Thought I'd share some feedback on the "Custom" tenor that I purchased two weeks ago from Dave Kessler. I live in Vegas so I was able to talk with, and be helped by the man himself. I totally agree with previous posts regarding Dave and his staff's professionalism and customer service. It's not often in this day and age to get that kind of service and have someone spend time with a customer that they don't know from Joe Smith down the street- awesome.
I haven't played a tenor sax for more than 2 minutes for over 10 years, so for me seriously trying out a sax (without embarrassing myself) was just not a reality. I did get the opportunity to try one of the Kessler "Handmade's" alongside a YTS61, but it was really just an exercise in ergos, I couldn't play either one of them (and I used to play a 61!). I must say however that the "Handmade" is a gorgeous, gorgeous horn. I ultimately decided against the "Handmade" because it was just too much horn for me a this time.
After much research and discussion, I came up with the following:
Kessler Custom tenor sax
Vintage metal Link (7)
Kessler Custom neck (same as Handmade neck)
VanB reeds (1.5 and 2)
I went back to see Dave and purchased the above horn and "stuff".
Would you believe, that this setup with a 1.5 reed played from the very first breath! Amazed is not an exaggeration.
Bear in mind that I am not a pro, I have been playing (practicing) 20 mins a day and I have limited chops back, but this horn plays sooooo easily. After only two weeks I have the overtones working, the altissimo working and best of all, you can manipulate the tone & volume very easily (from soft and subtle to LOUD!)
The tone with the Link and custom neck is much, much darker than with the standard neck and plastic mouthpeice (which still come with the horn).
I have played the horn against the tuner and it plays within a few cents throughout the range - again, awesome.
The best thing (and most surprising) is that I paid $895 for this horn. Unbelievable.
My thoughts on this particular saxophone is that unless you are a serious musician OR have a fixation on one of the "recognizable" sax brands / models (and have more money than probably sense) this would be a great saxaphone for you. I obviously cant compare it to how any other sax's play (ergos etc), but I can tell you tonally, it will hold its own pretty well. I hope Dave doesn't mind me repeating this, but his opinion as expressed to me was that (as a generalization), this horn is pretty close to the YTS62, and that to do better you would have to step up to a Yani or a JK. Given the price difference between horns, I am very happy with mine!!
Hopefully my "thoughts" may help someone else with their decision making.
I haven't played a tenor sax for more than 2 minutes for over 10 years, so for me seriously trying out a sax (without embarrassing myself) was just not a reality. I did get the opportunity to try one of the Kessler "Handmade's" alongside a YTS61, but it was really just an exercise in ergos, I couldn't play either one of them (and I used to play a 61!). I must say however that the "Handmade" is a gorgeous, gorgeous horn. I ultimately decided against the "Handmade" because it was just too much horn for me a this time.
After much research and discussion, I came up with the following:
Kessler Custom tenor sax
Vintage metal Link (7)
Kessler Custom neck (same as Handmade neck)
VanB reeds (1.5 and 2)
I went back to see Dave and purchased the above horn and "stuff".
Would you believe, that this setup with a 1.5 reed played from the very first breath! Amazed is not an exaggeration.
Bear in mind that I am not a pro, I have been playing (practicing) 20 mins a day and I have limited chops back, but this horn plays sooooo easily. After only two weeks I have the overtones working, the altissimo working and best of all, you can manipulate the tone & volume very easily (from soft and subtle to LOUD!)
The tone with the Link and custom neck is much, much darker than with the standard neck and plastic mouthpeice (which still come with the horn).
I have played the horn against the tuner and it plays within a few cents throughout the range - again, awesome.
The best thing (and most surprising) is that I paid $895 for this horn. Unbelievable.
My thoughts on this particular saxophone is that unless you are a serious musician OR have a fixation on one of the "recognizable" sax brands / models (and have more money than probably sense) this would be a great saxaphone for you. I obviously cant compare it to how any other sax's play (ergos etc), but I can tell you tonally, it will hold its own pretty well. I hope Dave doesn't mind me repeating this, but his opinion as expressed to me was that (as a generalization), this horn is pretty close to the YTS62, and that to do better you would have to step up to a Yani or a JK. Given the price difference between horns, I am very happy with mine!!
Hopefully my "thoughts" may help someone else with their decision making.
