Simpson's Synthetics - price justified?

[alin]

The only references I found to G5 fibres was here

YAQI Synthetic G4 Shaving Brush BALI

The BALI tips it's hat to the Ever Ready Gillette style brushes of the 30's 40's and 50's. The 24mm knot gives compliments the 51mm tall handle perfectly. Comes with tube box as pictured.

www.thewetshavingco.com

But now they have changed the ad to G4 so it looks like I was misinformed.

Nevertheless I like the brush and knot very much Alin.

Edit: they have Oumo G5 knots available

Thanks for the info.
It seems I guessed right: Bali, Everest, Atlantis and Robin have the same knot (G4 fiber). I had some G4 brushes and I didn't know!
Yaqi China does not give this information about synthetic fibers used in brushes!

 

[Multum in parvo]

Thanks for the info.
It seems I guessed right: Bali, Everest, Atlantis and Robin have the same knot (G4 fiber). I had some G4 brushes and I didn't know!
Yaqi China does not give this information about synthetic fibers used in brushes!

How do you like yours?

 

[alin]

How do you like yours?

I like them very much. But I like Trafalgar T3 a little more, I don't know why!
I'm curious about Ocean 28 mm, possibly G5 fiber ?

 

[Jer78]

It seems I cannot do animal brushes. I loved my old synthetics but they are all very similar with almost no backbone. Most synthetics have very little backbone or scrub. My Chubby 2 synthetic is lovely in that regard.. feels amazing and less in growns as the result of that good scrub. So for me it was well worth the money. JM

 

[Phoenixkh]

I have a G4 26mm brush: the Executive Shaving Co. "Ultimate"... I just love everything about it. It isn't the cheapest, by any stretch so I bought a couple from PAA for travel. The PAA Atomic Rocket is pretty close to the same feel. The Peregrino is a completely different kind of knot... I've only used it once and it doesn't feel as nice.... but it isn't bad, just different. Not as soft.

 

[ChriWilson]

Thanks to you both... I was about to order the T3. I ended up ordering two brushes from PAA instead: the Peregrino and the Atomic Rocket.

If I had the appetite to continue pursuing a synth, this would have been my next move precisely.

I have a T2 and T3, a synth from Stirling and RazoRock Plissofts. From my usage I figure why bother until I absolutely must. I receive such an elevation of performance from my Simpson Besties (and pures), Plisson, and now finding a likening to premium boars, the performance gap just gets wider for me.

To be clear, I’m not championing one over the other. I just haven’t been able to make a solid connection with any of my Synthetics.

Maybe I just need to step up and try a Platinum or Mühle STF

 

[Walleyeb]

The RazoRock - Chrome Silvertip Plissoft Synthetic Shaving Brush has quickly become my favorite brush:

I picked it up a couple weeks ago, paid $19.99 for it minus a ten percent discount, no taxes, free shipping at Pasteur’s. Some find it too heavy, but for me that’s a good thing. It’s therapeutic helps with regaining function and strengthening my right arm and hand! But it’s soft to the face and some good backbone to it!

 

[Acmemfg]

Shavemac, Muhle STF, and Omega EVO synthetics are all superb.
Was not overly impressed with the Simpson Trafalgar.

 

[wimbouman]

I am a HUGE fan of Simpsons and they are basically all I use. Their synthetics make no exception, so I am really unable to compare them to other brands. But I do love them entirely. I own the entire Trafalgar Series (x2) and the Chubby 2 (x2). The Trafalgar costs less because the Sovereign fibers are much easier and less expensive to buy, whereas the Platinum fibers are a premium option, hence price point reflects. All in all none of them is truly expensive I would say: Trafalgar brushes range between €28 and €38, while the Chubby 2 is priced €98 here in Italy. Are they worth having? Well, to me ABSOLUTELY YES. On many of my preferred soaps they seem to perform better than their badger counterparts costing a lot more.

I'll second that, @Marco63

For the price, my Trafalgar T2 is really hard to beat.
And the synthetic Chubbies 2 are a nice addition.
Both fibres are quite effective; as you say they are great performers.

