Custom Shavemac Questions...

[sphiny]

Ok, so I dropped Bernd a line today inquiring about his custom brushes. So, here are my questions for you guys that have done something similar:

1) is he pretty responsive and easy to get in touch with for the most part??

2) how long did the whole process take from order to delivery??

3) if I'm not getting a fancy handle or restuffing an old one, about how much can I expect to pay for a 23-24mm knot, 50-52mm loft with D01 silvertip??

4) is Bernd receptive to non-bulb style brushes, or at least not as intensely bulb-shaped as his normal Shavemacs??......This isn't a huge hang-up, just thought I'd ask.

5) How does the payment process usually work??? paypal??? other??

Thanks ahead of time for any help you can give.

[blade08]

2) 1,5 week for me from ordering to delivery. Remember that I live in Holland.

[sphiny]

2) 1,5 week for me from ordering to delivery. Remember that I live in Holland.

Wow, that must mean that he makes these guys pretty quickly. Obviously, shipping might take a little longer for CONUS, but it couldn't be too much longer.

[blade08]

Bernd is great guy to deal with. Don't worry, you can safely order from him. Creditcard payments are accepted.

[lsbrodsky]

1) is he pretty responsive and easy to get in touch with for the most part??
Extremely
2) how long did the whole process take from order to delivery??
Just a week to CONUS. he uses FEDEX
3) if I'm not getting a fancy handle or restuffing an old one, about how much can I expect to pay for a 23-24mm knot, 50-52mm loft with D01 silvertip??
I would guess about $150
4) is Bernd receptive to non-bulb style brushes, or at least not as intensely bulb-shaped as his normal Shavemacs??......This isn't a huge hang-up, just thought I'd ask.
Don't know
5) How does the payment process usually work??? paypal??? other??
Credit Card

[biomesh]

1) Pretty responsive, especially considering timezone differences
2) I'd say a few days to a week or two depending on the request
3) Guessing ~$150
4) He will make it bulb or fan shaped, your choice
5) You submit it through his website and he will give you directions

[vior]

1) Yes, although you have to be patient. He is basically a one man operation, but tries his best to answer his emails in a timely manner. He is very friendly and great person.
2)My first custom, after ordering and paying for took only one week to arrive.
3)Around 150
4) He can customize the knot and loft shape to your preference.
5) I used paypal last time I ordered.

If you do end up getting this brush, your going to have one of the best brushes available.

[jkh]

1) Pretty responsive, especially considering timezone differences
2) I'd say a few days to a week or two depending on the request
3) Guessing ~$150
4) He will make it bulb or fan shaped, your choice
5) You submit it through his website and he will give you directions


1) Yes, although you have to be patient. He is basically a one man operation, but tries his best to answer his emails in a timely manner. He is very friendly and great person.
2)My first custom, after ordering and paying for took only one week to arrive.
3)Around 150
4) He can customize the knot and loft shape to your preference.
5) I used paypal last time I ordered.

If you do end up getting this brush, your going to have one of the best brushes available.


biomesh and vior are spot on.

I do have one thing to add. I sent Bernd an email merely requesting a price quote for a custom brush, two weeks later he sends be an email with a link to an already made custom brush that I can purchase from his website. Not that it was a big deal because the brush was too irresistible to pass up, but I was a bit surprised that there was no initial communication regarding a price quote.

[Deftim13]

Someday I will get a Shavemac. The customer service stories I hear make the price a lot easier to swallow.

[huntmol]

+1 to everything that's been said

1) Bernd is pretty responsive, but sometimes he has taken a few days to answer emails.
2) Mine took about 2 1/2 weeks
3) I honestly don't think as expensive as the others said, especially if you don't get a fancy handle - mine was $150 and was custom genuine buffalo horn (21mm knot, 50mm loft)
4) Go for the bulb, unless you truly hate that shape. For me at least, it provides the perfect amount of backbone, and also won't splay out on your face as much, making it easier to face-lather.
5) I paid by credit card

Honestly, a Custom Shavemac is the one brush I think I could recommend to every single person on this forum. I really cannot speak highly enough of those brushes. Absolutely perfect softness, density, and backbone.

And if you don't like it, it will sell in 10 seconds flat on the B/S/T!

[sphiny]

While I think I missed him with my last email (since I haven't heard back, and there is a huge time difference between here and Germany), I went ahead and asked for a 50mm loft, 23mm knot in D01with the handle of the SB1-167 series brush.

When I get it, I'll post pics.

[knlgskr]

biomesh and vior are spot on.

