Shavemac v Simpsons

[R-James]

I have narrowed the christmas present off swwbo [she doesn't know yet] down to 3 brushes. a Simpsons Chubby 3 silvertip, a Simpsons Chubby 3 Manchurian or a Shavemacc 234 cocobolo handle

Anyone got any advice on the direction to run regards value for money etc before I pull the trigger

 

[brianw]

No comparision.... Shavemac all the way

 

[jazzguy]

I just got my first Shavemac with a D01 Silvertip knot. To me it offers a lot more value for the buck than Simpson.

 

[brucered]

another vote for shavemac. I only one 1 right now, but am in the midst of ordering a 2nd.

QC is much better from what I've seen and read with Shavemac. The customization is a HUGE bonus as well.

 

[vocalistbob]

If shavemac made chubbies, I would own a couple.

 

[ridnovir]

If $ is of no concern I would go for Chubby 3 Manchurian - a very special brush indeed

 

[Scritchnscrub]

No comparision.... Shavemac all the way

This.

 

[Samjax]

The Shavemac is going to be considerably cheaper than either of the Simpsons you have mentioned. YMMV...as can be seen by the opinions posted above. For me, if the Shavemac were better, I would own several of them instead of several Simpsons.

 

[brianw]

I used to own about every contemporary Simpson there is. The key word is used. I sold or gave away all except my Somersets. Now as for Shavemac knots I have 5.

The key word is Have.

 

[shave~extacy]

I love my new Shavemac D01 3 band they are incredible knots.

 

[brucered]

I love my new Shavemac D01 3 band they are incredible knots.

that's the one i'm looking to round out my badger clan

 

[Samjax]

Again...it's a case of YMMV.

Shavemac makes a great brush, as does Thater, Rooney and Simpson...and no doubt others. I personally went the Simpson route. If I had found, or find in the future, that the Shavemacs, or any other brush for that matter, are vastly superior to what I currently own, I will spend the $1000 or so to get a few of them. It's a pretty simple thing to do if one chooses to do it.

In the meantime - it's all about opinions - and we all have one.

The true "keywords" here are: opinion and YMMV.

Now that I've used bold letters...my opinion must count more. lol

 

[oakeshott]

Richie
my wife says you best be happy with whatever you get.

The correct way to phrase this question, however, is "which one should I get first?" . That takes the agony out of the decision rather nicely doesn't it?

 

[DanOK]

I have slowly drifted away from Simpson over the years and no longer own any of their products. Of the choices you presented I too would go with the Shavemac, but that's me and I am sure you would enjoy any of the three you listed. Let you wife choose and be surprised.

 

[hedonist222]

Lets disregard "best bang for buck".

Head to head - which is better if they were priced the same.

 

[Mad Man]

I'm very keen to see where this goes - only acquired my first Simpsons recently and don't have a Shavemac so can't contribute...

 

[brucered]

Anyone got any advice on the direction to run regards value for money etc before I pull the trigger

Lets disregard "best bang for buck".

Head to head - which is better if they were priced the same.

The OP is interested in comparing with price being a factor, so we probably should be changing his initial request.

 

[Arcadies]

I'd say Shavemac, more bang for the buck and much better QC from my point of view. As always YMMV but I find Simpson quality to be questionable, I've owned 3 Simpson brushes..a Classic 1, Colonel X2L and Duke 3. The Classic was decent, ended up selling it as it was too small for my taste then I got a Duke 3..great brush. Then the Colonel..the first one I got was a terrible shedder, I figured it would stop in a month or two and it didn't, but it slow down so I kept it. Fast-forward 6 months and it starts getting worse and worse. I contact the vendor and they send a replacement, the replacement had a dry hardened "trickle" of epoxy that oozed out onto the shoulder at some point after they set the knot and it cured there permanently.

I might have been able to chip the epoxy off the handle but you could see it went into the knot and a clump of hair was hardened in the epoxy and I was afraid it might rip out the hair. So..I sent it back and finally I got the 3rd Colonel..no epoxy, no shedding, but the knot was ragged looking, it looked as if a 6 year old formed the knot and the loft was huge for a Colonel (50.45mm) I know they're handmade and can vary (which I honestly think is a hogwash excuse to be sloppy) but the stated Simpson spec for loft is 46mm...seriously..a deviation of over 4mm? Anyway, I sold it..I am keeping my Duke 3 for now but I will never purchase another Simpsons product.

 

[brucered]

....I am keeping my Duke 3 for now but I will never purchase another Simpsons product.

Ha....that's what i'm starting to think (I also have a D3, but use a Case for travel as well). The T2/T3 still tempt me. it's stories like yours and others, that think I best walk away from any more Simpson brushes at this time.

My next new brush purchase will without a doubt, be a D01 3 band Shavemac custom.

 

[Teddyboy]

I have several Simpsons and owned a Shavemac 177/23 Silvertip. The Shavemac was excellent, but I recently gave it to a friend. However, I am waiting for a new one in D01 2-band. The Simpsons are excellent brushes, just don't get too small of a brush. Personally, I think the Chubby 3 is too big, but that's just me.