Classic Mouthpieces
Price range: $39.99 through $69.99
The BetterSax Classic mouthpieces for alto tenor and baritone saxophone are designed to help beginning players get a beautiful tone while developing their sound and embouchure.
Now, students and beginners have a mouthpiece option that makes playing the full range of their saxophone easy and effortless. The Classic mouthpieces are reed friendly, free blowing, and versatile – perfect for concert band, marching band or jazz band.
The BetterSax Classic mouthpieces are 100% made in the USA, and hand finished by experts at the JJ Babbitt factory in Elkhart, IN for precision at the tip, rails, facing and table.
Alto Tip Opening: 0.070″
Tenor Tip Opening: 0.088″
Baritone Tip Opening: 0.100″
Discover Your Best Sound from Day One
When you’re just starting out on saxophone, nothing is more motivating than hearing a beautiful sound come out of your instrument.
The BetterSax Classic Mouthpiece is designed to help you get that sound right away – clear, full, and easy to control – so you can love the way you sound from the very beginning.
Build Confidence
Too many beginners give up before they ever discover what they’re capable of. One big reason? Poor-quality stock mouthpieces that make it hard to get a good tone.
The Classic changes that. Its warm, balanced tone makes every note easier to produce. You’ll spend less time struggling with your setup and more time actually enjoying playing music.
Develop a Beautiful Tone
The Classic mouthpiece helps you develop your embouchure naturally. Because it responds easily and evenly across the full range of the saxophone, you’ll find your sound much faster.
Precision Made in the USA
Each BetterSax Classic mouthpiece is crafted in the USA using aerospace level injection molding and expert hand-finishing at the legendary JJ Babbitt factory in Elkhart, Indiana.
This level of accuracy and consistency means your mouthpiece plays effortlessly, reeds fit perfectly, and tuning is easy.
The Mouthpiece That Grows With You
Whether you’re playing in a concert band, jazz band, or marching band, the Classic gives you a clear tone that blends beautifully, but can also project when needed.
As your skills develop, you’ll find it versatile enough to carry you into your intermediate years, preparing you for a smooth upgrade to a more advanced classical or jazz mouthpiece later on.
Available for Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophone
The Soprano Classic mouthpiece is coming very soon.
Ligatures That Fit the Classic Mouthpiece
Alto
The BetterSax Burnin’ Ligature, ligatures that fit the BetterSax Burnin’, standard Meyer, Vandoren, JodyJazz, and other equivalent hard rubber mouthpieces will also fit the Classic Alto Mouthpiece.
Tenor
The Classic Tenor Mouthpiece is slightly larger than many standard tenor pieces, so we recommend the following ligatures that are confirmed to fit:
The BetterSax Burnin’ Ligature, Rovner 2R, L-2R, V-2R, Yanagisawa SIXS Tenor, Jody Jazz Power Ring HRT1, François Louis Ultimate XL Tenor|
Bari
| Weight | 0.04 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.7 × 3.8 × 4.5 cm |
52 reviews for Classic Mouthpieces
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The Geeklet
Price range: $42.46 through $49.95
Brian –
Jay Metcalf did something special with this.
I’m a High School concert and jazz band director, degree in saxophone performance and my personal classical setup: vandoren al4 and jazz:Vandorin s+…
The alto version of the better sax classic mp arrived today. My controls were rovner classic lig, Rico 2.5 & 3 unfurled reeds and Compared against the Yamaha 4c and 5c (similar, price point, and common recommendations for students).
First up a Rico 2.5 on the Yamaha 4C verse the better Sax classic. Both mouthpieces were equally as easy to play (a beginner can make a sound just as easy on both). Sound quality difference is noticeable (the classic can be pushed into bright sparkly territory) as a student progresses and blows more air, 2.5 was too soft and unstable in upper reg on both mouthpieces so I wanted to try a stronger reed and here’s where things get interesting…
Next up a Rico 3 reed on the 5c vs the better sax classic. 5C feels even and covered in comparison. Definitely too dull for jazz band solo but a good step up for a beginner to learn to use more air. The better sax classic in comparison is able to get the dark covered sound and be pushed into a REALLLLLLLLYY nice contemporary bright but balanced territory. The thought running through my head is “gosh darn this is usable (for a pro even) and does exactly what the copy described”. It’s a mouthpiece that can be given to a beginner in middle school for example, and grow with them literally for the rest of their career.
