Eagle G3/Chubby 1/Classic Advice

[mcgils]

So, I might purchase an Eagle G3, and I have a few questions. I know that many owners of these LE brushes frequent this board, so I figured that this would be the best place to ask some questions.

I'm considering the Classic 1 or 2 (either of which I can get for less than the Eagle at WCS) and the Chubby 1 (bought one on BST, didn't give it enough time, now I regret it), and the Eagle G3.

I've researched many threads, and I think that I am looking at three brushes with fairly similar profiles. I plan to use my new purchase mainly for soaps. So...

The Eagle is the first owner, so I think that this makes the brush nearly three years old? Am I right in that, or is it more like two years old? How is this brush holding up for people after 2/3 years? I've read quite a bit from the early days, but most recent posts have been BST or custom orders for a similar brush.

The handle of the Eagle looks to be the most comfortable to hold (height/girth)-does anyone disagree with this?

For those that own/have owned some or all of these brushes, can you share your impressions/preferences?

And if it comes down to the Classic, is there any real difference btw the 1 and 2? The price difference is only $10, but it's only a 1 mm difference in knot width, everything else is identical-is there a distinct difference?

I feel confident that one of these three brushes will be my next purchase (either on BST or at WCS), but I'd like some feedback. I'm splitting (badger) hairs with three brushes so close in size, but I know that B&Bers have some opinions to share, so please do!

 

[mdevine]

I assume you are talking about the LE Eagle G3 in Best Badger from late 2010. I have one and it remains a great brush, every bit as good as the day I first got it. I have half a dozen brushes and this is one of the two I reach for most often, the other being a Semogue 610. I exclusively face lather, almost always with soaps, and this brush is made for it. It makes short work with any soap I use with it, and makes plenty of lather, providing plenty of lather for three or four passes. I find the bristles soft, but with enough backbone to give me the scrubbing I like.

Mike

 

[Obiwan]

Mine is holding up very well, but it doesn't get much use anymore as I'm far more of a boar guy.

 

[mcgils]

I assume you are talking about the LE Eagle G3 in Best Badger from late 2010. I have one and it remains a great brush, every bit as good as the day I first got it. I have half a dozen brushes and this is one of the two I reach for most often, the other being a Semogue 610. I exclusively face lather, almost always with soaps, and this brush is made for it. It makes short work with any soap I use with it, and makes plenty of lather, providing plenty of lather for three or four passes. I find the bristles soft, but with enough backbone to give me the scrubbing I like.

Mike

I am talking about the LE Eagle G3 from 2010.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Mine's never shed a hair that I recall... It hasn't seen much use in the past year or so, since I had a custom one turned from wood that I prefer for looks.


Eagle G3 best is VERY close to a Chubby 1 Best. The differences between two examples of either brush can be as great as the differences between these two brushes. It's the ONLY 3 band I use (chubby/eagle in best)

 

[Blue_2]

Mine is still holding up great. It still makes short work of any soap I throw at it. It shed one or two bristles in the first few uses but hasn't shed since.

 

[taco8slo]

If I had to choose it would have to be the Eagle, the handle alone is way more comfortable.

 

[Marco]

The Classic 2 is slightly denser than the Classic 1 and very close to the Chubby 1. I cannot comment on the Eagle G3 because I do not own it, but specs say this one also is very close to the other two. My hint? Just pull the trigger on the one that "inspires" you more for handle shape and overall design.

 

[ltjaw]

I recommend the 2010 LE Eagle G3. I have owned a Classic 1 Best and currently am the second owner of an Eagle G3. I also have a Classic 1 in 2-band Super. The hair used in my Eagle (and perhaps the entire lot of them?) is quite different from the other Simpsons Best badger brushes I own or have owned. The hair in my Eagle has sort of orange-ish tips and is softer than my other Bests. The knot on the Eagle is stuffed very densely - Chubby dense. The loft is short, which works great with this particular hair, making for a very soft brush with lots of backbone. The handle is noticeably larger than the Classic handles, and I find it more ergonomic.

