Link-aholics Anonymous (How many Links in your drawer?)

[Sax Hut]

Good grief, going through a little phase here. Five of these suckers and now a Powell-refaced HR Link on the way..... It's hard deciding which one I like best, but I've boiled it down to ..... three. Maybe with my chops, it's just that I'm incapable of further refinement.

At least the choice of getting a Link that's been blueprinted by a reputable refacer keeps me from spending mad money on ebay Florida STMs or Slant Sigs. Maybe this story will have a nice ending after all...

[Martin Williams]

Ive got no links!!

[hakukani]

2

One STM 7* tenor, bought in the early 90s.
One slant sig 6* alto, received as a gift in the late 80s

[McNeeseTenor]

None, sold my one and only link a couple months ago.

[Tharruff]

Two at the moment...an STM and an ME. Both for Tenor.

I also used to have a 'Master Link' and a 'Tone Master'...I foolishly traded both away several years ago.

[Jonathan C.]

1 STM 7 Tenor

Can only go up (because I love the sound)

[SactoPete]

I had five, but I'm down to two. I'm slowly recovering.

[maestroelite]

1 modified tenor STM 8*, which so happens to be one of Sactopete's previous collection. I also have an Erik Greiffenhagen reworked Tone Edge 6 for baritone, opened up to .110. Fantastic pieces.

[Swampcabbage]

3 (7*) Milleniums
1 (7*) STM NY
2 (6*) EB STM
1 (6*) Florida STM (USA)
1 (6) Florida STM (no USA)

And that's not even going into the "link like" pieces. ;)

[SactoPete]

Hope you are still digging it, Maestroelite... I thought it had a great tone to it.

[mlscnr]

One hard rubber alto 9*.

[Lorenzo Muan]

Five tenor mpcs, of which four are still on my shelf ...

1 HR Tone Edge 5* (sold)
1 HR Tone Edge Tenney BP 7* (soon to be traded or sold)
1 STM 5*
1 STM NY 7 (my main mpc)
1 STM 8*

cheers,
L

[Birdman]

2, a tone edge 5 and a millenium both tenor.

-Birdman

[Hurling Frootmig]

1 8* Florida STM
1 7 Modern NY
1 5* STM
1 hard rubber 7* refaced to .100" that I play all the time.

Let's not count the bari pieces.

[Razzy]

I went through many, including a nice Florida STM 6, but have come down to just one: a Tenney HR 7 opened up to .105 by Brian Powell. Hornimus, if you don't like your Powell Link, try some different reeds. The mouthpiece should be exceptional. I have found that vandorens don't work so well on this, with the exception of ZZ 3.5's which are pretty good. La voz have given me the best luck, but the ones I was using were pretty aged and in the old, old packaging from about 10 years ago.

[BariSaxzinger]

5* STM Bari
6* HR Alto

[Dr G]

I want to hear from 10Mfan. ;)

[whaler]

I've had dozens of Links from all the vintages, HR and metal, but the only ones I have now are a modern STM 5*, a Florida STM 5*, but the best is a newish 6* that was dropped on its tip. Plays the best of any I've had. Some much for mouthpiece "science".

[Nefertiti]

I have 4 HR link all refaced, 2 NY metals both refaced and one modern STM refaced.

[Martinman]

I want to hear from 10Mfan. ;)


He has the ones that the rest of you don't.:)

[rini]

I have three metal Links and two HR Tone Edge Links. I very seldom play them, they all should be rafaced, actually.

one 8* STM Florida
one early Babbit STM
one modern STM NY 7
one modern HR 7
one 70's HR 7*

My main pieces are Link-like, custom ordered, with tip openings .108 and .112

[martysax]

I want to hear from 10Mfan. ;)

He has a deal with Darwin for missing Links.

Me, I have:

Tenor: Florida STM 8*
Sop: STM 8*
Alto: STM 5*
Alto: Florida STM 10
Alto: 4****

[Reedsplinter]

Two:

A double-ring NY "S"TM tenor 5*, dating from @1952, and a stock STM tenor 8* that I bought in 1994.

[eddierich]

1 (8) Florida STM (no USA) tenor piece.

It's been silver plated at some time in its life and I'm going to send it to a refacer when I get back from China (in 3 weeks!!!). It plays ok (not monster, killin', tremendous), but the tip doesn't look quite right.

[sonnyseals]

Sop: Slant Sig 8*
Alto: Early Babbitt 6 Tone Edge (refaced to 7 by Mike Blanchard)
Tenor: Florida STM 7*
Bari: NY Tone Master 3* (refaced to 6* by Glenn Johnston)
Newer STM 6* (refaced w/baffle to 7* by John Reilly)

Man, I forgot I had so many of these things in the drawer until I saw this thread!

