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Otto Link
Model: Otto Link MIllenium
Sax: tenor
Material: nickel plated brass
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The Millenium is a limited edition (2,000 pieces) New York Super Tone Master that was created in the year 2000 to commemorate the turn of the millenium. In terms of overall shape, design, and sound, it is identical to STMs (not NY STM) made of brass. Apart from the different finish used (brushed nickel instead of goldplate), it features a blue bite plate and was shipped in a silver box (instead of a gold colored box).
Model: Tone Edge “Slant Signature”
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: hard rubber
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: These hard rubber mouthpieces have “Otto Link” written at an angle across the shank (hence the name “slant signature”). Vintage Slant Signature Tone Edge mouthpieces are some of the most sought-after mouthpieces, especially those produced in Florida and with no “USA” stamped on the shank. The 6* tenor model shown on the left was used by Jesus Abril in the San Diego area in the 1940s to 1960s.
On the left is a soprano Slant Signature, often considered the ‘holy grail’ (along with Reso Chamber mouthpieces) of large chamber soprano mouthpieces.
Model: Reso Chamber
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: hard rubber
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: Reso Chamber mouthpieces are similar to Slant Signatures and have a baffle that is lower than in later mouthpieces. “Reso Chamber” was written in a circle on the shank. Later models have the tip opening stamped at the bottom on the table (however, the lack of the tip opening on the table can also be due to a refacing). Since there are only few Reso Chamber mouthpieces on the market, they demand high prices in auctions, but not as high as Slant Signature mouthpieces. Reso Chamber mouthpieces were shipped in white boxes with black writings.
On the left is an early (serial number 98) ‘Reso Chamber’ tenor model.
For a comprehensive history of Otto Link mouthpieces please visit Theo Wanne's Otto Link page here.
Model: Otto Link Master Link
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The Master Link is the first Otto Link metal mouthpiece. Production started in the early 1930s. It has the signature fluted ridges on both sides to hold a slide-on ligature. The facing number was stamped on the right side of the ridge, with was usually in the low 3-4* numbers. The picture on the left shows a tenor model. These mouthpieces did not have a ride on the top of the mouthpiece.
Model: Otto Link Four ****
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The Four **** model was the successor to the Master Link starting from around 1935. The chamber design is very similar to the Master Link, but the slide-on ligature has been replaced by a and ligature still being used today. In contrast to the Master Link models, the facing number was stamped on the table.
Model: New York Super Tone Master
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: This is the current production NY Super Tone Master (featuring a wider rail than regular STMs). A tenor model is shown in the pictures.
The image above illustrates the different shanks in Otto Link mouthpieces. From left to right: Millenium, NY STM (current production), ‘doube ring’ Florida, Florida, Four****, Master Link.
The image on the left illustrates the subtle difference in font sizes used for Florida and Early Babbitt STMs. The mouthpiece on the left has a small font (about 2.7 mm = 0.105”) typical for a Florida Link, while the one on the right has a larger font (3.4 mm = 0.134”) typical for Early Babbitt mouthpieces.
Model: Otto Link Master Link Hawkins Special
Sax: soprano (?), alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The ‘Hawkins Special’ was a special edition Master Link named after Coleman ‘Hawk’ Hawkins (1904-1969), a pioneer on the tenor saxophone and influential bebop (1940s) and avant-garde jazz (1950s and 60s) player. ‘HS’ was stamped on the table, along with ‘Hawins Special’ on the side (see picture of the left).
Model: Tone Master
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The Tone Master was the successor to the Four **** model. It was the first Otto Link metal mouthpiece that had a ridge at the top to guide the ligature. The note on the shank is often mistaken as a number nine star facing (9*).
Model: Super Tone Master ‘Double Ring’
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The ‘Super Tone Master’ (STM) succeeded the ‘Tone Master’. Early STMs had a double ring (two rings side by side) on the shank. ‘Double ring’ mouthpieces are often considered the holy grail of large chamber mouthpieces and they fetch record prices at auctions, often exceeding the value of a new professional saxophone. They were shipped in black boxes. They come on three different flavors:
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1)Early double rings were produced in NY (having a ‘NY’ stamp on the shank and a longer bit plate).
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2)The production later moved to the workshop in Pompano Beach in Florida (no ‘NY’ stamp, the tip number stamped on the table). The pictures on the left show a ‘Florida double ring’.
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3)Rare ‘transitional double rings’ pieces show characteristics of both. Such a ‘transitional double ring’ is shown further below.
Model: Florida Super Tone Master
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: This next generation of STMs produced in Florida are some of the most sought after mouthpieces. The early versions do not have a ‘USA’ stamp (pictured), later versions do have a ‘USA’ stamp on the shank. The tip opening is stamped on the side of the mouthpiece in small letters (2.7 mm = 0.105”). Each of these mouthpieces was hand finished by Otto Link employees, giving every Florida STM mouthpiece its unique sound.
Model: Early Babbitt Super Tone Master
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: After Otto Link was bought by Babbitt, production was moved to Elkhart, IN. Here, STMs were produced from the same blanks as in Florida. A machine was purchased that replaced the hand finishing of the tip and rail, leaving a machine pattern on the table. The facing number on the side was slightly larger than on Florida STMs (3.4 mm = 0.134”).
