Simpsons chubby/duke brushes

Good day gentleman.

Ive decided to upgrade my brush. I currently have a Kent bk2 with which I face lather and it serves its purpose quite well. However after reading many posts on brushes I've come to realise I'm wrong and I must buy a new brush as I'm probably doing my face irreversible damge!
For aesthetics I like the chubby 1or 2 in super and the duke 3 in best or manchurian. The chubby 1 seems to be a great brush but looks a bit small, how does it feel in the hand? I have largish hands so im not sure if it would be a problem. The chubby 2 could be ideal but ive read it can be a bit of a lather hog. Finally the duke 3 could be the one. Would there a very noticeable difference in performance between best and manchurian? And justify the £/$ difference?
I know it's a lot to do with personal preference but without actually holding them each in my hand and trying them out anyones experience would be greatly appreciated.

Mark

Cut to the chase...buy once..cry once..Simpson Polo 8... Fits a big hand and plenty of knot too...the face lathering ultra brush !!!

I have to say that the Polo 8 is a great brush. I have an old Somerset Simpson P-8 in Super, and a Vulfix/Simpson P-8 in Manchurian. They are both great brushes. I've also got a V/S Chubby 3 in Manchurian that is unbelievable. Just a great brush. The Manchurian is definitely worth the extra $ AFAIC.

I have large hands and find the handle of the Simpsons Chubby2 synthetic a very good fit for face lathering if you don't mind shorter handles. The synthetic knot works very well for me also.

That said, I do have a Simpsons QEII Jubilee brush that has a fan shaped Manchurian badger knot. The handle is also a shorter one and the knot is very, very good. If I were to buy another Simpsons brush with a badger knot it would definitely have the Manchurian badger knot, preferably fan shaped. It is by my favourite badger brush, ahead of an SOC 2 band badger and Muhle Retro silver tip.

Bob

You've opened up a can of worms now! Still leaning towards the chubby/duke purely for aesthetics though the polo does look rather good. Glad the manchurian gets the nod. Am going to have to spend even longer deciding now...

Next to the Polo 8 is a Thater 24 mm....the Simpson in the pic was just used and is still damp...looks nicer when dry.http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/...pscbca97ae.jpg

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I have to say that the Polo 8 is a great brush. I have an old Somerset Simpson P-8 in Super, and a Vulfix/Simpson P-8 in Manchurian. They are both great brushes. I've also got a V/S Chubby 3 in Manchurian that is unbelievable. Just a great brush. The Manchurian is definitely worth the extra $ AFAIC.

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Thanks to Jimmy and Obie....I have the Polo 8 and Iam glad I listened !!!!

The Simpsons Polo handle looks like it would be a good choice for bowl lathering along with face lathering. The Simpsons Chubby2 handle looks size wise more like the Thater and probably not as good for bowl lathering as a longer handle would be. The difference is no biggie if you solely face lather but if you do both face and bowl lathering a longer handle would be more versatile imho.

Bob

The only negative to the chubby style is it's very short (handle I mean) and it can get quite messy and slippery but it's a minor thing really. The handle itself is big and is a good match for someone with big hands. Just buy what you like and you'll be OK. They are all great brushes. I have some manchurians and they are very nice.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only negative to the chubby style is it's very short (handle I mean) and it can get quite messy and slippery but it's a minor thing really. The handle itself is big and is a good match for someone with big hands. Just buy what you like and you'll be OK. They are all great brushes. I have some manchurians and they are very nice.

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Exactly and really messy bowl lathering more so than with face lathering.

Bob

Decisions, decisions. After much thought (I even dreamt of brushes!) I have narrowed it down to a duke3 in best or Manchurian. As TBS said there all great brushes so I can't really go wrong with any but the duke to me looks the prettiest! I've now got to decided which duke. There's £125 difference so its quite a jump, i could get the duke best and a chubby 1 super for the same price but I know if I don't get the Manchurian I'll always wonder what it'll be like. I've told myself I've got to order by the end of the week....:shrug:

I know exactly what you are going through and feel for you. Good luck.

Bob

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

There's £125 difference so its quite a jump, i could get the duke best and a chubby 1 super for the same price but I know if I don't get the Manchurian I'll always wonder what it'll be like.

