brain originally played a french instrument, a raoux piston-valve horn, similar to that used by his father. this type of instrument has a particularly fluid tone and a fine legato, but a less robust sound than the german-made instruments which were becoming common. in 1951 he switched to an alexander single b instrument, complaining that "they want me to play the right notes all of the time!" the alexander had a custom lead pipe which was narrower than the usual, and offered a sound which, if not comparable to the raoux, at least gave a nod in the direction of the lighter french instrument.