To sell you on the Eagle from a different perspective: you will always be able to purchase a Classic new, but you won't have many opportunities to buy one of the LE Eagles. And you can easily sell the Eagle for what you paid if it's not what you like.

Regarding the Classic 1 vs 2: The Classic 1 fits in the Simpsons travel tube, and I think it makes an outstanding travel brush (the reason I have one in 2-band).

 

[mcgils]

Thanks for the reasoned responses and different ways of looking at my options. I pulled the trigger on the Eagle a minute ago! I'm going to enjoy having one of these limited edition brushes.

 

[beginish]

Thanks for the reasoned responses and different ways of looking at my options. I pulled the trigger on the Eagle a minute ago! I'm going to enjoy having one of these limited edition brushes.

Excellent choice. This brush remains a favorite 2 years after participating in the Group Buy.

 

[Marco]

Thanks for the reasoned responses and different ways of looking at my options. I pulled the trigger on the Eagle a minute ago! I'm going to enjoy having one of these limited edition brushes.

Congrats! And do not forget to post your thoughts once you get it!

 

[Monkeyboy]

Thanks for the reasoned responses and different ways of looking at my options. I pulled the trigger on the Eagle a minute ago! I'm going to enjoy having one of these limited edition brushes.

Congrats, I think you'll love it. I got one direct from simpson not too long ago. It's a great brush and a very comfortable handle.

 

[wimbouman]

Congrats, I think you'll love it. I got one direct from simpson not too long ago. It's a great brush and a very comfortable handle.

That's nice!
And great to have it engraved.

 

[StuMcB]

I have the Eagle G1 in pure. The handle has got to be one of easiest to hold onto. While even for a pure its a soft as my Duke 2 in best.

 

[Scritchnscrub]

I owned the 2010 Eagle G3. My impressions:

-densest brush I've ever owned - not unlike a Rooney Heritage
-one of the most ergonomic handles I've ever owned but still a tad small for me (I like big handles)
-fantastic backbone and soft tips
-one of the worst lather hogs I've owned - even though it's designed as the ultimate face latherer, I sold mine after a couple of months because I could not get it to release lather as well as I wanted

I am a stickler for good flowthrough. For those who don't mind reloading the brush at least once for every pass, or are prepared to load significantly more soap than for a brush with good flowthrough, this won't be a problem.

Never used the Classics so I can't comment. Hope this helps!

 

[mcgils]

I owned the 2010 Eagle G3. My impressions:

-densest brush I've ever owned - not unlike a Rooney Heritage
-one of the most ergonomic handles I've ever owned but still a tad small for me (I like big handles)
-fantastic backbone and soft tips
-one of the worst lather hogs I've owned - even though it's designed as the ultimate face latherer, I sold mine after a couple of months because I could not get it to release lather as well as I wanted

I am a stickler for good flowthrough. For those who don't mind reloading the brush at least once for every pass, or are prepared to load significantly more soap than for a brush with good flowthrough, this won't be a problem.

Never used the Classics so I can't comment. Hope this helps!

Lots of good information here...and now I'm waiting on your Rover...can you work this brush into your comparison?

As a note, the Eagle that I bought was almost 2 years old (part of the group buy), and it's not a lather hog at all. I think that the break-in by the previous owner helped it in that area.

 

[Barbash]

I think you made a great choice with the Eagle
The B&B Eagle is my every day brush and because of it I got rid of all my other brushes except for my travel brush. The brush is very dense and I really like the backbone. Like others mentioned the handle fits nicely in your hand and atleast for me is the perfect size.
I have had very little shedding over the past few years with this brush and it has held up very nicely even with every day use. The only real sign of wear was the Simpson sticker started to fall apart, but I simply emailed Simpson directly and they mailed me a new sticker which was easy to replace.

 

[Scritchnscrub]

The Rover is actually quite similar but less dense and with better flowthrough. I think the hair is identical.

It's still very dense but not jam packed like the G3. Both handles are superb. I'd be really interested in YOUR take on both when you get the Rover. I bought the Rover about a year after selling the G3.