Archetype, Legendary Quad Ring Otto Link Resurrection
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The new Archetype tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a celebratory re-emergence of a historical lost Otto Link prototype, knows as the ‘Quad Ring’. The Quad Ring as it can be casually referred to was the initial design for Link’s most famous model, the “Super Tone Master”. 
Link had achieved wide popularity with the Tonemaster model among Jazz musicians from the late 1940’s to the 1950’s with the 
biggest names associated with the tenor saxophone favoring them such as John Coltrane,
Hank Mobley, Charlie Rouse, and many others.
At this time saxophone models were evolving towards louder and brighter response to follow the evolution of electrical amplification that allowed more volume on stage. Link’s mouthpiece evolution followed the pace with a new design making the larger Tonemaster chamber slightly smaller and allowing for the possibility of more baffle and a slightly brighter, more focused and projecting sound. The new design would also have an external aesthetic upgrade. 
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Video introduction Archetype Tenor Piece
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A comparative discussion of the history and creative process of the new Archetype tenor mouthpiece.
Vintage Saxophone and Mouthpiece Currently For Sale
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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!
Otto Link Early Florida Double Ring 9* Masterpiece
Wonderful early Florida Double Ring 9* ‘marinated’ and labeled “masterpiece” this piece lives up to all the accolades. This is compact as Florida Double Ring are desired for, focused, organic, colorful and mid-boost presence. It plays fast, extremely clear resonant and detailed throughout the horn with even a beautiful altissimo voice. This piece is NOT shrill or over hyped. It is not reimagined into a super bright modern piece. It is rich, complex and projecting and still entirely vintage as it should be.
This piece came to be having been well loved but not abused. Being an early Florida the indicated tip size of 9* was still Continue reading
Archetype .105 gold plate
Fresh, sparkling, fat, and colorful, Archetype Classic facing at ,105 is a fast and articulate player.
This brings the crispness of Continue reading
Otto Link FL early no USA Original 7
Here is the classic no USA early Florida model that is the standard of history, This piece is original but suffered from being too well loved; the tip rail had lost definition from so much playing. 
I have re-clarified the tip rail only. The rest is Continue reading
Otto Link FL/EB Transitional 5* Original
Beautiful clean original example of the transition between Florida USA to Early Babbitt production. This piece is very nice showing the late Florida shelf baffle and denim table of EB milling.
These pieces tend Continue reading
MoonBeam Tenor Mouthpiece Production Starting
The MoonBeam modal is starting production this week. We may have pieces here end of week or early next week. This is a great triumph and a rescue operation of the best original vintage Link ever come through this shop.
These pieces will be Continue reading
Archetype .099 gold plate
Lovely .099 (Otto Link 7) sized Archetype finished in very light gold plate ready to purify the cosmic energy in and around your tenor! This piece is of the first generation of Archetype production with serial number 09. These are specifically fast and brilliant pieces with a lot of presence playing in the best possible way we could imagine an early (NY) double ring to respond with their NY production flaws eliminated. This one has been playtested and ready to go. I would say this particular piece is really middle of the road on the bright dark spectrum for what the Archetype can be, which generally starts off with more brilliance than a NY Link was made with but has the same depth.
NEW ‘MoonBeam’ tenor model coming soon!
MoonBeam is an extremely faithful reproduction and optimization of the best vintage Florida Otto Link I’ve found in over 30 years of hunting, studying and optimizing vintage Links. This particular piece is a very early Florida model 7* with a serial number. These early serialed pieces are nearly identical to Florida ‘double ring’ models in the chamber area but trend higher in the floor and baffle areas. In the end it is always the setup itself which makes the majority of the response as well, and early Florida had a great formula, though greatly handicapped by inconsistency in symmetry and errors in facing curve. When they had things right they were amazing, but many, including this piece were challenged.
I have had this particular piece for quite some years, as I received it rolling around in the case of Continue reading
Selmer Mark VI 1960 84xxx Masterclass Tenor
84xxx serial, 1960 at the height of Selmer dialed in functional balance of power, projection, resonance and color, these are highly sought after optimal tenors straddling the balance of modern efficiency and vintage tone. This is the best engineering Selmer ever had and shortly after this height the designs start to drift towards cheaper mass production and more generic sound quality.
This horn particularly was owned by a long time pro reedman. I was lucky to get it and restored it, optimizing it in every possible way. It has a very tight tolerance overhaul with treated pads and nickel-brass resonators. It is light, fast and responsive under the fingers. The air column is medium focused with a subtly hint of resistance to push against delivering an edgy, resonant, powerful sound that holds a purity of note and beauty within it.
This horn can do it all. it is not what I would call an extremely spread horn, though it is very flexible. It is probably directly in the middle of the spread/focused spectrum; easily controllable and yes malleable as well. The lacquer finish is US applied and engraved, all original. There is one reapplied solder at the low C guard with no metal work apparent; most likely this simply detached as is not uncommon for vintage Selmer. There are some small dings and tiny dents that I smoothed out on the body and neck as common for such horns used by professionals. This horn is ready to gig.
