Brush recommendations...

Sorry for hijacking your thread steelwindmachine, but I got a similar question:

On the upper line, the only two synthetic knots I actually enjoy, a 26mm Frank Shaving G4 and a 24mm Shavemac synth.
On the bottom, those I still keep but don’t get much love: a couple of Yaqi Tuxedo, a 1st gen Oumo G5, a Motherlode and a G5 gen 3 handtied by Alessandro from V&C (he doesn’t work with synths but since he’s a friend and he lost a bet, I was able “to force” him).
Beside these, I’ve also tried without success Omega S-Brush and Silversynth fibers, Simpson Sovereign and Platinum, Plissoft, Muhle STF...

It’s frustrating because I exactly know what I’m looking for, but apparently can’t find anyone able to satisfy my wishes: medium-low fiber rigidity, high (>54mm) free loft, no glue bump, medium density.
Do you guys have any suggestion, please?
Thx

Hmm. I am trying to wrap my head around what you are asking for...

Density ... Medium... So not overpacked with bristles, but not skimpy either?

Rigidity... Are you referring to how easily it splays? If so, it seems like you'd be looking for something that splays easily due to thin fibers - like the Cashmere, Synbad, or motherlode. Since you didn't like the motherlode, I then think of the other side of the coin... Where the knot is built to splay: like the G5C or Pure Bliss (both APSC). Both are really good, soft knots. The pure bliss *may* be able to be mounted a little taller, but I don't know if it's in the realm of 65mm plus.

I'd check out the APSC site for specs and look for some reviews. I have a feeling you might like the PB.

Thx for the hint mrdoug, I'll definitely do some more research about it

Sorry for hijacking your thread steelwindmachine, but I got a similar question:

On the upper line, the only two synthetic knots I actually enjoy, a 26mm Frank Shaving G4 and a 24mm Shavemac synth.
On the bottom, those I still keep but don’t get much love: a couple of Yaqi Tuxedo, a 1st gen Oumo G5, a Motherlode and a G5 gen 3 handtied by Alessandro from V&C (he doesn’t work with synths but since he’s a friend and he lost a bet, I was able “to force” him).
Beside these, I’ve also tried without success Omega S-Brush and Silversynth fibers, Simpson Sovereign and Platinum, Plissoft, Muhle STF...

It’s frustrating because I exactly know what I’m looking for, but apparently can’t find anyone able to satisfy my wishes: medium-low fiber rigidity, high (>54mm) free loft, no glue bump, medium density.
Do you guys have any suggestion, please?
Thx

Check out a 24mm 2BED from APShaveCo. Sounds like you have similar tastes as me and that's become my favorite knot. You might have to set it yourself to achieve the loft you want. I started setting my own knots years ago for that very reason. It's not difficult, and I've even done a YouTube tutorial on it if you need some help.

Thank you gwsmallwood!
While surfing AP Shave site I was actually looking for some other knot to add in my basket and make shipping to Italy worth, but unfortunately the 2BED 28-26mm (the sizes I’m looking for) seems to be sold out...
Do you know if maybe it’s one of those knots that usually can be found under synonyms on Aliexpress or similar markets?

About setting knots, it’s something that I already did a few times by myself, but only for temporary tryouts or handle tests, for permanent jobs I prefer to rely on one of the best brushmaker on earth who luckily lives a few miles away from me

Thank you gwsmallwood!
While surfing AP Shave site I was actually looking for some other knot to add in my basket and make shipping to Italy worth, but unfortunately the 2BED 28-26mm (the sizes I’m looking for) seems to be sold out...
Do you know if maybe it’s one of those knots that usually can be found under synonyms on Aliexpress or similar markets?

