Today, I am reviewing the new Otto Link LA model tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by JJ Babbitt. The Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpieces are advertised as being a fusion between the classic Otto Link DNA and a modern, West Coast design as described in this quote from the JJ Babbitt website:
“The Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece is unlike anything ever offered under this iconic brand name, creating a fusion of classic Otto Link DNA with a modern, West Coast-inspired design. It’s a testament to JJ Babbitt’s century-long commitment to innovation, blending the warmth and robust low end of Otto Link’s traditional sound with a new layer of clarity, edge, and focused projection. Meticulously crafted to support the needs of today’s saxophonists, this mouthpiece excels whether you’re blending seamlessly into an ensemble or standing out with a powerful solo. Its design redefines the saxophone’s voice, inviting players to explore their unique signature sound while preserving the essence of Otto Link and expanding into new sonic territories with more cut, clarity, and character than ever before.”
That is quite the quote to peak a saxophone players interest! I know I’m curious about the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece after reading that. Let’s get to the review!
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
I received the Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece directly from JJ Babbitt along with two of the new Otto Link metal tenor saxophone mouthpieces, the Otto Link Super Tone Master V 7* tenor sax mouthpiece and the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece. All three tenor saxophone mouthpieces were packaged well and came with metal ligatures and mouthpiece caps.
The Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece looked like you would expect a hard rubber Otto Link tenor sax mouthpiece to look. There is a scroll band that circles the upper body of the mouthpiece and the top of the mouthpiece has “Otto Link” and “LA” engraved into the hard rubber in gold. The tip opening of 7* is engraved on the corner of the mouthpiece body to the right of the table.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
Here is how the JJ Babbitt website describes the new Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece (including the paragraph I used to start off the review):
“The Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece is unlike anything ever offered under this iconic brand name, creating a fusion of classic Otto Link DNA with a modern, West Coast-inspired design. It’s a testament to JJ Babbitt’s century-long commitment to innovation, blending the warmth and robust low end of Otto Link’s traditional sound with a new layer of clarity, edge, and focused projection. Meticulously crafted to support the needs of today’s saxophonists, this mouthpiece excels whether you’re blending seamlessly into an ensemble or standing out with a powerful solo. Its design redefines the saxophone’s voice, inviting players to explore their unique signature sound while preserving the essence of Otto Link and expanding into new sonic territories with more cut, clarity, and character than ever before.
Crafted from high-quality hard rubber, the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece retains the iconic Otto Link “core” sound that saxophonists have cherished for decades, offering a signature richness and depth in the lower registers ideal for smooth jazz lines and resonant tones. But when the music calls for more, the LA shifts into an extra gear, delivering a level of cut, edge, and focused projection unlike anything we’ve ever created. This mouthpiece transforms effortlessly from a warm, mellow timbre to a powerful voice that can pierce through any ensemble, providing the flexibility to command the stage with precision. It’s this fusion of classic Otto Link DNA and modern design that makes the LA a true revolution in saxophone sound.”-JJ Babbitt Website
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
Here is a further description of the Otto Link LA mouthpiece that is further down the page on the JJ Babbitt website:
A Fusion of Classic “Core” with Modern Edge & Brightness
“The Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece is designed for ultimate versatility and innovation, transforming the saxophone’s voice with its ability to shift seamlessly between smooth, warm tones and a bright, dynamic edge. Whether you’re blending into the ensemble or cutting through the mix with a commanding solo, this mouthpiece adapts to every musical moment, setting a new standard in performance. It preserves the essence of Otto Link’s robust low end while exploring new sonic territories that offer more cut, brightness, and character than ever before, providing saxophonists with a tool that effortlessly transitions from subtlety to power.
With its robust, warm low end and powerful upper register, the Otto Link LA tenor sax mouthpiece stands apart from other designs by offering an extra “gear” that delivers punch, edge, and focused projection when pushed; something brand new for hard rubber Links. Its ability to produce a bright, cutting tone without losing the depth and warmth of its foundation makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of styles. Built for contemporary musicians, the LA blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design, resulting in a distinctly “West Coast” sound that is both versatile and forward-thinking. Elevating performances with both subtlety and power, the Otto Link LA is more than just an evolution; it’s a revolution in how saxophonists express their musical voice, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while staying true to its iconic legacy.”-JJ Babbitt Website
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece looks well made and the table, side rails and tip rail look within normal parameters to the eye. The side rails and tip rail do look a bit wider when compared side by side with some of the other modern hand faced hard rubber mouthpieces on the market but nothing that is unusually wide.