I do have one thing to add. I sent Bernd an email merely requesting a price quote for a custom brush, two weeks later he sends be an email with a link to an already made custom brush that I can purchase from his website. Not that it was a big deal because the brush was too irresistible to pass up, but I was a bit surprised that there was no initial communication regarding a price quote.

How much was that brush?

Richard

[mjmallon]

Ok, another question for the custom shavemac owners out there,

1, does bernd have a grade of silvertip similar to the rooney "Finest" hair?
2, does he have a direct e-mail address?

I sent an inquiry through the website contact form, but haven't heard back yet.

Thanks everyone, cheers!

-- michael

[Mr. Todd]

A little off topic, but a quick questions for you guys. Are the shavemac classic lightbulb loft very floppy?

[huntmol]

Ok, another question for the custom shavemac owners out there,
1, does bernd have a grade of silvertip similar to the rooney "Finest" hair?
2, does he have a direct e-mail address?
I sent an inquiry through the website contact form, but haven't heard back yet.


1 - Don't know, never used a Rooney Finest
2 - Maybe, I just used the email that is listed on the website


A little off topic, but a quick questions for you guys. Are the shavemac classic lightbulb loft very floppy?

Nope. I had a 22579 and it was great. Very soft but the bulb shape gives it a good amount of backbone.

[yomuppet]

He does not (as far as I'm aware) have a 2-band grade similar to Rooney Finest.

Vulfix/Simpson may be doing one again soon... we'll see.

Cheers.

J

[mjmallon]

Thanks for the input.

Can anyone explain the differences between his regular "silvertip" and his special "D01" silvertip hair?

cheers.

-- michael

[MasterP]

I believe the D01 is softer and more resilient than ther regular silvertip. Keep in mind when you order a custom brush from Bernd, you will need to specify that you want it extra dense - which is also a big factor in the brush charasteristics.

[vior]

Ok, another question for the custom shavemac owners out there,

1, does bernd have a grade of silvertip similar to the rooney "Finest" hair?
2, does he have a direct e-mail address?

I sent an inquiry through the website contact form, but haven't heard back yet.

Thanks everyone, cheers!

-- michael

Bernd used to offer a grade of hair similar to the two band Rooney finest, but that was around three years ago. I never got the chance to get one of these brushes.:frown:

Here is a pic taken by a B&B member of a pre-06 Shavemac:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj69/j8pantoja/shavemac2band.jpg

[huntmol]

Can anyone explain the differences between his regular "silvertip" and his special "D01" silvertip hair?


My D01 brush (compared to my silvertip brush) was actually a slightly flatter bulb shape, and was much, MUCH denser. Still very soft, but not cloudlike-soft like the standard silvertip is.

[SRock]

Bernd and Shavemac are amazing. Their customer service is amazing. You can't go wrong with a Shavemac and dealing with Bernd!

[MasterP]

Regarding the above picture that Vior has posted, which has more back bone? A bulb like the in the pic or a flatter bulb or a fan shape? That is if one is to comapre just the bulb shape. I know that other factors such as density, hair type, and loft length also contributes to it.

[kw*]

@MasterP: in the picture you can draw a close comparison between the models. Having a wide range of experience I've simply bought it all. :biggrin1:

My Shavemac is a custom model designed with the online-creator (silvertip, 23mm knot, regular density). It's density is not as strange as the Emillion but you will have a good feed back so you can use it with soap or cream likewise.

http://up.picr.de/1710426.jpg

[jkh]

How much was that brush?

Richard

$140, shipped to the US from Germany ... right in line with his other brush prices for what I was ordering.

[RoyalKooparillo]

Not much that I can add that knowledgeable members haven't already touched on...

First of all, don't fret. If you decide to get a custom brush from Shavemac, it's going to be a sweet brush, worth every penny and every moment you wait for it. I say go for it, and don't look back!

I bought a handle and had it shipped to Bernd, so my process was quite a bit longer. However, as soon as Bernd had the handle in his hands, it took him no longer than a week to get it to me. I had a time constraint and asked if I could get the brush sent as quickly as possible, and I received the brush in the mail two days later. Very impressive!

In my experience, Bernd was occasionally tough to get in touch with, but I think that has to do with how busy he is and how many emails he gets a day. But he is a very professional and efficient guy. His work is just phenomenal. And I'm a huge fan of his D01 knot... :biggrin:

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=14956


http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=14957

[MasterP]

I know Shavemac is and dealing with Bernd will be great! I also know that if anyhting goes wrong he will go out of his way to make it right. If I get a shavemac I narrowed it down to a 21mm or a 23mm, in D01 and with a loft below 50mm. The only other thing is to decide what shape the loft should be. If I am getting a shavemac, it should be a bulb, but there seems to be different types of bulb. I want the one that gives the most backbone.