It makes me want to play out and it performs soloisticly (very fun). It gives me “that sound”. The sound that allows for a reasonable amount of cut, high end sparkle & expression while also being able to provide a more homogeneous tone. I will be purchasing a couple to give out to students and one will be staying in my case.
I feel like the 4C, Selmer soloist and v16 have been combined into a beginner package at a beginner price, and as that is a REALLY cool thing. Loving this era of saxophone, Thank you!!!!
David S. –
It’s a very good overall mouthpiece I get a great response.The tone sound and feel reminds me of Meyer mouthpieces but with more support but at a fraction of the price.This is such a great purchase for anyone looking upgrade or something new to try out I’m gonna be using mine for a while this is a great piece
Hunter –
Just getting started playing again after almost 10 years. My other mouthpiece is a no name knock off which is the only one I’ve ever had. The difference is incredible. It’s very comfortable, easy to play. Sounds good on both classical and jazz.
Dean –
I was surprised at how easy this piece is to blow. Not restrictive at all which lets you concentrate on other aspects of playing. Great price too. I can recommend it.
Sam –
Pairing the BetterSax Classic mouthpiece with the BetterSax jazz cut reeds has made a big difference in my practice sessions. The air flow is so much better, and I no longer feel like I’m fighting the horn in the high and low ranges. The bore fits the neck snugly, so no more air leakage. The reeds lay well on the table and the rails, making adjustments a snap.
Spencer D. –
… for the stock mouthpiece that came with our son’s Jean Paul AS400Y alto saxophone. The tone was the same and our son stated that there was no change in the play ability. It really helped that Sweetwater could get it to us so quickly.
MB –
The BetterSax Classic tenor saxophone mouthpiece has been a game-changer in the industry. There are not many options for a great, low-cost mouthpiece, and this is by far the best. It is meant for student saxophonists, but I have played this on several gigs, and other pro players really like the sound.
It sounds great in a concert band setting but also great for jazz. The articulation is clean. Dynamics are easy to control. I used BetterSax 2.5 reeds with it. I highly recommend it to any student or intermediate player looking for a nice, hand-finished mouthpiece that won’t break the bank or to pros who want to have a reliable backup mouthpiece at an affordable price.
Edwin M Calcutt (verified owner) –
i have only used this new mouthpiece 2 times now as i just got it a few days ago. When i play today it will be day 3! I like the MP better than my Yamaha MP as i seem to have much better control and it just seems easier to get the good sounds out of it! I like that the top has a better cushion for my top teeth! The one thing i did not like is it took 2 weeks from the time i order it to get it in my hands
Marcy Lyzun –
Hi Edwin, thank you so much for letting us know about your experience with the Classic Mouthpiece! We’re so glad that you are enjoying it. Regarding the shipment time, our fulfillment warehouse recently moved to another location, which involved moving all of our inventory from one place to another and it temporarily slowed down our order fulfillment times. We’re very sorry about this! They are now finished with the move and are in the process of catching up on all of our recent orders. Our fulfillment and ship times are typically a lot faster than this. Again, our apologies for this temporary issue but we’re very happy to hear that you are happy with your purchase.
-Marcy (BetterSax Operations Manager)
Michael F. –
It’s $. I doubt you’ll find another mouthpiece as good for under $ (a Meyer mouthpiece). As with any mouthpiece, of course, it’s going to take the right reed for you to get the best sound. I used Rigotti Gold reeds, which always give you a good percentage of playable reeds out of the box. But I tested this against several other mouthpieces, some costing over $, and the BetterSax Classic came out near the top every time. They are easy to blow, play evenly throughout all registers, including altissimo, plays under control, and has both body and projection. It’s not perfect, yes it’s plastic not hard rubber. But I’d take it over most other available saxophone mouthpieces. In my tests, only the Meyer 5mm came out on top, for body and ease of play and warmth.
(The other mouthpieces I compared to the BetterSax Classic, included Vandoren AP3, Selmer Concept, Selmer Soloist, Mike Vaccaro Custom Mouthpiece, Meyer 5mm, and an older version of the BetterSax mouthpiece (that came with the BetterSax demo I purchased.)
Benjamin McLeod (verified owner) –
I usually play tenor sax. Alto for some reason is more difficult. I ordered the Better Sax alto with small tip opening and soft #2 reeds, and it is easier play than previous good quality alto mouthpiece. I am happy with my purchase.
