Well, I received mine a few days ago, after having to pay the usual import fee! Very annoying, I don't know why I keep ordering from the US.
First impressions - nice size (although larger than I was expecting), very nice solid handle, comfortable to hold. Nice loft shape, similar semi-bulb shape to Fido's 2201.
On to the bristles, and this is where I've been very disappointed. They're longer than I was hoping, and very prickly! Good backbone, more "springy" than other brushes I've tried, but the tips are quite unpleasant, and remind me of what pure or low-end best feels like. Fine when painting to and fro, but uncomfortable in circular motions.
Hmmmm.
This is
totally different to the Simpsons-made GT3 two-band I had a while back. That was REALLY stiff and dense,
but did have soft tips right from the off. I found its shape too pointy though - if it had had a traditional Duke fan-shape I prob would have kept it.
So... again it seems that either one man's meat is another man's poison (see loads of positive reviews of this brush), or simply good old natural variation in badger hair. I was very surprised just how prickly it is, not what I was expecting and certainly not consistent with reviews I've read.
Fido's 2201 is FAR softer and more pleasant to use. I will use it again for a few days but I really cant see this improving much.
I'm taking a shaving sabbatical for the coming colder season (plus my other half wants me to grow a beard!) so this will probably appear on the B/S/T very soon.
John