TELL me about your Chubby 1 and Chubby 2 brushes . . .

Hi Gents:  Hope all is well with you and your family.  As the title says... tell me about your Chubby 1 and Chubby 2.  I love my Duke 3 Best and now I am looking at a Chubby 1 or 2 in Best.  I tested out the Chubby 3 from a friend but it was too huge.

Thanks in advance,


WARHAWK

CH2 is the perfect size for me.

I bought a chubby 1 in super first. I was disappointed in the size which is small even for Simpson who vary in their size ranges. Then I used it. It is an amazing brush in every regard worthy of its iconic stature. 

Then I thought I'd treat myself to a 2 in super. This brush is massive. Larger than Simpson claims. Then I used it expecting to be really wowed. I wasn't. Scritchy bugger that ate lather. About 20 uses in the scritch is gone. It still eats lather but I am glad I did not sell it as it definitely is a fine brush.

Ch2 is nice, I was a bit dissapointed in the best line chubby I tried. I expected higher density and better hair quality out of a $180 brush. The Manchurian I tried was nice, it was too big for a daily driver and i sold it. Im slowly enjoying bigger and bigger brushes, so I'd like to splurge and try the Manchurian again or the silvertip 2 band variety looks very appealing as well. I'm pretty well hooked on 2 band hair and for $180 I'd rather be buying a paladin, wolf whiskers, thater, shavemac, varlet etc etc.

Chubby 1 manchurian is one of my favorite brushes, knot is just the right size for me, great for face lathering, even the density of the knot is great. I find the Chubby 2 too big for my use, takes longer to load.

I've got a chubby 2 in Manchurian. The handle size is great for me, and the bloomed knot is a special combination of backbone, softness, and flow-through. I could easily use this as my daily driver, though I do have it within a small rotation. Simpsons says this is a 27mm x 50mm knot; I wouldn't want to go any larger.

Both the Duke-3 and Chubby-1 have identical knots (23mm, ~48mm loft).  In stark contrast, a Chubby-2 has a ~27mm knot which is a big leap.
I had the CH1-super and sold it after two weeks as it was far too small for me.  The CH2-super I now have is nearly ideal in size but it borders on being too big.

I really like the Chubby 2 Supers; they are denser than their counterparts, the Chubby 2 Bests, which I found to be a tad floppy.
Be warned, Mel, that these knots tend to be lather hogs and you need to modify your technique with them to extract that lather. It isn't an issue for me, but you should be aware.
Good luck, my friend.

(06-19-2016, 10:16 AM)Mr_Smartepants Wrote: Both the Duke-3 and Chubby-1 have identical knots (23mm, ~48mm loft).  In stark contrast, a Chubby-2 has a ~27mm knot which is a big leap.
I had the CH1-super and sold it after two weeks as it was far too small for me.  The CH2-super I now have is nearly ideal in size but it borders on being too big.

I was led to believe the CH1 has a denser knot than the D3, even if the diameter and loft are identical. Is it really the same knot?

I dont remember where, but ive read the newer ,last few years) chubby 2's are much better than older ones. Vice versa for their two bands.

I returned my Chubby 1 back in 2012, back then I didn't do my research properly, so when I took the brush out of the box, I was wow'ed over the tiny handle size.

I could barely hold it with my fingers without cramping.
Returned it immediately and bought a Chubby 2 instead.

The Chubby 2 still does not have handle, that I find large enough, but I can live with it. The Chubby 2 knot can be a lather hog, so as Celestino says, you have to adjust your technique and load the living life out if.

My favourite Chubby now is the Chubby 3. Great handle size and great big knot.

The Chubby 2 I currently onw in Best 3-band was a limited stock option back in 2012, which I bought from Mark Watterson at Simpson, and this Best hair knot is the best type of Best hair I have ever seen and rivals the knot quality in the more than 150 badger brushes I have owned. It's simply amazing. Floppy ? Heck no, not even remotely close to floppy. Dense as heck, fantastic backbone, soft tips, in fact it rivals the 6 2-bands I have owned from Simpson, and honestly it's arguably better (Don't tell anyone) Unfortunately this Best hair from 2012 was really indeed limited edition, and has - to the best of my knowledge - never been made to the same high quality standards since then. I have been fortunate enough to find a new 'old' stock Chubby 3 Best from same year at a store, and immediately bought that, and I got lucky, because it has a knot, that resembles my Chubby 2 Best very closely, not quite the same high quality, but indeed extremely solid quality Best 3-band hair type.

I also own 6 Manchurian Chubby 2 and 3's and 2 2-band Silvertips Chubby 2's.

I would look at Chubby 2 and Chubby 3 unless you have small hands.

Both the CH1 and CH2 will feel significantly more dense compared to your D3. 

The CH1 will feel slightly smaller than your D3 (even if the same sized knot dimension wise - not weight). The reason is the knot feels much more concentrated (on account of the extra hair and less splay).

The CH2 will feel bigger and more luxurious than your D3, but the knot will have less flow through.

The CH2 has my vote (and is certainly the more popular choice), however I'm also very comfortable with a CH3.

So, if you are after a denser brush both CH1 and CH2 are that, if you are after a brush with a larger presence on the face (compared to your D3) then perhaps the CH2 is your best choice. If you prefer a similar or more concentrated feel, then the CH1 will suit your needs.

