2008 B&B LE - What say ye?

**scoopster** · 02-11-2009, 12:39 PM

Well it seems like its been pretty quiet of late about the 2008 B&B LE brush. I know a bunch of folks have one. So...

How are folks liking their 08 LE's?
How do they compare to your other brushes?
Who is going to be the first one to post in the Reviews section, thereby establishing your place in B&B history?

**Austin** · 02-11-2009, 01:05 PM

I just wish I had one.

**Sullybob** · 02-11-2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by Austin

I just wish I had one.

+1

**jkh** · 02-11-2009, 01:18 PM

I was lucky enough to score one of the brushes from the B/S/T. Initially, when I saw these brushes I wasn't very interested and passed on the group/limited buy. A 20.5mm knot? Forget it, too small. After seeing all the pictures of these very stately looking brushes, I had to try one.

1) Handle. Absolutely, positively, no questions asked the best handle I have ever, well, held. Form and function. Form - the handle has a very sexy and slim look, beautiful, and complements the hair (knot) nicely. Function - very comfortable and long! Usually, brushes with small knots have obnoxiously tiny little handles that I have trouble holding onto ... this one is very comfortable and keeps your hands dry.

2) Knot Density. Dense enough! So many at B&B are looking for the absolutely densest, couldn't possibly pack another hair into the knot, brush. Fine, but these dense brushes tend to hoard the lather and require a squeeze of the knot to release the lather. I find this attribute of uber-dense brushes rather annoying. The B&B LE '08 is, my opinion, perfectly dense, meaning I am not constantly fighting the knot for the lather from the $20+ puck of soap, but yet there are enough hairs in the brush so it doesn't look like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree

3) Loft Height. Perfect, for this hair. If the hair on this brush was longer I think the brush would be floppy. I am a soaper and this brush lathers the hell out of soaps.

4) Knot size. As I mentioned earlier, I passed on this brush initially because of the knot size, my bad. I don't know if it is the bloom, but this little brush acts more a 22mm or 23mm brush, to me. I couldn't be happier with the size. Agile enough for the soap dish without making a mess, but yet it doesn't feel like I am lathering my face with a Q-Tip.

Bonus - I really like the looks of the Kent stamp and the red Kent case. These small things really provide an overall regal effect.

To all of those involved with the design and manufacture of these brushes ... BRAVO! I cannot wait for the encore.

**scoopster** · 02-11-2009, 02:07 PM

Great review Jeremy!

**Darjeeling Express** · 02-11-2009, 05:13 PM

Jeremy, thank you for the thoughtful comprehensive review. It sounds like a wonderful brush.

**DustBow** · 02-11-2009, 06:35 PM

Love mine.
Used it exclusively for about a month after it arrived.
Jeremy summed it all up well.

**scoopster** · 02-11-2009, 08:06 PM

I just switched over to my Chubby 1 this week. I was using LE exclusively for over a month which is the longest I've ever gone not switching brushes since I got into this shaving gig.

**jkh** · 02-11-2009, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by scoopster

I just switched over to my Chubby 1 this week. I was using LE exclusively for over a month which is the longest I've ever gone not switching brushes since I got into this shaving gig.

+1, I have been forcing myself to use my other brushes lately.

**yomuppet** · 02-11-2009, 08:22 PM

Based on the reviews and specs: this would be close to my ideal brush.

But the price is more than I was willing to spend at the time, so I did not get in on it. I'm sure it's worth every penny, congrats to those who got it.

Cheers.

J

**mdunn** · 02-11-2009, 08:28 PM

mine arrived yesterday afternoon, im going to take it for a whirl as soon as I get home tonight!

**gister** · 02-12-2009, 07:50 AM

It is OK brush, nice looking handle, average performer.
Way too expensive.

**Thebigspendur** · 02-12-2009, 08:33 AM

I agree, way too expensive and its just too small. Compared to my other medium sized brushes it just doesn't perform. I use it as a dedicated brush for Castle Forbes cream because I get just enough lather to do one shave whereas with my other brushes with the same quantity of product after I finish shaving I have enough lather left to shave a platoon.

**infotech** · 02-12-2009, 09:07 AM

This has been one of the least hyped, less talked about shaving item to pass through this forum! Pretty surprising if you ask me...

**DustBow** · 02-12-2009, 09:20 AM

It's for those who like small or small-medium brushes.
If you're a fan of bigger brushes, you probably won't like it that much.
I like smaller brushes and usually only do 2 passes so I like it very much.

**scoopster** · 02-12-2009, 09:42 AM

This is the smallest brush I've used to date and at first I was skeptical. But I quckly found out how to to charge it up for my usual three passes plus touch up.

As far as cost goes, for me it really doesn't matter to me. This is a hobby and hobbies cost money. I am very happy to have a B&B branded brush in my collection.

I have a custom shavemac from a different forum's group buy. The brush is bigger (but still small). I paid a tad less for that one. The handle is nowhere near as nice as this Kent model, nor was the presentation box. From a value proposition I think they were pretty close.

**jeffb** · 02-12-2009, 10:00 AM

It is one of my favorite brushes! I love the handle and have had no performance issues at all. I typically prefer a smaller brush (although I've really been enjoying my CH3 lately) and this is by far the best smaller brush I've used.

VR6ofpain · 02-12-2009, 08:48 PM

I have been using it (have not rotated in another brush) since I received it (I got it the first week they were shipped to the members state side). Great brush. In all this time it has only lost 4 hairs. That is a much better number than any other brush I have owned.

**Colphax** · 02-13-2009, 05:12 AM

It's currently the only brush that touches my face. The dome gets my BBE 90% of the time, with my Tweezerman or el cheapo AOS sampler brush doing occasional guest appearances.

**AFG** · 02-13-2009, 05:54 AM

It's a nice brush. I was concerned when I ordered it that it would be too small for me but I can load it for 3 or 4 passes. The handle is very distinctive. Its not my favorite brush but it is one I like quite a bit and use often. When it first came out, some posters said they would not take $500 for it. I'm not looking to sell mine but if someone offers me that much, she's gone.