 

[oscar11]

I bought a used Chubby 2 synthetic and played around with it quite a bit and ended up relofting it. I've found other brushes (knots) I prefer.

 

[Doc Dan]

Why is Simpson moving away from the highly thought of Platinum Fiber towards the Sovereign Grade Fiber? Are they having problems sourcing the Platinum fiber? Is the Sovereign just as good?

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Why is Simpson moving away from the highly thought of Platinum Fiber towards the Sovereign Grade Fiber? Are they having problems sourcing the Platinum fiber? Is the Sovereign just as good?

I am not sure they are moving away from the Platinum fibre, I suspect the huge success of the Trafalgar series has proven the demand for a budget synthetic Simpson brush and they are meeting that demand by using the Sovereign fibre in their traditional handle shapes. I doubt there are plans to discontinue the Platinum fibre there is simply less demand for premium priced synthetics. I have not used the Sovereign fibre but I have an early Platinum fibre Chubby 2 Synthetic Badger (not synthetic bristle) which is lofted at 54mm compared to the current 50mm and it is superb and well worth every penny. It is the only synthetic brush I would consider owning.

 

[Phoenixkh]

It's interesting.. reading my posts from a few months ago. I went on a brush journey for quite a few months there. My opinions have changed.

I've narrowed down my synth brush preferences to three: my original ESC Ultimate G4 is still my favorite handle and I continue to enjoy its feel, the Omega Evo and a newly acquired FB group buy brush from Alpha Shaving with his G5"D" knot. It feels very similar to the G4 knot for me.

The other synths I have or had but don't enjoy all that much are the Maseto 28mm, Simpson Trafalgar T3, Atomic Rocket, Peregrino. I think that's it.

I've also explored the mixed knot world. I just love the Semogue Owner's Club Mistura brushes. I'd put them against any synth I own and they'd come out just slightly on top.

Then boars and badgers. I have some very fine examples of both.

 

[Kyle89]

Wow, looked back on my old post from this thread and my opinion changed a bit.

My original post was about my T2 and my Duke 3 synth, but since then I've acquired an M7 synthetic and it's turned into my #1. It's the first synthetic where I wholeheartedly feel like I can make the switch to 100% synthetic, for whatever reason. Not that I ever will.

T2- yes worth every penny. D3 synth- for me, no. M7 (with that little bit of extra loft)- still expensive but time heals all wounds. Found the grail.

 

[Doc Dan]

I am not sure they are moving away from the Platinum fibre, I suspect the huge success of the Trafalgar series has proven the demand for a budget synthetic Simpson brush and they are meeting that demand by using the Sovereign fibre in their traditional handle shapes. I doubt there are plans to discontinue the Platinum fibre there is simply less demand for premium priced synthetics. I have not used the Sovereign fibre but I have an early Platinum fibre Chubby 2 Synthetic Badger (not synthetic bristle) which is lofted at 54mm compared to the current 50mm and it is superb and well worth every penny. It is the only synthetic brush I would consider owning.

On their website on one special edition Chubby remains with platinum fiber.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

On their website on one special edition Chubby remains with platinum fiber.

The M7, Duke 3, and Classic 1 are also available in Platinum fibre on the Simpson website right now. Like any business, Simpson will no doubt produce whatever the market demands and currently there is high demand for inexpensive synthetic brushes to compete with Yaqi etc. hence the large number of Sovereign models. I do not interpret that as 'moving away from Platinum', but you are free to do so and may very well be correct; perhaps Mark Watterson @A.E. Simpson 1919 would like to comment

 

[Doc Dan]

You might be correct. Or, perhaps they are going to limit it to specific models? I don't know. I guess we will see. You are probably correct in that they are going with what the market wants. I am glad to see that there are still some models with the Platinum. I missed the M7's, somehow.

 

[bigbrucefan]

I've got a T3 and still prefer the Razorock Monster for my synthetic brush.

Razorock Bruce and BigBruce are hard to beat at any price. I'm almost exclusively a badger user now, but I started as a BigBruceFan!