BetterSax Session - Saxofón tenor, Bond Villain Black

BetterSax Session Tenor — professional design, exceptional attention to detail!

Following the success of the Session alto, BetterSax have brought the same ambition and attention to detail to the tenor. Designed from the ground up for the larger instrument, the Session tenor combines carefully considered acoustics, sophisticated keywork and traditional craftsmanship. Available in three stunning finishes, it brings a professional specification to a price bracket more commonly associated with intermediate instruments.

Tenor great Eric Alexander contributed feedback throughout the development process and now plays a standard production Session exclusively — a strong endorsement of what Jay Metcalf and his team have achieved!

Sound and Design

At the heart of the Session is a French-style bore with a widened body taper, developed specifically for the tenor rather than simply scaled up from the alto. The neck has its own carefully matched bore taper and tone ring, designed to balance response, intonation and tonal consistency.

One of the most interesting features carried over from the alto is the internally conical neck tenon. Although cylindrical on the outside to fit securely into the receiver, the tenon is tapered internally to maintain a smoother continuation of the saxophone’s conical bore. Its end also fits seamlessly against the body tube, avoiding the small internal gap found at this junction on many saxophones. It’s a great example of the attention given to an area that players rarely see, but which is central to the instrument’s design.

Further down the instrument, the Session tenor features an unusual ringless bow-to-bell joint. Precisely machined and soldered, this connection dispenses with the conventional joining ring, reducing mass at the junction. BetterSax have designed this to support an immediate response, stable notes and control when playing quietly in the low register.

The body uses BetterSax’s mini-rib construction, grouping related posts onto shared mounting plates to provide support without the additional weight of full-length ribs. Material thickness is carefully considered too, with lighter brass through the neck and body and a heavier gauge at the bow and bell.

Keywork and Feel

The Session’s mechanism includes spring-loaded bushings, designed to take up small amounts of play as the keywork wears. By controlling unwanted movement, these help maintain a smooth, quiet action over time.

Pisoni blue steel springs are individually checked with a force gauge to achieve light, even resistance across the instrument. Combined with Pisoni Pro pads and metal resonators, thoughtfully positioned key touches and modern palm-key placement, the result is a mechanism designed for comfort and a fluid playing experience.

The neck also features an underslung octave key, keeping this vulnerable part away from the area normally gripped when fitting or removing the neck.

Finishing Touches

An adjustable, investment-cast thumb rest provides a carefully shaped contact point for the right hand, while the neck-strap ring is made from hard-wearing nickel silver. Genuine mother-of-pearl key touches and individual hand engraving complete the instrument, with an engraving pattern created specifically for the Session tenor by BetterSax’s Marcy Lyzun.

Preparation receives just as much attention. After initial assembly and setup, every Session tenor rests for at least two weeks, allowing pads and corks to settle before a second complete check and any necessary adjustments. Here at SAX, our own professional setup provides a further check before the instrument reaches you.

The Package

The Session comes with a shaped backpack case featuring padded straps, a moulded memory-foam interior, a ballistic nylon exterior and multiple accessory compartments. An included rain cover provides additional protection on the move.

Also included is the BetterSax Session tenor mouthpiece, a dedicated hard-rubber design inspired by a favourite vintage tenor mouthpiece. Made from vulcanised rubber, it combines a moulded internal chamber with CNC finishing and final hand finishing — a thoughtfully developed mouthpiece to complement the instrument.

Features

• Material: Brass

• Finishes available: Matt Black, Matt Gold and Gold Lacquer

• Construction: Mini-rib with reinforcements

• Bore: French-style taper, developed specifically for tenor

• Neck: Custom design with internally tapered tenon and underslung octave key

• Bow-to-bell joint: Precision-fitted and soldered, without a joining ring

• Pads: Pisoni Pro with metal resonators

• Springs: Pisoni blue steel

• Mechanism: Spring-loaded bushings

• Key touches: Genuine mother of pearl

• Engraving: Hand engraved

• Thumb rest: Adjustable, investment cast

• Case: Shaped backpack case with rain cover

• Mouthpiece: BetterSax Session hard-rubber tenor mouthpiece

• Designed in: Indiana, USA

• Made in: China

• Manufacturer’s warranty: Two years

• Free Professional Set Up & Free Check Over within a Year

• Recommended for: Intermediate players looking for a substantial upgrade, semi-professional and professional players.

Staff Review

Having heard what Eric Alexander had to say about this horn during a recent clinic he did for us at SAX it really got me intrigued.  He had no hesitation in saying that this instrument was simply better than all the saxes that had come before it, and there were a few!  Of course finding the right sax is an extremely personal endeavour so I thought I'd reserve judgement until I'd tried it myself, and all I can say is that I think it is fabulous. The first thing that draws me into this horn is the playability; keywork is tight, the ergonomics are fantastic, the action is low, and crucially for me, very light.  It just means you can get playing immediately without having to 'get used' to the sax or 'bed it in', or even have it re-adjusted.  And the second thing, simply, is the sound.  It has a very mature, focussed tonal core - Selmer-esque in a sense; it's free blowing and resonant, but still has a well balanced resistance, giving you scope to shape your own playing.  I'd highly recommend the Session tenor - give it a blow if you get the chance!