Very clean FL USA Otto Link 8 original facing in very clean condition.  This kit includes original box, lig, and cap.  Normally I play below 7* and 8 would feel a bit more work to play but this one played very easy for me and surprisingly bright as well.  Add the hugeness of an 8 opening and the tone + response is quite compelling.  I tried it on a number of horns and it was friendly to them across the board.  Overall it is surprisingly good for an original of the shelf FL Link with an untouched facing.  I cannot complain and could be happy with this piece as a main blower.

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This original 6* Early Babbitt is in excellent condition.  The facing is very clean, just some staining of the gold plate that is almost all present.  Original ligature is included.  These are some of the best Links ever made with a slightly smaller chamber for optimal projection and focus.  This measures exactly .095.  original denim table milling clearly present.

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We have a metal and a wood piece.  Both appear to be completely original.  The wood piece measures at about .103 while the metal comes in at around .107 (pending).  I am using a Babbitt tip wand so it is possible that these measure a bit bigger using a different method.
Both facings and tips are in very good condition, wood piece had a tooth gouge in the bite that I filled flush and then applied a patch over.  Both are rare pieces.  These are from an old estate and very likely they came from the 1980’s-1990’s.  The wood model was popularized by Joe Lovano I think, and the metal, Bob Berg.  This appears to be the much sought after solid silver handmade model.

Both of these pieces play excellently with power, depth, complexity and edge.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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