The Archetype model tenor mouthpiece is starting production and now available for pre-order.. This is a very detailed reproduction of an extinct historically significant Otto Link transitional model, the prototype “Super Tonemaster”, AKA the “Quad Ring”.

Body color and some details will vary from the image. Biteplate will be black ebonite.

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. Continue reading →

Here another rarely preserved all original Florida produced Double Ring.  This piece has a tip size of .075 and features a LARGE original hand finished baffle.  This baffle configuration, I have seen on a a small number of FL DR, it’s one style, probably all done by the same person, resulting in (on the scale of Otto Link) a very bright, cutting and powerful response while retaining the underlying tonal complexity these are known for.  This is the shape that Coltrane and others would have been trying to replicate with having pieces worked on that were not originally finished this way.

This piece is an epic upper echelon player; fast, crisp, bright, defined, shimmering and colorful.  it is not going to operate the same way at an 8 tip for example.  I don’t suggest altering it, although there is metal available to do so. Just a reed strength 3 and above depending on the cut will make this function perfectly for the player who knows how to operate it.

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Beautifully preserved all original FL produced Double Ring otto Link 3* with original box, cap, and lig. Facing utterly untouched and appears unplayed (other than myself).  I have tested this piece and it IS a small facing (.070) but with even just a 3 reed it plays beautifully with an absolutely unmatched crips, bright, clean and ringing tone.  There is absolutely no tonal substitute for the small sized vintage Links of this period.  The tone those guys were getting on the standard small sizes of the day can NOT be replicated on sizes 7and above. That is wishful thinking.  THIS is how that tone was achieved.

This is a wonderfully original set and one hell of a player for the person who CAN play this size. It is also an excellent starting point for a reface but I very much do not favor nor recommend that approach.

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This piece has a tip size of approximately .103 with a nice clean finish.  I believe it has been worked on but appears to have been done nicely with a moderate baffle and nicely contoured rails. The piece has no plating left and is in good condition.

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Very nice later model Tonemaster, restored and optimized to .098 (6**) with a gentle yet significant baffle.  It’s a very responsive and colorful player, and the more focused of Tonemaster iterations.

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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.

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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* (SOLD), 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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