[Lorenzo Muan]

but the best is a newish 6* that was dropped on its tip. Plays the best of any I've had. Some much for mouthpiece "science".

That's the secret to my NY 7, too! Hardly visible, but definitely there under close scrutiny.

... must be something about molecule compaction in the bronze ;)

cheers,
L.

[Alexk]

Only 1, a Bari STM 6*. Has a blue-tac baffle.

[John_Dikeman]

Sop: Slant Sig 7*

Alto: Master Link opened to 7* by John Reilly
Florida STM 8*
Early Babbitt STM 5*
Modern STM 7*
Modern Tone Edge 8*

Tenor:Tone Master opened to 8 by EZ
Florida STM (or maybe early Babbitt) opened by (we think) Frank Wells to 10*

Though, I'm trying to sell off a few of those alto pieces.
And I still want to try a bari Link...

[saxjd]

Uh .. ten. STM for sop, alto (2), tenor, and bari, HR for sop, alto, tenor (2) and a NY STM for tenor. The only rare piece is a Florida tenor STM from about 1970 that I have since then.

[blackfrancis]

1 STM tenor with an EZ reface, 1 metal sop., 1 Tone Edge sop., both stock. All are in the case- i have none in the drawer!

[jazaddict]

1 Tenny STM which I just revisited yesterday. Love that piece.

[drakesaxprof]

Seventeen, half of which I tell myself that I have around for students to check out...

[wersax]

I want to hear from 10Mfan. ;)

:D :D :D

[wersax]

2: a 7* and a 9, both hard rubber, for soprano though, not tenor.

[ving]

Ok, so how many links in your drawer that play well?


(for Grumps)

Just kidding, I am not a link-hater; in fact, I have one en route to me at the moment...

[BarrySachs]

Tenor-2 Master Links (one I use, the other needs to be refaced)
tenor-2 NY Tonemaster (I'll use once in a while)
tenor-2 Fla STM (one I use, the other I keep for sentimental value. It belonged to my late friend Billy Mitchell)
tenor-1 Babbitt STM reworked and customised by Phil Barone in 1988

Baritone-1 Master Link (I use)
baritone-2 Babbitt STM (need to be refaced)
baritone-1 Babbitt hard rubber (I play sometimes)

Soprano-1 Babbitt era Tone Edge (My only good soprano piece)

I don't play links on alto

I've got an old Link clarinet piece I never touch.

[Nefertiti]

Well , now I know who all to email when I need a good link!!!:D

[Giganova]

5:

Tenor: Florida 6*, refaced to a 7*
Tenor: Unmolested Early Babbitt 8* <-- my "secret weapon", an amazing mpc!
Tenor: Current production NY STM 7*, refaced myself (great player!)
Tenor: Mint Millenium (just for the looks)
Soprano: Tone Edge (HR) 7

I just gave two away, a Master Link and a 4**** (both tenor)

[steve]

2....A Tenney STM 8* and an older STM NY 9* refaced with a small baffle by Mojo. I like and use both as my primary pieces.

[shmuelyosef]

I think seven
Alto STM reworked by PhilTone
Tenor:
EZ florida STM
EZ early babbitt STM
EZ modern NY
Theo Wanne modern STM
Bari:
STM refaced by Adam Niewood
STM that is nickel-plated badly, with very visible solder line, marked "2ND" that plays very well

I have had probably a dozen others over the years, including Tenneys, other Niewoods, a JVW, a Slant, a couple Tone Edges...sigh...

[JS]

Soprano: Slant Sig #5* (opened up to .70 by Brian Powell) and BP10E #7 (both hard rubber)
Alto: BP10E #6 (hard rubber)
Tenor: Slant Sig #6 (opened up to .112 by Brian Powell), Tenney Slant #7*, and BP10E #7 (again, all hard rubber), NY Tonemaster (opened up to .103 by Adam Niewood) (metal)

I've also had a few metal Links, and a few other rubber Links over the years...

[Pgraves]

It appears that Reso-Chambers are not very popular

[Sebastian]

It appears that Reso-Chambers are not very popular

maybe not unpopular, but they are rather hard to find.

[Giganova]

Since we have so many Linkaholics gathered in one happy meeting, let me ask a question:

Do you noticed a big difference between Florida Links (small fonts, earlier ones no "USA" on the shank) play significantly better than Early Babbitts (larger fonts, with "USA" -- the ones that were not hand finished)?? I am asking because I have an Early Babbitt that beats everything I have ever tried so I recently stopped to believe in the Florida hype.

[Giganova]

(double post deleted)

[hardbop]

I have two at the moment, a Babbit STM 7* modified by Jary Custom and a Florida STM 7 that I bought for $35.00 back in 1980.

[stevesklar]

1 an STM

no, wait, I think i sold it. So none.

well, unless you want to count the Tone Master ....

[shmuelyosef]

Since we have so many Linkaholics gathered in one happy meeting, let me ask a question:

Do you noticed a big difference between Florida Links (small fonts, earlier ones no "USA" on the shank) play significantly better than Early Babbitts (larger fonts, with "USA" -- the ones that were not hand finished)?? I am asking because I have an Early Babbitt that beats everything I have ever tried so I recently stopped to believe in the Florida hype.
Once refaced, I notice no difference...I have one of each refaced by EZ and they play pretty similar, but different from the modern ones.

[Enviroguy]

I think I got three Links:

Link STM NY 7* tenor in the drawer
Link STM 7 soprano in the drawer
Link STM Florida tenor EZed to .105 on the horn (holy grail)

Yep.. That be three. ;)

[EZ]

On hand and not belonging to others...

In the case, a tenor Tonemaster .103"

On deck (for me), a soprano STM 6*

For a rainy day... an STM 10*, two Tone Edge 8's, one HR 6* (all tenor)

For posterity, an alto Tonemaster

[Honeyboy]

I have (Tenor)- 7*NY STM, a 7*STM, a 5*NY STM, a 6*Tonemaster, (alto)-a 5*early Babbitt, (Soprano)-a 7*STM. I regularly use the NY 7*STM tenor and the 7*soprano.

[Step Hen]

Another vote for none.

[rini]

Do you noticed a big difference between Florida Links (small fonts, earlier ones no "USA" on the shank) play significantly better than Early Babbitts (larger fonts, with "USA" -- the ones that were not hand finished)??

Actually I can't directly answer your question as my Early Babbit STM is no more having it's original facing, but the Florida Link STM 8* (small font, no USA) definitely is not a good player. Too high roll over baffle and obviously too short and maybe uneven facing. The finish inside the chamber is looking somewhat...well maybe it's a Monday product.
It's very hard to play the lowest notes that are very easy on my other mpcs.
Anyway the sound is good, bright and powerful, and the piece certainly is a strong cadidate for refacing.

[gsaxman100]

Link-Aholism? I hear there's a 12* step program for that.

I currently have 3 HR Tone Masters, Sop, Alto and Tenor, all refaced by Erik Greiffenhagen. I don't play the tenor one much but it's nice to know it's there. Very nice pieces on soprano and alto, little too big in my mouth on tenor maybe need to take a grinder to it!! Have owned and sold a lot of links though.

[Mactenor]

I have three Links
8* STM
8* STM NY
7* Tenney Slant Tone Edge
All good playing mouthpieces.

[BlueTrane2028]

I've got links of all sizes
An 8* soprano STM that needs to be refaced, the rails are damaged and it's too open (it was cheap, so no biggie).
A 5* alto STM that measures about a 4, it's really closer than a C*... I'm getting that one refaced to equal my Meyer 7 next month by Gunnar
A tenor ToneMaster (as mentioned in my Sig)
A bari Tone Edge (as mentioned in my Sig)

[tinpalaceroach]

Whoa, i do play Otto Links so right now i have for Soprano:an original slant sig 4* and another slant sig that was a 6 but now a .90 tip. Tenor sax:Florida/Babbitt #8 refaced by Brian Powell, a custom modern stm 6* with metal baffle, and a modern tone edge that was an 4* and Ed Zentera made a .103 tip slant sig-like piece that is a silky killer. in the past i sold or traded two Master links with cap and ligs, a killer tone master #8 that John Dikeman now has, a beautiful NY modern stm that Ed zentera made the ultimate Detroit killer piece in a .107 tip. one original stm Florida 4* tenor and an original Florida silver plate alto stm along with a Florida slant sig alto piece. wish i had some of them again but boy did i have fun too.

[Sax Hut]

Link-Aholism? I hear there's a 12* step program for that.
Yeah, but it's been co-opted by Dave GoddAllah...... uh-oh..... I'm in trouble now.

[Sax Hut]

Hornimus, if you don't like your Powell Link, try some different reeds.

Got the Brian Powell-refaced Link SP from Bob M a few days back, love it, and will be keeping it. Despite the relatively open tip (close to .110"), I'm actually finding it to be friendly enough with many of the used Vandorens I have scattered around this place. (Maybe I should start a thread: How many opened/used reeds on your desk?)

[Peter Stevens]

I have three Links
8* STM
8* STM NY
7* Tenney Slant Tone Edge
All good playing mouthpieces.

5 florida slants: three 5s, one 7* and one 8
2 eb te links: One 8*, and one 9*
12 eb stm links: three 7s, one 7* two 8*s four 9s and two 9*s
2 alto florida slants (both recently refaced by to 7)
1 alto eb stm 7*

That's a total of 22 links!!! (BTW, these are not for sale, so don't ask"!)

[Sax Hut]

Wow, 22! The Linkaholic King? I feel better now, maybe I'll buy a few more!

[Peter Stevens]

Wow, 22! The Linkaholic King? I feel better now, maybe I'll buy a few more!

My affliction is healed! However, I am too sentimental about all my links, to be able to part with ANY of these (my collection also serves a useful purpose to remind me of my mouthpieceitis journey through the years!);)

[Birdman]

What type of sound do the links give you on alto, I always wondered but have never had a chance to try any?

-Birdman

[Watsonp143]

I've got 10. Early Babbitts, Fla, and two recent ones from the 80's. I've got a very really nice Tone Master 7 that Jon Van Wie did and was gold plated.

[Andy71]

I got 3:
STM 5 (I can't play it anymore..)
STM 9* (it was good but dropped on the floor...)
STM NY 9* (my fav, so far)

[betelsax]

I have three HR Links in my drawer. Actually, my first tenor piece was a HR Link 4. When I graduated to the need for more sound and a bigger opening, I tried a 7, and just didn't like it. Sounded stuffy and unresponsive.

But HR Links are just right for me on soprano. They beat the heck out of Selmer S80s and SSs and Baris, etc... They virtually ask to be played :)
Go figure.

[ZenBen]

I've got five:

2 hr link sp's
1 slant tenor
1 reso tenor
1 hr bari

[RICHARD GARCIA]

3 Refaced By Frank Wells
2 Refaced By Bob Ackerman
1 Refaced By Jon Van Wie
1 Refaced By Theo Wanne
1 Refaced w/ an added baffle by Dave Guardala
2 Refaced by "unknown" (play Great!)
2 Stock NY Models 7* & 8*
These are All Metal Tenors Which I Keep Because Of Their Uniqueness And History. I Have Given Away Many Others To My Sons And To "friends".
I Also Have 3 Hr, 1 Each For Tenor, Alto, And Soprano
And We're Only Talking Links, Right?
I guess this qualifies me for a "Link-a-holic", I like the term.

[Graftonsax]

3 Refaced By Frank Wells
2 Refaced By Bob Ackerman
1 Refaced By Jon Van Wie
1 Refaced By Theo Wanne
1 Refaced w/ an added baffle by Dave Guardala
2 Refaced by "unknown" (play Great!)
2 Stock NY Models 7* & 8*
These are All Metal Tenors Which I Keep Because Of Their Uniqueness And History. I Have Given Away Many Others To My Sons And To "friends".
I Also Have 3 Hr, 1 Each For Tenor, Alto, And Soprano
And We're Only Talking Links, Right?
I guess this qualifies me for a "Link-a-holic", I like the term.

I would like to fold here, man great collection. I have 2 that I can think of a hr new tenor, not even sure of the number and a newer bari 6* that is a 2nd issue, neither I play currently as I don't play any music that calls for them.

[jgreiner]

Well, let's see.......

Soprano: 1 hard rubber (7*) traded with Bill Pierce about 20 yrs. ago and 1 6* that's collecting dust in the drawer.

Alto: 1 hard rubber 7*. Don't play it much because I prefer my Meyer 6M

Tenor: 2 NY Tonemaster's. Both refaced by the late Jon Van Wie. I've been playing on one of them since '88, the other one plays very well, but it's my back-up piece.
1 NY 7* (about 14 yrs. old) also refaced by JVW.

Bari: none

There ya have it!

John

[slobberchops]

3, all recent:

Tenor STM NY 9 which plays beautifully, and straight from the box too. Got lucky with that one.
Tenor STM NY 7. A real dog. Yuk.
Soprano STM 8*. Another beauty.

S.

[Ike Webkins]

Edit: 3 for tenor :

two metal master (opened at 6*) and 7* and one vintage HR tone edge (untouched) 6* too...

One for baritone : one 6* (and waiting for an other 6* modified by Phil Barone...)