Michael F. –
I must say, I was quite surprised by the quality and playability of the BetterSax Classic Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece. Using one of my regular reeds (Rigotti Gold) that I play on a typical C* opening mouthpiece, right away this mouthpiece sounded good, and was even, thru all the registers. It was maybe a little bright compared to some of my other mouthpieces, but really only slightly. I play tested the BetterSax Classic mouthpiece against about 10 other mouthpieces, including two custom mouthpieces, a Selmer S80, Vandoren AP3, Selmer Concept, Meyer New York, Selmer S90, Selmer SD20, Selmer Soloist, Vandoren AL5, Vandoren V5-A25…you get it, a couple thousand dollars of high end and professional mouthpieces. First, the Meyer and Vandoren V5 are different types of mouthpieces, more jazz oriented (And the V5 I can’t stand!), whereas the others are more classical mouthpieces. The ease of play, ease of control, and openness of the sound, really push the Better Sax Classic near the top. At the end of a few days of play testing and recording, only a custom mouthpiece I’ve been playing for years comes out above the BetterSax Classic. For a student? Gee, a no brainer. This will make learning saxophone more enjoyable, because getting a good sound is going to be easier.
Abhinav Vijay –
I bought this Mouthpeice after giving up on playing the tenor sax, the stock mouthpiece that came with it was absolutely horrible. This Instantly Improved my tone and made me sound 100 times better. 10/10 Would Reccomend!
Peter I. –
This is a great mouthpiece for beginners or anyone looking for an easy playing mouthpiece. Blows easy and is easy to control notes though out the range of my alto. I’d compare this to a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece with maybe a little more power. I think it’s one of the best in this price range.
Mason Hill (verified owner) –
I’m an absolute beginner and I ordered this mouthpiece as a replacement for the old stock one that came with my sax. The difference has been night and day. I’m loving it. I feel the Classic MP makes hitting the full range of my sax much easier. I seem to be able to stay in tune easier also. The sound is better. A much richer tone over the stock MP. Looks well constructed and is easy to clean. I’m very happy with this purchase.
Ana –
It feels nice, the tone might be the gas.
Stephen Dempsey (verified owner) –
I was surprised how great this mouthpiece played. I typically play with a Meyer, but have replaced it with the Better Sax mouthpiece. Plays less effortlessly than the Meyer, and provides great intonation up and down all registers.
James Beckman –
I have played saxophone for 41 years and have taught high school band for 28. I just bought 2 alto and 2 tenor mouthpieces for school. I have played on them both multiple times and I can tell you that they are as advertised. The Better Sax mouthpiece is leaps and bounds better than other mouthpieces I have played on in this price range. The tone is even across all registers. Tuning was consistent in 3 different octaves. I had no trouble playing any altissimo notes. I will be telling all my students and colleagues about these mouthpieces and why they should use them. They are an incredible bang for the buck.
Jay Metcalf –
James, so great to hear your feedback on the Classic alto and tenor mouthpieces. This is exactly the outcome we would love for every band teacher. Thank you so much for trying them and recommending the Classic mouthpieces to your students and colleagues.
Wyatt –
I am a high schooler and I had a district jazz band audition and I got second chair because of that mouthpiece. The tone quality is immaculate and is definitely a worth it purchase
Thomas Fadden (verified owner) –
I am a saxophonist who has taught band for 30 years and played sax for over 40 years. I am primarily classically trained and have led concert bands from beginning to university and community bands of all ages. These mouthpieces should be the new standard. I tried it with a Juno 3 and Rovner Light ligature. It responded well in all registers. Intonation was very good. I usually tell kids that have an inherited saxophone to get a 4c but this is much better and about the same price. I will definitely be recommending this alto mouthpiece to all of my students. I had a community band member try it too and he enjoyed playing it as well. Now I have a 5th grade student that has been having some response issues. I think that this will solve the problem. Great job with the mouthpiece Jay!
Jay Metcalf –
Thomas, it is fantastic to hear this from another band director with so much experience. Thank you for giving the Classic mouthpiece a try and I’m very glad to hear you agree that this should be the new standard. That was our goal when we began this project and your feedback means a lot to us.
Tommy (verified owner) –
I ordered a mouthpiece for my Alto saxophone. I’m very satisfied with the purchase. The sound is brighter and much more responsive and C# now is cleaner and is more in tune with the concert key! I recommend this mouthpiece upgrade!
Will Cui –
That’s great to hear! We’m glad the new mouthpiece is making such a positive difference in your sound and intonation. Thanks for your feedback!