Model: Transitional Super Tone Master
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: A few ‘Transitional’ mouthpieces were produced by Babbitt. Some have a significantly longer body (115mm instead of 100mm) than regular STMs (left). Other Otto Link STMs have a wider tip (lower left) than other Link mouthpieces. The window on the ‘wide’ mouthpieces is usually identical to other Link mouthpieces, leaving more material in the side rails. ‘Transitional’ mouthpieces can also have other characteristics, such as ‘NY’ and the table number stamped on different areas on the shank.
On the left is an alto ‘double-ring’ Otto Link mouthpiece.
On the left is an alto Slant Signature mouthpiece.
With the advent of miniature microphones, some Slant Signature mouthpieces were fitted with microphone pickups where the slanted signature is located. Later, when these microphones went out of fashion, these holes were again filled with hard rubber which makes these Slant Signature mouthpieces hard to identify as most (if not all) of the slanted ‘Otto Link’ is missing.
A double ring NY STM is shown next to a current production STM in the picture on the left.
The pictures on the left show one of the rarest mouthpieces ever produced, am Otto Link ‘transitional double ring’.
Model: RG by Otto Link
Sax: tenor
Material: metal, hard rubber
Chamber: medium
Baffle: medium
Description: In the late 1990 Otto Link started producing a series of ‘RG by Otto Link’ mouthpieces in metal and in hard rubber. The ‘RG’ bears the initials of Rocky Giglio, an employee of jj Babbitt who repeatedly modified one of his 30 year old Berg Larsen mouthpieces. The RG is the result of Rocky Giglio and Jim Green’s (jj Babbitt’s manufacturing engineer) experimenting 3 years with this new mouthpiece design and convincing Bill Reglein, president/owner of jj Babbitt, to mass-produce this mouthpiece. The RG features a large hard rubber bite plate, and a parabolic-shaped chamber. Available tip openings are 0.108”, 0.118”, and 0.128”.
A ‘Florida double ring’ (top) is shown here next to a ‘NY double ring’ (bottom) mouthpiece. Note the longer bite plate of the (later) Florida model.
Model: Tone Master Hawkins Special
Sax: soprano, alto, tenor
Material: nickel
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: In the year 1943, a small number of ‘Hawkins Special’ Tone Masters were produced which are now rare collector’s pieces. Note the ‘H S’ stamp on the table.
The Otto Link mouthpieces that feature a ‘W.T.’ on the side were copies of a mouthpiece designed by Wolf Tayne and which Wolf Tayne asked Otto Link to duplicate for him.
Note: There are a lot of vintage Otto Link Metal mouthpieces being sold and auctioned as “Florida Links” which are actually “Early Babbitts”. How can you tell the difference? If there is no “USA” stamp on the shank, it’s clearly a Florida Link. However, while late Florida Link also have NO USA, they all have facing number stamped in small letters (2.7 mm = 0.105”) on the side. If the stamp is larger (3.4 mm = 0.134”), then you have an Early Babbitt. One other distinguishing characteristics are the tip and baffle: While all Florida Link mouthpieces were hand finished and have the characteristic sanding marks at the tip and baffle, Early Babbitt mouthpieces were finished by a polishing machine, which gives the tip and baffle a more shiny and smooth appearance.
Otto Link started as a repair technician in the William S. Haynes flute company in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. In the early 1930s he moved to 117 West 48th street in New York City to start his own mouthpiece business. During the 1950s he briefly moved to Freeport on Long Island, NY, before moving his business to Pompano Beach, Florida in the late 1950s. He later sold the company to Ben Harrod who continued to produce and hand finish mouthpieces under the Otto Link name during the 1960s/70s. Today, Otto Link mouthpieces are produced and distributed by the J.J. Babbitt company in Elkhart, Indiana.
Otto Link
Model: Vintage
Sax: tenor
Material: gold plated brass
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: In commemoration of the 90th birthday of Otto Link mouthpieces, and in an attempt to recapture the sound of an earlier period, as well as in response to year-long requests by the saxophone community, Babbitt released a new line of new ‘Vintage’ mouthpieces in 2009. During the development period, Babbitt asked many of the top tenor sax players from coast to coast testing these mouthpieces. The design of the chamber, baffle, and outside of the mouthpieces is close to old models during the Florida period. They are packaged in a black box with gold lettering (like "double ring" mouthpieces). Each mouthpiece has a serial number. They feature the same shank as earlier Tone Master models.
Model: Vintage
Sax: tenor
Material: hard rubber
Chamber: large
Baffle: low
Description: The hard rubber model of the 90th anniversary 'Vintage' model (released in 2009) has a slant signature, a less pronounced baffle, more of a rollover, and less material under the table, along with a slightly larger chamber. Each mouthpiece has a serial number. The come in and a reddish/orange box with white lettering.
Another version of the ‘Transitional’ mouthpiece is 106mm long instead of the above 115mm, shown here next to a current production model that is 100mm long.
Shown here is one of the rarest collections of mouthpieces: five different “Double Ring” tenor models. From left to right: New York, Transitional, Transitional without clear signs, Florida, and Florida W.T (for Wolfe Tayne, aka Wolfe Taninbaum).
