For availability of vintage saxophones and mouthpieces in stock please see the above link: “Vintage Saxophones & Mouthpieces For Sale”. That will show current offerings, sold and on hold offerings, as well as up and coming “in-shop” projects. Please feel free to ask about future offerings. Additionally there are many items that ARE NOT listed on the for sale page that are packed away, not operational yet, or just not fit into the schedule to list. Early inquiry is a good way to beat the crowd to get the special item you have been searching for. Thanks!
Dukoff Hollywood “CV Special” Serial V122 large chamber
Dukoff Hollywood later model (two piece construction) serial V122. This piece is rather close to original. Someone has done some minor cleanup of some kind but there is still significant gold plating on the rails so they cannot have done too much. It looks like someone mainly smoothed the ramp/baffle area. These pieces CAN have some solder clumps at the seams so maybe they cleaned that up?
Anyhow, this is a ‘CV special’ (Charlie Ventura) facing and it measures quite accurately, with a tip size at just about .102 on my tools. It does not have a pronounced baffle and even so it has an edge to the sound (with my reed). It plays really quite large and colorfully, with a beautiful fatness and dark fundamental defined by edge. It has a little air on top of the sound (which gives it part of a smokey coloration) and that is likely due to the larger size. These (CV) can vary anywhere from .093-.102 and the response will vary accordingly.
Obviously the biteplate has ben updated, and there is a patch over the replacement to protect it. Much of the original exterior plating remains- silver under a small amount of gold. I have done nothing to this except give it a pass on the finest grit to clean the dirt and corrosion off the table which immediately resulted in a facing break of exactly 50 which is correct for this. So, looking for a slightly big late model Hollywood? This is it.
Otto Link FL no USA Original W.T. Rarity
Wonderful rare WT facing and finish, no USA Florida Link. These run at at .085-.087 and have a custom short facing curve with a pronounced short and high baffle. They are setup such that although small, they have a resistance to handle softer reeds and make them feel strong while also offering a cutting edgy brightness. I believe these were popular with studio players among others. It is very satisfying to play and really does not feel like a 5* size with the right reed. This is the best of all the WT pieces that I’ve owned and I saved this one for last. The condition is about as mint as they come, perfect untouched facing and tip and plays phenomenally.
Selmer MK VI 236xxx Original Player
Just in, Selmer MK VI M236xxx late model in original lacquer and US engraving. The pads are in good condition and currently playing well. It’s been tuned up. It is generally very shiny and in nice condition yet also has lived a bit with normal dings that have been addressed. The neck is original with some flex in years past, the angle is correct. I am just about to play test this and report back with a review. This is a very good option for someone looking to get in on the vintage MK VI vibe at a more affordable price. Vintage Ray Hyman “Sax-Pak” case included.
Otto Link ‘Improved’ Tonemaster Marinated .100
Vintage otto Link Tonemaster, “improved” model (late) same as seen on the cover of Bluetrane LP. This piece was originally a 5* facing and I’ve carefully and specially opened it to .100 (current Otto Link 7) with a significant yet not overbearing baffle and contoured rails. It plays obviously bigger, and with quite a bit more clarity and detail than these would originally yet retains the original character. It is the case of more and better, rather than altered or modernized. It is finished in the traditional style these were made with.
It plays with plenty of volume, more body than a Florida Link, more edge and brilliance than an original. A spread response with a tone slightly to the dark side of the spectrum and plenty of warmth. Definitely among the best playing Tonemasters to be found.
Otto Link Double Ring NY Marinated .112 (!!!) Amazing rare creature!
I am hesitant to try to word this one. It is so rare, unexpected and surprising. We really don’t often see ANY New York long bite-plate double rings anymore. They seem to just be impossible to find (except right now apparently). Most are hacked or damaged if you ever see them anyhow. Add to that, if we ever found them they are almost always 4-5 tip sizes and just too small for people to want to play now. They are generally NOT easy pieces to open up and work on due to that long bite plate which many a sweating amateur has cut through before contemplating a nervous breakdown.
