Help Me Pick my Next Simpson

[AJMiami]

After having tried many brushes, I truly enjoy the characteristic of the Simpson Wee Scot.

Specifically, for me the Wee Scot is just perfect in terms of knot shape (fan), softness, backbone, and face feel..But I wish I could find the same attributes in a bigger brush.

So in hopes of finding my dream brush, I'm willing to give Simpson another try.

Just to give more info, on what I'm looking for. I have tried the following Simpson brushes (with a short description on pros/cons):
- Eagle 3 Best Badger - To stiff, to dense, and too scrubby..I think to enjoy this brush I would have needed a higher loft.
- Colonel - about right in terms of backbone, It feels a bit too scrubby/dense. Maybe more loft would help?
- Tulip 2 (2-band) - felt too big
- Emperor 1 (2-band) - soft, but too stiff
- Tulip 1 (3 band super) - about close to perfect, the fan shape, density is about perfect...but the wee feels softer/better. This is my favorite Simpson at the moment.
- Simpson Special - close to the dimensions I think I'm looking for, but lacking on density to match the wee..still an awesome brush, which is 2nd to my Tulip 1.

So...How should I pick my next brush? I thought about taking the dimensions of the Wee 14mm knot, and 35mm loft and scaling it to a bigger Simpson brush. For example, scaling the wee to a 30% bigger brush...I would need a knot of about (14mm X 1.3) 18mm, with a loft of about (35mm X 1.3) 46mm. Taking that approach, I would pick something like a Simpson Major, a Harvard 1, or maybe a cherry picked fan/high lofted Duke 2.

Any other ideas?

 

[superbleu]

If you want softer look toward Kent or Shavemac. Wait, didn't you just get a Kent???

 

[drumana]

I've tried 5 or 6 Simpson brushes and my favorite is the CH1 in two band super. The knot on the particular specimen that I have is perfect. The CH2 2BS is nice, also. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[AJMiami]

If you want softer look toward Kent or Shavemac. Wait, didn't you just get a Kent???

yep..Kent, and Thater Chubby

But I feel I need another simpson

 

[superbleu]

Just use your 3-band T1 to break it in a little, that will save you some cash.

I can't think of anything that would suit your needs off the top of my head from Simpsons, anyways.

 

[Derty]

I would say a Duke 2 or 3. I had Phil a Bullgoose.com pick me out a wonderful fan shaped Duke 3. It's not a super dense brush like my Eagle G3, Colonel or Commodore but it still has back to it. It really gobbles up lather then gives it up at will. Its the softest brush I have and feels great.

 

[AJMiami]

I would say a Duke 2 or 3. I had Phil a Bullgoose.com pick me out a wonderful fan shaped Duke 3. It's not a super dense brush like my Eagle G3, Colonel or Commodore but it still has back to it. It really gobbles up lather then gives it up at will. Its the softest brush I have and feels great.

thanks

What is the size of the loft of your Duke 3?

 

[Derty]

Let me measure it real quick...

 

[Derty]

Its about a 26x50 and a nice fan. Thats a shot of it with some of my others minus the Eagle. I believe I got the Tulip from you.

 

[AJMiami]

26x50? 50 loft, 26 knot?

 

[Derty]

26x50? 50 loft, 26 knot?

Correct...

 

[AJMiami]

Correct...

Derty, that picture helps me put things in perspective.

Knowing the tulip 2 in your pic, it seems that the knot of the tulip is very close in height to the knot of the Duke. Also, the Duke has a beautiful full bloom, which confirms your description of the brush as having less backbone than the Colonel/and the Eagle.

With that said, I don't think the density of the Duke is less than the Colonel, commodore..but it is probably the knot being set higher on the base or having a longer loft.

I'm thinking a similar duke either 2/3, may be what I'm looking for.

Would you say the knot size of the Duke3 and the Colonel to be similar?

Thanks!

 

[Derty]

My Colonel is a 23x46 knot.

 

[Ignatius]

DUKE 2 in best. If you can get a vendor to pick out a symmetrical, fan shaped knot you will love it.

 

[huntmol]

Duke 2 in Best! Great brush for the price. After that, a Chubby 2 in Two-band.

 

[drumana]

Well, here's a pic of my CH and D brushes. Of the three, the CH1 feels the least dense with the best 'flow through'. The D3 feels pretty densely packed to me, but doesn't hog lather too much at all. As you can see, the loft is different from the pic presented above, which just indicates the variation of these handmade brushes. I'm quite happy with this loft which is more of a fan shape. The CH2 is the most dense of the three and has the least amount of 'flow through'. That being said, I love all three of these beauties. The CH2 has my favorite handle, the CH1 has my favorite knot/loft. The D3 is just an all arounder great brush.

From left to right:

CH1 two band | Duke 3 best | CH 2 two band

 

[Ignatius]

Andrew,

If you could have only one? The versatile DUKE 3, I'm guessing? How does the quality of the Best hair compare, in your opinion?

 

[altshaver]

I have tried a few Simpson brushes myself. I am certain that there is a perfect Simpson brush out there for me. I am also certain that I haven't found one yet. Having stated that, I am sure I can't really give you a recommendation. However, I'll let you know that my eye is occasionally looking at a Simpson Emperor 2 in Three-Band Super Badger and a Simpson Emperor 3 in Three-Band Super Badger. I like the long handles on those brushes. I also like the longer lofts on them because I believe they will make lathering with shaving creams more efficient.

I know your dilemma .

Good luck .

 

[drumana]

Andrew,

If you could have only one? The versatile DUKE 3, I'm guessing? How does the quality of the Best hair compare, in your opinion?

Ignatius - I'd probably pick the CH1 if it really came down to it. I'm just in love with the knot and hair grade on that one. It's perfect - works great with soaps or creams and facelathering. The handle is a little small, so it falls shy of my "The Bestest Most Perfectest Brush" award. But the thing lathers like a dream.

The D3 and CH2 2BS are no slouches and I certainly wouldn't be disappointed if I wound up with either of them as my one and only. I guess I'd pick the D3 over the CH2 for ease of use, but I'd sorely miss the CH2 and cry about it every now and then - in a manly kind of way.

In regards comparing the Best vs. the Two Band grade:

- They are both excellent
- The Best is soft and meaty feeling; the Two Band is ethereal feeling, lighter somehow - less meaty but not less substantial. That's the best that I can explain it.
- The Best has slightly better flow through
- They both lather equally well.
- They both work with soaps and creams equally well.
- The Two Band feels better on the face during face lathering - like a cloud. The best is more like a pillow. A little more feedback.

I prefer the two band but thoroughly enjoy the the Best grade also.

 

[TMH478]

Its about a 26x50 and a nice fan. Thats a shot of it with some of my others minus the Eagle. I believe I got the Tulip from you.

I like my Colonel! I also have a Wee Scot as well, but haven't used it as of yet.