I've read a number of threads on brushes, and have pared down my lists. I only want a brush I can order from Top of the Chain, so other considerations are not on the table. I'm open to boar or synthetic. I'm looking for low-midrange price. I know nothing about knots. From what people have said, I think I'd say I'm looking for soft/very little scritch, and some backbone, but something mid-range, definitely not floppy. I've used a lower end boar in the past that I liked okay, and currently have a silver tip badger that has a stubby handle and large bulb brush, that I like quite a bit. I've posted two pics, one with the boars, and one with the synths.