About setting knots, it’s something that I already did a few times by myself, but only for temporary tryouts or handle tests, for permanent jobs I prefer to rely on one of the best brushmaker on earth who luckily lives a few miles away from me

Unfortunately, I don't keep up with all of the Chinese variations. I've always had great service from APShaveCo, so that's where 90% of my knots have come from. The G5B and G5C are both close to the 2BED, but I would imagine they're really close to the G5 Gen3 that you said you don't use much. Both are firmer than the Tuxedo style knots, but not as firm as the Simpson style. You'll probably need to buy a bunch of knots and select the one you like best. It's really hard to tell from descriptions.

In general, the larger the knot diameter, the lower the loft/knot ratio becomes, which makes a 26mm in the same fibers a bit more firm feeling than a 24mm in the same knot type. So if you have a 24mm that you would like better if it were just a tad more firm, try it in a 26mm knot. Vice versa too. If you have a 28mm knot that feels just a bit too firm, drop down to a 26mm knot and see if that's better.

In general, the larger the knot diameter, the lower the loft/knot ratio becomes, which makes a 26mm in the same fibers a bit more firm feeling than a 24mm in the same knot type.  So if you have a 24mm that you would like better if it were just a tad more firm, try it in a 26mm knot.  Vice versa too.  If you have a 28mm knot that feels just a bit too firm, drop down to a 26mm knot and see if that's better.

In my own limited experience, I found that former golden rule 1x2 between knot diameter and loft height it’s inadequate since this heavy SHD trend has invaded synthetic too, really annoying to me, even more than super slimy gel tips in badgers...
I’d love something with its (medium) backbone built upon fiber’s own characteristics rather than its density.

I think the Simpson Trafalgar T2 would suit the OP‘s requirements very well.

FlashOne - no problem to join in the query here. I hope you too find the knot of your dreams

update: I received in a Yaqi Surf 22mm synth and tried it last night with my Ethos Unscented soap. Compared to my RR Bruce 24mm Plissoft, the Surf required/used less water and whipped up the lather within 15-20 seconds of bowl work, BUT applying to my face was wear the "challenges" appeared...

First, the soap seemed like it wasn't transitioning off the brush to my face as easily as the RR Bruce either straight on or painting for the first and subsequent two passes.

Next, the splay was extremely resistive/springy - the knot isn't set all that high and when trying to splay straight to the face the glue bump is like a ping-pong ball.

Granted, the tips are extremely soft - a homogenous gel-like feeling on bare skin. Whereas the RR Bruce is soft, but you don't get that gel feeling. Just a soft, fine brush hair feeling.

I did wind up flushing noticeably less soap down the drain compared to the same shave process using my RR Bruce 24mm Plissoft.

I do love the Yaqi handle feel, weight and color. So, if I do find another 22mm knot then I could always drill out and replace the Yaqi knot.

The idiosyncrasy I am trying to find a solution for now that I've tried the Yaqi Surf is that I'd like a brush with the splay and soap transfer characteristics of the RR Bruce 24mm Plissoft, but in a smaller diameter so it doesn't pick up more soap than I need. As it is, with my RR Bruce, I only load for 3-4 seconds and I'm still flushing half a bowl of soap down the drain.

I mean, maybe I just need to try a 22mm Plissoft where the knot is set high and see how that goes...and/or:

As for APS, I did hear back from Andrew and he did recommend the 22mm Synbad again for my application. So, maybe I try that?

APS recommendation changed to G5C.

This seems extremely bizarre:

"The idiosyncrasy I am trying to find a solution for now that I've tried the Yaqi Surf is that I'd like a brush with the splay and soap transfer characteristics of the RR Bruce 24mm Plissoft, but in a smaller diameter so it doesn't pick up more soap than I need. As it is, with my RR Bruce, I only load for 3-4 seconds and I'm still flushing half a bowl of soap down the drain."

Maybe I have not followed this thread closely enough but unless you are loading a true creme from a tub and just dipping the brush in how can you load for only 3-4 seconds and have any soap on the brush at all, let alone "flushing half a bowl of soap down the drain". Please be clear I am not casting doubt on anything you are saying but I am just trying to understand what might be going wrong here.