[RoyalKooparillo]

I know Shavemac is and dealing with Bernd will be great! I also know that if anyhting goes wrong he will go out of his way to make it right. If I get a shavemac I narrowed it down to a 21mm or a 23mm, in D01 and with a loft below 50mm. The only other thing is to decide what shape the loft should be. If I am getting a shavemac, it should be a bulb, but there seems to be different types of bulb. I want the one that gives the most backbone.

FWIW, a D01 knot that's under 50mm is already going to have TONS of backbone. The bulbed shape knot in my post above can support a coffee cup without deforming. At all.

[MasterP]

Look at these different shapes of bulb:
Maybe I am overthinking this, but if you look at the hairs on the outer edge of the brushes in the 1st pic vs the brush in the last pic (I know it hasn't bloomed), it seems that the hairs in the first brush is longer and therefore will have contact with the face compared to the brush in the last pic where the hairs are shorter. So what benefit is there in that shape if a lot of the hairs on the outer edge won't have any contact?

[sphiny]

So I got in touch with Bernd, but he suddenly went silent when we were getting to the particulars of my order. I know he's busy, so should I refrain from repeated bugging?

[SMF22]

Bernd has great customer service!

[Beast]

I'm in the process of ordering a long-ish white handled Handmade Silvertip.

Ohhhh boy.. I can't wait!

It's gonna be a good month... Blenheim Bouquet EDT, Shavemac silvertip and a Pink Ivory 1/4 hollow Le Grelot on the way... ohhh yeah.

[bjrn]

I can't speak for the price, or how long it would take to get your brush to the US. But I can say that I got a custom Shavemac and found Bernd a pleasure to deal with. If he suddenly went quiet, then I'd give it a few days or a week and then check in with him again. You have a whole life of shaving ahead of you, a few days one way or the other doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

[sphiny]

Forgot to update you guys.....about a day after I posted the message about Bernd going silent, he emailed me back with a payment link. He is efficient! Brush is in the mail!!! Should be here in two days!!

[sphiny]

In another thread, a member told me this would likely happen........but, my brush is sitting in Memphis "available for clearance." Go figure!! It was due today, and I paid extra to FedEx for the expedited shipping (it did make it from Germany to Memphis in 2 days), but leave it to U.S. Customs to screw that up, and probably make me wait a few more days, or a week......who knows.

This same thing happened when I ordered a Kent from a vendor in England.

[huntmol]

In another thread, a member told me this would likely happen........but, my brush is sitting in Memphis "available for clearance." Go figure!! It was due today, and I paid extra to FedEx for the expedited shipping (it did make it from Germany to Memphis in 2 days), but leave it to U.S. Customs to screw that up, and probably make me wait a few more days, or a week......who knows.

This same thing happened when I ordered a Kent from a vendor in England.

I am sorry to hear this :frown:
I have heard of many customs issues when ordering from Shavemac, I guess I have been lucky

[sphiny]

I am sorry to hear this :frown:
I have heard of many customs issues when ordering from Shavemac, I guess I have been lucky

I guess it won't kill me to wait a few more days.......If this is my biggest problem at the moment, I'm doing ok.

[Cuttingboard]

I am sorry to hear this :frown:
I have heard of many customs issues when ordering from Shavemac, I guess I have been lucky

What issues has customs had with Shavemac brushes?

[greychamp]

I'm in the process of ordering a custom Shavemac from Bernd. I want a custom shaped wood handle. He told me what woods were available. When I told him that I couldn't decide between Rosewood and Olive wood, he said he would make a handle of each wood, then take a picture of the two handles and send the pictures to me so I can decide which one I like better.
A few days later, I was browsing the Shavemac website and found a brush stand trimmed with Olive wood. I asked if he could make the stand using whatever wood I decided for my brush handle. He replied to my email the next day, saying that he could. I think that's amazingly good service.

I suggest that, when you send Bernd your first email, you be as specific as you can concerning the type and shape of handle you want, grade of hair, and loft and diameter of knot. Also ask him if what you want is feasible. He will tell you what he can and cannot do. This is what I did and the process has gone quite smoothly.

[biomesh]

What issues has customs had with Shavemac brushes?

Sometimes your order can be delayed due to customs inspections. Generally this is not an issue if you order only a brush. If you order shave soaps/creams, etc the package will have a higher chance of being pulled for inspection.

[googoo]

i got my custom in just over a week to the u.s. with fedex express shipping. i was surprised how quick he sent it out the door. i got it today actually and can't wait until morning to try it out.