Very special package find.  Here is a very early FL no USA original 10* in nearly new condition.  These large facings are amazing players in the very early FL models with a specific large rollover baffle that disappears after the no USA period.  This is one of those very special players, really excellent; easy player even for those used to smaller sizes.  This is loud, bright edged, fat and flexible.  Comes complete with original black Pompano Beach box, “france” cap and early FL ligature “OTTO LINK” stamped on the knob.

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Here is a wonderful rare later model (two piece casting) round chamber Dukoff Hollywood.  This shows a V-serial which is right in the best of these rounded side wall models.  The baffles vary from non existent to prominent and this one came to me already with a rather prominent baffle.  It was not in the best condition so I have restored and optimized this to an absolutely great player.  It plays fat resonant and colorful like a great tonemaster (which would also take work to get to normally) but the center is much more compact and projecting.  It has a rich under-color while presenting a very delicate beautiful bright shimmer on top.  Only these pieces particularly will do this kind of thing. Even the sister piece made by Zimberoff, in my experience will not do exactly this although they tend towards more powerful.  This is a rare situation, great playing piece.

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A wonderful mint condition original FL slant 6, this is exactly as the title describes. This is a crisp fast and defined player, and very enjoyable.  The condition is exceptionally nice and very difficult to find such surviving examples. The tip opening is .089 on my tools.

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Here is a piece I have kept around for quite some time.  It is VERY VERY great. Tip size at .103 is quite in the middle of optimal for the compromise of power and center. This setup is very close to my personal daily player. It is bright, warm, has focus, but also spread, and an ocean of color.  I would say this is not at all a dark piece, but it is just a hair backed off of the far end of bright on the spectrum just due to the influence of the bog body of sound this one has.

This still has a lot of its original gold plating on the body. While there are always different flavors to be found, in my experience there is no better double ring to be found.  This is the thing and mostly they cannot be found.

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Here we have a very nice original example of the earliest Florida model of hard rubber Tone-Edge.  The body of these is on the shorter side, a steep drop to the beak, and a specifically bevelled shank.  The chamber is probably slightly smaller than NY versions and slightly larger than late Fl versions.  This one is original with evident horizontal milling on the table, and original rail and baffle finish.  The baffle is somewhat long and subtle rollover, and with a slightly high floor in general this piece really packs a punch.  I played a vintage Rico 3 reed on this and it played both very fat, and also aggressive and edgy. Honestly I felt like I was playing a 7.  The tip size I measured at .080. This piece is missing nothing and delivers a crisp sound one can only get in smaller sizes.  It has been played over years, which is not surprising due to the fact that it’s great.  There were some tooth indentations on the bite area that I temporarily filled and patched over.  Tip rails shows some action but I would not touch this. Plays, feels and works great.

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Wonderful rare larger sized Double Ring FL at .111.  This piece had been previously faced and recently adjusted by myself to a really optimal response.  Although this piece is large (for me) it will play with the same reed I use on smaller facings and unsurprisingly sounds the same as my best smaller pieces, with the added air and fatness expected for am 8*. It is very difficult at this point to find any larger double rings, and most won’t play as exceptionally as this one.

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.Here, a very nice Meyer NY USA refaced to .076 by Ochuttio.  It’s a nice player with both fullness and projection exactly as these are expected to be. Received this in a trade, will definitely be a happy piece for a player.

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A very early FL blank with the very high and steep ledge drop to the beak, these are the first Florida slant models with facing stamped on the side.  These have a slightly larger chamber and would trend slightly darker but with a significant baffle become powerhouses of complexity.  This one was refaced to .103 by Ochuttio and plays very big and powerful.  Should be a good deal for any player who wants to cut through with fatness and depth. Has some normal wear on the bite area that won’t affect anything but could be filled with minimal work.

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Here we have a very minty original Otto Link Double Ring Florida tenor piece with original box, cap and ligature.  It is stamped 4*and has the appropriate .075 tip size.  The gold plating is somewhat faded but all of the underlying nickel is there, some of these had a nickel underlayer.  The piece is in excellent condition, ligature, box, etc. all very nice, but this piece PLAYS exceptionally well.  I put a 2.5 reed on it for fun and it still played very well.  Wonderful sound, loud, complex and colorful.  With a 3 or harder reed it would be amazing.

It also has a rather thick tip so if someone did want to injure that lovely plating and open it up, it is a great candidate.  the current baffle is not big at all, which is a good thing on a small tip for better airflow.  It is helpful to not have a huge amount of baffle before opening up such a piece because we don’t want to have a speedbump up front.

Altogether this is a very nice package for a great playing smaller tip FL double ring, or a great candidate for making the perfect size.  Hard to find minty originals of these anywhere now.

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