Semogue Owners Club (SOC) Two Band - amazing!

I have been wanting to try a SOC for a while now. Ever since I started wet shaving three and some years ago. I wanted a SOC boar, but Semogue boar experiences with 1305 (too floppy and not dense enough), 1470 (actually a great brush, but took too long to break in and ate lather instead of giving it to me, but once broken in was a fantastic brush) and 1800 (actually an amazingly good brush) were mixed bag for me, so I abstained from SOC boar. I love the SOC handle and have a SOC 2012 SE (a mixed hair in resin handle), which is one of my very favorite brushes. Still I never tried a wooden handled SOC. I especially didn't think a two band brush could impress me because I make my own two band brushes that are pretty amazing. However, the other day I came across a SOC two band on BST at a price that I could not pass up. So I bought it and tried it yesterday. WOW! Why is this brush not more popular?! It is really amazing. It is not super dense, has a higher loft/knot (52/24) ratio than I would expect to be adequate for my tastes, but the feel and performance of this brush are amazing! It is on a soft side for sure, but not floppy. The less dense knot affords excellent flow of lather, there is no scritch whatsoever (I read a lot about the scritch in these, but my copy has none), the handle is, well, a SOC handle, which is an inspiration to me as a brush maker. All in all this is a fantastic two band brush which is all business and none of the fanfare of density and other attributes that fetch ridiculous prices. I mean is there a two band Simpson out there for anywhere near the price of a SOC two band? I doubt it. This brush sells for under $70 shipped! I have to tip my hat to Semogue for creating such value in a badger shaving brush. I am only wondering why this brush is not more popular. Any ideas?

Here is my SOTD from yesterday:

Undoubtedly a truly beautiful brush. One of my favorite handles too. Enjoy it in good health!

Some folks (myself included) experienced a fair bit of scritch with their own SOC 2 band brush. I used mine for a while but my brush never did lose the scritch and I found there were other brushes with similar characteristics but without the constant multiple little pin pricks I experienced. Also, my brush was exceedingly dense and lacking flow through. It is possible yours is a newer (or older) version than the one I had.

As you know, badger hair can vary from batch to batch and even within the batch. It does sound like you really lucked out with a good one. Congrats to you! That handle is just so stunning. Your photography skills really show it off well.

Great looking brush, congrats!!!

Looks nice. The grain on your handle looks especilally so.
I'm tempted by these too, having 2 Semogues now (2000 and 2013 SE) and this one would round out a nice trio of ash/boar, olive/silvertip, and cherry/2-band.

I've been watching as the Euro falls these look like more and more of a great value and will likely pick one up. Only doubt is level of scritch... I'm not a fan of and have heard conflicting views but yours is encouraging.

PS: great photo!

Very nice. I have the boar version and some day I will pick up the badger.

I love mine. The two SOCs are my two household go to's.

Mine wasn't scritchy either, but did soften up a bit as it broke in. It is a face lathering champ of softness. Best prices I've seen were from Gifts and care.

Tho not a Soc... I absolutely love my 2 band Semogue Tuxego...has a great face feel with nice backbone.

My, that's purdy!!!

Very nice!

AngryGreek said:

Tho not a Soc... I absolutely love my 2 band Semogue Tuxego...has a great face feel with nice backbone.

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Now I am on a lookout for one of those. I already have the other two BC LE's: Mistura and Cerda. Both amazing brushes in their categories. My very favorite Semogue type of brush is mixed hair. I have three of them and will get more if I can. One is SOC 2012 SE, the other is BC LE Mistura (#18/100) and the other, my current favorite of all my Semogue mixed is Il Rasoio LE (#14/100). It has the loft higher than the Mistura and lower than the SOC and that clear and green handle is retro heaven. I wish my beard grew faster so I can rotate these Semogues more Now I have to find me a BC LE Texugo. Love that Semogue two band.

Beautiful

The SOC two band has been my to go brush for the last couple of years. I've got more expensive brushes but non that I would say is better. My second choice is actually the Semogue SOC SE2012. Two very similar brushes IMO.

I'd say that the SOC two band is a very popular brush. It usually is on top of the best seller list at vendors that publish such data.

Thanks for a great thread.

I have a SOC 2012 SE as well and it is one of my other favorite brushes, but I find it to be very different than SOC 2 band. SOC SE has a lot more brush feel and seems a lot larger when loaded with lather. In any case, it is an amazing brush as are two other mixed hair Semogues I have: BC Mistura (18/100) and Il Rasoio (14/100). So much do I love the Semogue mixed hair brushes that I am not on a lookout for a TSN LE, but they tend to not be available at reasonable prices An I totally understand that

Enjoy your SOCs, gentlemen!

Does it run MWF? Or only soft soap?

schmalgausen said:

Does it run MWF? Or only soft soap?

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Is an all purpose brush. It works just fine with MWF my to go soap.

I use mine on hard soaps 99% of the time. Actually all my brushes.... But, it's a champ

I bought one 2 weeks ago and have to agree. It's an absolute gem. Mine has a small amount of scritch but in a good way, and loads of backbone. I think it has even more backbone then my SOC Boar. I was also impressed how little funk it had out of the box.

It's a beautiful brush. The quality, in my opinion, is excellent. Not a shedder at all, the price is very good, lathers easily and quickly every soap and cream I have. What else do I need?

Just received mine. Any advice about using it (extra pressure or so)? I never had such expensive brushes before, only boars that I never didn't care to damage. So this badger looks like a little bit delicate.

Just enjoy the brush. No special instructions. These things are tough and built to last.