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!
Horned Toad Select Archetype Model Production Starting
The Archetype model tenor mouthpiece will be in production soon. This is a very detailed reproduction of an extinct historically significant Otto Link transitional model, the prototype “Super Tonemaster”, AKA the “Quad Ring”. These will be hand finished, in house, in the original NY Otto Link style, but one of the few craftsmen who can really recreate that style. This will be the first, and probably only option to acquire an example of the Quad-Ring Link, and they are going to be amazing players with a proper setup.
This prototype was a design test at the end of the Tonemaster production featuring some incremental aesthetic, bore, finish, and response changes that resulted in the very famous Super Tonemasters of the NY and Florida eras. To the eye, internally this model does not look drastically different from the Tonemaster but it plays differently as one might expect with a slightly smaller chamber and higher floor resulting in more projection and focus.
If we were lulled into thinking the reliable trend was towards smaller chambers from larger ones we would be confused, as the NY Super Tonemasters appear to go in the direction of slightly larger chambers, yet with the character innovated by these prototypes. I would say quad-ring in terms of chamber is slightly smaller than NY double ring and slightly larger than Florida double ring, with a chamber to floor configuration that makes clear sense moving from Tonemaster to double ring Super Tonemaster.
There are very few of these transitional prototypes in existence. Most of the surviving examples were found as raw blanks left at Otto Link, unfinished, rough, and unclear as to true design intent. They do not have serial numbers, were never faced, or even completely machined inside so they are literally just aesthetically interesting doorstops. The piece I was fortunate to get has an Otto Link Serial number, a full facing and finish, and is a playing mouthpiece illustrating quite clearly what Link intended with this model. This historic piece is what we used as a basis for the Archetype model. We have been extremely faithful to the original design and dimensions, internally and externally.
These will be initially produced in the 6* (0.095) tip size range as that is the territory of the surviving example that I have, and- these early Links were never designed to function at large sizes, which is part of how they work so well without high baffles. I do not intend to offer them at large sizes, but I do have *some* flexibility in exactly what size they can be finished at. They will all be hand finished and checked. Each piece will always be unique, but the production will offer a very high degree of consistency.
We should have photos and maybe even mouthpieces within the month of June 2025. The first run may be a small number. Feel free to reserve one, ask questions etc. I do not know the final price yet, as that depends on the numbers made and the final production cost, which I do not yet know.
Otto Link FL serialed 5* original
Phenomenal and special playing early serialed LInk 5*. This plays edgy, crisp full and fast. These serialed pieces are rare as hens teeth and highly sought after with good reason. This is among the best originals I have ever played. Tip measures .089.
Original ‘Otto Link’ stamped ligature currently not included with the piece. If I can locate that I will.
Otto Link Slant Sig. Early FL Original Beauties
Here we have a family of 4 beautiful old original Florida no USA slant links, (Oops I see one USA FL there too, uh oh!). These are Authentic pieces, not fakes, and they are not questionable. After the explosion of eastern European fake hard runner Links hit the internet I stopped trying to promote these pieces and just let the internet-weary warriors come to me to find the originals. Well here they are anyhow.
This group left to right is 6(USA), 5*, 6* and 7. I have definitely played them all but they have been here for a while and I don’t remember what each one does exactly, but for the serious buyers who want to know about particular pieces I would be happy to test again.
Guardala handmade MB original clean
Guardala (handmade I guess) Michael Brecker original. This piece is exactly what is should be and apparently in as-born condition other than plating. Those of you who are looking for these know what you are looking at here. Here it sits until someone snatches it in a predatory fashion.
Otto Link FL Double Ring 6
Florida double ring 6; I received this in slightly humiliated condition as can be seen by the random marks on the piece. Someone was letting this bump around a bit, some nicks on the body and rails. Someone of low skill had been at the tip rail of these piece so it was a non player, but the facing was not touched.
I have re-established the proper tip rail and trued parts of the original facing curve that were off. (The majority of Links from this period will have somewhere between poor to horrible facings that all need some kind of help. The likelihood of finding one with a great facing is low, but occasional.) I have polished the table a bit, and generally cleaned this up while optimizing the original facing configuration.
The result is that it now plays and has a wonderful thick complex sound. The baffle is not shy at all, but the piece has NOT been opened nor ‘brightened’ beyond original setup. The original facing approach on this one is a slightly longer one so it will work better with just a slightly harder reed. That could be changed but I did not want to alter.
Otto Link FL no USA early original high rollover 7 killer!
Florida no USA early model 7. This is the very early very high baffle model, a big hump baffle that really offsets the bigger chamber complexity with a blasting bright cut to the sound. This piece was 100% original, with all the normal wear from a great piece that was played accordingly much. I have given the dirty and worn table a bit of a polish to true up the facing break, and re-defined the tip rail that had become thick due to decades of reed slapping fun. That is the sheen you can see in the pics; brand new tip rail and polished table, all purely for function and no change to tip size or facing curve etc.
It is as close to absolute original as one can get with one of the great pieces like this. Unless they have lived under a rock for 60 years the great ones have been played to wear and need some gentle cleaning up. Otherwise this is the original thing at a 7 and measuring accurately. It’s got all the right sizzle and power for this model.
Otto Link FL USA 7 Original Very Good
Florida USA Link 7 all original. Shows only a bit of plating corrosion at the baffle area and some light scratching likely from cleaning. This piece plays quite well, lively and balanced, not stuffy or sluggish, a very nice example of this period.
Otto Link EB Super Tonemaster 7 original Clean & Truly Excellent player
Early Babbitt link 7 all original; table, facing, tip baffle etc. Measures accurately, has a rather large shelf baffle and plays very well. Tone is rich and colored with enough brightness and as focused as these are preferred for.
Continue reading
Selmer MK VI 108xxx mint original US Lac Museum Piece.
Very rarely do we find early 1960’s Selmer Tenors in this untouched condition. Serial number 108xxx, this is in the run of the absolute most consistently great and efficient responding MK VI ever made. These play slightly focused, punchy, bright, highly resonant and vocal. To be absolutely clear in this serial range of immediately post-100k I have never, not even once, played a bad one. They are either very very good or exceptional. It is just what they are, and for whatever reason Selmer had the perfect formula for Tenor at this moment.
This particular example is just about brand new condition. I think I found one little scratch. The pearls are sharp as new, no lacquer wear, even on key touches, no dents, no solders, original neck and matching numbers, original pads, some falling out, original old degrading neck cork. I did play it a number of times when I first got it, before the neck cork started to crack and the left hand pads started falling out and it will really just great; commanding and beautiful tone. In fact Josh Redman also tried this one at this time and declared it a candidate. I agree! I am not in a rush to sell it either, but someone asked for the pics so here they are.
Otto Link early FL Serialed 5 Mint Original!
Here is a super rarity; early FL (no USA) Serial Numbered Mint original alto piece. The serialed FL are together with the double rings considered the best of the FL metal Links. From my perspective they are nearly the same as the FL double ring, but with a touch more baffle brightness and airspeed. This is variable, of course. Sometimes they are brighter, sometimes they are indistinguishable from double rings in terms of how they play.
An alto model, in mint condition is a rarity as well. This piece appears to have barely been played, if at all. It has a beautiful rail/baffle/tip finish. TIME CAPSULE!
