Author Archives: Horned Toad

Otto Link Double Ring NY Old and nice reface to .090

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Here is an early model Otto Link Double Ring, made in New York sporting the early extremely long biteplate. These being about one step after the Tonemaster tend to have a fairly large chamber as well creating a thick, wide sound.  This one, however does not appear to have the absolutely huge chamber.  At least visually it appears not so big, sort of trending (a little) towards the Florida models.  This piece has had an active life showing some surface wear from handling.

The table facing stamp is not showing but I am guessing it was not a large size to start. Someone has refaced this to .090 (6 facing) and by the appearance I’d guess it was done more than 30 years ago, and by some old school hand and done very well.  It plays exceptionally well at this size with both fat and significant bright qualities on a complex warm tone expected of these models. This is not a piece to open further, it is just excellent as it is. I would suggest it could benefit from a bit of minor adjustment or cleanup if anything at all.  I very much enjoyed playing it and was surprised.

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RIA Baritone 6 original with Lig, very clean

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RIA baritone 6 original.  This is a very rare and well made piece with a dedicated following.  crafted off of the Berg Larsen design approach these have a lot of power and precision.  They are really very hard to find and were generally made to a very high standard. They made these out of a number of different metals including aluminum, but I believe this one is stainless steel. Good luck finding another.

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Selmer MK VI 86xxx Original US Lac. Fully restored, Powerful and Complex

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A tenor like this is very uncommon to find.  At 86xxx this is within the exact construction period of Brecker’s famous preferred horn at 863xx, as I was told.  This is a beautifully surviving original example.  The lacquer has aged to a dark bronze.  The horn has had no damage or trama and barely any scuffs of significance.  The worst issues are a few spots of finish wear or past lacquer corrosion that have been cleaned up, that’s it, nothing else of note. All the important areas, neck now brace, bell etc are untouched by impact or accident.  This is a very clean horn.

It has been carefully restored to perfection with new treated pads and an assembled set of original Selmer Tone-X nickel plated brass resonators, all keys fitted and toneholes level etc. It plays and feels like a race car in the hands.  The sound and response especially rare; an impressive slightly dark core with a wild-side type of growling aggressive edge all delivered in a particularly compact, compressed forceful airstream.  This is basically the dream VI for most people who are looking for this serial period and it absolutely does not disappoint. It’s very difficult to find any tenors at 86xxx at this point and harder still to find a truly great player at full power.

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Otto Link transitional EB/FL original 6

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Here is a very interesting piece; clearly a late Florida mouthpiece but finished at Babbitt with the denim table milling (that FL Link did not use).  So this was likely leftover FL stock that Babbitt bought and then finished in house.  This would often be referred to as ‘early Babbitt” but the facing font is small, stamped in Florida, not the large font Babbitt used.  oddly, the tip and baffle finish appear very much Florida style, sharp and fine with a rather extensive higher flat shelf baffle..

This piece is a master player; bright, crisp, very fast and compact.  Really special player measuring at .0925 (approx.) for me.

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