Semogue 2030B - Pics, Test Lather, and First Impressions

   

As you can see, the handle on the brush is quite a bit slimmer than most shaving brush handles. Has a nice weight to it though, and a great retro/modern look that I love. The knot has the same feel to it as the knot in my 1250...pretty soft out of the box, doesn't seem like it will require a long break in time at all. I will probably give it a go for a shave in a couple days.


   

Looks like a little too much glue was used to put it the knot. Not a huge deal I guess. Just hope it doesn't cause any issues with bristle breaking off at the base.


   

Test lather I made with E-Shave Avocado & Linden shaving soap...this soap lathers up storm with lots of brushes, but this one makes it super easy.


   

Here is the brush after blooming.


   

Here is brush next to my 2 other Semogues. A 1250 and 2015. Soon these will be joined by a pair of SOCs in cherry (one badger, one boar).

Nice write-up and pictures. Nice looking brush.

Well done!!

Thanks for sharing it with us.I need to try this brush too alongside a 1250.
Ill be waiting to read your further impressions of it.

Nice looking brush,

But it's huge! Well, at least to this face latherer. OK, maybe just large after looking at the specs and allowing it time to sink in. :-)

(04-14-2012, 10:01 PM)ShadowsDad Wrote: Nice looking brush,

But it's huge! Well, at least to this face latherer. OK, maybe just large after looking at the specs and allowing it time to sink in. :-)

I face lather 99.9% of the time...the brush really isn't that big for a boar brush. The Omega Pro 49 is a lot bigger, for example, and there is another Omega that's even bigger than that. I would consider this and the 1250 about average for a boar (55m loft). I know that Semogue makes a couple brushes in the 50mm loft category, but those are definitely small by boar standards...same thing with the Omega travel brushes and such...

What a killer little brush.

Used the brush this morning with Vitos Extra Coco and got a great shave. The brush performed like a champ, pretty much identical to my Semogue 1250. The slimmer handle works a lot better if you hold it like a pencil with the base in the center of your palm. I love the heavy feeling of the metal handle, btw. Also, not scratchy at all even though it only has a few lathers on it. The hair used in this and the 1250 is something really special.

(04-16-2012, 07:25 AM)cvac Wrote: Used the brush this morning with Vitos Extra Coco and got a great shave. The brush performed like a champ, pretty much identical to my Semogue 1250. The slimmer handle works a lot better if you hold it like a pencil with the base in the center of your palm. I love the heavy feeling of the metal handle, btw. Also, not scratchy at all even though it only has a few lathers on it. The hair used in this and the 1250 is something really special.

Have you tried a 1305?You would be surprise about the softness of its tips.
Thanks for the inputs about this brush.

I have not tried a 1305, but might eventually. I originally got the 1250 because I like the look of the plain, undyed boar hair. I ordered this one because I was hoping it would be similar - turns out it was. I wonder if the 1305 is even softer than these out of the box?

I got myself a 1305, it should be on the way by now. I'm antsy to try it out.

What was I looking at!? I thought it said 65mm. My eyes must be going.

Funny, it didn't look that large in your hand as I wrote that.

The Semogue 1250 is one of my favorites. As you noted, the bristles in your 2030B look very similar to the 1250.

Great review and photos, sir! Thank you.

(04-17-2012, 10:12 AM)wknicholas Wrote: The Semogue 1250 is one of my favorites. As you noted, the bristles in your 2030B look very similar to the 1250.

Not only do they looks the same, I think they may be the same. Performance is so similar I personally cannot tell the difference. Both this and the 1250 are excellent brushes and certainly worth considering even if you're not a "boar brush guy".

According to the Vintage Scent web site the Semogue 2030B shares the same hair as the 1250 - White Best 90% Tops. The 2030B is 57 mm tall as opposed to the 55 mm loft of the 1250.

Regarding posters who were asking if the 1305 was softer out of the box that the 2030B/1250? I use the 1305 and the 1250 and would have to answer yes, it is softer. However, there is no scritch from the broken in 1250. The 1305 is an incredibly soft boar hair.

Robert,

I will have to try a 1305 or 830 at some point. It's hard for me to believe that a boar brush could be even softer than the 1250/2030B, but that definitely sounds like something I'd appreciate.

Btw, I used my 2030B again today and continue to like using this brush.

The 830 is very soft right out of the box. I love mine. Just received my 1305 looks like another winner. Semogue makes a great product.

Thanks to the suggestion by Sunflake, the 2030B is now in stock at BullGoose.

http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/se20prbobr.html

Great looking brush. And by Phil's link it's surprisingly inexpensive! I thought it'd be more.