The "Early" Babbit STM mouthpieces produced in the 70s are easily distinguished by the facing number stamped on the side in a large font. They have other characteristics such as a generous roll over baffle which seems flatter, and seem to be made of different materiel from the current Link STMs (more nickle?) They also seemed be better finished than the current STM .
What I am calling "Middle" Babbit STMs were produced starting in the 80s, have the facing number stamped on the shank, but can be easily distinguished from the current links by the quotes around the "super" of super tone master stamped on the shank. The current links loose the quotes. The "middle" babbits I have played tend to have a richer tone spectrum than the current links.
Does anyone know of other characteristics of the "Middle" Babbits STMs or the early Babbits STMs for that matter? Also when did the current links loose the quotes? And does anyone know if Babbit has changed the facing curves on the various STM along the way?
What I am calling "Middle" Babbit STMs were produced starting in the 80s, have the facing number stamped on the shank, but can be easily distinguished from the current links by the quotes around the "super" of super tone master stamped on the shank. The current links loose the quotes. The "middle" babbits I have played tend to have a richer tone spectrum than the current links.
Does anyone know of other characteristics of the "Middle" Babbits STMs or the early Babbits STMs for that matter? Also when did the current links loose the quotes? And does anyone know if Babbit has changed the facing curves on the various STM along the way?