I have two sets I really like. One is a pair of wood handle Regal Tips. actually came with my first kit, still in bag. The other set I really like is my pair of retractable brushes ( the name wore off but they are either Vater or the Vic Firth Steve Gadd model ) honestly though they are both roughly the same. I've had nothing but good results using either of these. I prefer the retractable when I do more switching between brushes & rods or brushes & sticks. That way I don't worry about the wires getting all mangled.

I just have some cheap lightweight plastic ones, I had to stop using metal ones as the sharp bit at the end where the brush meets the rod had made small indentations in the head when I struck with more force.

For a few months now I have been using Vic Firth Jazz Rakes. They have red nylon "wires" and I like the balance and the "swish" that they procure.

Wood Handel , fixed brush , old school! I can do Rim shots and flip for cymbal and tom use...

I use the Regal Tip Clayton Cameron Brushes and some of my vintage brushes, Not that I play brushes very often. But when I do they are in my stick bag.

For calf heads I really like Brushfire's standard gauge.

The bristles are very light and (to me) sound great across calf.

Maxwell's has them for like $25

Coated Ambassadors, I always use the standard rubber handle retractable Regal Tip.

Who is the guy making new brushes like the old red ribbed handle ones? Supposedly exact down to the wire gauge, type and ribbed handles. Those are the oldies I remember. My boys got me a pair of black handle Zildjian's which I like a lot.

Regal tip 583r classics are the standard for a reason.

http://www.regaltip.com/products/brushes/brushes/classic-rectractable

Glenn!

That would be Tom Osborn of BrushFire Percussion. He is the son of Don Osborn Sr., and brother of Donny Osborn Jr., the family that owned/ran Slingerland back in the day. I met him at the Chicago Drum Show as he came over to chat about my display of BR snare drums/history. I have a couple pair myself! .. however .. as you may know I play a better than fair amount of brushes with the Sinatra Show, and actually prefer the Vic Firth Steve Gadd model, simply because they have the tips "upswept" which keeps them from catching on the hoop. Otherwise the VF SG model mimic's the RegalTip black retractable model across the board. Here's a link to Tom Osborn's company: http://www.brushfirepercussion.com/

Tommyp