Semogue SOC finally here!

[Teppanyaki]

Well, I finally received my Semogue SOC from Vintage Scent today. Great price (especially with the coupon), but had I known that it would take this long I would have spent another $5-10 from a US distributor for faster shipping. Ordered 11/3, email documenting that it was shipped 11/10. Arrived today 11/22.

My only other boar is the B&B Essentials (purple). The SOC has a nice wooden handle, had a little "boar" scent but nothing particularly offensive, and feels a little scratchy but otherwise feels like a nice boar brush comparable to the Omega knot in the B&B Essentials.

Keep in mind that this is a new brush that has not had a chance to split on the ends or break in. I expect it to have lovely soft tips after breaking in, at which point I expect it to be at least as good as my B&B brush. We'll see.

Looking promising at this point.

I will admit at some point I may see if anyone would be willing to take the knot out and put it into a custom handle. But that's for another day . . .

 

[The Accountant]

I have had mine since October 19th and it is just beginning to break in. I really like the size for bowl lathering and the face feel gets better on a daily basis. I cannot wait until it is completely broken in.

You should post your thoughts on the brush in a month or so.

 

[Luecke2326]

I'll be ordering an OC this week! I can't wait until it gets here! I'd love to hear more about your experience.

 

[Teppanyaki]

Shave #2 with my SOC - I really like it! It feels bigger than my B&B brush. Where my B&B is more of a "face latherer" where I can direct the lather, the SOC feels more like a huge brush that just covers everything. I actually like that. It takes a wee bit of caution when applying under my nose or at the top of my sideburns, but no problems.

The tips feel fairly soft to me for a new boar - when it gets broken in, this brush should feel lovely. Has that nice boar "massage" feel (due to the good backbone) on my face.

The handle works well and feels comfortable. I can't say that I love the wooden handle, since I don't particularly care for it. A future project would be to see if I can get a custom handle for it.

I forgot - it lathers very well. I'm using it with Stirling's Vanilla Tangerine - quickly makes a nice creamy lather.

It's nice to order something that really fits into my collection and rotation. I only have 3 brushes currently (this, B&B Essential boar in purple, and Muhle silvertip fiber), and I'm pretty happy with it. I am curious as to what a "real" badger would feel like, but that's for another day.

Too long, didn't read? Semogue SOC boar = great brush.

 

[musicman1951]

Congratulations. I just got one with an ash handle to keep my cherry SOC company. It will take about a month to break in completely, but will work fine from day one. It has relegated my B&B to twice a month use. You're going to love it.

 

[SocalRick]

The SOC softens up wonderfully, but doesn't lose backbone. It's a great brush, which I use to lather both creams and soaps. A lot of people like to face lather with it. I've done it, but prefer a smaller brush for face lathering. It blooms quite a bit. Mine sort of looks like Albert Einstein!

 

[5Cantonas]

I love the SOC. It's an excellent brush, particularly when broke in. Enjoy.

 

[Senshi]

I got the Semogue 2000 and am very happy with it. Everyone always talks about the SOC so much that I feel I have to order it.

In one review the 2000 seemed to be a bowl lathering brush while the SOC seemed to be more geared for face lathering. Do you feel that it's going to be better for face lathering once the tips split? Or is it just too big?

Also, pics or it didn't happen

 

[demaro]

I have a Semogue 2000 that I use for face lathering . It is a few years old and fully broken in and has splayed out a bit. It feels wonderful.. The Mrs is getting me 2 SOC brushes for Christmas , one in ash and one in cherry. I also cannot wait to add one of them into my rotation , [ I am keeping one as a spare].

I got the Semogue 2000 and am very happy with it. Everyone always talks about the SOC so much that I feel I have to order it.

In one review the 2000 seemed to be a bowl lathering brush while the SOC seemed to be more geared for face lathering. Do you feel that it's going to be better for face lathering once the tips split? Or is it just too big?

Also, pics or it didn't happen

 

[Teppanyaki]

No pics yet, but I can get some.

I've read mixed reviews on it for face lathering, and I suspect this has to do with the size. As for bristle feel, it feels like a boar - nice backbone, massage-ish feel on the face, cuts into soaps well (at least the soft ones I use), and when the tips split should be nicely soft although it's pretty soft and certainly a nice feel even now.

It feels like a large mop of boar bristles attacking my face. In a good way. I enjoy this (so far!) and like the idea of a huge lathery mop as opposed to a smaller brush where it may be more precise. It feels like the difference between a bite of steak and a large bite of steak with juice dribbling down your chin. Obviously, the steak in question is hardwood grilled over hickory or mesquite, seared on the outside, and pink on the inside with lots of juice. And there's a baked potato with extra butter, and a nice salad or some grilled asparagus, and . . . anyway . . .

If I had to summarize, the SOC is "Boar brush - go big or go home!"

 

[TripleG]

I'm am breaking in a SOC boar after using an Omega 20102 for quite some time. The SOC is so nice and soft but has some good backbone for face lathering. Have fun chewing on that steak!

 

[Teppanyaki]

OK, pics . . . and completely gratuitous cat photos. Shots included my GEM and fat handled 7 O' Clock for size comparisons. And because the replated 7 O' Clock is cool to look at.

Back to the shaving brushes - the Muhle is 21 mm, small, maneuverable, corners well, lathers well, and has that velvety feel. The B&B doesn't splay much so it doesn't feel like a huge brush, nice backbone, and soft massagey tips. The SOC is definitely bigger (I didn't realize how much bigger until I took the photos!) but otherwise feels like the B&B. If the SOC blooms it's going to feel even bigger. Dang.

I do wish you could get different handles for the SOC.

 

[The Accountant]

IMHO the SOC is the perfect size for bowl lathering; a bit large for face lathering. It certainly could be used for face lathering but is a bit large for that; much better suited to bowl lathering. IMHO.

 

[RobW]

No pics yet, but I can get some.

I've read mixed reviews on it for face lathering, and I suspect this has to do with the size. As for bristle feel, it feels like a boar - nice backbone, massage-ish feel on the face, cuts into soaps well (at least the soft ones I use), and when the tips split should be nicely soft although it's pretty soft and certainly a nice feel even now.

It feels like a large mop of boar bristles attacking my face. In a good way. I enjoy this (so far!) and like the idea of a huge lathery mop as opposed to a smaller brush where it may be more precise. It feels like the difference between a bite of steak and a large bite of steak with juice dribbling down your chin. Obviously, the steak in question is hardwood grilled over hickory or mesquite, seared on the outside, and pink on the inside with lots of juice. And there's a baked potato with extra butter, and a nice salad or some grilled asparagus, and . . . anyway . . .

If I had to summarize, the SOC is "Boar brush - go big or go home!"

Hope you like your new OC!

However...I don't see these bolded statements as being very consistent - "moppy" brushes are usually deficient in backbone, no? I completely agree with the "feels like a mop" comment though. The OC in my den has been there since about June and has ~20-25 shaves on it so far and I think it is going to end up on the BST...the handle is expertly crafted with significant weight, but the knot is not for me. Too big (yes, I'm mostly a face-latherer) and the flow is awkward when splayed out because of that moppiness.

Like others, I'm eager to hear your comments about your new brush as you get more uses out of it, I do hope that it lives up to all the hype!

But now, I'm very hungry for some reason...

 

[SteveWY]

I'm glad to find this thread. I just recently got a cherry SOC from a member here via the BST. I have wanted one for awhile. I have an 1800, a 2030B, and the Italian Barber LE "1305-Tricolore). I also have two B&B Essential boars. The first thing I noticed that compared to my other brushes the SOC is quite large. I am a face-latherer and use soaps 90% of the time. I am wondering if I should use the SOC for bowl-lathering or just add it it my face-lather rotation. The SOC just seems so big. Has anyone else had this decision or have any thoughts?

 

[RobW]

I'm glad to find this thread. I just recently got a cherry SOC from a member here via the BST. I have wanted one for awhile. I have an 1800, a 2030B, and the Italian Barber LE "1305-Tricolore). I also have two B&B Essential boars. The first thing I noticed that compared to my other brushes the SOC is quite large. I am a face-latherer and use soaps 90% of the time. I am wondering if I should use the SOC for bowl-lathering or just add it it my face-lather rotation. The SOC just seems so big. Has anyone else had this decision or have any thoughts?

The OC is definitely one big pig!

It is versatile enough to use either way, kinda depends on what you like to get out of face-lathering. Once you start splaying the knot of the OC, it tends to be a bit messy with lather application...you won't be complaining about it being a lather hog, certainly. I'm not a big person though...I have small-ish hands and a small, round face with some sideburns to boot, so there isn't a ton of "real estate" for me to apply lather, so I prefer smaller knots that allow me to be more precise. I would think this brush would be phenomenal for those that shave their heads though.

 

[SteveWY]

The OC is definitely one big pig!

It is versatile enough to use either way, kinda depends on what you like to get out of face-lathering. Once you start splaying the knot of the OC, it tends to be a bit messy with lather application...you won't be complaining about it being a lather hog, certainly. I'm not a big person though...I have small-ish hands and a small, round face with some sideburns to boot, so there isn't a ton of "real estate" for me to apply lather, so I prefer smaller knots that allow me to be more precise. I would think this brush would be phenomenal for those that shave their heads though.

Good advice. I think I will give the SOC a good run both for ace and bowl lathering. I don't have much hair on the dome anymore and if I ever become a head shaver I will keep the SOC in mind. I don't think my wife would approve and I'm not really looking to sleep outside.

 

[RobW]

Good advice. I think I will give the SOC a good run both for ace and bowl lathering. I don't have much hair on the dome anymore and if I ever become a head shaver I will keep the SOC in mind. I don't think my wife would approve and I'm not really looking to sleep outside.

Definitely not in a Wyoming winter! Brrrrr!!

 

[Jarick]

If they made a SOC at 50-52mm loft I'd love that for face lathering. I like my Omega boar but it's just a tad long and I'd like a bit more splay. Then again, maybe the 830 would solve all those issues.

 

[Teppanyaki]

it feels like a boar - nice backbone . . . It feels like a large mop of boar bristles attacking my face. In a good way.

Sorry for the confusion. I find the brush to have good backbone, like my other boar brush. When I call it a "mop", I'm referring to its size - there's a lot of brush coming at you, and that's the analogy I was trying to get across. I certainly don't find it floppy at all.

As it blooms, that may change (I have read in some cases the SOC loses some backbone over time), but I hope not - I find that backbone combined with soft tips to really encapsulate what I enjoy about the brush (and the B&B Essentials).