Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Today, I am excited to be reviewing the new 5th generation Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece by JJ Babbitt.

Those who know, know there is nothing better than playing a killer Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece!   Let’s see if this new Otto Link Florida V Super Tone Master tenor saxophone mouthpiece fits in that exclusive category……

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The JJ Babbitt mouthpiece company recently sent me three new tenor saxophone mouthpiece models to review: an Otto Link hard rubber LA 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece (which I have already reviewed), an Otto Link Super Tone Master V 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece (which I also reviewed) and an Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece which I am reviewing now.

The JJ Babbitt saxophone mouthpiece company has been  around for over 100 years!  In the 1970s,  JJ Babbitt expanded its business by acquiring two of the most prestigious names in the saxophone mouthpiece industry: Meyer Bros. in 1971 and Otto Link in 1977.  You can read the full history of the JJ Babbitt Company here.

The vintage metal Otto Link Double Ring, Florida and Early Babbitt tenor saxophone mouthpieces from the past are some of the most sought after vintage saxophone mouthpieces on the market today.  When I heard the news that JJ Babbitt was coming out with a new Otto Link V (5th Generation) Super Tone Master tenor saxophone mouthpiece as well as an Otto Link Florida V Super Tone Master tenor saxophone mouthpiece,  I was eager to try out these new Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpieces for myself.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

Here is how the JJ Babbitt website describes the new Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V (5th Generation) tenor saxophone mouthpiece:

“The Otto Link Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a revival of an iconic sound that has shaped jazz for generations. Known for its bright, cutting tone and powerful projection, the Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece was meticulously crafted to deliver the same signature qualities of the original Florida model tenor saxophone mouthpiece made in Pompano Beach. To achieve this, we used advanced laser scanning technology to study vintage mouthpieces and capture their precise specifications. Over time, the original forging dies had worn down, leading to inconsistencies in mouthpiece production. We corrected this by introducing new forging dies, realigning the Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece to the original specs and ensuring pristine sound across the tenor saxophone instrument’s full range.

While we faithfully restored the Florida’s core characteristics, we also took the opportunity to introduce modern innovations that elevate the mouthpiece for today’s musicians. Every Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is hand-finished with expert craftsmanship, ensuring smooth airflow and exceptional tonal balance. Key enhancements to the chamber improve resonance and airflow, allowing the Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece to deliver a consistent, rich sound from low to high registers. Its flexible design enables players to seamlessly transition between intricate jazz phrases and powerful solos, making it the perfect companion for jazz, blues, and rock musicians alike.“-JJ Babbitt

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

More from the JJ Babbitt website on the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V (5th Generation) tenor saxophone mouthpiece:

“Professional players, including the legendary Ernie Watts and Doug Lawrence, have praised the Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece as one of the finest Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpieces they’ve ever played. Many have said it not only equals but surpasses the original models in tone, projection, and overall playability. It’s re-engineered chamber, designed with precision and care, offers unparalleled projection and clarity, allowing musicians to effortlessly cut through even the densest musical arrangements. Despite its powerful presence, the Florida 5 tenor saxophone mouthpiece maintains remarkable tonal control and nuance, making it adaptable to both subtle passages and high-energy solos.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece comes in a classic sealed Otto Link mouthpiece box.  Inside the box, the mouthpiece has an Otto Link ligature on the mouthpiece as well as a plastic mouthpiece cover.  Although there is no reed on the mouthpiece,  JJ Babbitt puts a small piece of plastic between the ligature plate and mouthpiece table to protect the table from being scratched by the ligature during shipping.

I have never been a big fan of Otto Link ligatures in the past because I found that the ligature plate moved around too much for my liking when placing the ligature on the reed, however,  the ligature that comes with the new Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece doesn’t seem to have this issue because the plate on the ligature is thicker than the plate on many of my older Otto Link ligatures I have in my drawer.  I don’t know if it is because of this added thickness of the plate or an improved screw connection holding the plate, but the plate doesn’t seem to move around as much and it is easier for me to place the ligature on the reed than the many older (80’s-90’s) Otto Link ligatures I have.

On the Otto Link Super Tone Master V review, I didn’t even give the included Otto Link ligature a chance but for this review, I decided to give the Otto Link ligature a shot and I have to say that the Otto Link ligature worked amazingly well on the Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece ( I’m going to go back and try the Otto Link ligature on the V model tenor saxophone mouthpiece as well).  I use the Otto Link ligature on clips 1 & 2 below and my old Selmer 404 silver ligature on the 3rd clip (the third clip was recorded first many weeks before clips 1 & 2).

