Very nice later FL (USA) 7*. Most of the plating is intact. It’s a big player with fatness, loudness and crisp edge as these later ones with the step baffle are known for.
Otto Link FL Double Ring Marinated 6* .097 Excellent!
A fast responding double ring that is on the bright side with a lot of color and ringing clarity. This piece was originally 6* and now just a touch larger. It came to be with an old setup but sort of substandard response and really good prospects. Someone had it replated with a base of heavy silver and then some rather sturdy gold. Much is still left but we have two-tone on the table due to leveling.
This piece has a rather significant baffle, medium length rollover, with a very nice traditional Link style tip & rail finish; it has quite an expansive bounce to the sound and is a very fast piece. I love this size, .095-.098. Only this range responds a particular way.
Otto Link Double Ring NY 5 Restored to .095 MAGIC!
This is a very special custom ‘marinated’ restoration. Right at .095 it has a somewhat short special facing and a short baffle. These NY double rings tend to be slightly fatter in response than FL models as the chamber is bigger. This setup harnesses the rich sound but adds some focus faster airspeed and a rather intense buzz. Not many are going to do what this piece does.
Berg Larsen 110/0 Denim Original Killer Player
Very nice original Denim table Berg Larsen 110/0/M. The original table milling pattern stands out! This an EXCELLENT playing Berg from a great model period, and a very comfortable size. It’s got a big husky sound with an edgy buzz. No complaints from me.
Gale Hollywood 5M
This piece looks very clean. I am guessing the facing is hand inscribed on the side as “5M” with a serial. If someone refaced this they sure did a clean job of hiding it, because the finish looks original. It’s in very nice shape and quite similar to the MC Gregory “Master model” before the name was sold.
Dukoff Miami Super Power Chamber Original S9
All original, very nice condition and a very nice tip size!
Dukoff Hollywood B-series CV facing perfectly original treasure
Excellent original find: Hollywood Dukoff CV facing in 100% original condition, and it plays! This is the later model, two halves soldered together, round chamber. The tip size is approximately .094 so close to Otto Link 6*. No one has ever worked on this piece, and it currently plays as original with a warm and somewhat dark lyrical sound. These are exceptionally hard to find in original condition, or any condition really.
Otto Link FL USA 8 Original Classic & Excellent Player
Here we have a wonderful playing original FL USA 8 with original ligature and box. This is a surprisingly bright and focused player at this larger size. It offers a very satisfying buzz and colorful response. I have no complaints.
Otto Link FL Double Ring 9 *Original* Restoration Study
Case Study in Vintage Otto Link Find & Restoration:
Here we have an excellent original surviving example of a Florida production Otto Link ‘double ring’ 9 facing. This is probably a somewhat later model double ring as it has rhodium or nickel plate. The early models had gold plate (which wore off rather easily). The nickel or rhodium does not wear off as easily but when it does it leaves scars in the brass as we see here. We will document the process of restoration as a study for those considering sourcing vintage mouthpieces from the wild world of mouthpiece unknowns.
Selmer Super (Balanced) Action 39xxx silver plate Davide Sanchez
This wonderful SBA tenor belonged to Davide Sanchez, renowned virtuouso. It was specially chosen for it’s sonic qualities. A European market silver plated tenor, it is in very good original condition with a clean and rather recent pad setup. It is a very punchy and bright horn with an addictive immediacy and clarity. The response is both loud and delicate depending on how one approaches it. The serial number puts it on the cusp of 40xxx so it is very much the historic Coltrane variety of SBA; early, retaining a lot of Balanced Action qualities yet modernized, fast and nimble.
Among those with experience and knowledge this offers exactly what one would expect from 39-40xxx SBA at its peak of greatness. A top tier playing early SBA in quite good physical condition is never easy to find. Chosen by a celebrated artist adds another assurance of quality. I am just getting to know and optimize this instrument and it is enticing.
