Short loft, Medium Knot

[bassopotamus]

I've got a couple brushes I like pretty well, a new one I'm kind of meh on, but I'm still looking for the perfect brush. I think I've hit on the formula, but I'm not sure if there is a production brush that meets my specs. I'm a face latherer who uses soaps (mainly arko, occasionally Mama Bear's) and croaps (cella and razorock). Pretty much never creams

What I've got
Vie Long (maybe 161910). My first brush, silvertip. I think it is a 20 mm knot. I mostly like it, but it is pretty floppy. Never see anything about Vie Long, but it is a nice Brush

Truefit & Hill (Which I believe is a rebadged Rooney 1/2). Nice dense knot, maybe a little big. Maybe not. Something off about it, but not by much (that's helpful, right?)

Simpson Commodore XL 2 in best- Recent acquisition. 22mm knot. So far, pretty disappointed. Was thinking this would be perfect, but is kind of scratchy, and doesn't hold enough lather for 3 passes. Am going to keep at it and see if it breaks in better, only used it for 4-5 shaves so far.

So what I'm looking for is something with more backbone than the Vie long, maybe smaller than the T&F, and that makes me happier than the Simpson. I'm thinking something like a 24mm knot and about a 45mm loft, maybe kind of flat across the top. Does this sound like the dimensions of anything out there? Barring that, who could do a custom that wouldn't break the bank?

 

[Useless shaver]

Talking about Vie-Long, here you have a similar brush to yours, 24 mm knot BUT with a shorter loft, 50 mm, which could sort the "floppiness" problem out.

http://www.giftsandcare.com/en/prem...-long-silvertip-shaving-brush-50mm-16510.html

 

[Netzer]

Sounds like you are looking for a 2 band - scrubby but soft. A Rooney Stubby 2 (24/48) or if you want to spend less a WSP Prince (23/46mm) or a VB (rebranded FS I suppose) in either 22 or 24mm knot. Or a TGN knot in a custom handle by Rudy Vey.

 

[cooltide]

D01 shavemac 24x26

 

[Mick]

Don't know what breaking the bank for you would be but my favorite face lathering brush for the past few years has been the Simpsons Duke 2. Not too large that it takes a half a puck of soap to load and it seems to build and release enough later for my typical 4 pass 5th clean up daily shave. I've had a lot of brushes come and go but the Duke 2 has always stuck around.

Typically they are a 21mm knot with 46mm of loft and sort of on the flatish style

 

[edgerunner]

D01 3-band

http://www.shavemac.com/products/Experts/Shaving-Brush-EXPERTS-SELECT.html

 

[bosseb]

D01 3-band

http://www.shavemac.com/products/Experts/Shaving-Brush-EXPERTS-SELECT.html

the source of all good... resistance is truly futile!

 

[bassopotamus]

Thanks guys! I had pondered Shavemac in the past, but never actually priced one out. What I got was near the top of my range, but not beyond the realm of possibility. Might have to drop Rudy a line too. I've been seeing really nice stuff from him lately on the forum

 

[bassopotamus]

Additionally, I'm going to see if the simpson gets better with use. The Vie Long is about 3 years old, and I bought the T&H used, so both are pretty well broken in. It's been a long time since I've actually had a new shaving brush, so maybe some of my gripe is that.

 

[TBoner]

D01 3-band is nice, but I think Shavemac Finest is also very good, better than Simpson Best, and worth a look. 22/48 (ordered...came in at 23/48 measured) fan shape. Tremendous.

 

[bassopotamus]

D01 3-band is nice, but I think Shavemac Finest is also very good, better than Simpson Best, and worth a look. 22/48 (ordered...came in at 23/48 measured) fan shape. Tremendous.

I'm going to give the Simpson a little more time, but I'm pretty disappointed with the softness. The Shavemac leaves me with a dilemma. Given the weak dollar, they are all expensive, and I'll have to decide if I want to compromise on a still expensive brush, or shell out for what seems to be a really expensive brush. But bottom line, you sound pretty happy with your fines then?

 

[TBoner]

I'm going to give the Simpson a little more time, but I'm pretty disappointed with the softness. The Shavemac leaves me with a dilemma. Given the weak dollar, they are all expensive, and I'll have to decide if I want to compromise on a still expensive brush, or shell out for what seems to be a really expensive brush. But bottom line, you sound pretty happy with your fines then?

Yep. I have two Finest brushes. I just got a D01 3-band, the second I've had, and I sold the first one. This one, while good, is not IMO better than my Finest in performance or feel. A bit more backbone but sacrificing flow-through. Both are softer-tipped than the last Simpson Best I had. The weak dollar does hurt, though.

 

[Crag]

I have to plug my 2-band Grosvenor....I absolutley love it!