I purchased a 2" Richard Optimum Ultra and really like its performance.. I bought a second brush several weeks later and it seemed like a completely different brush.. I like the first one because the bristles were soft and fine which enabled precise cutting-in on accent corners.. The second brush had what felt like thicker and stiffer bristles.. It leads me to think the brush manufacture used slightly different materials.. Not necessarily a bad brush, just not what I was looking for...