how do brushes from Wet Shaving Products compare to the others?

[snarf]

I have one brush so far. I bought it off Amazon back the first of the year before I had ever heard of this forum or done much research on shaving. At the time I was just looking for the nicest brush I could buy inexpensively, and they had a premium silvertip badger brush for like $50. The little I had read about brushes at the time, everyone seemed to gravitate towards silvertip badger, and that one fit my price range. I've been really happy with it.

I recently decided that I wanted to pick up a second brush to rotate the two. Before I drop more money on the WSP brand (which, from my experience I would do happily) I thought I would check and see if anyone else had used one and see what they thought about them. Has anyone else used one and compared it to some of the other brands...Omega, Semogue, Simpson, or the others?

http://wetshavingproducts.com/

 

[global_dev]

i have a WSP monarch HMW.. i am impressed. it's not overly dense like a Simpson Chubby, but has plenty of density. I have used many of the others mentioned, except TGN silvertips A or otherwise. I liked the WSP HMW enough, i bought 2 more larger knots (not brushes)... haven't tried the two bands or the silvertips from WSP and i know some are hesitant based on the origins of the knot, but i am happy enough with the purchase. I don't know how to argue the origins of the knot. I mean it's likely sourced in the same areas as other manufacturers, but not tied/glued in a german/french/english shop.

the handles for sale look nice enough and the <$50 brush is a 20.5mm in a nice enough handle. 21mm is too small for my tastes and at 54mm loft.. mm. i got nothing, i don't recall the appropriate ratios... someone else could chime in.. i realize it's knot dependent, type, shape, etc.. . the one i mentioned monarch HMW is 23/51 and the other is 20.5/54...

 

[brucered]

Here are my thoughts on WSP brushes, take them for what they are, just my opinion and observations.

WSP is a 3rd party company and put-together brush maker, he's not turning handles or making knots (this is not speculation, it's a fact that). The knots come from China I believe, the handles likely the same. They get re-branded with his logo (which is very spiffy by the way) and then he upcharges his price to make a profit. It's something any or all of us can do, by ordering from TSN or the WSP knot directly.


I have never seen one in person, so it's all based on post/threads etc. They seem to be highly regarded by a few people and some of the over the top reviews and pushing of them by a few on other sites raises some red flags for me. (not ^ global_dev).

If it was me, I'd make my own brush with a TGN or with WSP knot and save the middle man and you can put it any handle you want. I think RV even has the ability to use WSP knots now and that way you are getting a custom made handle to your specs.

If you don't want to go thru the hassle of constructing your own brush with a knot and handle, then for the $60 or so, it may be worth a gamble, but I'm pretty sure they are not $150 brushes like their Amazon MSRP reflects.

For your $50 or so budget, you likely wont' find a top of the line Silvertip, those are going to be $125+. The Vintage Blades ones would be my 1st choice at a silvertip brush now, but they were not around when I bought my fist LiJun on ebay. Likely pieced together too, but cutting out the logo/branding and price is also cheaper. There is an active thread on here, with some very positive experience from a wide number of members.

 

[jazzguy]

I've been turned off by this brand for reasons similar to Bruce. One brush you might consider is an Omega 636. They don't get much attention around here but Omega makes a very soft and luxurious feeling silvertip. The 637 I had was a very well made brush.

 

[Fatboy]

I had a WSP Prince that I got from the BST and thought it was an excellent face lathering badger. I considered it equal in every respect to the Duke 2 I had at the time. The WSP had very good density, was as soft as the Duke in Best, and the handle was solid. The only reason I don't own either of these now, is my desire to downsize to 1 brush, and my Muhle 31k256 synthetic narrowly won out over everything else.

With that said, if I were looking for a very good quality badger today, the WSP Prince would be my one of my first stops for the $60 price tag. IMO, the Simpson was a very nice brush but overpriced comparatively speaking. But I'm cheap, so what do I know...

 

[global_dev]

i am conflicted about WSP products.. on one hand, the knot i enjoy, on the other, the handle aesthetics not so much, but it's exactly like a Kent handle which others like..

the handle is actually pretty solid, no real complaints.. if anything it's the "marketing" of the knot, origin and markup that members like Brucered take issue, i felt odd listening to the "banter" elsewhere, but i think the same about MWF soap . I was never gonna know about the knots unless i took the gamble to buy and see. i wasn't disappointed in the least, ubt it depends on what you are looking for.

there is minimal shedding, almost none after the beginning, but one or 2 here and that's an indication to me of one or 2 things, bad knot or density. it doesn't seem to be bad yet...

i'd be happy to compare whipped dog, tgn, vintage blades to wsp, but i don't have any of them except a 2 band tgn? 18mm that is quite different. and to tell the truth i am pretty much "brushed" out. My SBAD is done..

i wonder if guys like beginnish has tested the WSP knots. they would be more apt to have richer comparisons of details and performance.

 

[global_dev]

btw, during holidays WSP had a promo code for the knots i used to get a discount. I also got the monarch at pre-current price. that was a significant factor for me in taking the chance.

 

[ironfisted]

I just recently picked up a WSP Monarch High Mountain White. I am extremely pleased with it. Two things need to be taken into account: 1) I was previously using a TGN Grade A Silvertip, and 2) I picked it up on the BST for $80. I much prefer it to my ER100 restored with the TGN knot, and I think it was well worth the $80. I can't say if it would have been worth spending the $110 charged on WSP's site, since I don't know how the other brushes in that price range perform. However, I like everything about the handle and the feel and performance of the brush, so I think it was a good score for me. I would not hesitate to recommend it.