I was one of the lucky ones to get my hands on this brush
Here is my Out-of-the-box-shave and first opinion
It is no secret that I am a big fan of Semogue brushes, and once again Senhor Gomes has used his magic skills for this brush.
This brush comes in two versions; one with a black handle and one with a white handle.
The knot is the same 2-band finest badger hair which was used in the 2013 horn handle model.
The dimensions of my brush:
Weight: 71.0 gram
Knot size: 23.3 mm
Loft height: 50.9 mm
Handle height: 52.8 mm
Total height: 103.7 mm
The handle design is the same as the 2000 (+ the 2013 SE & the Antiga Barbearia anniversary)
Personally I like this design just as much as the SOC design. It has a nice size and feels very good in the hand. It is easy to hold.
Whereas the other models with this design are made of wood, this one is made of resin, and it looks much better in life than on the photos which, in my opinion, doesn't do it justice.
Now, the knot should be equal to the 2013 horn handle model, but I will have to say that for my brush that isn't correct - or at least it doesn't feel so.
This knot has the most delicious soft tips, that I could easily mistake it for Silvertip. I actually did and had to check the knot after my first pass, as I didn't believe it to be a 2-band, there was no prickliness at all.
So when I say it isn't equal to the 2013 model, it is because these hair are more soft tipped, and for a soft guy like me, it is just how I like a brush - well, I don't like this one, I already
love it I will, at some point, not only have to compare this brush to the 2013 horn handle, but also to the SOC and because it feels so soft, I simply have to compare it to my Thäter Silvertip as well.
The knot is quite dense and the backbone firm, so it has no problems loading and whipping up lather.
It didn't hog the lather, but released it willingly and it held enough for a four pass shave with touch-up if needed, and had I loaded it more, I'm sure it would have held enough for a couple of passes more.
My expectations to a new Semogue has increased over the years. I now expect to receive a good quality brush with a good performing knot, and this time was no different, but I was surprised; positively surprised that is.
I still really can't believe that the knot felt so delicious soft tipped, and I am looking forward to using it again - hopefully to confirm my first assessment.
What can I say, other than it is love at first shave.