Will (Customer Service Coordinator)
Judith Lynch (verified owner) –
When I bought my alto classic mouthpiece, I found it harder to play with the reed strength that I was using on another mouthpiece. After reading a bit I realized that the problem was most likely the reed strength that I was using. I haven’t been playing very long, and haven’t developed a strong embouchoure yet. I bought a lower reed number, and then was very happy to discover that it was indeed the problem. I love the sound that I am getting now, I am hearing a lot of clear tone with a strong center but an edge too, it is really lovely. I can reach the lows and the highs that I can get to now much more easily.
Will Cui –
Hi Judith, it’s great to hear that you found the right reed strength for your mouthpiece! Adjusting to a new mouthpiece can definitely take some time, especially as you develop your embouchure. It sounds like you’re making fantastic progress. Keep up the great work!
Will (Customer Service Coordinator)
Ken Cangin (verified owner) –
Bought the Tenor. Excellent mouthpiece. Would recommend.
Thomas S. –
Been having trouble with my original mouthpiece. Got 1 that’s works ok. The thing I noticed immediately with the new mouthpiece was the tone. It was so much nicer (more mellow) than the previous 2 mouthpieces.
However there should b options to buy its/an equivalent ligature & a cover hence my 4 stars instead of 5
Reinhard –
As a beginner I found the mouthpiece giving a consistent clear tone
Brian W –
I really like this mouthpiece. The sound is exceptional. I have had Yamaha mouthpieces in the past and by far the Better Sax mouthpiece is definitely best one I have owned so far.
Kevin M. –
This is a great mouthpiece if you get the right reeds. I ordered a better sax alto and a Burnin 7 mouthpiece to go with it. I play mostly Tenor ( Otto Link Metal NY 9* ) but I loved what I was hearing with this combo on line. I tried the burnin and the classic that came with the horn. I kept the classic to use for classical. I tried several reed combinations on both. Royals,V-16, ZZ, Better Sax. 2.5 and 3. It was a toss up between v16 and better sax reeds. When played the classic and compared it to the many beginner mouthpieces I have collected over the years, it is head and shoulders above them all. I wish the burnin Alto came in a 8 or 9*, it was just to closed for me. I believe I will try the Jody Jazz dark featured on Jay’s rendition of the Nearness of You online. That is the alto sound I am after and it comes in larger size’s.
Pea J. –
Switched-out the stock mouthpiece on a new sax with this one and immediately, playing was easier. Less effort to keep consistent tone over the whole range. Definitely recommend it. Great, affordable, mouthpiece
Craig (verified owner) –
comparing to Yamaha 4c Not much difference But plays nice
I.G. –
Very good quality, sound control and overall build. It really opens up the registers especially the low notes. Far, far better than the standard Yamaha mouthpieces.
Meng T. –
This is a well made mouthpiece that is perfect as a replacement for the stock mouthpiece for our son’s Jean Paul AS400 Alto Saxophone. Before doing any major mouthpiece upgrades to the more expensive mouthpieces try this mouthpiece first. The is a little brighter then the Yamaha C4 that came with his sax originally. He says that he can get to higher notes and low notes easier and with the smooth floor and smaller air box he can sustain notes longer with less effort. He plays first chair in his wind ensemble and we can see that his confidence has really improved in his soloing.
Susan Wogtech (verified owner) –
I really like the beginner mouthpiece. That, along with the #2 Bettersax cut reeds made a huge difference in the ease of getting a clear, consistent sound from the saxophone.
Nina (verified owner) –
I am a ‘journeyman’ sax player, I play for personal enjoyment and on my church worship team. Purchased this as a possible solution to suddenly having poor sound and difficulty playing my tenor (even with daily practice!). Went through a couple different mouthpieces with no improvement so decided to “go back to basics” and ordered this ‘student/basic’ mouthpiece and am so far very pleased with the sound. 🙂 And appreciate the reasonable price of this mouthpiece – worth every cent.
Gary Horby –
Good quality ready to play mouthpiece.
JL –
Great comfort. Great sound. Makes me feel like a professional at times. Recommended for beginners and experienced sax players. I love it.
Antony D. –
What a great all around mouthpiece. After playing for many years and then taking a long hiatus, I needed a new mouthpiece that was free blowing to build back my embouchure. This was the perfect answer for what I needed and would be a great beginner mouthpiece for anyone learning to play.
