Simpson "Douglas" 57 super badger two band.

Thanks to another good friend (James) and I was able to try this limited edtion brush that Simpson made for Bullgoosehaving.net : the Simpson 57 super badger two band AKA "Douglas" (named after a well known member of other forums,like SMF, who requested a Simpson 57 with super badger two band).

If the SIMPFIX Grosvenor was a gorgeous brush : SIMFIX Grosvernor super badger two band this one is not fat behind in being a good looking brush.

So as I explained before,this is a limited edition brush ( I dont remember how many were made) using the handle of the Simpson 57 (which I also tried in best badger and I like it a little bit that this one) with the famous super badger two band of Simpson.I myself find that the super badger two band used by Simpson could be really stiff (extra firm backbone) which has its pros and cons.I myself I like it with a little bit of more flow,as the 57 best badger that I did tried had.

This brush is really packed with super badger two band hair,but is less packed,due to the thickness of this kind of hair,than the 57 super badger brush,for example.

Another good surprise of this brush was the handle,being maybe the most ergonomic one that I have tried from Simpsons,with the Colonel ("Eshan") one.Easy to handle,good grip,good looking,heavy and well finish,what else can we ask for?

This brush performed really well with hard soaps and face lathering,however a little bit of more flow It was missing,but again,thats my taste in brushes now,and I do recognize that this brush its a excellent one.Between this one and the regular 57 best badger,I liked the performance of the 57 best badger little bit more,due to its flow,but also had less firm backbone than the 57 super badger two band.Its amazing how stiff was the 57 Douglas,even when its loft was like 3/4 mm taller than the 57 best badger one.
Both brushes has soft tips,maybe the super badger two band softer than the best badger.

If somebody asked me to compare it with the Morris and Forndran blonde badger hair (two band) brushes that I have tried,I would say that this one is the most stiff shaving brush with that kind of hair that I have tried,while the M&F has firm backbone,but not as stiff as this one,maybe with more flow or even "blooming".Both brushes are great without any shadow of doubt either,and would be hard for me to choose one over the other.

Here is a pic with the 57 best badger brush.Noticed how the 57 Douglas has a longer loft :

Simpson made excellent brushes,nothing new here,and this one was a fine example of that.If you are a die hard faceltatherer,looking for a stiff brush with soft tips,and like two band badger hair,this could be the brush for you.

It was a pleasure to test this brush and I thank James (ABBCS) for that.

Nice write-up and pictures Teiste. Thank you

Good review, thank you, Teiste. My own experience has been that the Douglas actually has better flowthrough than the blonde badger I had from M&F.

Teiste,
Not sure if you are taking these wonderful pictures, but every time you write about a brush,I want it. Well done...I think

Great Comments, Teiste.

I disagree as to flowthrough. And preference.

The 57 "Douglas" is my #1 favorite brush of the 20+ brushes in my regular rotation.

The 57 handle is a joy to use. And the Simpson 2 band hair is very satisfying. Mine is well broken in so the tips are soft. The flowthough is excellent. The size is "just right." I have no "backup" brushes at all. If I were to acquire one, it would, without a doubt, be another 57.

Excellent write-up! The Simfix Grosvenor is an excellent brush, and this one should be no less.
Thank you!

(04-09-2012, 11:26 AM)Chicagotrim Wrote: Teiste,
Not sure if you are taking these wonderful pictures, but every time you write about a brush,I want it. Well done...I think

Yes,I do take the pics,but some days better than others...Thanks!

(04-09-2012, 11:29 AM)MaxP Wrote: Great Comments, Teiste.

I disagree as to flowthrough. And preference.

The 57 "Douglas" is my #1 favorite brush of the 20+ brushes in my regular rotation.

The 57 handle is a joy to use. And the Simpson 2 band hair is very satisfying. Mine is well broken in so the tips are soft. The flowthough is excellent. The size is "just right." I have no "backup" brushes at all. If I were to acquire one, it would, without a doubt, be another 57.

Interesting!Thanks for your comments about it.Im agree that the hande is a joy to use.I had a 55 in best badger and it was really nice too!

Thanks for the review!

I personally like the handle of that Muhle Synth Silvertip, you reviewed, although... it needs to be in Burnt Orange with dark-saphire rings

not that silver and black stuff!

(04-09-2012, 11:26 AM)Chicagotrim Wrote: Teiste,
Not sure if you are taking these wonderful pictures, but every time you write about a brush,I want it. Well done...I think

Here, here!

Hmmm...
I just rummaged through my brush stockpile and guess what?
I have the Douglas 57 super 2 band badger LE brush sitting boxed up as new and unused!!!
De ja vu!
(This will mean little to you unless you read the SIMPFIX Grosvenor thread Teiste posted last week!)

Ben, if you wanna know how it works, send it to my home - I would be delighted to try it out for you!

I won't take too long, a few years should be enough

@Ben-

I suspect that rummaging in YOUR stockpile could be an all day task!

Congrats on finding such a fine brush there.

Nice! The handle is very nice. I bet it's very ergonomic.

I should have bought that one when it was offered. Lovely brush and thanks for the review! I want one now.

(04-10-2012, 07:58 AM)Edson Wrote: I should have bought that one when it was offered. Lovely brush and thanks for the review! I want one now.

I see that Simpson is now selling this direct on their website as a special edition brush...offered in two band super as well as 3 band super.

(04-10-2012, 08:22 AM)bullgoose Wrote:

(04-10-2012, 07:58 AM)Edson Wrote: I should have bought that one when it was offered. Lovely brush and thanks for the review! I want one now.

I see that Simpson is now selling this direct on their website as a special edition brush...offered in two band super as well as 3 band super.

I've seen that before, but don't think this is worth $210 before shipping. If they subtracted out VAT it may be a different story.

FWIW, they will subtract VAT

(04-10-2012, 08:34 AM)bullgoose Wrote: FWIW, they will subtract VAT

Good to know - I'm still eyeing the manchurians, but am trying to resist anymore brushes at the moment.

(04-10-2012, 08:34 AM)bullgoose Wrote: FWIW, they will subtract VAT

Well, I ended up ordering a Chubby 2 2-band super. Knot is more in my size range and it is cheaper than the Douglas.

I did see that the prices on Simpson's website are VAT free and it adds VAT to the price if in the EU. So that still made the Douglas around $210 before shipping and I got the Chubby for less than that.

This is off-topic.

How much is the VAT? A brush listed at 150 GBP would be how much less?