Simpsons, or Rooney, or...

[Mpugh77]

Okay, I currently have a SR3122, a Simpsons Ehsan, and a T&H (Vulfix) mini that is entirely too small; nevertheless, I love the softness of the Saville Row and the backbone of the 2 band Ehsan...So, what are some suggestions for a nice brush to compliment these for around $100 or less? I really want something that is great as a travel brush (for fitting in a tube), but I want a knot of at least 20 and a total height of 85 to 100 mm. Currently looking at a T1, a Berkely, and some others. I use both soaps and creams at home, but I am more likely to use cream when travelling ( I have some shave sticks but I am not a great face latherer).

[Ignatius]

A Simpson in best. The current best hair is amazing.

[Marco]

A Simpson in best. The current best hair is amazing.

+1,000,000:thumbup1:
That is exactly what I think, too.

[drumana]

I vote for a Rooney brush. You've already got a good Simpson. Rooney brushes are real sweet. A 1/1 could easily be a travel brush.

[huntmol]

A Simpson in best. The current best hair is amazing.

+1,000,000:thumbup1:
That is exactly what I think, too.
May I suggest the Duke 2 in Best? I think it would be the perfect brush to go between the softness of your Silvertip and the backbone of your Two-band.

[Mpugh77]

I interestingly enough, I just emailed a vendor inquiring about the Duke 2.

[Uncle Erik]

Give Rooney a try. They're wonderful brushes.

[djh]

You could certainly do worse than picking up a Duke2 in Best and your budget would also allow for a Case in Pure. Badger and Hone (one of the B+B Vendors) have an offer on Simpson's brushes at the moment and I have just purchased these two brushes from them. So far, I am very impressed!

[kwsher]

Give Rooney a try. They're wonderful brushes.I just got a Rooney 3/1 super silvertip and I couldn't possibly write enough good things about this brush. It has a lathering mind of its own (you literally couldn't produce poor lather), fantastic quality and perhaps most importantly feels great!

Works equally great with soaps and/or creams and has great body while still soft. Perfect.

[Mpugh77]

I pulled the trigger on a Duke 2 from Phil @ Bullgoose. Thanks for all of the input.:thumbup1:

[Obiwan]

[QUOTE=Mpugh77;2283321]I pulled the trigger on a Duke 2 from Phil @ Bullgoose. QUOTE]

Congrats. Just got the same brush in myself and couldn't be happier. I think you'll be pleased.

[dwestenk]

... Rooney brushes are real sweet. ...


Give Rooney a try. They're wonderful brushes.


I just got a Rooney ... Perfect.

+1,000,000 :thumbup:

[mretzloff]

Rooney, Saville Row, or Shavemac. I have heard too many horror stories about Simpson's quality control issues.

[beginish]

Rooney, Saville Row, or Shavemac. I have heard too many horror stories about Simpson's quality control issues.

I have purchased 3 Simpsons in the last 6 months and none have dropped a single hair. Whatever QC issues Vulfix may have had after the acquisition seem to have been ironed out.

[solar]

My personal experiences with both Rooney and Simpson would lead me to buy another Simpson.

C

[ScYcS]

I have purchased 3 Simpsons in the last 6 months and none have dropped a single hair. Whatever QC issues Vulfix may have had after the acquisition seem to have been ironed out.

No it's not ironed out. Just yesterday i received a Simpson "Duke 2" and the bulb looks like some 6 year old cut it with a butter knife. It has a hole in it, where the bristles are about 1cm (!!! i kid you not here !!!) shorter than everywhere else, the bulb shape is really not even close to a bulb shape but more uneven than anything else. Needless to say, this brush should have never made it past QC.

[beginish]

No it's not ironed out. Just yesterday i received a Simpson "Duke 2" and the bulb looks like some 6 year old cut it with a butter knife. It has a hole in it, where the bristles are about 1cm (!!! i kid you not here !!!) shorter than everywhere else, the bulb shape is really not even close to a bulb shape but more uneven than anything else. Needless to say, this brush should have never made it past QC.

Any idea whether it was older new stock (talk about an oxymoron) or recent production? Having had shedding Rooneys, and read about bum Shavemacs, it seems to be a risk with any handcrafted product like these brushes are. The most important thing is to pick whatever brush the OP would like, but get it from a reputable vendor that is responsive and stands behind the product. Hopefully, you can get your Duke replaced without any muss or fuss.

