The problem is that every manufacturer has a different definition for these hair grades. Your Savile Row silvertip is more like a Rooney Finest...
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In Essence it is simple: Whatever sort of hair you use is purely what you want to use.
You can perfectly use a boar brush for 60 years and it will do the job just as good as a Silvertip.
Buying an "upgrade" is just because you can. It all works.
I like the old two banders. of course they aren't available anymore and luckily I have a few. Otherwise, either the Thaters or the Simpson Manchurian are pretty good too.
I thought two band badger is another name for finest badger.
My favourite is blonde badger. I have two of them now, one 21mm and one 25mm (the 25 is my favourite). My first brush was a very floppy Muhle silvertip that doesn't get any use any more. I pulled it out the other day and it's not so good for face lathering sticks. I must get around to putting it up for sale ...
One of my favorite things about brushes is how each one interacts differently with different soaps and creams. I like a variety of both in my regimen. Overall, however, I have found the softer, more luxurious brushes to compliment the softer creams while a stout and somewhat stiff brush combines better with hard soaps. I have a handful of each and plenty of soaps and creams to experiment with and, to me, it is an indispensable, invaluable part of the straight shaving experience.
I, too, have purged my silvertips in favor of 2 banders and boars. I appreciate the stiffer loft and enjoy face-lathering often. I tend to think 24mm is best for me. I have a 28 and, while it works great, it seems just too big! Lather waster! :rofl2:
As for the badgers after involving in about 100 knots my opinion is:
Black: tough,great backbone
Pure: not so tough.good backbone
Mixed: not tough,between those above,a nice surprise
Finest: never worked for me no matter the source
Best-Super: "i wanna be soft" but many times failed,not happy with some of them
Silvertip: "my name is soft", expensive although the cheaper can do the job
My personal favorite is Pure Black Badger, in the 22-24mm size. You get some backbone and great performance.