Help me pick my next brush purchase!

[erg923]

Willing to spend up to $200...but obviously if I go that high, I need to really see differences that are over and above the other top choices. Aesthetics, in addition to performance, are also important to me. Please give your choice/recommendation out of the following and a brief justification. I have it narrowed down to:

1. Simpsons Polo 8-Super (cant get this one out of my head)
2. Simpsons Emperor 1- super
3. Saville Row-3824
4. Simpsons Persian jar-Super (very good looking and perhaps the best fit, size wize?)
5. Truefit and Hill-Super or Silvertip (since I just got some 1805 cream and am about to get the cologne as well, getting a matching brush is VERY tempting )
6. Edwin Jagger Medium Silvertip

 

[Den]

I've never tried any of those brushes, so my opinion probably isn't worth a whole lot. If I had to choose, I'd go for a T&H Silvertip, which is basically a Rooney.

There's quite a few selections for knot size/length, and handle shape/size/color.

 

[xraygun]

Whatcha gonna do with it? Bowl latherer?

 

[Face&Head]

What do you use now and what are the key characteristics you're looking for in a brush? Are there any attributes you want to avoid? Soaps? Creams? Face or bowl (or versatile enough for both)? Did you leave Morris & Forndran, Rooney, Shavemac & Thater off your list on purpose?

 

[erg923]

Both soaps and creams. Primarily face lather but sometimes bowl. I have a Rooney best in Burgundy that came as part of set with one of their razors. Very much like it, but want to step up I think. Also have a AOS pure badger in black. Doesn't get much use anymore. I had to narrow my list and those are the brands, as well as the designs i liked most.

 

[xraygun]

I always think of the Polo, Persian Jar and Emperor as bowl lathering brushes as they have long handles.
Have you considered a Duke?

 

[Amir]

I would go for the T & H Silvertip. I nearly did, but went with the Rooney 3/1. It's a versatile brush for face or bowl lathering.

P.S. I'm a fan of that 1805 shaving cream...

 

[Triad]

Im in the same boat as you im having a hard time not buying the rooney emillion size 2 2 band in butterscotch off of vintage blades for Aestetics purposes dont know much else about it!! But its hard to go wrong with a simpson im torn!!

 

[brother cavefish]

200.00 for a brush-------i am perfectly happy with 30 to 50 dollar. personnally i dont think any brush is worth that much, or works any better

 

[Mad Man]

SR 3824; I picked one up earlier this year solely on the back of the B&B Brush Wars results. At 120 bucks it was half the price of some others I was considering, Charles from QEDUSA gave great service and it's been a stellar bowl or face latherer equally competent with creams or soaps.

It's a VASTLY underrated brush IMHO; soft tips, enough backbone to rip through triple-milled soaps and a great size/shape ergonomically. Haven't lost a single bristle (that I've noticed).

By all means do your research but I was personally hesitant to invest money in some brands that get astonishingly good press despite documented variance in quality control.

(steps off soap box).
http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=22531&title=-savile-row-3824&cat=38

 

[beginish]

The Emperor is a fantastic brush, as is the PJ, though I have to agree that the 3824 is the best of the bunch, having used all of the brushes on your list.

 

[erg923]

Good info guys. Keep it comin. The 3824 is winning so far. The Simpson thing might just be more of temptation based on name sake. Perhaps anyway. Although, I do love the Emperor 1 still. Polo 8 is great, but I just don't need that long of a handle, really. T&H would be great Im sure, but I do already have a Rooney...

 

[Mick]

Both soaps and creams. Primarily face lather but sometimes bowl. I have a Rooney best in Burgundy that came as part of set with one of their razors. Very much like it, but want to step up I think..

I would point you to a Rooney heritage. Excellent face brush and can be used in a bowl in a pinch

This is my 3xl (GET ONE)

 

[Face&Head]

Both soaps and creams. Primarily face lather but sometimes bowl. I have a Rooney best in Burgundy that came as part of set with one of their razors. Very much like it, but want to step up I think. Also have a AOS pure badger in black. Doesn't get much use anymore. I had to narrow my list and those are the brands, as well as the designs i liked most.

While not on your list, the Simpson Tulip 3 in 2-Band Super is an excellent brush and extremely versatile for either bowl or face as well as soaps & creams. It can be had for $157.50 (with the B&B discount) at WCS. The handle is not only ergonomic but has a small shelf which helps keeps the lather in place even when doing a shower shave. It's also a happy medium (52mm) between the shorter Duke (46mm) handles and the taller models like the P8 (67mm) and PJ3 (59mm). I have the PJ3 (in 2-band) and it's a wonderful brush but I use it mostly for bowl lathers so it doesn't hit the rotation as often as the Tulip. Below a few Simpsons to give some size perspective.

 

[blademen]

Im happy with my $13.00 Omega.
Like it better than a Kent brush.

 

[garyg]

Just my humble 2 ¢, at the price range you are looking I'd avoid a re-branded one, whether a shaving brush or some other high-end item, generally if you need to re-sell, a Shavemac will get more attention than a Saville Row, a Simpson more lookers than a T&H .. Think about what you want it to do - most of those you list are of the longer handled, higher lofted tribe .. the shorter ones can do cream in a bowl just fine, in my hands anyway the higher lofted jobs suffer if tasked to pick up some hard soap quickly & create a good lather on the face