Which Simpsons for Soap - Advice Sought

[Goblin]

I was wondering if the denizens of the board could give me the benefit of their experience on the following. Now that I am thoroughly addicted to this whole wet-shaving lark I feel that I want to invest in something more than my cheap Omega boars (don't get me wrong, they are great) and try a proper badger brush.

Simpsons looks like the way forwards, and should be easy to obtain here in the UK. At the moment I use soaps 90% of the time and tend to switch between bowl or face lathering depending on the particular soap. I'm narrowing down my options (price is a factor) to the following;

56
Duke 2
Classic 1

The Duke 2 is currently looking like the most likely option given what I have read here, but I thought it was worth getting some input from you fellas before I take the plunge.

[bobfarvour]

They will all lather soaps fine. You could pick blindly from those three and have a winner.

If it were me, I'd take the Duke 2.

[wimbouman]

I'd take the 56.
I don't know the classic, but the Duke and the 56 are excellent.
If I were to take a Duke, it'd be a 3 as that is to me a better size.

[Greg1911]

ALL 3

Since you mentioned bowl lathering the 56 is probably the way to go.

If you become a dedicated face latherer add the Classic to your arsenal.

PS - I agree with Wim - the Duke 3 is the Duke to own.

[njpaddy]

The 56 handle is one of my most comfortable and the knot the softest, but, for reasons I can't explain, it gets less use than my other brushes. I like it when I use it, but there are others I reach for first. In fact I think the 56 may be heading to Ky today with my sister-in-law. She's up for a visit and wanted her husband to try wetshaving, at least the cream and brush part, and I offered her a brush and cream to bring back. The 56 was the only brush I could bring myself to part with.

My favorite brush right now is the Duke 1. Handle is a bit small for bowl lathering but it does a number face lathering soaps. If you're bowl lathering, you may want the Duke 3 over the 1 & 2, just for handle size.

[djh]

Pick whichever handle you prefer, because they will all perform similarly well. I have a Duke2, a 57 and a Classic2 and they are all great brushes.

[Marco]

Pick whichever handle you prefer, because they will all perform similarly well. I have a Duke2, a 57 and a Classic2 and they are all great brushes.

+1 This is objectively the best answer, in my opinion. But I also have a clear preference for the Duke Series.

[Harvitz81]

+1 This is objectively the best answer, in my opinion. But I also have a clear preference for the Duke Series.

I'm starting to prefer my Duke 3 over even my Eagle. Hearsay I know....