[benbyrne]

3

1 8* STM (tenor)
1 7 Tone Edge (tenor)
1 7* Tone Edge (early Babbitt) (alto

[super20dan]

i onlyhave one-a slant hr alto. since i olay mostly r&b and rock-no call for a stuffy link

[Ike Webkins]

2 for tenor :

one metal master (opened at 6*) and one vintage HR tone edge (untouched) 6* too...

And one more tone edge for bari...that will be followed (soon I hope) by one modified by Phil Barone...8-)

[saxphil]

2 - EZ STM 7*'s in cases

Want a NY as well. Ha, it never ends.

[DC]

Funny thread!

I had played STM's for many a decade, but, have made the switch to rubber Links a couple of years ago. I'll list them as follows:

'V' Tone Edge Link tenor, refaced by the incredible Mark Spencer here in Australia, opened up to about 8 3/4, my main piece, incredible. Here's a 'link' to Mark's website, pun intended....

http://sax.com.au/

Y'all should send ALL of your pieces to Mark in Queensland, Australia, you'll be very, very happy you did!

Early Babbitt Tone Edge 9 tenor, refaced by Mark

Early Babbitt Tone Edge 7 alto, refaced by Mark (not my main alto piece, I play a Riffault stencil, refaced by Mark, but this is nice!)

current production Tone Edge 7* soprano (stock) (not my main piece, but not a bad choice)

STM 7* refaced by Doc Tenney, .110, the last STM I kept and played for a while before making the change to rubber, it's a great STM, but, I'm done with metal, anyone want to make a trade or cash offer?

best, DC (in Oz)

[Sax Hut]

My current "hero": A so-called SP model (with the Slant floor and chamber) 7* purchased from BobM, refaced to .108" by Brian Powell. All I can say is wow, and it just keeps amazing me day after day ....

[xp]

2 tonemaster size 7 & 5*
1 double ring size 7
1 florida size 7
1 eb 7
1 hr eb size 6*
And I love all of them!

[super20dan]

none!-links stink and i wouldnt be caught dead playing one on alto or tenor(metal) i like the rubber ones

[toughtenor]

i have a tenor HR slant sig 7which is my main piece for most situations, sometimes I switch to a metal stm 7* to get a little brighter.
also got an 8* but that one is a little more resistant so I don't use that anymore...
and a soprano 5* twelve years old , could be an early babbitt , I'm not sure, how can you tell ??

[garyjones]

Good grief, going through a little phase here. Five of these suckers and now a Powell-refaced HR Link on the way..... It's hard deciding which one I like best, but I've boiled it down to ..... three. Maybe with my chops, it's just that I'm incapable of further refinement.

At least the choice of getting a Link that's been blueprinted by a reputable refacer keeps me from spending mad money on ebay Florida STMs or Slant Sigs. Maybe this story will have a nice ending after all...

i tell you man i think the answer is to learn to work on them yourself.
you can drive yourself nuts just trying this one or that one and trying to find what you want in a randome way like that. the equation is too large.
finding one you like starts to look like the same odds as winning the lotto.

so my vote is to get four. an early no usa one with a rollover baffle and an early babbitt one with a flat baffle and a tonemmaster and an early babbitt rubber one.
have them be fairly unused and never worked on.

next get a reface kit and some micro files and sandpaper. be patient, go slow, and turn them into what you want.

[themacintrasher]

Sold my tone edge a little while ago, but I have a modern refaced 8* STM.

[JB4sax]

Well, I saw this thread and thought it was amusing - and then I actually went through the drawers. To my dismay, a total of 50 (S,A,T, & B), in addition to the 6 that I use in regular rotation.

So be on the lookout for a listing of Links cominig soon to a post near you, and where can I find that 12* step program?:shock:

[Sax Hut]

i tell you man i think the answer is to learn to work on them yourself.
you can drive yourself nuts just trying this one or that one and trying to find what you want in a randome way like that. the equation is too large.
finding one you like starts to look like the same odds as winning the lotto.

so my vote is to get four. an early no usa one with a rollover baffle and an early babbitt one with a flat baffle and a tonemmaster and an early babbitt rubber one.
have them be fairly unused and never worked on.

next get a reface kit and some micro files and sandpaper. be patient, go slow, and turn them into what you want.

Well I was just perusing this thread after the longest while and saw your post gary. Generally agree, just refaced the curve on a Link NY 7* and it plays much better for me now. I'll probably ruin a few in the process, but I have plans....

Per this thread. It sort-of asked how many Links folks have. I just did a search of posts by me in the Mouthpieces wanted/for sale section and if I were to count all those ..... ugh, don't even wanna go there.... Some of the other hornists here also might want to do a similar search, for therapeutic purposes.....

[Perry Cobb]

I still have the same link I bought back in '83.