[ScYcS]

I assume new stock as it came from a Vendor that advertises Simpson brushes at a discount price here on these boards and he seems to have good connections to Simpson, where i assume he got new batches of their brushes also.

Examples of my brush:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Kz-odx5ke_c/TF7nh7br2MI/AAAAAAAACw8/x7KW_6kjfxA/s800/DSC_0215.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Kz-odx5ke_c/TF7niqyVOMI/AAAAAAAACxA/S6H02Xq6YLc/s800/DSC_0217.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Kz-odx5ke_c/TF7niwUm9YI/AAAAAAAACxE/EjuPN-ZI5b0/s800/DSC_0219.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Kz-odx5ke_c/TF7njy0l4II/AAAAAAAACxI/0yt8wiNh2Yc/s800/DSC_0220.JPG

Please realize that it's kinda hard to take a photograph of such a flaw due to the density of bristles in the brush. It looks WAY worse in person than it appears on the pictures. I usually don't mind small flaws and such but this goes just WAY too far and is out of line for a $80-$100 brush!

[beginish]

I agree, that ain't right. It's a hassle to deal with, but a good B&B vendor will take care of it. When I had my bad Rooney, the vendor was great.

[ScYcS]

I agree, that ain't right. It's a hassle to deal with, but a good B&B vendor will take care of it. When I had my bad Rooney, the vendor was great.

Well, the Vendor offered me a rebate for my brush as he couldn't take it back since i soaked it already once (flaw showed up only after the first bloom, otherwise i would have never even soaked it in first place, brush looked fine un-bloomed). Not ideal because i rather would've had a brush without this flaw but a rebate is better than nothing I assume.

[Simpson Shaving Brushes]

Disappointed to see & hear this.

Naturally we'll replace either through the vendor or directly should the vendor choose not to back up.

I think your quote "(flaw showed up only after the first bloom, otherwise i would have never even soaked it in first place, brush looked fine un-bloomed)." gives away some of the problems we face when we are hand tying knots in one off brushes. We certainly don't soak our brushes before shipping ... :001_smile That said, I'm surprised this one slipped through as was.

Please get in touch should you struggle with the vendor.

Best regards,

Mark


Well, the Vendor offered me a rebate for my brush as he couldn't take it back since i soaked it already once (flaw showed up only after the first bloom, otherwise i would have never even soaked it in first place, brush looked fine un-bloomed). Not ideal because i rather would've had a brush without this flaw but a rebate is better than nothing I assume.

[Mpugh77]

Bravo for Mark and Simpson! Let me say that my Duke 2 is wonderful and Phil picked me a winner. Used it today with some of mretzloff's Queen Charlotte lavender for a DDFS. Grazie to Marco who told me how great the Simpson's best hair is.:thumbup1:

[ScYcS]

Disappointed to see & hear this.

Naturally we'll replace either through the vendor or directly should the vendor choose not to back up.

I think your quote "(flaw showed up only after the first bloom, otherwise i would have never even soaked it in first place, brush looked fine un-bloomed)." gives away some of the problems we face when we are hand tying knots in one off brushes. We certainly don't soak our brushes before shipping ... :001_smile That said, I'm surprised this one slipped through as was.

Please get in touch should you struggle with the vendor.

Best regards,

Mark

Mark, i sent you a PM.

[huntmol]

I have found that all of the newer Simpsons brushes have been of the highest quality, glad to hear that they are standing behind their product.

[altshaver]

The Simpson brushes under Vulfix are great. I own two of them and am happy. I believe the earlier run of the Vulfix Simpson brushes had issues with knot shape. I ended up having to send one back to a vendor and have it replaced. Also, the stickers are of really good quality :biggrin1:.

I would like to see the brushes return to a more fan-styled knot shape. Also, I would like to see the laser etching a little larger (and maybe filled with lamp black too :biggrin1:). Extra care to ensure the sticker does not overlap a finger ridge (i.e on the Chubby brushes) would be excellent as well.

All in all, the new Simpson's are good stuff and are definitely recommended. :thumbup: