[Sofiane]

Hi there,
There is this piece for sale on Ebay, and even I think I know how to recognize, I'm not sure about this one.
Here are some pictures of it.

I'm not sure if the box belongs to the piece because it written 7* on it.
Thanks for your advices.

Regards

 

[Sofiane]

More pictures, any help would be very appreciated!

 

[jasonj]

Can you provide a link?

 

[Sofiane]

Here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-OTTO-LINK-6-BABBITT-TENOR-SAX-SAXOPHONE-MOUTHPIECE/401906240310

 

[joebas]

It's an Otto Link Tone Edge. I have one for tenor. The box shows a 6.

 

[Sofiane]

It's an Otto Link Tone Edge. I have one for tenor. The box shows a 6.

Thanks for your answer, it's a Tone Edge you're right here and made by Otto Link, yes.
The mouthpiece is a 6 but as you can see the box is stamped with a 7*, that's why I'm not sure that it belongs to it.
The 6 was just written on it with a pencil.

 

[Sofiane]

My question would be...

Is this an ... Early Babbitt piece?

 

[jasonj]

Yes

 

[Sofiane]

How can you tell?
I find the steer beak drop isn't really pronounced.

 

[turf3]

How's it play?

Looks to me like someone's reamed out the bore (that little ding on the chamber roof). I have an identical ding on mine, though I wasn't smart enough to stop as quickly so my ding is bigger.

Other than that, it's a hard rubber Link. You'll either like it, or not. I don't think these are particularly valuable but I do think they're darn good mouthpieces.

Who knows, or cares, why the box has 7 printed and 6 written in pencil? That could have happened at any point since the thing was made. Again, for a $150 mouthpiece whether the box is original or not seems of little importance. It's not a high dollar collectible piece (as far as I know), it's a good quality playing mouthpiece.

 

[Sofiane]

Hi and thanks for your answer
Well the guy told me that he bought a highly valuable vintage saxophone and the box came with, with the mouthpiece inside.

If it is not an Early Babbit, and I have absolutely no idea how the mouthpiece plays then it is not 250£ worth.

 

[turf3]

Nah, it's not a L250 mouthpiece. I would say more like $125 would probably be a fair price, if it IS "early Babbitt", based on what I've seen out there. Though I"m not an expert on the market value of old HR Links. The "slant signature" adds to the price. An unusual tip opening might also, but a #6 is not unusual.

Is someone trying to sell you this for L250?

 

[Sofiane]

Yes someone wants 250£ for it.
I thought it might be valuable because of the box and as it seems to have the clam shell baffle plus large fonts...

 

[Sofiane]

Like this piece could be an EB from the transitional period with the Florida blanks.
But the beak doesn't look like one...

 

[Sofiane]

Quote from MojoBari:

"Here is a description I got from James Romain. My measurements agree with this: "...I use a caliper [stem probe] to [measure the] drop from the table at the bottom of the window straight down to the [floor]. In the earlier and great-playing examples of mine, that drop measures .58-.60", while some still very good ones measure .60-.62" The tubby doorstops known as the modern Tone Edge drop to about .65", a 10% drop in the height of the floor that is significant, and undoubtedly coincides with the loss of projection and response, particularly in the upper register.""


This mouthpiece was measured at .62"

So know I don't know what to do...

 

[turf3]

Buy one of the "New Vintage" ones for $150. You'll know what you're getting.

 

[Sofiane]

Thanks for your advices I decided to not buy it.
Kind regards

 

[Sofiane]

I've got this new tenor piece, I didn't try it yet.
Can someone help identifying it?
Is it a so called early Babbitt?
Thanks

 

[Sofiane]

Please help!

 

[turf3]

Does it play well for you?