Which Manchurian to keep?

[Chicago]

I recently bought an almost-new, barely-broken-in Simpson Classic 1 Manchurian off of BST, and was pumped. Then, like a dope, I couldn't leave well enough alone and stumbled onto the Simpson site where I saw that I could get a brand new QEII Jubilee Manchurian for "only" $20 more...before my brain could realize what my hands were doing and put a stop to the madness, I had ordered it and it's on its way.

On the one hand, I love the classic Simpson faux ivory look, and the Classic 1 is already broken in & ready to go. On the other hand, the Jubilee's briar looks fantastic, and the embedded Manx £1 coin in the base is really cool, and I've never had a new high-end brush before. I wish I could keep both, but I can't justify spending that much money on two brushes right now.

If you were in my shoes, and one of the two had to make an appearance on BST, which one would you sell to a better home?

 

[GDCarrington]

I recently bought an almost-new, barely-broken-in Simpson Classic 1 Manchurian off of BST, and was pumped. Then, like a dope, I couldn't leave well enough alone and stumbled onto the Simpson site where I saw that I could get a brand new QEII Jubilee Manchurian for "only" $20 more...before my brain could realize what my hands were doing and put a stop to the madness, I had ordered it and it's on its way.

On the one hand, I love the classic Simpson faux ivory look, and the Classic 1 is already broken in & ready to go. On the other hand, the Jubilee's briar looks fantastic, and the embedded Manx £1 coin in the base is really cool, and I've never had a new high-end brush before. I wish I could keep both, but I can't justify spending that much money on two brushes right now.

If you were in my shoes, and one of the two had to make an appearance on BST, which one would you sell to a better home?

Simple ... keep the Jubilee.

 

[Mick]

I would use them both before deciding.

Keep the one you enjoy using the most, regardless of which one that is. If you can't do that and think you might get rid of the one that you enjoy the most in order to keep the one you think looks the nicest keep them both.

 

[BubblesTGB]

Sounds like you have two Manchurian Candidates (Sorry. I'm stuck at the airport and I'm bored)

will be interesting to see which you choose.

 

[Netzer]

The Jubilee is a medium dense brush in a Duke 2 handle with a relatively long loft making the hair soft on the face despite the slightly more coarse Manchurian grade. The Classic is more dense and shorter lofted...

Decide according to your preferences...

I would keep the Jubilee...

 

[Perished]

Jubilee, it's an amazing brush, and beautiful too.

 

[Crag]

I'd keep the Jubilee...LE and Beautiful Handle...How many Jubilee's have you seen on the BST? I haven't seen a single one...I have seen quite a few Chubby's and Classic 1, (Chubby zero?)...

 

[Whiskey Badger]

Sounds like you have two Manchurian Candidates (Sorry. I'm stuck at the airport and I'm bored)

Got to it before me.

__________________________________________________________

I would use both before making up your mind.... and by make up your mind, of course I mean: keep them both...

 

[P Funk]

The Jubilee is less dense than the Classic. The Jubilee is a limited edition but in reality so is the Classic in Manchurian. While some Classics have shown up on the BST, you cannot get one directly from the Simpsons site (of course you can contact Mark and have a custom order but you cannot simply go to the site and order). Last time I checked there were plenty of Jubilees available directly from the site.
You need to try both and then make your decision. I am out on an island here but I would keep the Classic.

 

[global_dev]

I'd keep the Jubilee...LE and Beautiful Handle...How many Jubilee's have you seen on the BST? I haven't seen a single one...I have seen quite a few Chubby's and Classic 1, (Chubby zero?)...

Ive seen a jubilee at quite the discount on the BST.

 

[NSmalls]

I'd use them both and keep whichever one you end up liking more. It's a hard question to ask before you end up trying them. The classic 1 is pretty dense. I've never tried a jubilee but it does look pretty gorgeous and you know it is gonna be fairly unique.

 

[Tim_McD]

Eat ketchup soup and ramen noodles for two months - and keep both

 

[MaxP]

Eat ketchup soup and ramen noodles for two months - and keep both

+1 for Best Answer

 

[sgtd]

I have a Jubilee that I will not get rid of. It's my only Simpson's brush in fact. I've sold/traded the rest of them.

 

[Chicago]

Sounds like you have two Manchurian Candidates

I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this - it would've been the perfect title for this thread! Well done, sir.

Thanks, all, for taking the time to share your thoughts. At this point, it sounds like the Jubilee might be the keeper, but a test lather or two with both of them will probably be in order to confirm my decision (or further fuel my indecision).

Lather porn pics to come as soon as they both arrive

 

[.soap.]

Not to just be an echo here, but I like to give hardware tie-breakers to the "replaceability" factor.
Both candidates have rarity on their side, but one is truly done being made, the other is not.

If you were desperate to replace the one you sold, in the long run it would be easier to replace the classic.

Good luck and enjoy either way!

 

[djh]

Keep the one which you prefer.

 

[Chicago]

Both brushes arrived a couple weeks ago, but I kept putting off my planned head-to-head challenge for two reasons: first, I wanted a chance to break in the Jubilee so it would be more comparable to the already-broken-in Classic, and second, because I was constantly in a rush that week and kept reaching for the Arko and stiff Omega for quick face lathers.

However, I finally found myself enough time for a leisurely Saturday morning shave. I soaked both brushes for about 15 minutes:

I decided to start with the Classic. I started loading it with DR Harris Marlborough, and after about 10 seconds it started lathering profusely right on the puck, so much so that I picked it up and finished loading over my shaving bowl so the overflowing lather would drop right into it. I added a splash of water into the bowl and started lathering, and very quickly got a thick, rich, velvety lather:

This stuff was like Cool Whip...thick and downright luxurious. And as seen in this pic, there was plenty more where that came from still in the bowl:

Next up, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee brush, same process. This brush is easily the biggest brush I've ever used, and just seemed to devour soap. I loaded it the same way as I did the Classic, and it hardly foamed up on the puck - it just hungrily sucked up all the water and soap:

I splashed a bit of water into the bowl and started lathering, but the Jubilee did not want to let go of its soap. I added more and more water, and ended up with a huge amount of light, pillowy, creamy lather:

After two passes plus a bit of touching up on my chin, I decided to try building a lather using only the soap that was still left in the brush...the result could easily have gotten me through another three-pass shave:

The Jubilee and the Classic side by side, both in full bloom:

Both of them next to the Berkeley in Best:

All in all, I think the Classic and the Jubilee have different enough characteristics that, if money was no object, I would keep them both. But since, sadly, I don't have a rich uncle and/or a trust fund, one of them has to go, and I believe it'll be the Classic. Without a doubt, the Classic has the denser and softer knot, but the Jubilee is so unlike my other brushes...I love the look of the faux briar handle and the coin in the base, and the huge knot. And though it's not as dense as the Classic, it still feels silky and luxurious, and it's probably not even broken in yet.

Thanks again to all who offered their thoughts & advice in response to my original post!

 

[mistercitizen]

Nice brushes.

Ben

 

[Lather]

I just got my first Simpson brush in the mail today and it is a Jubilee brush. Wow! What a beautiful brush. I am not even a monarchist but now I know what all the hype is about. I lathered it up with MWF and it whipped up lather in a jiffy. I can't wait to use it with MDC tomorrow morning.

Chicago, I see your predicament. The Jubilee and the Classic are great brushes. If you want to unload the Classic, shoot me a PM.

Here is some more Jubilee porn along with some MDC:

Jubilee all lathered up:

A bloom shot and back of the brush: