Mouthpieces Big Announcement from Theo Wanne at NAMM 2026

[VictorFirstClass]

I wonder if the current Meyer and Otto Link HRs will become coveted some time in the future when they're considered vintage

 

[Woodpad]

Regarding the “molded vs. machined” discussion, the hard rubber pieces will indeed be molded the old way, then shipped to Theo’s factory for creating the chamber, baffle and facing by machine.

There is a discussion on SOTW about this, and the idea is that molding the mouthpiece then vulcanizing it results in a different consistency to the hard rubber than that produced in a hard rubber rod, which is then machined by CNC. Of course, this awakened the old “geometry vs. material” discussion on tonal differences.

As vulcanizing will shrink the rubber by introducing more connections we can argue that the resulting geometry of both processes could be different.

 

[hedgehog]

I was wondering when the "new" mouthpieces will be available and then found an email message from Theo Wanne, containing this:

Products will start to make their way to your favorite dealers in April​

 

[lig]

I had a chance to play one of the new STMs on Thursday at the show. They had a Forestone tenor for demo purposes. Both very nice. I think they are going to do well with them.

For a Link style piece I prefer my Lakshmi and for an overall piece the Robusto 7** still is the one for me but if you want a Link there's no reason not to go with the new ones.

The fella from Babbit was pretty excited and quite honest about the time period in which they did have some rather inconsistent results.

They had the demo molds for explaining the old method with the brazing and talked about molds losing fidelity over time which all makes sense.

I'm not sure how the pricing is going to shake out because I got the impression the new Links would be priced like the current Wanne pieces, not the Babbitt price points.

Guess we'll see in a few months.

 

[jazzdoh]

Are the new pieces going to be marked in any way to acknowledge Wanne work? How do we tell a new one from old stock?

I hope there is some sort of marking, if not after April how will you know its had Theo's input or not.

 

[Pete Thomas]

if not after April how will you know its had Theo's input or not

Maybe only by playing it

 

[jazzdoh]

Maybe only by playing it

There is that but some shops that have a good stock of the old pieces are going to want to move these on, hopefully if you have to order one without trying it first and you ask for a piece that has Theo's input then it would be good to know it was marked.

 

[Grumps]

Maybe only by playing it

Nope. It'll be the price.

 

[Jimmymack]

I expect they will be keen to tell you when they get the Theo Links, and I’m sure that Grumps is right.

 

[Grumps]

I expect they will be keen to tell you when they get the Theo Links, and I’m sure that Grumps is right.

Theo's gonna have his mark on them as well. For certain.

 

[jazzdoh]

Theo's gonna have his mark on them as well. For certain.

Well he has done on other partnerships, but looking on Babbitts website at these new pieces its not obvious to see it.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Nope. It'll be the price.

I think the point was if there is no visible difference some people may try to pass an old one off. It would be crazy to not change the marking or even the branding

 

[lig]

I don’t have any Links in the mouthpiece box but I wonder if an easy way to tell the difference is to look for the seam on the inside of the mouthpiece?

Theo’s won’t/don’t have it for sure.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I don’t have any Links in the mouthpiece box but I wonder if an easy way to tell the difference is to look for the seam on the inside of the mouthpiece?

Theo’s won’t/don’t have it for sure.

That sounds like a good plan if the seam is always visible

 

[Targa]

That sounds like a good plan if the seam is always visible

Neither of mine have seams.
I suppose I could make them look vintage by drawing them on with an eyebrow pencil.

 

[JSL]

This is certainly great news for anyone looking for a good Link or Meyer mpc.

The Florida model is the perfect balance of edge and tone for me. A hair brighter than the Phil-Tone Tribute model, which is also made in partnership with Theo Wanne, and is based on measurements of some of Phil’s and Theo’s favorite Links. The Florida Link is powerful but can still whisper, it plays equally well with all the air I can give it, and in subtone. Perfection!

Steve, just how close is the new Florida Link to the Phil-Tone Tribute? You say it's a 'hair brighter'. Is that the only difference? Just curious.

 

[Grumps]

Well he has done on other partnerships, but looking on Babbitts website at these new pieces its not obvious to see it.

Maybe it's just the dreamer in me, but I'd expect some sort of hologram.

 

[jazzdoh]

I don’t have any Links in the mouthpiece box but I wonder if an easy way to tell the difference is to look for the seam on the inside of the mouthpiece?

Theo’s won’t/don’t have it for sure.

That might work for the link metals,but what about the HR pieces.

Maybe it's just the dreamer in me, but I'd expect some sort of hologram.

That would be good but maybe they could have put TW inside the shank.

 

[Ivan]

First the original Gaia, built to outplay the best vintage link, then the Tribute, said to be an exact replica of the best link, now?…

Better than best

 

[skeller047]

This is certainly great news for anyone looking for a good Link or Meyer mpc.

Steve, just how close is the new Florida Link to the Phil-Tone Tribute? You say it's a 'hair brighter'. Is that the only difference? Just curious.

I have version 1 of the Tribute. Evidently the LTD version is brighter / more powerful.

The new Florida has a kind of “double baffle” configuration, with a strong rollover near the tip, then a high-ish roof, and a second rollover about 2/3 the way down the chamber. Some described this second rollover as a step, but it’s really just a shallow rollover to the large chamber and throat.

It felt a little more free-blowing than my Tribute with a slightly brighter voice, and more powerful. If you think of a spectrum between the Tribute and the 10MFan Chameleon, the Florida is right in between, maybe a touch closer to the Tribute.

I did not play the LA model, which has a similar baffle to the Florida, but has a smaller chamber and throat. The Florida would be just fine for me, the Chameleon is a touch too much (this might be because it has a 7** tip too). Lately I’ve been playing a piece I worked on, a skinny hard rubber blank from Babbit with a long rollover similar to, but smaller than, the Chameleon, in a 7 tip opening. Whether it’s the beak size or the tip opening, I find it more comfortable.

All that said, I am saving my pennies (well, nickels…) and will be getting a Florida for sure when available. And possibly a LA model too. I was extremely impressed with the piece I played.