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The ones that I've had, and the two that I still have are stiffer than most normal brushes and scritchy. I had an old Chubby Manch made in Somerset that I used to say could take the chrome off a trailer hitch. I sold it. So if you do like scritchy the Manchurian may be worth the extra, if you don't I'd say the Super would be the way to go.

Simpson's Chubby 1 Super Badger - it's like 3 brushes stuffed into one and the perfect size IMO - awesome in every way...my favorite brush easily.;)

Thanks for every ones help, I finally made up my mind and went for the Duke 3 in Manchurian with ivory grain handle, hopefully should arrive for my Christmas shave!
I phoned Simpsons the other day and had a nice chat with Mark Watterson who gave me his honest opinions but wouldn't say which ones better because personal preference is key, though value wise best badger wins hands down. He said Manchurian is a lot rarer and harder to get so unfortunately the cost gets passed on to the consumer, he also made a great analogy that brushes are like steak, some people swear by sirloin some fillet and others T bone. At the end of the day everyone's different and what's best for some is not for others.
I'm hoping I don't get BAD or SBAD now after all the time I've spent thinking about this brush!...

P.S I prefer sirloin.:p

Hope you do get your Christmas gift and enjoy it. Be sure and let us know your impression of the Duke3 and Manchurian knot. You know, I like a baseball steak cut from top sirloin. Just had a nice one for dinner about an inch thick done medium rare with some roasted potatoes. I find both Manchurian knots and baseball steaks very satisfying.

Bob

Christmas has come a week early! I tip my hat to our posties at this busy time.
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Attachment 188013
Alas I'll have to wait till Christmas day to test her out properly.
First impressions, very pretty brush with subtle ivory grain. When dry there's lots of backbone, soft ends with a small amount of scritch , might feel different when wet and loaded. Feels very different to my gb kent bk2 which feels extremely soft with no backbone at all.
Looking forward to giving her a good run next week.

If you are looking to add another Simpsons brush to your stable in the future I can strongly recommend the Simpsons LE P8 in best the ShaveNook brush now I've owned the Duke the Chubby 1 and 2 both in super and the P8 is possibly the perfect brush for me, there was two for sale over on the ShaveNook a little while back unused a truly outstanding brush.

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...2.jpg~original

Cheers Jamie. I was eyeing up your p8, you take some wonderful photos, can't do mine any justice on my phone camara. Out of curiosity which did you prefer from the duke, chubby 1 or 2?

After using my new Simpson's Chubby 1 for the third time today, one thing that I'm learning, is that they can make a whole whack of lather disappear very quickly! :)

Almost having to re-learn how to load the brush - superb brush for solid backbone and scritchiness, I would never want to go bigger than this one, had to load it twice again today, it eats lather, but really seems to be a great brush whether you use creams or pucks, and it's an excellent brush for face lathering.

I understand now why Simpson's has the reputation they do for the premier shaving brush.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

After using my new Simpson's Chubby 1 for the third time today, one thing that I'm learning, is that they can make a whole whack of lather disappear very quickly! :)

Almost having to re-learn how to load the brush - superb brush for solid backbone and scritchiness, I would never want to go bigger than this one, had to load it twice again today, it eats lather, but really seems to be a great brush whether you use creams or pucks, and it's an excellent brush for face lathering.

I understand now why Simpson's has the reputation they do for the premier shaving brush.

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My Polo 8 came alive at week 3..... Give it time to break in..

After a month of use I'd thought I'd give my impression of my manchurian duke 3. I've tried it with a few different soaps and creams and I must say I couldn't be happier, I only face lather and I now understand the expression "wall of badger". At first I thought brought a brillo pad but after a few uses it softened nicely and feels fantastic. I liken it to that feeling when you climb under a duck down duvet, it just sort of envelopes my face. It produces a nice amount of dense lather easily with good flow through but I can always give a gentle squeeze to have enough for another pass.
So glad I got the manchurian so thank you for all your help.
Sirloin indeed :D

Congratulations, Mark.
The Manchurian hair does take a few uses to break in, and as you have found, it softens up very nicely.
Excellent backbone with a nice scrubby feel, it also tends to have better flow than Best and Super, IMO.
I hope you continue to enjoy the Duke.

Excellent choice, I have all three grades............. And enjoy their different characterises all great shaves.


Charles U.K

I have a few manchurians and found they didn't require any break-in at all. They are great brushes. The Thaters are very good too.