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Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor Sax – Dark Lacquer
Retail: $3,329.00
$2,189.00
Financing Starting at $49.80 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Sold Out – ETA December
We are currently sold out of this finish in our Handmade Series. The next batch is due in December. Please us the form below if you would like to be notified when they are back in stock:
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Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor Sax
Vintage Dark Lacquer
Handmade Series Tenor
The Kessler Custom Handmade Series tenor sax is just as the name implies, a completely handmade tenor sax. Built by a only 4 skilled artisan technicians, countless more hours are spent on each saxophone ensuring the best build quality with the lowest amount of stress in the construction. The techniques employed on the Handmade models’ construction produce an instrument that has better vibration, response and tonal performance. When combined with our direct sale approach, this gives the customer a saxophone that offers performance without compromise!
Handmade Series Improvements
Our Handmade models are also equipped with 4 other distinct improvements not found on the other models in our Kessler Custom line.
– Upgraded Body Alloy
– Pisoni Pro Pads
– Highest Quality Blue Needle Springs
– Handmade Professional Mouthpiece
We wanted our Handmade to be completely set apart from anything else on the market. So we went all out on it. The Pisoni Pro pads are the best leather pad available on the market today and are the same pads you will find on the Selmer Paris horns new. We further improve the feel of our Handmade models by using the highest quality blued needle spring for excellent key action. Lastly, we include on of our Kessler Custom handmade professional saxophone mouthpieces with each horn in the Handmade Series.
Additional Information
Kessler Custom Handmade Series saxophones utilize the Pisoni Pro pads. These pads are the best leather pad available on the market today and are the same pads you will find on the Selmer Paris horns new. These pads are a firmer pad than typically found on most saxophones. In order to use these pads, a saxophone has to be manufactured to a much higher level of build with more precise toneholes. Once installed, these pads offer 2 major benefits:
Stability
When combined with the better tonehole manufacturing necessary to use the Pisoni Pro pad, these pads are more stable and less likely to develop little leaks. They also provide a much firmer feel to the mechanism of the sax.
Tone Projection
Pads are made from leather and felt which serve as an acoustic dampener which is why saxophone pads use resonator discs. However, even with a resonator, your air column still comes in to contact with the leather and felt of the pad. With the firmer Pisoni Pro pad, you will have less acoustical dampening from the pad which yields better projection, response and power.
Red-Brass Alloy
Typically, saxophones are made out of the alloy called “cartridge brass” (also known as “yellow brass”). While the exact formulation of brass can vary from vendors and suppliers, the typical formula is a brass that consists of 70% copper and 30% zinc. Our Handmade Series are made from “Red Brass” which consists of 85% copper and 15% zinc.
The extra 15% copper adds a little more mass to the alloy helping to produce a darker core tone. When combined with our professional bore and enhanced resonance from the Handmade construction, this alloy produces a wonderfully complex tone while maintaining excellent response and projection.
Vintage Dark Lacquer
Our Dark Vintage Style Lacquer is quickly becoming a fan favorite! Designed to emulate the look and feel of 50+ year old lacquer, the dark lacquer is truly unique. It is paired with Black Pearl finger touches to give a beautiful look that is only matched by the saxophone’s sound!
Does the finish impact the sound? Depends on who you ask… Dave Kessler chimed in on this topic on his personal blog… go give it a read and see his thoughts on the topic.
The Kessler Custom Handmade Series Tenor Sax is available in the following finishes:
Retail: $3,179.00
$2,099.00Financing Starting at $47.75 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Retail: $3,329.00
$2,189.00Financing Starting at $49.80 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Retail: $3,379.00
$2,219.00Financing Starting at $50.48 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Retail: $3,499.00
$2,299.00Financing Starting at $52.30 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Anniversary Model!
Retail: $3,899.00
$2,549.00Financing Starting at $57.98 per month
Based on 60 months and 12.99% annual percentage rate
Every horn we send out to a customer is not released from us unless it has been completely setup in our shop first. This is because the setup on the horn is of the utmost importance! Sometimes, a saxophone (regardless of who the manufacturer or the price point is) comes in needing 20 minutes of adjustments and then the very next one can require 2 hours! So if you were to get 5 of the same model right out of the box, they will all play different which leads people to believe that they are “good” or “bad” saxes… but the reality is that the one that was the best out of the 5 was likely the one that needed the least amount of work and on the flip side, the “bad” sax was the one that needed 2 hours worth of adjustments!
Once the same 5 saxophones are properly regulated and adjusted to perfection, they become near identical saxophones that even the pickiest of players would be challenged to pick a true “favorite” horn. However, since most stores do not or even can not perform this setup, the player never knows this and is simply relying on the luck of the draw. This is why we perform our setup (in our www.SaxophoneRepairs.com ProShop) on them before delivering your new sax to you. You trust us with your purchase and we want to make sure that you are rewarded by giving you your ideal saxophone setup flawlessly!
| Bore | Professional French Style Bore |
| Body Material | Red Brass (85% copper) |
| Body Construction | Completely Handmade – Fully Ribbed Body Construction |
| Pads | High Quality Leather with Metal Domed Resonators |
| Range | Low Bb to High F# |
| Finish | Vintage Dark Lacquer |
| Finger Touches | Black Cultured Pearls |
| Mouthpiece | Kessler Custom ‘Modern Classical’ Hard Rubber (upgrades available) |
| Ligature | Rico H-Ligature in Gold Plate |
| Case | New Shaped Case |
Case Options
We include an awesome case with our Kessler Custom Handmade saxophones! The GL Cases GLE Series case is included with the horn. However, if you want something higher end, like a BAM case, that can be arranged! Current case options (and upgrade costs) are as follows:
Free Case Option: GL Cases – GLE Series Contoured Case
Weighing approximately 7 pounds and providing an exceptional fit for the horn, the GLE Series case from GL Cases will be the default “stock” case moving forward with Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor saxes. Read more about this case on its product page by clicking here.
Case Upgrade Options
Case Upgrade Options
We also stock a carefully selected variety of premium cases that you can upgrade to for a nominal fee from either GL Cases or BAM France! Upgrade Options are:
Case Upgrade Options (Click to View)
BAM Cases - 'SoftPack' Case 
BAM SoftPack Case – Upgrade Fee: $230.00
Read more about this case on its product page by clicking here.
BAM Cases - 'Cabine' Case 
BAM Cabine Case – Upgrade Fee: $300.00
Read more about this case on i’s product page by clicking here.
Financing Available
Click Here for more information on financing program details and to apply!
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Robert (verified owner) –
I’ve have played Tenor sax since 1956 and retired fro professional playing about 8 years ago. Sold the old 1937 Conn 10M to a working palyer. Recently I decided to play with some frineds for fun and never thought I would even come close to the OLD LADY. Low and behold after a lot of research and some well spent time on the phone with Kesslers, I decided to buy a horn. I bought a Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor in the Dark Lacquer. The horn has the exact sound I was looking for! It is well built with great tone. I love the horn and by no means am I new to playing Tenor. I’m sure the sax will out last me.
Robert Morgey