Which semogue??

Dave

Dave

Messages
58
Hi gents.

I've got 2 cheap brushes - the body shop brush and the best shave horse hair number 2 and now think it's time to upgrade. I've read a lot of good things about semogues but being new to traditional shaving i'm having a tough time deciding which one to get. I've narrowed it down to the 1305 and the 830 but would also consider the 2000 and SOC.

The 1305 is a great looking brush and seems to be the most popular but i've read the handle is a little fragile if dropped. The 830 is also a looker and has 10% extra density in the knot. What difference does that extra 10% make in terms of performance?

I was also wondering if spending the extra on a semogue can be justified when I could get an omega brush at the fraction of the cost?

Any feedback from members that have experience of these brushes would be greatly apprececiated!!

Cheers Dave
 
The 1305 is one of the very best brushes around at the price. Much better performer than the 2000. As for the 830, 10% more density than the 1305 is simply not needed - the 1305 has more than enough backbone even for those that like scrubbing brushes. The SOC is a bigger brush, but you are edging up in price and I don't think it looks as good as the 1305.

I tried a couple of the cheaper Omega brushes:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://fidosshavingbrushblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/omega-10005.html">http://fidosshavingbrushblog.blogspot.c ... 10005.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://fidosshavingbrushblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/omega-31064.html">http://fidosshavingbrushblog.blogspot.c ... 31064.html</a><!-- m -->

They didn't compare well with my Semogue boar brushes, the best of which was the 2009 LE, but that was £30 - a lot for a boar.

So given the options you are considering, and bearing in mind the prices - go for the1305. As for the handle, try not to drop it! I've never had a problem with it.


My spell check offers Smog as a correction for Semogue. The SOC need to step up their education programme.
 
I have not tried the 1305, but have the 2000, the SOC and the 830.

The 830 is a very good brush, and Fido is right, the 10% extra is not needed. However their handles are different, and this may be something you need to look at.
Would you prefer to have a kind of 'larger' / 'taller' handle? I personally find the handle of the 830 a tad short, but individual preferences always vary.

The SOC is a kind of 'larger' brother of 1305, from the looks of it at least, its handle is pretty large in dia. and height compared to other brushes. A great brush, but again as Fido said, you end up paying more for getting more (which you may not necessarily need).

The 2000 is a brush with larger loft and slightly more floppy because of that. I am still in the break-in period with this one, so cannot comment really.

The Omega ones are good as well, I happen to like them and have the 31064 (certainly more floppy than the Semogues but a very nice brush with an excellent handle) and also the 80265 (this one is preferably for face lathering - light handle though which is not that ideal).
 
I have a 830. I bought it purely on the looks ofthe handle as I preferred it to the 1305.

It's a brilliant brush. I'm sure you can't go wrong with either!
 
I think the first thing the ought to be asked is, do you face lather or bowl lather? Hard soaps or Creams? It's the only way I could recommend the perfect fit

I have all those brushes except for the SOC! Also have an Omega 40033 and a Proraso, which is an Omega Pro 48, and I find all my Semogues better than those, in fact I don't use them any more!

My favorite is the 1305, the 830 is also very good but I prefer the wooden handle, to me is the most comfortable handle of all my brushes and I always prefer it when buying other Semogues (like the 2010 and the 2015HD) and the extra 10% ( I think is more than 10%) only makes it a little harder to break! Some people like the acrylic handle, I find it too small! The 1305 is a brush that can always be recommended because is good for everything, face (once it broken in) and bowl, soaps and creams!

The Semogue 2000 is oriented for bowl latherer's, it's a very use specific brush! The handle and the large loft are perfect for that! So if it's for bowl, spectacular brush, if not don't buy it!

The SOC is a model oriented for boar aficionados! It's harder to break than any of the other's and it's never recommended for people who have never used boar, as they don't know what to expect and tend to lose patience! Honestly, you should forget this even exists for now!

There are a lot of other Semogues oriented for face latherer's that could be mentioned but I don't want to add to the confusion, but I think the 1305 is a great all around, and it might be the one best suited for you right now!
 
Hey guys. Thanks for all your informed responses! They have certainly helped me to make my mind up! :)

As much as I love the look of the 830!! It's gonna have to be the 1305, as I reckon the handle on the 830 would just be that little bit too small for my big hands.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!!

Best regards

Dave
 
I have a SOC and a 830 and out of the two I prefer the SOC.

I found that it was difficult to get the right amount of water in the 830 - I ever ended up with too much or too little. Whereas the SOC was almost spot on each time.
 
I own a 1520 that althougth tiny is a very decent brush and a good value for money. It works superb with hard soaps and I´ve used it lathering in the face. This brush is the best performer of that I have with MWF. In the other hand, althougth yet expensive, not compared with other stuff, is my favourite Semogue, The SOC 2bands: this is an outstanding brush with a very classy and vintage design and finish. I only can recomend to you any of this, but I´m sure that other partners will satisfy your demand.
 
If you still thinking about getting a boar,go first for the 1305and get acquainted to it for while.If youre thinking about badger,get the SOC finest badger one.
Also,I hope that Semogue release really soon the boar/badger brushes that I have been able to test.Actually theyre gonna make a special edition for <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.barbearclassico.com">www.barbearclassico.com</a><!-- w --> and <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.foroafeitado.com">www.foroafeitado.com</a><!-- w --> called "Caravela": its basically a 50% finest badger hair with 50% boar hair 90% tops.This is the thread in foroafeitado.com about it:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.foroafeitado.com/foro/semogueiros-21/semogue-brocha-caravela-edicion-limitada-lista-pedir-una-aqui-3935/">http://www.foroafeitado.com/foro/semogu ... aqui-3935/</a><!-- m -->
And this is the pic of the brush with a vintage style handle:
2rptxlc.jpg

Hopefully,after this LE,Semogue would make more of this bodger brushes,which are simply SUPERB,I must say,and cheaper than the regular SOC finest badger brushes (30 euros).
 
hunnymonster said:
Hmmmm on balance I'd say Kylie, but I'd be thinking of "Plain Jane Superbrain" though.
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol:

Thanks for the feedback guys! I eventually went for the 1305 a wee while back and i'm not sorry i did, it's an excellent brush! :)

"Plain Jane super brain" all the way! Well that is until I get my new forest 2 band chunky. :p
 
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