The side rails flare out towards the tip of the mouthpiece making them slightly wider than the reed in that area near the tip which I am not a big fan of because it makes lining up the reed on the table a bit more complex. Due to the tip being slightly wider than the reed, you can line the reed up to the right, to the left, or just down the center. It is not really that big a deal once you find the location of the reed that works the best for you. My Early Babbitt Otto Link 7* has flared out side rails like this as well.
The tip rail is close in shape to the curve of my Rigotti cane saxophone reeds that I use (BSS, Rigotti Gold and Roberto’s Winds are all Rigotti cane reeds) but the Rigotti cane reed tip shape curves at a sharper decline on the outside edges of the tip than the curve of the tip rail on the Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece. Regardless of this, all the tenor sax reeds I used for this review sealed well when performing the suction test and played great for me.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The baffle of the Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece is what I would consider a medium-high baffle height. It travels a little less than 1/2 of an inch and then descends at a greater angle towards the rear of the mouthpiece chamber. The entire run of the baffle from the tip to the chamber is curved from side to side. The beginning 1/2 inch of baffle has a slight curve to it and then when the baffle begins its descent to the chamber, the curve is more pronounced. The mouthpiece side walls are scooped out as they head towards the chamber as well.
There is also an area in the baffle that has a curve at the 1/8 mark that follows the shape of the tip rail curve and then looks to roll-over slightly until it gets to that 1/2 inch point where it looks to roll-over again more substantially for the baffles sharper descent into the chamber area.
What I found most interesting about the Otto Link LA mouthpiece was that it is just not a clone of another hard rubber Otto Link tenor sax mouthpiece like an Early Babbitt or a Slant Signature model. I have played a ton of hard rubber Early Babbitt tenor saxophone mouthpieces over the years and the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece has a unique design compared to an Early Babbitt mouthpiece in my opinion.
The Early Babbitt tenor saxophone mouthpieces are known for having that unique “clam shell” shape in the baffle area that is so recognizable in hard rubber Early Babbitt Otto Link tenor sax mouthpieces. The Otto Link LA in essence has what looks like two clam shell baffles. One about 1/8 of an inch from the tip rail and another about 1/2 an inch from the tip rail. I appreciate JJ Babbitt not just rehashing an old design but coming up with new design for the LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
The mouthpiece chamber is what I would consider a medium to medium-small chamber and the bottom floor of the chamber looks to be scooped out slightly when the light hits it at the right angle. The chamber looks to have the same diameter as the bore of the mouthpiece although the baffle is traveling through the chamber as it descends so that descending baffle is taking away some of that chamber volume. The roof of the chamber is pretty thick in my opinion.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece played great with a variety of reeds. For the sound clips below, I used a BSS (Boston Sax Shop) #3 1/2 Silver Box reed, a BSS (Boston Sax Shop) #3 Silver Box reed and a Rigotti Gold 3 light reed.
I tried a bunch of other reeds and strengths on the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece and although I can usually make a 2 1/2 strength reed work on a 7* tip opening, I couldn’t find a 2 1/2 strength reed that worked well on this Otto Link LA 7* tenor sax mouthpiece. All the 2 1/2 tenor saxophone reeds felt too soft for my tastes on the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece played with a thick tone that could be pushed to be much brighter when desired. The LA mouthpiece also had tons of power and volume available when pushed. JJ Babbitt did a great job with the baffle height and profile because this new LA tenor mouthpiece really can straddle that fine line between a respectable jazz tenor saxophone sound that is thick and full of character but also had a respectable “in your face” Michael Brecker type of tenor sax sound when pushed.
On my mouthpiece volume scale from 1-10, I would say that the LA model tenor saxophone mouthpiece gave me a solid 10 on that scale. That is unusual because most of the hard rubber Otto Link mouthpieces I have reviewed in the past, didn’t go that high on the rating for volume. I would have to check my past reviews but I don’t remember any. Maybe an Early Babbitt? I’m not sure. I would imagine that this increased volume and power is due to the baffles unique configuration and the medium-small chamber.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The tone of the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece was thick, full, fat and textured at lower and medium volumes but with more air added the tone could get more focused and brighter while still remaining thick and full sounding. That is important because many mouthpieces that can be pushed to get much brighter can tend to get thinner and edgier in tone. The LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece was an exception to this.
The intonation on the Otto Link LA model tenor mouthpiece was very good and within the normal parameters on my Selmer Super Balanced Action tenor saxophone.
The altissimo range of the saxophone was easy to achieve and get around in. I think the higher baffle profile really does make it easier to get the altissimo notes and play with expression up in that higher register of the saxophone.
The low notes were full, thick and sub-toned beautifully. At full volume, the low notes sounded thick and full of character and while sub-toning they had a beautiful velvety quality to the tone that was nice and lush sounding.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The range of the saxophone was smooth and even and the Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece sounded smooth on fast lines throughout the range of the instrument. Articulation was fast and crisp and the tone could be easily manipulated with bends and vibrato.
Each of the clips below provides a slightly different take and sound related to the different strength of reeds used. Check out all three clips and listen to the differences in sound that each of the reeds provides. I included clips on all three reeds because I like aspects of all three clips and find the differences interesting to listen to.
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
In my opinion, the Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a great hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpiece for those looking for a classic hard rubber Otto Link kind of tenor saxophone sound that can be full and thick with character, on jazz standards or in an ensemble, but can also provide the player with tons of volume and brightness when pushed for more modern music.
That being said, the LA Otto Link is a tenor sax mouthpiece in its own category. I don’t think I have played a hard rubber Otto Link that can sound so authentic on jazz standards but also perform so well on an R&B solo. In my experience, usually a typical hard rubber Otto Link will either lean towards a dark and warm sound or it will lean towards a brighter sound. The hard rubber Otto Links I have tried usually lean one way or the other and I have usually ended up selling them because they are either too dark in tone or too bright in tone. The Otto Link LA hard rubber mouthpiece gives you the best of both worlds in one mouthpiece in my opinion.
I will say that as I tried the Otto Link LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece for this review, I imagined being able to try this mouthpiece back in the 80’s & 90’s when I was searching for a tenor saxophone mouthpiece. I would have been incredibly excited to try an Otto Link hard rubber tenor sax mouthpiece like this back then. The Otto Link LA mouthpiece is very different than the many hard rubber Otto Link tenor sax mouthpieces I tried out in the 80’s through the 2000’s that is for sure. Otto Link did a great job with this new LA series tenor saxophone mouthpiece!
If you like the sound and look of the Otto Link LA model tenor saxophone mouthpiece by JJ Babbitt, you can find them for sale at Sweetwater. I have agreed to be an affiliate for Sweetwater so if you purchase an Otto Link LA tenor saxophone mouthpiece from this link, Neffmusic will receive a small commission on the sale. (This helps to support my site and keep the saxophone related reviews, articles and transcriptions coming to you…..). Sweetwater even offers the option to pay in three installments as well which is nice.
If you are lucky enough to play an Otto Link LA model tenor saxophone mouthpiece or have any other thoughts or comments, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Rigotti Gold 3 Light Reed
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Rigotti Gold 3 Light Reed-No Effects
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Rigotti Gold 3 Light Reed-Altissimo with Reverb Added
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Boston Sax Shop Silver Box 3 Reed
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Boston Sax Shop Silver Box 3 Reed-No Effects
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Boston Sax Shop Silver Box 3 1/2 Reed
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Boston Sax Shop Silver Box 3 1/2 Reed-No Effects
Otto Link LA 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – Boston Sax Shop Silver Box 3 1/2 Reed-Altissimo with Reverb Added
Hi, Steve. Can you tell me if the mouthpiece table is flat and seals well. I recently tried 2 modern HR links and there was a concave area in the middle of the table, not allowing reeds to seal.
I don’t test if tables are flat or not because I don’t really care. I have played tons of mouthpieces with a concavity in the table that played great and that is all that matters to me. I will say that I tried probably 10 different reeds on the LA tenor mouthpiece and 9 of them all sealed and continue to seal throughout the duration of my playing time. One reed stopped sealing 10 minutes into playing but that was a reed I used on another mouthpiece so that isn’t unusual. What Otto Links did you try out?
Thanks for the reply. Since I heard the Links are inconsistent I got 2 of the same model to try – they were very much the same and I returned both. The model was
Otto Link TOLR-V7# Vintage Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7*. The sound was quite nice, but the reeds wouldn’t seal.
Were you using new reeds or used ones? It is not unusual for used reeds not to seal on a new mouthpiece. I’d be very surprised if two mouthpiece both didn’t seal with brand new reeds. That is very unusual…….
I tried one of these recently, and with the used reed I tried first I thought it was super cool but I could not get any other reeds to work on it, just felt wonky. Not sure if the facing was weird, but it sure felt that way to me.
Hi Steve, how does this compare to pieces by makers such as 10mfan, and Philtone?
Hi Steve,
The mouthpiece you tried sounds good. I like it.
Since according to one my opinion it is better to try “every” mouthpiece before buying it, I recently sent an e-mail to the JJ Babbitt Company asking for the name of a store in Rome where I could try the new mouthpieces before possibly buying them, the LA model included, but so far I have not received a reply.
Perhaps some problem with receiving the e mail?
Anyway, the one you tried sounds very good.
Giuseppe.
dovresti trovarli da musicarte a roma o da Raffaele Inghilterra a napoli.
Io ho in dismissione una piccola collezione e settimana prossima sarò a roma e potrei farteli provare. Ne ho di molto buoni in ebanite e metallo fra i quali 3 vintage otto link incluso un Babbit ebanite anni 70, suono enorme, caldo e facile apertura 7. Poi se vieni a palermo potrei fartene provare una decina . tutta roba eccezionale.
Se vuoi mi trovi su mercatino musicale come cielo blues
Il becco della prova odierna di Steve credo che abbia il pino di appoggio irregolare, un po come tutta la produzione moderna. Quindi se il becco ti piace , devi mettere in conto una vistitina da un braavo refacer. a Roma c’è Bucci.
Translation:
you should find them at musicarte in rome or at Raffaele Inghilterra in naples.
I have a small collection in the process of selling off and next week I will be in rome and I could let you try them. I have some very good ones in ebonite and metal including 3 vintage otto link including a 70s ebonite Babbit, huge sound, warm and easy opening 7. Then if you come to palermo I could let you try a dozen. all exceptional stuff.
If you want you can find me on the music market like cielo blues
I think the beak of today’s test by Steve has an irregular support pine, a bit like all modern production. So if you like the beak, you should consider a visit to a good refacer. Bucci is in Rome
Thanks Cielo Blues for the information: Raffaele Inghilterra probably has them, but I doubt that they are in Rome since, practically, as far as I know (I have known the wind instruments shops in Rome for years/decades), it is now difficult to find, especially if expensive, in this field.
Moreover, even if this mouthpiece is pleasant, I would have others to give precedence/preference, among the “handcrafted” mouthpieces.
I really like the 10 M Fan (Celebration), the Phil Tone (Eclipse), the Theo Wanne, some Japanese ones but, unfortunately, I don’t like to mess around with credit cards and shipping, apart from the fact that, nowadays, almost all quality mouthpieces are built with large, for my tastes, tip openings (I prefer 0.081- 0.085).
And, then, I think it is always good to try a mouthpiece before buying it.
The shops, in Rome in particular, in general, have for some time now had little of anything that is not commercial, probably due to the widespread use of buying on the internet and the relative competition it brings.
For used goods, for various reasons and from experience, I always avoid it; also because, unfortunately, I have little time and the possibility of moving (I am old and tired) and, therefore, the little time (I have left) I try to exploit only with sure things.
Thanks anyway for the kind information.
Giuseppe.
Translation:
Grazie Cielo Blues dell’informazione: probabilmente Raffaele Inghilterra li ha, ma dubito che si trovino a Roma dato che, praticamente, per quanto mi risulta (conoscevo da anni/decenni i negozi di fiati in Roma), ormai si trova poco, soprattutto se costoso, in questo campo.
Peraltro, anche se questo mouthpiece è piacevole, ne avrei altri cui dare la precedenza/preferenza, tra i mouthpieces “artigianali”.
Mi piacciono molto i 10 M Fan (Celebration), i Phil Tone (Eclipse), i Theo Wanne, alcuni giapponesi ma, purtroppo, non amo armeggiare con carte di credito e con spedizioni, a parte il fatto che, ormai, quasi tutti i mouthpieces di qualità sono costruiti con larghi, per i miei gusti, tip openings (prediligo 0,081- 0,085).
E, poi, penso che sia bene sempre provare un mouthpiece prima di acquistarlo.
I negozi, di Roma in particolare, in generale, da tempo ormai hanno poco in merito che non sia commerciale, probabilmente per l’uso invalso di acquistare su internet e relativa concorrenza arrecata.
Per l’usato, per vari motivi e per esperienza, lo evito sempre; anche perché, purtroppo, ho poco tempo e possibilità di spostami (sono vecchio e stanco) e, quindi, il poco tempo (rimastomi) cerco di sfruttarlo solo a colpo sicuro.
Grazie comunque per le gentili informazioni.
Giuseppe.
Se posso permettermi una riflessione: se qualcuno ha un negozio sarebbe bene, forse, è una mia opinione, che si tenga informato sulle novità del campo e, magari rischiando un po’, ordinarle.
Certo, c’è il rischio che non venda tutto ma, se non rischia, c’è anche il rischio che non guadagni vendendo.
Tale rischio è chiamato “rischio di impresa”.
Naturalmente questa è una mia impressione da ignorante in materia di commercio, ma è comunque una mia impressione; e, forse, se tutti facessero come me, preferendo spendere un po’ di più ma provando la merce prima in un negozio invece di ordinarla su internet, forse questi negozi potrebbero guadagnare molto e l’acquirente eviterebbe possibili acquisti probabilmente, forse, che poi potrebbero trovarlo insoddisfatto per vari motivi e dovrebbe, eventualmente, perdere tempo prezioso per poi rispedire indietro e cambiare la merce.
Inoltre ne guadagnerebbe la salute pubblica, dato che non ci sarebbero migliaia di furgoni che vanno dappertutto per consegnare pacchi e, di conseguenza, aumentano l’inquinamento.
E quelli che, come me (forse pochi?), non amano perdere tempo, acquisterebbero invece di rinunciare.
Translation:
If I may make a reflection: if someone has a shop it would be good, perhaps, it is my opinion, to keep informed about the news in the field and, perhaps risking a little, to order them.
Of course, there is the risk that they will not sell everything but, if they do not risk, there is also the risk that they will not earn money by selling.
This risk is called “business risk”.
Of course this is my impression as an ignoramus in matters of commerce, but it is my impression nonetheless; and, perhaps, if everyone did as I do, preferring to spend a little more but trying the goods first in a shop instead of ordering them on the internet, perhaps these shops could earn a lot and the buyer would avoid possible purchases probably, perhaps, that could then find him dissatisfied for various reasons and he would have to, possibly, waste precious time to then send back and exchange the goods.
Furthermore, public health would benefit, since there would not be thousands of vans going everywhere to deliver packages and, consequently, increasing pollution.
And those who, like me (perhaps few?), do not like to waste time, would buy instead of giving up.
The sound is neither exciting nor is it boring and bland. A very middle of the road but pleasant sound.
Dimenticavo: se ben ricordo conosco Bucci, ci mandammo delle e mail.
Persona certamente brava e gentile.
Però preferisco acquistare subito il mouthpiece giusto e non poi aggiustarlo!
Giuseppe.
Translation:
I forgot: if I remember correctly I know Bucci, we sent each other some emails.
He is certainly a good and kind person.
But I prefer to buy the right mouthpiece right away and not fix it later!
Giuseppe.
tieni presente che chi f provare i becchi vuole essere pagato per tale servizio. Io sono un esperto in materi e per qualunque suggerimento sono tua disposizione. ciao
Translation:
keep in mind that whoever tries the mouthpieces wants to be paid for this service. I am an expert in the subject and for any suggestions I am at your disposal. bye
It seems to me that Raffaele Inghilterra charges to try the mouthpieces, in Rome no one, as far as I know.
In decades and many tests I have never been asked to pay.
I think it is right, however, that one charges to try them since, unfortunately, if some shop assistant is not present at the test, wasting time to do so, while one try, there is a risk that the goods will be damaged or, in criminal cases, that the good will be replaced: I have heard of people who leave their old mouthpiece in the box, returning the box with the old mouthpiece and taking away the new mouthpiece without paying.
And this is very serious and disgusting.
Shop assistants should never trust and check.
Giuseppe.
Steve, I just received an LA 7 yesterday and it plays exactly as you have described in your review. I tested it with new Rigotti 3 lights and broken-in Selmer 2.5 reeds and they all played well. I polish the back of my reeds with 2500 grit sand paper to ensure the “reed” is flat instead of the mouthpiece table! Even new reeds are not 100% flat and you can tell by the sheen on the back of the reed when you shine them with the sand paper. I really like the tone and colors I can generate with this mouthpiece. Since I have a bunch of different brands and strengths of new and vintage reeds I will spend the weekend testing them all. Thanks for the Spot-On review.