I have the same brush and all I can say is, "what a work horse it is"! It's my travel brush for its ability to perform well on all kinds of water hardness. Gives good lather with a touch of luxury.

It attack my hardest soaps as well as my luxurious creams and gives good warm lather with a certain softness that most boars don't have (except for a well broken in Semouge OC).

Haven't tried any high end silver tip from Thather or any of the ones Obie name. I hope, God permitting, try one some day! So far the only silvertip I have is a Frank Shave and is very soft but it is a bit tricky to load hard soaps. For the warmest and most luxurious of cream shave nothing like the frank shave silvertip for me. Double O