Simpson 56/57 versus Duke 2/3

Anyone have experience with these to compare?

i find my duke 3 a bit too much badger, already have a duke 2, and am wondering how a smaller loft and knot would compare to the duke 2.

is the grip on the 56 much smaller than on a duke 2?

the 57 appears to be a similar grip size to the duke 3, right?

thanks for the inputs!

From the writeup's I've seen Simpson 58 is the most similar to the Duke 3 in handle shape, but longer but the knot isn't as dense... Found this thread on the D3/58 which has great detail (plus pictures!) but didn't see mention of the 56/57

http://www.shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=16770



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I've owned all four of those brushes. I currently only have the 57. The D2 and D3 were more dense than the 56 and 57, and I also felt it was too much badger and didn't make for a good everyday brush for me. If I wanted a luxury, high density brush I'll go with a Chubby 2 or 3 as opposed to the Dukes. Now, the knot on the 56 is spectacular, perfect for me and perfect for daily use. I just didn't care for the handle as it felt small in the hand. The Duke 3 is the best handle I've ever had. With the 57, I get a great knot with the closest handle to a Duke 3, IMO.


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(02-08-2016, 04:34 PM)Jairow Wrote: I've owned all four of those brushes. I currently only have the 57. The D2 and D3 were more dense than the 56 and 57, and I also felt it was too much badger and didn't make for a good everyday brush for me. If I wanted a luxury, high density brush I'll go with a Chubby 2 or 3 as opposed to the Dukes. Now, the knot on the 56 is spectacular, perfect for me and perfect for daily use. I just didn't care for the handle as it felt small in the hand. The Duke 3 is the best handle I've ever had. With the 57, I get a great knot with the closest handle to a Duke 3, IMO.


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What's wrong with using a Chubby 2 or Chubby 3 as your daily brush ?

Nothing wrong, I suppose. But for me, it did take longer to load, longer to rinse, longer to dry, and ate up quite a bit of soap every use. Plus, it felt so good on the face you just want to keep lathering, and lathering slowly and methodically. It's a luxury I personally couldn't savor on a daily basis. Sometimes a quickie will have to do, if that makes sense.

I can comment on handle sizes:

1. 56 handle is MUCH smaller in Diameter than Duke 2, plus the 56 is a bit taller in the hand.  That said - the 56 with a good knot to loft ration is one of the best 3-band brushes anyone could have, unfortunately, knots that are handmade are not all alike... 
2. Duke 2 is much more dense than 56, but 56 has a shorter loft, so scrub for scrub they feel  similar.
3. 56 is more closely suited for comparison to a Classic 1.
4. Duke 3 is about as dense as a Chubby 1, but with a taller loft, which makes it feel floppier and less dense.
4. Duke 3 is similar in diameter to 58, but the 58 is MUCH Taller, as is the loft.

Clear as mud, right?

Crag...that is an EXCELLENT comparison.

It appears the 57 is closest to the Duke 2 in both handle diameter size and knot:loft ratio(depending on what size one gets) with just a longer handle.

Decisions....decisions.....

Got a 57 mainly due to the handle size. Duke seemed too small in the pictures I saw. The 57 easily broke into my top brush rotation.

(02-08-2016, 09:43 PM)Crag Wrote: Clear as mud, right?