Simpson's Sovereign Synthetic

Glad you asked!

I'm the proud owner of a T3, T2 and one that we'll affectionately call the Friday afternoon T2:

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The T3 and T2 are excellent brushes. Soft G4 fibres, good bit of backbone and very effective at working hard soaps. They'll be equally effective at any other type of soap/cream. Not as dense as the CH2 synthetic (and a different type of fibre) and therefore easier to splay.

The Friday afternoon T2 is a sorry little thing. It would appear to accidentally contain the Vulfix H2 knot. It's a bit sparse and feels like a cheap synthetic brush of old. This was the first T2 I received but Shaving Station remedied this for me with their excellent customer service. It would appear there's a few of these mongrels out and about including the US (Bullgoose has been identified as one with this stock).

So, my point is that if you get the correct specification T2 and T3, they're good brushes at a very affordable* price.

*I'm not sure what the impact of importing and tax is on these brushes to those of you in the US but hopefully you'll be offered them at similar price to us in the UK

T3:
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T2:
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I have a T1 and I like it. Compared to the more expensive Simpson synthetics it looks and feels like a cheaper brush. That doesn't mean it's not a solid synthetic though. It works great.

Soft fibres, plenty back bone, and fairly dense. Lathers like a champ. The T1 handle is a bit small but a great brush for small brush lovers.
 
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*I'm not sure what the impact of importing and tax is on these brushes to those of you in the US but hopefully you'll be offered them at similar price to us in the UK...


$28.50 for the T3 at Maggard.

What I am curious about is whether they really have a newer generation of synthetic fiber or are just rehashed old gen. stuff. In other words, worse, = or better than YaQi, the current "gold standard"(?).
 
$28.50 for the T3 at Maggard.

What I am curious about is whether they really have a newer generation of synthetic fiber or are just rehashed old gen. stuff. In other words, worse, = or better than YaQi, the current "gold standard"(?).
Fibre feels on par with Yaqi Mew Brown and FS G4. Density of the T3 gives it more backbone though so it's a little less easier to splay than these two. Only a little less though.

What other brushes can $30 get you in the US?

Also, don't buy the T2 from Bullgoose (bad maybe even Maggard?)!
 
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/ is the main YaQi stocking internet vendor in the USA and they have fantastic prices, but they sell out fast.

I wouldn't say the Trafalgar brushes are better than the Yaqis. I have this one (among many many others) and it's one of my favourite brushes:


My two good Trafalgars do have lower glue bumps than I find with my Yaqi brushes which is certainly a plus though.

In summary, I think you'll enjoy the T3 but it's not necessarily going to bring anything new over a decent 26mm G4 if you already have one.
 
$28.50 for the T3 at Maggard.

What I am curious about is whether they really have a newer generation of synthetic fiber or are just rehashed old gen. stuff. In other words, worse, = or better than YaQi, the current "gold standard"(?).

I don't think there is a gold standard when it comes to synthetic fibres. It comes down to what an individual likes. The fibre is obviously only part of the story. Density, loft, circumference and shape all play a part.

I'd suggest one has to try a brush to know if they like it rather than discarding prior to investigation, simply because of the gen 3, gen 4 thing.
Not that we can try them all of course.

The Simpsons Sovereign fibre is soft along the whole length not just the tips. I'd say it's a newer fibre not rehashed older stuff. Some might find it too soft and prefer the Muhle/EJ STF fibre. Depends what ya like really.
 
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