I really felt like the Otto Link ligature added some depth, stability and character to the tone over my Selmer 404 ligature.  That’s hard for me to write because I have been a loyal Selmer 404 ligature fan for about 20 years now, but I have to be honest, something about the Otto Link ligature just checked all the sound and response boxes for me and for the first time in 20 years I liked another ligature on an Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece more than my trusted Selmer 404 ligature.   Yeah, I’m very surprised myself…..

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The new 5th generation Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor sax mouthpiece looked beautiful upon opening the box.  The gold plating looks thick and rich and the bite plate and engraving looked perfect.

One detail I noticed and wrote about in my Otto Link Super Tone Master V mouthpiece review is that the seam between the two halves of the mouthpiece could be seen on that mouthpiece. The same is true on this Otto Link Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece but it isn’t as prominent.  You can see the seam showing slightly in some of the photos when you look at the top and bottom of the shank area.

I’m not sure if this is a flaw in just my mouthpieces or if this seam can be seen in all the new Otto Link V and Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpieces JJ Babbitt is making.  This slight imperfection really makes no difference to me as it in no way effects the playability of the mouthpiece.

“I will add at this point in the review, that people in the past have accused saxophone mouthpiece companies of picking perfect saxophone mouthpieces out of their production line to send to me to get a great review and while I can’t prove this never happens, I do think this seam flaw on these two saxophone mouthpieces does tend to make me think that someone at JJ Babbitt just grabbed these sax mouthpieces in the sealed boxes and sent them to me to review rather than picking out a special saxophone mouthpiece for me that was absolutely perfect.  That seems logical to me.”

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

Although this is a brand new 5th generation Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece, there is no mistaking the obvious Otto Link design features that are a signature of the Otto Link metal tenor saxophone mouthpiece line.

The 5th generation Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece has the classic metal ridge along the top of the mouthpiece that is engraved with “Otto Link” as well as the classic black bite plate across the beak that is common to all metal Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpieces.

The shank of the mouthpiece has two rings around the shank with “Super Tone Master” engraved between the rings on the top and “Florida V” engraved below the rings (The V has a palm tree creatively added to one side of the V).  On the bottom side of the shank,  “U.S.A.” is engraved between the rings with the tip opening of 7 engraved below it.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

In the photo above, you can see that the body of the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece has a distinct shape to it that is different than the Otto Link V model tenor sax mouthpiece as well as every other metal Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece.

The sides of the Otto Link V model tenor sax mouthpiece, that I previously reviewed,  have a more traditional rounded shape to them until they reach the table on either side of the mouthpiece.  The Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece has a line that goes across the sides that makes that shape on either side more angular.  From the top ridge of the mouthpiece, the sides are rounded until they meet that line on the side of the mouthpiece.  After the line, the angle of the body stops traveling in a curve and more travels in a straight line to the edge of the table. This distinct shape gives the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece a cool modern type of shape and  geometry.  You can see this shape clearly in the photo above.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Otto Link Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece has side rails that I would consider as wide rails.  As you can see in the photos, the inner edge of the side rails are a bit wavy and uneven as they travel from the tip rail to the rear of the mouthpiece window but this is nothing that would effect playability in my opinion.

Of special note, the thickness of the metal on the shank of the mouthpiece is much thicker than the thickness of the metal on all of my other vintage Otto Link mouthpieces.  I believe modern Otto Links all have this thicker design of the shank but I have never noticed this until now as I compare these new Otto Link Florida V and V model tenor saxophone mouthpieces to my Florida, Early Babbitt and Double Ring Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpieces in my mouthpiece collection.

The baffle looks to be a medium-high rollover with what I can only describe as a very unique shape. The unique baffle shape of the rollover reminds me of the look of water rolling in the bottom of a container while being in a vehicle that is moving.  The baffle is uneven but has a flowing effect to the irregular shape.  I’m very curious if this baffle shape is exactly the same for each mouthpiece or if the baffle shape is variable from mouthpiece to mouthpiece.

In comparison to the Otto Link V tenor saxophone mouthpiece, the Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece baffle is slightly higher.  The baffle looks to be about the same length as the Otto Link V mouthpiece baffle in that the baffle’s initial run before it rolls over to a deeper descent into the chamber area looks to be the same length.  This is what I perceive anyways, the difference is very slight.  It is not a radical difference in baffle shapes between the two mouthpieces but just that the Otto Link Florida V mouthpiece initial baffle run looks a little bit higher.

After the flowing irregular baffle rollover of the Florida V mouthpiece, the baffle heads down to what I would describe as a medium chamber ( I described the Otto Link V model tenor saxophone mouthpiece as having a large chamber).  The floor of the chamber on the Otto Link Florida V mouthpiece looks higher than the Otto Link V mouthpiece floor to accommodate the medium chamber.  The mouthpiece sidewalls are scooped out nicely. The mouthpiece chamber roof is of a medium thickness and looks to be even and symmetrical.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

Now, to the most important part, how did the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece play?

Honestly, like the Otto Link V tenor saxophone mouthpiece I already reviewed a few weeks ago,  I was pleasantly surprised by this new Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece as well.  In fact, I would consider the Otto Link V and Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpieces to be some of the best Otto Link tenor sax mouthpieces I have played.  If I played an Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece like this in a store over the last 45 years, I would have bought it immediately.  That is how much I liked this Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece.

I know that I also wrote a very similar paragraph in the Otto Link V tenor sax mouthpiece review but I feel the same about this Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece as I did about the Otto Link V tenor saxophone mouthpiece.  These are two great playing Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpieces!

This Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a 7 tip opening (.100) and the Otto Link V tenor mouthpiece I already reviewed was a 7* tip opening (.105).  I was a bit bummed that JJ Babbitt didn’t have a 7* Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece they could send me.  Reviewing and comparing mouthpieces of different tip opening can be problematic.  The problem occurs when I am not sure what differences are related to tip opening changes as opposed to design changes like the higher baffle height and medium chamber of the Florida V as compared to the larger chamber of the Otto Link V model tenor saxophone mouthpiece.  Regardless of that, we have to play the cards we are dealt, so let’s go on with the review.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece was very reed friendly for me.  It played best with reeds between strength 3 to 3 1/2.  I tried a variety of reeds on it including BSS (Boston Sax Shop), Rigotti Gold and Rico Royal reeds.  The sound clips below were recorded with the BSS Silver box reeds because they seemed to work best with the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece.  Although 2 1/2 strength reeds played well, they just felt a tad too soft for my preferences with a 7 tip opening mouthpiece so I chose to record with the 3 and 3 1/2 reeds.

The tone of the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece was what I would consider a brighter and more focused “Otto Link” tenor saxophone tone.  Whereas I described the Otto Link V tenor saxophone mouthpiece tone as “thick, strong and dense sounding while sitting in the middle of that dark to bright tenor saxophone tone spectrum”, I would describe the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece as having a “more compact and focused tone that sat on the brighter side of that dark to bright tone spectrum”.

In my opinion, where I enjoyed the Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece tone the most was at soft or medium volumes.  The Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece just had such a sweet and beautiful tenor saxophone tone at those volumes that I just loved listening to it as I practiced.  The tone was focused, yet round and compact and with a sparkle and shine to it that was very pleasant to my ears.

At full volume, the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece would get a bit brighter than the Otto Link V model tenor saxophone mouthpiece in my opinion.  Not obnoxiously so, but like the highs were turned up on the mixing board kind of difference.  Not a lot but just a bit, enough to make a difference that is discernible to the ear.

We have all heard the term before “Otto Link on steroids” but the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece is more like a “Link” on creatine ( sorry for the analogy for those who don’t lift weights).  There is a difference, the sound is brighter and more focused but it isn’t obnoxiously so. That being said, I want to be clear that JJ Babbitt has added the boost of focus and brightness in an artful and sensitive way.

Let me explain,  I have played many Otto Link tenor sax mouthpieces on steroids that had after market baffles added to them and I never liked any of them for long that I can remember (well, except my JVW Otto Link with added baffle….but Jon Van Wie made the baffle in an artful and sensitive way as well in my opinion).  With most of the other “Otto Links on steroids” baffles I have tried, the maker was trying to be too radical with their added baffle by trying to put a Guardala or Berg type baffle in an Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece.   This radical transformation of an Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece was usually pretty cool at first but wore thin over time because the Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece was no longer an Otto Link and had lost all the qualities of tone and sound that make a great Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece great.

The “creatine” (higher baffle and decreased chamber size) added to the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece design gives the Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece just the right amount of added core to the tone mixed with some added brightness that sounds terrific.  In my opinion, it still sounds like an Otto Link but the slightly higher baffle and  medium chamber just effect the tone enough to give it some beautiful added brightness and focus that is really great.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

As you can hear in the sound clips below, the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor mouthpiece sounds at home on a jazz ballad using a rich, focused and singing tone that stands out or can be pushed to be much brighter and more aggressively “in your face” when needed as you can hear on the altissimo sound clip.

The beautiful quality of a great Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece is that the tone can be shaped and molded to the players desires and needs.  I would consider the Otto Link V tenor mouthpiece and the Otto Link Florida V to be in that category of a great playing Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece because the tone can certainly be shaped and molded to the player’s imagination.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece had very good intonation on my Selmer SBA (Super Balanced Action) tenor saxophone.  The articulation was clean and crisp while playing staccato notes or fast jazz lines.

