UPDATED: B17 Declaration Grooming Vis-a-vis B2-16 Releases

Updated review of B17

So where did you post your review?

muzichead Sent you a PM

For 405 dollars I say he needs to be more thorough with removing the black hairs. Turn n shave, wald, Long shaving, varlet, and black eagle have knots that they hand tie that are completely devoid of black hairs. Honestly even some factory knots I've used are more consistent in that regard. It doesn't make or break the knot but good grief for basically the most expensive brush on the market I just think some attention to detail would be preferable. This coming from someone who does really like Scott's work overall

On another note it's always annoyed me that he doesn't offer a description of his knots. Sure there's batch variance and user subjectivity involved. But it'd be better than nothing. Almost 200 dollars for a knot that I don't even know the properties of without having to ask a forum? Once again I like his brushes. Pours are all spectacular and knots are usually good. I just think Scott has always been lacking but especially is lacking now on the communication front for the average customer.

I will get jumped for this but..... For the money, availability, and performance when compared with say, Allen Long, Tthe DG brushes are waaaay over priced and waaaaay over hyped. Very similar to chiseled hounds knots [fanchurians]. And with Rob you get the entire brush for half the price. Just my humble opinion. YMMV.

My predilection for knots is splay and permeability. And I like bulbs, so my bias is known. I miss the Thaters and M&F flesh.

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

I will get jumped for this but..... For the money, availability, and performance when compared with say, Allen Long, Tthe DG brushes are waaaay over priced and waaaaay over hyped. Very similar to chiseled hounds knots [fanchurians]. And with Rob you get the entire brush for half the price. Just my humble opinion. YMMV.

My predilection for knots is splay and permeability. And I like bulbs, so my bias is known. I miss the Thaters and M&F flesh.

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

I know you have the Blood of Kings 9a+; unfortunately, far from his best knot although it may be his best handle colour.  What other DG brushes do you have?

Cannot account for bulb preference as am agnostic regarding the whole bulb v fan debate but find bulbs, by definition, are not splay monsters. 

Can let you borrow some of my DG brushes with better knot codes where will definitely have a different and far better opinion. On the better DG brushes, there really is nothing comparable hair wise, even in brushes costing much more.

That stated, will confess had I known M&F (Brad and Lee) were doing brushes in the shape you were having made, would have grabbed quite a few: Bard Sears ESBrushmaker, Lee Sabini, and Rudy Vey rudyvey are amongst the finest men encountered in the industry. Not only are their brushes great but, more importantly, they good people.

Danny, inerstin'. So maybe i have a lemon oot if his run of knots?

Thanks for the offer bro-heam. .

Don't go to the trouble brother. Brushes are so far down my shave priority now. Blades-razor combo way more important for me now. . With the few Allen Long, M&F, paladins, Quinns i have, i can't chase the DG ghost . Too hard to land them per availability and price.

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

I will get jumped for this but..... For the money, availability, and performance when compared with say, Allen Long, Tthe DG brushes are waaaay over priced and waaaaay over hyped. Very similar to chiseled hounds knots [fanchurians]. And with Rob you get the entire brush for half the price. Just my humble opinion. YMMV.

My predilection for knots is splay and permeability. And I like bulbs, so my bias is known. I miss the Thaters and M&F flesh.

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

I am going to chime in briefly on this. I don’t feel as though Scott has made a decent knot since B10 (Just my opinion folks). Not attacking Scott in any way. I think that Srdjan at Rhodium Knots always made the best knots and Bernd at Shavemac (D01 2 band) and Milton at Turn N’ Shave make knots that are just as good as any DG knot and I have a ton from both of those makers as well. I have only bought a few since B10 and the knots I have in the B11-B15 range are uneven and not nearly as good as all of the knots previous to B11. The reason for my opinion is because I own a ton in the B1-B10 range as seen in the attached picture. Many of these are handles that Scott knotted and a few that are DG handles with DG knots in them.
From top to bottom;
Row 1 - B1
Row 2 - B1/B2 Hybrid
Row 3 - B2
Row 4 - B3
Row 5 - B4
Row 6 - B5
Row 7 - B6 (2) B7 (2) B8 (1)
Row 8 - B10



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And most importantly Milton replies to you immediately and is friendly. Idk if Scott even replies to emails from the average person anymore lol

Fully believe in open dialogue so am not going to question others' experience with DG knots as of late. However, will expound on mine.

Firstly, Scott has never provided any free or discounted knots nor has he even alerted to an impending release at full price; have gotten lucky a few times but more of my knots have come from the secondary market than purchased new - long and short, Scott has done nothing to earn my loyalty excepting producing well made brushes/knots: have been left to my devices to acquire those brushes/knots. Swear Scott does not hold me out as a personal friend - contact him via Facebook messenger, usually getting a reply within 24 hours - always professional and cordial if not friendly. I can also state that there have been some rumours regarding DG brushes brought to my attention - when encountered, I simply ask Scott via FB Messenger and modify this thread with his response - thus far refuted in each case.

Further, have in possession or have owned every knot from B3 thru B16 from Scott. I have tried 1 B2 albeit seemingly a lifetime ago and 2 B17s. Amongst the knots owned, have either multiples or used multiples between my brushes and examples people have lent. That is not to suggest I have encountered every brush Scott has ever produced but it does suggest a pretty broad multiple exposure to every knot in his line, certainly from B3 on. Many suggest his best brushes were B1 and B2 -won't opine on that given the single B2 encounter long ago. Further, we all have preferences regarding feel, density backbone&c - will stipulate others might have differing preferences amongst various characteristics.

But even with personal preferences accounted, my perspective - having been a died in the wool B5/6 man - is that Scott's brushes since the ill fated B10, excepting the B12, ranging from B11-16 have been minimally amongst his best, full stop. My personal favourite of all time, B3 and up, is B15 BUT many feel B13, 14 and even 16 hold that mantle - truth told, it hard to argue against any of those choices depending how one weights characteristics - they all amongst his best brushes ever period. B17 is a hair I have not come to understand yet - it seems a B3 variant to me BUT others, very brush knowledgeable, having used it longer, swear it will be a beast after a thorough break in.

I am aware that many have been upset with the DG rifling of knots: that was referenced in the reviews. I equate it to the subtle puckering the most bespoke custom suits sometimes exhibit - just enough to let one know it custom and the pinstripes ALL align in every plane. Also, a third party has alerted of 2 warranty brushes, validated with photos, and informed resolved by Scott. In no way do I suggest having thorough knowledge of everybody's experience through scouring social media or making enquiries - maybe my experience of good fortune on the multiples of each batch code encountered over the years is a fluke but it is genuine and unbiased.

Finally, am not going to extend this debate to other vendors, there are some vendors' brushes less or more expensive I favour and have purchased those brushes; likewise, there are some vendors' brushes highly regarded, more expensive or less expensive that I don't favour and have shied away or sold those brushes. But that is not the point to some of the replies. Pricing became a point of some contention years ago when a vendor went very high end; the forum management suggested pricing was an inappropriate topic so shall refrain.

Will make one last comment though: am not a fan of how hardware being sold generally through drops, auctions and such - it is clearly being gamed, at least through savvy buyers. Was dead set against the duFour list when it first originated but now seeing the wisdom in the decision years on - a customer wants something, sign up and wait.

So there it is; wanted to let people air their experiences and have replied with mine.