FLIX Brush Sticks - Jazz

I first saw someone play with these about a month before I bought them. They are "close" to wire brushes in sound. Close. My issue with my usual WIRE brushes (Vic Firth Jazz (white) is that even though they retract, when I switch between brushes and sticks, the inevitably catch and a wire or two gets bent. The FLIX don't catch and don't bend, but you will have to turn the mic up a bit for a crisp wire-like sound.