Are these mouthpieces worth reconditioning?

[CK]

Hi folks,
I've just aquired a metal Otto Link and a Dukoff mouthpiece that came with a used sax.

Here is what is the Otto Link looks like: "Otto Link" engraved on a raised ridge that is legnthwise in the top; the shank has a line that goes aroung the center of the shank, above the line it says, "Super" TONE MASTER U.S.A., and below the line it says, 7* (looks like a star).

Here is what the Dukoff looks like: looks like raw aluminum, the inside has a high flat wedge baffle with a blob of metal at the bottom of the wedge, on the top side of the shank it says, SUPER POWER CHAMBER, Dukoff, MIAMI , FLORIDA, on the bottom side of the shank it says D 7* (looks like a star).

Both mouthpieces sound good, but they are are a little beat: both of the shanks are out of round (this happens from being dropped?); the finish on the Otto Link is faded and a lightly scratched and pitted; the Duffof has a lot of scratches and a few gouges on the shank...it looks like the metal is soft (it looks like aluminum). I like the way they sound, but I'd like them to be in better condition, like having the shanks made perfectly round, and restoring the finish surface, at least for the tables. So, I'm wondering if these are especially valuable models worth the investment of having work done to them, or if they are just current production stock models and it makes more sense just to replace them with new pieces. These don't seems too expensive new, perhaps the same cost as getting work done to a piece?

Thanks!
Cliff

[gary]

I would take the one I liked best and send it to a mpc refacer to clean up. You might find a good stock mpc new but you might also eventually want to have an expert refacer work a little magic on it anyway, and then, by using a new mpc vs one you already have, you haven't saved anything.

[shmuelyosef]

To answer your question...neither of these sound like 'vintage' or particularly valuable pieces. Both are good candidates for investment. They are very difference pieces. One (STM) is a large chamber, good all-around piece. The Dukoff is a high baffle piece is a med/small chamber piece that will be hard to play legit work with. I have modern STMs that have been refaced by Doc Tenney and by Theo Wanne...both play well but they are fairly different, the Wanne piece is more responsive and a little less dark. I have a Dukoff D7 that was refaced by Mojobari, and it is a great R&B piece for horn section work. Very easy, penetrating sound that is not shrill. The caveat on these is that the metal is a proprietary alloy called Silverite; it is softer than hard rubber, and the custom facing will be easily damaged if you handle it roughly and will wear faster if you play many hours/day (10 years instead of 20-30).

[rini]

Yes, the optimum solution could be to send the Link to a refacer and see (or play) what comes out of it. Anyway it is a good all-around piece when well refaced.

The Dukoff, I don't know. Is it really worth refacing? The material is so soft. Nothing compared to the Link.

The choice is yours. But...

rini