
We’ve just completed development of the most exciting new saxophone to be released in a very long time, and yes you can actually get one for 50 bucks or even less depending on where you live. I’ll explain the details of that in a little bit but first, allow me to introduce to you the brand new BetterSax Tradition Alto saxophone.
The BetterSax Tradition Alto Saxophone
So what makes this instrument so amazing is it’s basically a high end professional level saxophone with nearly all the features and attention to detail you’d expect from the finest instruments available, but we’ve designed this horn to be the ultimate intermediate level alto saxophone.
It’s robust, it sounds incredible, plays with precise intonation, can handle the most demanding musical situations, looks gorgeous, and is financially accessible to anyone who wants to play a top tier instrument.
Check out the features that the BetterSax Tradition comes with.





The Best Alto Saxophone for Students
While the BetterSax Tradition will be a perfect match for any player, we designed this particular model to be the band director’s number one choice for alto saxophone. If you’re a band director or music teacher, once you see this instrument you will quickly understand why.
We know exactly what kids in school band programs need to succeed and thrive and have taken every single concern band directors and parents have into consideration when designing the Tradition. It comes with a sturdy yet lightweight hard ABS plastic case that is stackable. It also comes with an excellent Step Up hard rubber mouthpiece. You even get an upgraded ligature with it.
Check out the playing clips in the video that I played on the setup that comes standard, and then I’ll tell you how you can get your hands on one of these.
Sweetwater’s Band Rental Program
Now normally if someone tells you you can get a great saxophone for 50 bucks you should be very suspicious. Right now the only way to get a BetterSax Tradition alto saxophone is through an amazing rental program from our friends at Sweetwater, and there is a trial period that costs up to $50 for the first month but in some states you’ll actually pay much less.
I’ll show you exactly how it works in a second but first, stick with me here because when I learned about this program I was like- this sounds way too good to be true. When you rent an instrument from Sweetwater, 100% of your principal rental payments go to towards the purchase of that instrument should you decide to buy it one day. This is the only rental program in America that is doing this and what could be better?
Now you probably still have some questions about this, and I’m going to help you answer them.
Does it Come With Free Shipping?
You might be thinking, “How do I get one of these to my house? I bet it costs a lot in shipping”. Nope, shipping is included. You rent one of these, they FedEx it to you at no extra charge.
What if I Want to Cancel My Rental After the Trial Period?
You would simply ship the instrument back, and Sweetwater covers the cost of the return.
What if I Lost the Box?
Sweetwater will literally ship you a box at their expense, so you can return your instrument properly and cancel your rental contract.
What Happens if it Gets Damaged?
This is a great question because a lot of instruments do get damaged during the rental period. For an additional $10 a month, Sweetwater offers their instrument protection plan, so if you need a repair you just reach out to them on the phone or email and they will send you a replacement instrument in advance along with a return shipping label usually the same day.
So you’ll get the new instrument FedEx’d to you first and then you just put the damaged one in the box and ship it back. Now that one really seems too good to be true I know but it’s real.
How To Rent a BetterSax Tradition Alto Saxophone
Let’s check out the process together because I want to show you exactly what you need to do in order to get the BetterSax Tradition alto saxophone which is exclusive to Sweetwater’s Band Rental Instrument Program.
Once we’re on the Sweetwater rental page, scroll down to alto saxophone rental and click “Rent Now”.

Choose the type of renter, and if you’re a traditional student search for your school district and enter the state.

Fill out your information on the following page and click continue.

Then click out the alto saxophone because that’s the coolest instrument, but as you can see, they have lots of other instruments to choose from.

As you hover over these you’ll see the prices are different depending on the instrument, but this can also vary depending on which state you live in. So if you’re in New York for example, the price for the trial period is $30 for the first 3 months. Not $30 per month, that’s $30 for all three months plus tax!
Now this part is very important. I already told you that the BetterSax Tradition is designed to be the ultimate intermediate alto saxophone ever, but since we want to get these awesome saxophones into the hands of as many students as possible around the country, Sweetwater is offering this instrument in the less expensive student category.
So you have to choose the student category on this page, knowing that you’re actually going to get an intermediate level instrument, and truth be told I consider this horn to be comparable to an entry level professional saxophone.

Now once you’re in the student category, you have to click the check mark “Prefer Certain Brands?” and then uncheck all options apart from BetterSax. You can see that the price for the location in this example is $40 per month after the 3-month trial period. That amount will change a bit depending on where you live.

Partnership with Sweetwater
We have been working so hard on this project because we believe that every student should have access to an excellent instrument and mouthpiece to learn on. This is the sort of deal that is so good it would be foolish not to take advantage of it.
We love working with Sweetwater because of their tireless commitment to customer satisfaction and service. They’ve built an army of skilled instrument repair technicians to maintain and service an enormous fleet of tens of thousands of band instruments. Their incredible logistics operation allows them to quickly send instruments out to all corners of the country.
I am personally so excited for every student who’s going to get a BetterSax Tradition alto saxophone to play because they are just incredibly good in every way. Visit this link to start your rent or rent to own contract. Follow the instructions I mentioned earlier to ensure you get this exact horn at an unbeatable price.
3 Comments
Hello Jay,
You have done something exceptionally well with your BetterSax line of instruments. I was already renting an intermediate alto from Selmer. It is a beautiful, well working and fun instrument to play that I have received many impromptu compliments about regarding sound. I received the Tradition a couple of days ago and had to adjust the balance bar to get the low end popping. After viewing a couple of videos on that, I made the final adjustments. After a side by side playing comparison between the SAS411 and the BetterSax I was leaning towards the SAS411, until I listened to the recordings I made of each instrument (the impartial observer). The Tradition had something in the scale that reminded me of why I love listening to King Super 20 and Zephyr Special altos. It is a bit angular and sparkly musical in a very attractive way. This was unexpected and welcomed. I listened again the next day to ensure I was not caught up in a subjective “moment”. I was not. Th Tradition was more musical and attractive, with a “smiling” tonality that sparked with sweetness and possibilities. Great job Jay! You have a hit. I love the compact, yet functional, protective carrying case as well. It can fit in spaces that only soprano cases normally can fit. I will continue to develop my sound on the Tradition and practice using the wide variety of low end voicings. There is a LOT of potential down low, because it doesn’t get immediately cold, blaring, raunchy and strident at the low end like many altos do.
Hi Erik,
Thank you for your review! We love hearing about how the BetterSax Tradition has brought out the nuances and musicality that are important to you. Your feedback on the low end and adjustment is noted and appreciated.
We put a lot of thought into every detail, and hearing your feedback on things like the case is incredibly helpful. Thank you for being part of the BetterSax community and for sharing with us.
Happy playing!
-Marcy (BetterSax Operations Manager)
Jay,
I am 67 years old and never played a musical instrument. I am trying to become a sax player. It is difficult to learn how to read music, how to translate the images that show finger positioning and embouchure control all at once. I started taking lessons locally (Lorton, VA), but only seeing the instructor for 30 minutes once a week is not working. Thank you for the BetterSax lessons. It is helping me where the in-person lessons are coming up short. It would be great if your learning techniques were available in person. I would make the travel just for the experience. Until then, I will return to the lessons.