If you are so disappointed with your brush maybe you could contact Simpsons.. I remember Mark was quite active on social media at one point, and you should get some sort of response..
The Simpson 46 Berkeley Thread
- Thread starter wimbouman
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I bought mine last August. For me, I found it soft right out of the box. The brush I owned previously (X3 Commodore) was giving me a pinching sensation which thankfully stopped after a few shaves. By the time I PIF’ed it, it had a little over 100 shaves in the books and was incredibly soft.
I did think about it, but I would give you odds on that they will say it's a handmade product and thus subject to variation, and I can appreciate that's a reasonable statement even if I think they need to work harder to reduce that variation. I can do without the hassle.
I deliberately brought the Berkeley because I didn't want to spend too much for my second foray into Simpsons after my first brush was a chronic shedder. I will just try to enjoy this brush for what it is and be grateful that I only spent £60 instead of £160 on the model I was initially considering.
Ah well, that's good news. Perhaps there is hope for my scratchy little brush after all!
Yes there is definitely hope! Keep using it! Some hand lathers in between shaves followed by gently rubbing the tips on a towel might help as well.I did think about it, but I would give you odds on that they will say it's a handmade product and thus subject to variation, and I can appreciate that's a reasonable statement even if I think they need to work harder to reduce that variation. I can do without the hassle.
I deliberately brought the Berkeley because I didn't want to spend too much for my second foray into Simpsons after my first brush was a chronic shedder. I will just try to enjoy this brush for what it is and be grateful that I only spent £60 instead of £160 on the model I was initially considering.
Ah well, that's good news. Perhaps there is hope for my scratchy little brush after all!
So, as I posted in my journal today after about 6 shaves on the Berkeley...
So, it look like you were right @awk_m4 and the brush is going to soften up a little, which is great. It's fair to say that it's already starting to charm me a little with its lather making capabilities, and far from being too small, I am finding the diminutive dimensions rather to my liking.
It looks like I might end up eating an extra large portion of crow on this one!
So, it look like you were right @awk_m4 and the brush is going to soften up a little, which is great. It's fair to say that it's already starting to charm me a little with its lather making capabilities, and far from being too small, I am finding the diminutive dimensions rather to my liking.
It looks like I might end up eating an extra large portion of crow on this one!
I’m glad to hear that you’re noticing a difference in softness! I’m always amazed at the lather generated by the Berkeley. For me, it’s a keeper!
so impressed I bought another..
They make a nice pair! How many shaves would you estimate that your original has under its belt?
just the one.. but I was so impressed with it that I snatched another while this batch of hair is still available.. I can't fault it.
That "mini-Duke" style looks fantastic indeed!
@Goblin Simpson allows a wide range of brushes to leave the door under the same specification and yours looks scrubbier and less even than most, with lots of upside down hairs clipped with scissors. You never really know what you will get.
You know, I thought that myself and then thought, "No, surely they wouldn't be heavily clipping brushes that are sold as 'Best Badger'? That sort of thing is reserved for really cheap pure badgers."
But apparently they would, and you can definitely see the difference comparing my photo against @Str8_Shaver's photo of his brushes. I have to say, the brush is growing on me because I am enjoying the size of it much more than I expected, and even if I can't use it on my face it lathers up a storm in a bowl. If I had gotten a better example I would probably be head over heels.
Interested to see if @Str8_Shaver's second brush is as good as his first. It seems like I really did draw a short straw, but I am still starting to enjoy my brush for what it is.
I like the grade personally, too, but I have tough skin and like scrub. I also don't want to spend three minutes making a lather when a stuff brush can do it in 90 seconds.
You can see with my Isle of Mann Simpson Best brushes, how they vary, though:
Have you noticed any correlation between price and knot quality within the grade itself? Just looking at your pictures, I am wondering if there might be.
Even if my Berkeley isn't the best example, it is winning me over. It hasn't lost a hair over the past 4 uses, which was my main fear after my first Simpsons experience, and I am enjoying it more and more. I see a Colonel in my future, maybe a 56 or a 57 - if I wasn't in GRUYERE one would probably already be on the way. That's quite a swing given how disappointed I was last week, but like you say, the compensation for the scrub and scritch is how easily the brush lathers up hard soaps - compared to soft-tipped synthetics it's a machine.
I did notice that. I have also noticed it in my Isle of Mann Simpson brushes of other grades. I am not quite ready to draw a conclusion about it, but it does seem plausible that they hand pick cleaner and more even knots for Limited Edition brushes and the brushes at higher price points. I can imagine workers might do so regardless of whether they are specifically instructed to, just out of a natural desire for fairness.
Here is my Berkeley after completing its 57th shave earlier today.
it will be a Saturday shave.. so I will post my findings..
ok, my second brush... the hair is a touch darker, and I noticed some scritch with this one.. but it is 'Best' and it is to be expected when all is said and done.. but man, I do enjoy these 46ers.. 
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- #259
This thread is now 15 years old!
A great testament to the undeniable qualities of the Berkeley.
And a great moment as well to post some pictures of the brush mentioned in the first post:
I am pretty happy with how this brush's handle and knot developed over the years!
A great testament to the undeniable qualities of the Berkeley.
And a great moment as well to post some pictures of the brush mentioned in the first post:
I am pretty happy with how this brush's handle and knot developed over the years!
WOW!! Your brush looks great!!
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