The altissimo register was easy to produce and the notes in that higher register had a nice roundness and thickness to the tone that I really liked.   The low notes were rich and full sounding and the sub-tone effect on those low notes was beautifully lush and rich.

I would rate the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 saxophone mouthpiece as a 7-7 1/2 for volume on the 1-10 volume scale I think of when reviewing saxophone mouthpiece just because of the 7 tip opening.  I rated the Otto Link V 7* with a 7 1/2-8 rating ( slightly higher because of the increased tip opening of 7*).  The 7-7 1/2 volume is a respectful volume and while the Otto Link Florida V is in no way a paint peeler that can cut through any band, the volume is adequate for most playing situations with the right amplification in my opinion.  A 7* or 8 tip opening would probably bump that volume rating up to 8-8 1/2 or 9 easily.

Where the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece is different than the Otto Link V tenor sax mouthpiece is in that added brightness and focused core I keep describing.  Where this comes into play in a live playing situation is that where the Otto Link V tenor saxophone mouthpiece has what sounds like a bigger and more slightly spread sound, the added focused core and brightness of the Florida V tenor sax mouthpiece is an added benefit when playing live in loud environments.

Let me explain, and granted, this is just my opinion, but when playing on gigs with loud bands, I have found that mouthpieces with added brightness AND a focused core are the easiest for me to hear in those live situations.

Brightness is not enough and a focused tone is not enough. For me, to hear myself on a “live” gig that is loud, I have to have just the right balance of added brightness and a focused core tone. When those are in the perfect balance, I can hear myself perfectly in the mix of the monitors.  That is the ideal scenario I have always been looking for for “live” playing.  If I can hear myself, then I get the direct feedback that encourages me to play even better.

I write that these two qualities have to be balanced because I have tried playing bright mouthpieces that were fatter and more spread in tone and on the live gig and they didn’t work, I couldn’t hear myself.  I have also tried really focused mouthpieces that were darker in tone (or just not bright enough) and these mouthpieces didn’t work on the gig either.  I couldn’t hear myself.

Some will say at this point, “Steve, just turn up your monitor volume.”  Yes, I have tried that, and it was just too painful an experience to try again.   My experience was that turning up that monitor volume didn’t help me hear myself because the tone of the tenor saxophone was in an EQ spectrum shared with the other instruments in the band or the tone was just too spread to pick out of the abundance of loud instrument sound entering my ears.  All I was doing was speeding up the approach of my future hearing loss ( a warning for you young musicians out there…. sorry to be a bummer….. wear hearing protection !…..).

So, I write all that to bring home the point that I think the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece would work well in those loud playing situations.  If I were to purchase one for live playing I think I might opt for a 7* or 8 tip opening just to be able to put more air through the horn, but this 7 tip opening Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece can pump out some substantial volume as well.

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

In my opinion, the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a great tenor sax mouthpiece for those of you looking for a tenor sax mouthpiece that can play with a classic “link” jazz tenor saxophone sound that is clear and focused while giving the player easy expression, brightness and sparkle in the tone that is absolutely beautiful at lower and medium volumes and can cut through the louder band mix at higher volumes.

Although the Otto Link Florida V tenor saxophone mouthpiece is an obvious design change for JJ Babbitt, I believe they have stayed true to the heritage and history of Otto Link saxophone mouthpieces and designed a saxophone mouthpiece that plays and sounds like a great Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece from the past would sound or perhaps even better if that is allowed to be stated.  (I know vintage Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece experts will view this statement as sacrilege).

If you like the sound and look of the Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 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 Super Tone Master Florida V 7 (or any tip opening) tenor saxophone mouthpiece from this link, neffmusic.com will receive a small commission on the sale while your cost remains the same. (This helps to support my site and keep the saxophone related reviews, articles and transcriptions coming to you…..thank you for your ongoing support!). Sweetwater even offers the option to pay in three installments as well which is nice.

If you try an Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 tenor saxophone mouthpiece or have any thoughts, comments or questions on this review,  I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.  Thanks,   Steve

*To hear the most detail from these clips it is best to listen to them from a computer with nice audio speakers or headphones rather than from an iPhone or laptop speakers.  It makes a world of difference!

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 with BSS 3 Silver Box Reed

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-with no Effects-BSS #3 Silver Box Reed

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-Altissimo Licks with Reverb-BSS #3 Silver Box Reed

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 with BSS 3 1/2 Silver Box Reed

Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V 7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-with no Effects-BSS #3 1/2 Silver Box Reed