Simpsons reviews indicate Super being firmer/scrubbier then Best. Just trying to satisfy my intellectual curiosity here.
Do people think the difference between the Best and the Super is dramatic? I've read posts in either direction on this one (Yes, it's dramtic. vs. No, it's subtle and not worth the extra cost). I also believe this is somewhat dependent on the specific model in question and whether it has "two banded" or a "three banded" hairs.
- I've read a lot of posts lamenting about Simpson's quality issues but it seems like there have been a few recent posts with a glimmer of hope, indicating quality issues fixed (new and improved glue, etc). I would love to hear a little more about the quality issues you (and others) have run into and whether these were recently purchased brushes. This is a huge concncern to me and any issues about quality from B&B reviews give me pause.
- Sizewise how would the Chubby2 compare to the 2006 B&B Brush? Yes I know they are very, very different beasts. B&B 2006 is my only point of reference.
On the 'issues' issue, I bought a Major from Lee (Lee's Razors) this spring. It was new stock (I assume) as he had to wait for it to come from England to ship it to me. I've used it (roughly) every 4th day since; it has shed about 3 hairs total, and none in a while ... touch wood ...
Maybe I lucked out, maybe the collapse is imminent, I dunno. I'll probaby wait on a Chubby for a year or two and see how the quality issues sort out ... we won't know if the problem is fiixed until the new brushes have been exposed to regular and long-term use.
Totaly off-topic, but what's with the gold base on the B&B brush? Both of mine (silvertip and finest, both faux-horn) have silver. Was there any rhyme or reason to gold? I've seen a gold base in the odd photo, and never got around to asking.
Gold (genuine) bases were an option available to the moderators as a thank you for their time/service to the site - paid for by myself, Nick and John. They also had the option of a matching gold DE EJ razor as well.
On the 'issues' issue, I bought a Major from Lee (Lee's Razors) this spring. It was new stock (I assume) as he had to wait for it to come from England to ship it to me. I've used it (roughly) every 4th day since; it has shed about 3 hairs total, and none in a while ... touch wood ...
Simpsons seems to be hit or miss over the past couple of years. Personally, I would avoid the hassle (who needs it on such an expensive item?) and go with another brand. I have a Tulip 3 that has had no problems, followed by two Persian jars which had issue after issue. No more Simpsons for me.
According to Lee, he has all of his brushes made by one brushmaker to ensure quality control. He claims that he has had far fewer problems with the Simpson brushes he sells than has been the case generally.
If you're interested in a Simpson brush, I think you should consider doing business with Lee - he offers B&B members great prices and will stand by anything he sells (I'm not suggesting this is not the case with other vendors). If you're not sure what brush is right for you, give him a call and he'll help you out.
This is a very helpful review and thread.
Hey Joel! Now just wait a minute there! Maybe Lee has Chuckles of Austins little old Manchurian maker working for him since the Manchurian has been replaced by the auto-shedding porpoise-built brush.. (Nothing fishy about porpoise, but ya' got have a hole in your head to be one.. )