This one came to me in rough condition, but with a lot of metal intact. I’ve done a complete setup on it and it’s really a player! The facing stamp was not visible on the table so I am just guessing it was not a very small tip to start with. That means it was likely a custom order. It is unlikely it would end up at the tip size of .112 (8+) unless it was made large to start with. This is where I ended up and the tip is not even sharp. The tip also does not appear bent nor shortened. It’s just a bit of a freak. The previous owner also had this piece nicely thick and slightly dark gold plated, if which very much is still present.
Well, it’s a large piece and in the world of larger Links this plays amazingly well, seductive even. It is very loud, a huge body of sound, a woody organic edgy core, and a colorful complex depth like a living voice. It’s quite a thing. I totally enjoy this piece and hope it does not get its hooks in me.
I doubt I will see another, and this is definitely among the best of the mouthpiece craft I have ever done. I hope it goes to someone who can really make great music with it. Double rings are very expensive for me to acquire now, even if they are totally messed up, so they sell for high prices. Please expect that this one will be unusually expensive even for double rings as we will never see another and at this size and playability it is totally unique!
Otto Link FL Double Ring Marinated .103 Excellent! (SOLD)
Here is a piece I have kept around for quite some time. It is VERY VERY great. Tip size at .103 is quite in the middle of optimal for the compromise of power and center. This setup is very close to my personal daily player. It is bright, warm, has focus, but also spread, and an ocean of color. I would say this is not at all a dark piece, but it is just a hair backed off of the far end of bright on the spectrum just due to the influence of the bog body of sound this one has.
This still has a lot of its original gold plating on the body. While there are always different flavors to be found, in my experience there is no better double ring to be found. This is the thing and mostly they cannot be found.
Otto Link FL Double Ring Marinated .097 Excellent!
These are in high demand and now just harder and harder to find. Those who have good ones mostly are not letting them go. This one is at .097 which is a classic and great tip size for these, with the crisp detail of a slightly smaller size, yet still plays very big and expansive. Coltrane’s facings were all under 6* from what I heard, which makes a lot of sense given the bright, present sound he got. This type of compact crispness can only be achieved under .100″.
I received this piece in poor setup and put a very responsive facing and tip finish on it in the traditional style. The baffle was not low to start with and I have not tried to alter that further. It is definitely on the bright side for Links, FL double rings in general were not especially dark in original condition either, until you get to larger tip sizes. This one is quite a detailed shimmering player with a lot of body. I have no complaints about this piece, and could play it with a stiff 2.5 or harder as needed.
The nickel plating you see there is original, obviously with some wear to it. It would have gold over that as well originally, for pieces of this particular period. For those who have been looking for a great playing double ring, this will not last long.
Otto Link Alto Master Link (2 of them) very nice condition
These are wonderful early Link treasures. We have two, both marked “master Link” and one of them also marked “four star”. The body barrel of the ‘four star’ model is slightly wider and longer but otherwise they appear quite similar.
The previous owner had both of these sent to a professional refacing outfit that was most likely Babbitt due to the presence of clear denim milling on the table and rails. The likely babbitt reface is very very clean and intact with no further alterations. They have both been very nicely gold plated as well, of which all seems to remain intact also. Both pieces measure around .070 (Otto Link 5*).
Large chamber early alto Links with clean (babbitt) factory facings at a slightly larger than original size that is very comfortable for alto. Original ligatures included for each.
Selmer MK VI 126k Low Bb Baritone Saxophone Near New!
A nearly new 1965 Mark VI Baritone is an amazing thing to experience. This one is 126xxx with original US lacquer and engraving, original matched neck and all in wonderful condition with no damage that baritones almost always suffer. This has 99.999% original lacquer and the only signs of use are a few tiny scratches or scuffs and one tiny ding that I could find. The bell, lower and upper bows, neck, body etc are all just about perfect as the day it was made. The pads have lacquer on the edges and are all original, could use some attention after this many decades.
The sound is wonderful, equal parts edgy and warm as expected with a great VI bari. Includes original Selmer case and case cover as well. Such a time capsule is an extreme rarity. Enjoy the pictures!
Massive gathering of lonely vintage metal Links and others
Here we have left to right a motley gathering of the world’s most insidious runaway mouthpieces:
