SBAD (Simpson Brush Acquisition Disorder)

[dogslife]

I seem to have caught a case of this. I have been perusing WCS for the last few hours adding and deleting from my cart. There are two I am almost 100% on, which are a Duke 3 and Chubby 2 in Best. I've been contemplating the Colonel X2L in Best and Commodore X3 in Best to round out the lineup.
Any thoughts or input from any of you fine folks that own any or all of the above to help me assemble the team would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

In the past 7 years I have owned 40 plus Simpson brushes, many multiple times buying and selling and buying them back etc. Your two top gut level selections, Duke 3 and Chubby 2 are probably two of the very finest iconic Simpsons. Best wishes to you in your illness. I remain a Simpson owner with a single Duke 3 in Best from the Somerset era of the operation. I have a vintage Butterscotch Simpson made for Abraham & Strauss but it will soon leave my den.

 

[Mick]

I've had a LOT of Simpsons brushes over the years.

Right now I am down to just one

Duke 2

I found the 3 not as nice as the 2.

It's all personal preference. You will run through a LOT of brushes before you settle on a small number of "can't do withouts"

L to R Dukes 1, 2, 3

 

[yellafella321]

The Duke3, Commodore and Colonel are all very similar. I'd go with just one as I expect you'll regret purchasing the others - they're just too similar.

 

[UW_Badger]

If you listen to the company that makes the brushes instead of common folk lore you will find that many of the brushes in the Simpsons line are the same knot set in different handles. You might want to decide what size knot you like, and then look for a longer handled model for bowl lathering and shorter handled model for face lathering, or as a change up. I find the keyhole type handles to be the most comfortable to use, but that is a personal choice.

 

[njpaddy]

I've owned 8 Simpsons. Currently down to 2, a Rover and Duke 1. If I was in the market for a new Simpson, it would probably be a Duke 3, Chubby 2 or 57. If you want a longer handle for bowl lathering, look at the 50's series instead of the Colonel or Commodore.

 

[Westaway]

The Duke 3 and Chubby 2 are probably the two best picks you could have made. I would suggest that instead of buying a third Simpson as you are considering, Changing the Chubby 2 Best to Super (using the cash difference of a third brush). But before I would take my own advice, I would try to research reviews and opinions as to the perceived difference in Best and Super are in the Chubby. The problem is win, win, win...... you can't make a mistake either way. I'm not sure you can feel a great difference in the two grades, especially because of the density of the Chubby knot. I think I read somewhere a while back that the Super might have better flow through.

 

[Dipesh]

I've owned a fair few. Recently it's been as high as around 45 Simpson brushes. The Duke and Chubby are fine brushes but make sure you can see the brush before you buy or ask your kind vendor to pick one out for you.

Now it's close to 19-20. After a clearout and trying other brands, my advice is to choose wisely and keep the variety, you'll be surprised at the comparison.

 

[DTrem5]

I have a Duke 3 best and a Chubby 2 super. Chubby 2 super is my best brush by far. I use hard soaps a lot and face lather. Its awesome. It is a bit big though and I may still get a Chubby 1 super later. The Duke 3 is second from right.

 

[NSmalls]

I've owned a fair few. Recently it's been as high as around 45 Simpson brushes. The Duke and Chubby are fine brushes but make sure you can see the brush before you buy or ask your kind vendor to pick one out for you.

Now it's close to 19-20. After a clearout and trying other brands, my advice is to choose wisely and keep the variety, you'll be surprised at the comparison.

This is great advice. I had a very similar experience. I've tried 13 different Simpsons brushes and kept only 3. Well 2.5 really, considering I ended up having Rudy Vey put a custom knot in my Berkeley B46. And that's out of a 10 brush collection. I think it's important to find a handle, hair grade, and size that works for you. For me it's the Tulip 3 in 2-band Super. I would suggest trying a little bit of everything within the Simpsons brand and then branching out and trying other stuff like Rooney, M&F, Shavemac, etc.

 

[u2u]

Combine two into one, a Jubilee. Enjoy it while contemplating your second Simpson. It is in the a Duke 3 ballpark, with great performance, looks, and features. Resale, if needed, is excellent.

View attachment 375987View attachment 375988

 

[Teddyboy]

Duke 3 and Chubby 2 in best are great choices. You should note that knots can have the same dimensions but be of different densities. Thus, I disagree with the comment that the Colonel 2XL is similar to the Duke 3, as the latter is far more dense.

If you want a smallish but dense brush to round out the D3 and Chubby 2, I would recommend either the Classic 2 in best or the
Chubby 1.

 

[dogslife]

Thanks to all for the advice and input. I greatly appreciated it as well as the pictures provided. I've been looking at pics and searching threads off and on all day, and that, along with the great advice in this thread helped me make my decision.
I have submitted my order to the fine folks at WCS for a Simpsons Chubby 2, Duke 3, and a 58, all in Best Badger. I would still like to add a few more to the lineup eventually and the Colonel, Polo, Emperor, and Harvard caught my eye while trying to decide. Something about the handle shapes intrigues me, but alas I must keep my sanity and my wallet in check.

 

[Dafeldo]

I only have had 1, a recently acquired emperor 1 in super. I chose it as the size fit me beat for face lathering and it is one of the lowest priced supers. Totally awesome brush. The quality in Simpsons definitely shines through!

 

[jtb]

I have a few Simpson brushes, Duke 2, Rover, Commodore X1 (for travel) and my fathers old 59 re-knotted. I face lather exclusively and find that I really love the weight and grip of the Rover. Although the bloom is not as big as the duke 2, I think it's because it's a slightly denser knot. I also have a really big H.L. Thater 49125/3 as well.

 

[MaxP]

@Joseph. If your circumstances permit trying a Simpson in two band, I strongly recommend it.

 

[Teddyboy]

Excellent choices. I love the 58, but did not mention it because I was trying to narrow the field of choices, not expand it further. Have fun.

 

[Useless shaver]

Joseph....

You don't like the Rover handle...?

 

[ben74]

The Duke 3 Best without a doubt is IMO simply THE brush to buy from Simpsons.

The iconic CH2 is a luxurious tool for sure, but somewhat of a lather hog compared to the Duke.

The Rover is a nice handle and another marketing genius from the Carter era (as opposed to an original Simpson design), but it is less densely stuffed compared to the Duke and IMO to it's detriment as it exhibits less backbone and composure in comparison.

If considering something in 2 band or Manchurian, I agree with others, that the Jubilee represents not only a very sound investment choice, but is an outstanding brush especially for the face latherer looking for a soft tipped presentation against the face while maintaining significant backbone and some resistance or sensation against the face. Flow-through is without fault and regardless of opinion in relation to the British Monarchy, it is undeniably an aesthetically pleasing brush. Despite being a touch on the small side, it presents and performs well above it's diminutive stature.

 

[Bill Smith]

My first Simpsons brush is in the mail (A Colonel XL best badger for triple milled soaps and Cella) and I should see it around Wednesday. Is this how it starts?