TGN Finest vs. Grade A

[cseagren81]

Hello all,
I will be working with the amazing Rudy Vey on creating a new brush for me and am having trouble deciding which knot to use. I'm looking at the TGN 2-band finest vs. silvertip grade A. My question is which do you prefer and why? I already have Rudy's take on the two and just want to see what others think. I work 48hr shifts and this will be my brush for use at work. It will most likely be for face lathering, but may see a bowel from time to time. It will also be used for soap and sometimes creams. Thanks ahead of time for all your input.

 

[Allegrabene]

Hello all,
I will be working with the amazing Rudy Vey on creating a new brush for me and am having trouble deciding which knot to use. I'm looking at the TGN 2-band finest vs. silvertip grade A. My question is which do you prefer and why? I already have Rudy's take on the two and just want to see what others think. I work 48hr shifts and this will be my brush for use at work. It will most likely be for face lathering, but may see a bowel from time to time. It will also be used for soap and sometimes creams. Thanks ahead of time for all your input.

i just had two vintage brushes knotted up by Rudy. One with the 2 band finest and one with the grade a silvertip. I used the grade a silvertip on a bigger brush that I'll be using to bowl lather and it's perfect. Incredibly soft with perfect density, just enough backbone to get the job done and just a bit of scritch with the softness. I had a smaller brush done with the 2 band and it's definitely a bit scritchier but a perfect face latherer with good backbone as well. I could probably bowl lather or face lather with each, the functionality I've labelled them with is more down to the handle size. But the grade a silvertip is worth the extra bucks for what you get in my opinion

 

[cseagren81]

Thanks Allegrabene

 

[taco8slo]

It depends on what you prefer, I prefer the extra backbone, scrub, and tiny scritch that the finest knots offer, I prefer bulb shapes and lower lofts as well.

 

[shaverjoe]

I would go with the Finest, hands down. I have and use both and simply prefer the backbone and scritch of the Finest. My Grade A Silvertip (STA) was soft from the get go and feel luxurious but once the Finest 2 band knot has about 12-15 lathers under its belt, the tips take on a gel like feel. It is a the best knot for the $$ IMO. I would recommend setting the loft b/w 45-48mm for the Finest. Just a wonderful knot.

 

[markh58]

I would go with the Finest, hands down. I have and use both and simply prefer the backbone and scritch of the Finest. My Grade A Silvertip (STA) was soft from the get go and feel luxurious but once the Finest 2 band knot has about 12-15 lathers under its belt, the tips take on a gel like feel. It is a the best knot for the $$ IMO. I would recommend setting the loft b/w 45-48mm for the Finest. Just a wonderful knot.

+1

 

[acissa]

I have a TGN 24 mm finest bulb shape in an RV custom which i love. Great brush.

 

[sgtd]

I can't speak for the silver tip but the finest knots are excellent. I have/had several and they've all been great.

 

[MaxP]

I would go with the Finest, hands down. I have and use both and simply prefer the backbone and scritch of the Finest. My Grade A Silvertip (STA) was soft from the get go and feel luxurious but once the Finest 2 band knot has about 12-15 lathers under its belt, the tips take on a gel like feel. It is a the best knot for the $$ IMO. I would recommend setting the loft b/w 45-48mm for the Finest. Just a wonderful knot.

I fully echo Joe's views. I wouldn't pay anything for a STA, but I'm about to mount a Finest in a vintage butterscotch hanlde.

 

[deruitem]

If you want soft go Grade A with a short loft. If you want good backbone with just a little scritch Finest it is. I like both

 

[blzrfn]

My STA reminds me a lot of Simpson Best when set at a 2:1 ratio, soft, medium backbone and dense. The TGN Finest is a bit scrubbier with a touch of scritch, but not unpleasant as I am sensitive to scritch. They are both good in their own right, it just depends on what you are looking for in a knot.

 

[Big Jim]

I'm addicted to silvertip so you can guess my preference.

I shave with other brushes to keep me aware of how wonderful silvertip is.

 

[Legion]

I'm a face latherer, so the stiffer finest works best for me. Soft brushes are nice for creams, but I like a bit more backbone for face lathering soaps.

 

[jwilock]

I'm a face latherer, so the stiffer finest works best for me. Soft brushes are nice for creams, but I like a bit more backbone for face lathering soaps.

Backbone is not synonymous with scritch, nor is soft the opposite of "having goodd bacckbone". There are plenty of brushes with zero scritch but plenty of backbone.