Thread: B&B Brush

Originally Posted by izlat

Compared to what, Iwan?

Because I cannot agree with this statement - comparing to my unknown vintage (already sold) and the Plisson 12 HMW.

Cheers
Ivo

Sorry, that's compared to my £3.50 Wilkinson Sword boar hair brush, and also my old Simpsons Duke2 which was about 1/4 the size of the B&B brush. Compared to either of those it's a monster.

I made a point of lathering on my face with it this morning, it does work though I think it works better lathering in a bowl. I need to do more research and testing.

Originally Posted by Steelforge

Sorry, that's compared to my £3.50 Wilkinson Sword boar hair brush ...

Hehe, it would be pretty pathetic if the Finest Silvertip didn't hold more water than the boar... And I like boar brushes, they just don't hold much water.

Originally Posted by Steelforge

I made a point of lathering on my face with it this morning, it does work though I think it works better lathering in a bowl. I need to do more research and testing.

It does, indeed - but for face lathering I prefer less bloom.

Cheers
Ivo

The thing I didn't understand is how they would be selling a finest badger for the same price as a silvertip of the same size. Now I know. probably someone got a load of badger hair and it seemed a little softer than normal silvertip so they said lets call this finest.

I have a rooney finest #2 which personally I think has all the qualities of an ideal brush and this just doesn't get to be a mile from the ballpark to the Rooney. The brushes I got from Matt look exactly the same and feel exactly the same,maybe a tad more scratchyness on matt's but the knott is thicker on Matt's and for about $150 or so with a custom wood handle is really a better deal.

I'm not really complaining about the B&B Brush, it certainly is a looker but to me it performs between a vulfix superbadger and one of matt's brushes. JMHO. I think the price was right.

I really have no complaints with Matt's super silvertip ivory handle. Very dense knot, good lather both in bowl and on face, superb looks.

I only wanted another brush so that I experience the highest grade and see if it's all that.

Cheers
Ivo

I've just received my B&B finest - first off, its supposed to be finest silvertip, which we were told is better than "plain" silvertip.

I've only used my B&B a couple of times - its a fine brush, but that's it. It looks stunning (I have the faux horn handle).

As for the price, I paid US$110 plus CAD$40 (taxes duties, etc...). Even with the extra cash, the price/value is decent - had I paid $300 for it, I would have been sorely disappointed.

It does a good job with soaps and creams, but is a little floppy (it would have been horrible if it had 20% less hair) - this is due to the higher loft than my other brushes (floppiness is a factor of hair density and loft height). I do tend to work the lather into my face (after whipping it up in the bowl) and the B&B is just ok in this department. A 5mm shorter loft would have made a huge difference.

While I like this brush, if I had to sell one of my four brushes (the others are a Saville Row 3122, Rooney #1 large silvertip and a Simpson Rover - my scritchy pure badger that works great with shave sticks), I suspect it would be the B&B that went on the block first.

It also stinks - but I know that will go away in a week or two.

I have the B&B ebony silver tip, not finest. I have used it quite a bit since I got it approximately a month ago. I got the silvertip becuase I had heard that the finest was "*more* floppy and I wanted a relatively stiff brush. I find this brush is *plenty* floppy all by itself. It is kind of like lathering with an old floor mop - it is soft, you bet, but I do like some directionality with my brushes.

Pros - heft, the thing is nice and heavy, holds a good amount of water, and lathers very well, and it is very pretty - the black drum and chrone end cap are nicely constrasting.

However, compared to my C&E MJ best badger that cost a third as much - the best badger is only seems a little less dense, is not as floppy, holds as much water, and is only a little smaller. All in all, whiel this is my first "higher end" brush, I can;t say I am bowled over - I guess in retrospect I would alomost have preferred saving the green and buying another decent razor.

I will kepp it, and use it, but I not terribly impressed by it, and I would not on a cold day in Hades spend $300.00 for it -

And the stink? Are you guys serious? That is just like music to my nose, try a ProRaso Omega boar, and you will KNOW stink my brothers - that little badger can come and sit in my lap any day compared to the boar...

K

well some brushes smell and some don't. Its not anything big with me. After a few uses the smell always goes away and its really not a bad smell anyway. Ever smell a real live badger? Don't get too close or you'll be missing some of your anatomy!

Ha. Glad to see I'm not the only one underwhelmed with this brush.

Guys, if you have an opinion that you want to post at B&B, do it! Everything shave related is personal. Every item used is personal. What I like, you may hate, and vice versa. It's all about opinion. I may choose to use your opinion when buying an item, or not. But sharing opinions is one of the reasons these forums exist.

RT

I just got mine today. Despite all of the FUD going on about it at B&B due to some negative reviews, I'm quite happy with mine. Actually, my expectations were exceeded due to all of the aforementioned FUD. I gave up a couple of Benchmades to finance the purchase and so far, I don't have any regrets. Joel's reviews were pretty much on the money from what I can tell right now, and my brush is not even broken in. Kudos to LetterK and Joel for their efforts and sorry to those that felt let down.