(06-19-2016, 12:56 PM)crazindndude Wrote:

(06-19-2016, 10:16 AM)Mr_Smartepants Wrote: Both the Duke-3 and Chubby-1 have identical knots (23mm, ~48mm loft).  In stark contrast, a Chubby-2 has a ~27mm knot which is a big leap.
I had the CH1-super and sold it after two weeks as it was far too small for me.  The CH2-super I now have is nearly ideal in size but it borders on being too big.

I was led to believe the CH1 has a denser knot than the D3, even if the diameter and loft are identical. Is it really the same knot?

Similar dimensions, but very different weight (i.e. density).

Much more hair in a Chubby knot compared to a Duke knot.

(06-19-2016, 04:55 PM)ben74 Wrote:

(06-19-2016, 12:56 PM)crazindndude Wrote:

(06-19-2016, 10:16 AM)Mr_Smartepants Wrote: Both the Duke-3 and Chubby-1 have identical knots (23mm, ~48mm loft).  In stark contrast, a Chubby-2 has a ~27mm knot which is a big leap.
I had the CH1-super and sold it after two weeks as it was far too small for me.  The CH2-super I now have is nearly ideal in size but it borders on being too big.

I was led to believe the CH1 has a denser knot than the D3, even if the diameter and loft are identical. Is it really the same knot?

Similar dimensions, but very different weight (i.e. density).

Much more hair in a Chubby knot compared to a Duke knot.

Agreed. CH1 is far more dense than a Duke 3 is.

I have asked Mark Watterson if he would consider making a Duke 4, a 25-26 mm knot, not as densely packed as a Chubby, more like a Polo density, but in a handle that is fatter than the Duke 3, slightly higher than a Chubby 3 handle but a bit thinner. 
He said he would consider it, but gave no promises.........

A Duke 4 would be a brush I would be VERY interested in getting my hands on in both Best, Super, Manchurian and 2-band Silvertip.........it would instantly be a favourite of mine.

(06-19-2016, 05:20 PM)CHSeifert Wrote:

(06-19-2016, 04:55 PM)ben74 Wrote:

(06-19-2016, 12:56 PM)crazindndude Wrote: I was led to believe the CH1 has a denser knot than the D3, even if the diameter and loft are identical. Is it really the same knot?

Similar dimensions, but very different weight (i.e. density).

Much more hair in a Chubby knot compared to a Duke knot.

Agreed. CH1 is far more dense than a Duke 3 is.

I have asked Mark Watterson if he would consider making a Duke 4, a 25-26 mm knot, not as densely packed as a Chubby, more like a Polo density, but in a handle that is fatter than the Duke 3, slightly higher than a Chubby 3 handle but a bit thinner. 
He said he would consider it, but gave no promises.........

A Duke 4 would be a brush I would be VERY interested in getting my hands on in both Best, Super, Manchurian and 2-band Silvertip.........it would instantly be a favourite of mine.

Sign me up too. I think 24-25 is my sweet spot.

Chubby 1 is all the brush one will ever need. Then you try the 2...and before you know it you're looking forward to your morning date with the 3

The Ch1 was all I used for a very long time. It's a fantastic size.

(06-19-2016, 05:20 PM)CHSeifert Wrote: A Duke 4 would be a brush I would be VERY interested in getting my hands on in both Best, Super, Manchurian and 2-band Silvertip.........it would instantly be a favourite of mine.

Same here, which is why I contacted Brad Sears and had him make the "Arch-Duke" with one of his new 2-band Manchurian knots.
This could be my favorite brush!
http://shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=40446

Now, back to the OP...
Yes, the Chubby knots are denser at the same sizes than other Simpson brushes.

From my limited exposure to brushes: I have tried a Chubby 1 in Super - and as Claus already said, the handle is tiny...

I had a Chubby 2 in Best for a while (6 months), the knot is nice - but I have others I prefer much more and the handle is still too small (too short).

And since I can get pretty much every brush I crave for at a lower price than a Chubby 3 (and we are not talking Manchurian here), I guess I will never know how a Ch3 will feel

Yes, the CH1 handle can feel a bit small. The CH2 handle is MUCH more comfortable. 

Despite similar dimensions I preferred the CH1 Best knot over the D3 Best knot, probably because of the greater weight of the CH knot. Otoh, it may have been due to a different batch of hair - the CH1 is from the "Made in England" era, while the D3 is labeled Great Britain. The CH1 is way less scritchy than the D3 was. The D3 has since been re-knotted. And again OTOH, the D3 handle is more comfy than the CH1 handle.

Comparing my CH1 Best to CH2 Super, I'll reach for the CH2 99 times to the CH1's once. I find the CH2 a more pleasing lather maker.

I have a new Chubby 2 in "best", and a new Chubby 1 in "super".  I have noticed "batch variance" in the "best" grade.  A couple of years ago, I previously had 4 Simpson brushes in "best" and found them all to be a bit scritchy - they never did soften up.  But I thought I'd take a chance and try again.  So got the Chubby 2 in "best" about a month ago, and there is no evidence of any scritch at all - none.  As a matter of fact, this is a surprisingly wonderful knot!  It's so nice, that I thought I'd try the CH1 in "super".  It's quite soft tipped as well, and super dense.  Not as much "free loft" in the CH1 as in the CH2 - it's got about a 3mm "glue bump" that changes the dynamic of the face feel. 

Between the CH2 and CH1 that I have, I prefer the CH2 over the CH1 by a large margin.  But not really an "apples to apples" comparison, I know.  But both brushes are dense and very nice knots.