The Archetype model tenor mouthpiece will be in production soon. This is a very detailed reproduction of an extinct historically significant Otto Link transitional model, the prototype “Super Tonemaster”, AKA the “Quad Ring”. 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. To the eye, internally this model does not look drastically different from the Tonemaster but it plays differently as one might expect with a slightly smaller chamber and higher floor resulting in more projection and focus.

If we were lulled into thinking the reliable trend was towards smaller chambers from larger ones we would be confused, as the NY Super Tonemasters appear to go in the direction of slightly larger chambers, yet with the character innovated by these prototypes.  I would say quad-ring in terms of chamber is slightly smaller than NY double ring and slightly larger than Florida double ring, with a chamber to floor configuration that makes clear sense moving from Tonemaster to double ring Super Tonemaster.

There are very few of these transitional prototypes in existence.  Most of the surviving examples were found as raw blanks left at Otto Link, unfinished, rough, and unclear as to true design intent.  They do not have serial numbers, were never faced, or even completely  machined inside so they are literally just aesthetically interesting doorstops.  The piece I was fortunate to get has an Otto Link Serial number, a full facing and finish, and is a playing mouthpiece illustrating quite clearly what Link intended with this model.  This historic piece is what we used as a basis for the Archetype model.  We have been extremely faithful to the original design and dimensions, internally and externally.

These will be initially produced in the 6* (0.095) tip size range as that is the territory of the surviving example that I have, and- these early Links were never designed to function at large sizes, which is part of how they work so well without high baffles.  I do not intend to offer them at large sizes, but I do have *some* flexibility in exactly what size they can be finished at.  They will all be hand finished and checked. Each piece will always be unique, but the production will offer a very high degree of consistency.

We should have photos and maybe even mouthpieces within the month of June 2025.  The first run may be a small number. Feel free to reserve one, ask questions etc.  I do not know the final price yet, as that depends on the numbers made and the final production cost, which I do not yet know.