Craig S –
Thank you Jay for your Great Content!! I am a Saxaphone newby, but having played the Euphonium ( brass – many years ago ), I can’t believe how quickly I have been able to pick up the Sax. Based upon my consumption of your YouTube contemnt, I purchased a BetterSax Classic Alto and given that I am OCD with everything that I do, taking care of my instrument and managing my reeds are key to my Saxophone journey. Your Kit is OUTSTANDING!! As you proclaimed on one of your videos, keeping my instrument in top playing condition takes less than two minutes after every play. These swabs are great, easy to use, and if you care about your investment, it is possibly one of the easiest things that you can do to make sure that your Sax will play great every time you pick it up….and it will insure that your BetterSax is an instrument is something that I can leave to one of my Grandchildren. Again, Thank you Jay for everything!! Best!!
Mike (verified owner) –
I’ve played saxophone on and off for over 50 years, starting in high school in the 70s until currently, where I play in a local community band. I was searching for a mouthpiece that would help me to play consistently, and I believe I have found it in the BetterSax Classic Mouthpiece. Previous mouthpiece was a .070 opening, which I was told was for an intermediate player, but I struggled with getting a clear sound. Oh, and fixing the octave key on my alto helped tremendously (LOL). I am playing an 80s vintage Conn student alto model 50M. I played the BetterSax mouthpiece at our weekly practice for the first time this week. What a difference it (and the fixed instrument) made. I felt as if I could play confidently and with consistency as I had hoped. The lower notes came out with less struggle, especially at a pianissimo volume, and I could keep the high notes in tune much easier. I can only imagine how this could help a new sax student to gain some confidence as he or she progresses with their instrument.
Jordan harris –
This company knows what its doing I purchased a Yamaha 4c for an alto saxophone and had a poor experience bought a new tenor and ordered a tenor sax from bettersax and it’s so good I’m buying their entire line for tenor because I am so excited to see what the rest sound like.
To briefly explain why they’re so good half of this instrument is the mouthpiece if you can’t make a sound fast and easy this instrument will be nothing but frustrating imagine talking but having a bad stuttering problem that results you stopping your sentence completely. That’s what playing with a bad mouthpiece feels like something that should feel effortless requires much more energy and thought leaving less to express yourself on the saxophone this eliminates that by a large margin for those who might need a measurement if the standard mouthpiece I had made it 20% possible to play this mouthpiece increased my ability to do so easier by at least 70-80% I’m going to upgrade to the multiple hundred dollar mouthpieces just to see what my dollar gets me at a higher price point.
This mouthpiece has completely convinced me that bettersax is the company I’ll use to learn this instrument helping with this issue is pivotal in a player’s development if you’re thinking about this or a Yamaha mouthpiece of any kind and you’re a new player please buy this and grab a set of variety reeds by vandoren and find your sound. Best of luck.
Ki L. –
This mouthpiece is amazing for any Bari sax players that need a cheap upgrade
JA –
Great sound production! Good mouthpiece for the money for beginners
Scott P. –
This mouthpiece is outstanding! Couldn’t ask for more out of a mouthpiece this price. Plays SUPER easily. Intonation is great. I used a HR tenor ligature and it fit great, which is awesome to not have to buy another ligature. Solid jazz mouthpiece and solid for classical as well. Highly recommend!
Bill B. –
I bought this alto mouthpiece to replace the generic one that came with my used Yamaha alto sax. It seems to have the same tip opening but the design seems better so the sound is better. It’s a great mouthpiece for the very inexpensive price!
Julie Rabou –
My son was so excited when he got this mouthpiece! He thought it was a really nice one!
William T –
It’s even more controable and free blowing comparing to some of my professional mouthpieces. Let’s be honest, with price this low, there’s really no complaining about this mouthpiece. BetterSax really did a great job developing this. Quality, hand-finished work, really awesome job done here. Students all need to get one! Throw away your Yamaha stock mouthpiece. This really should be the one to start on.
Will V. –
I can see I’m playing professional gigs with this mouthpiece. I got the Classic Alto and Classic Bari, the tenor is just as good as the others. Easy to play, nice quality and hand-finish. The price is just so friendly for all students. Good job BetterSax! The saxophone community appreciate everything you’ve done!
Wayne P. –
This is the an awesome mouthpiece for Bari! I can’t believe it’s priced this low. Every student needs to start on this! A decent student mouthpiece really can make a difference
Robert –
Performs well. It does not play as play as loud as I would like it to. Very responsive. I get my low B flat, low B, and low C# on demand. Exactly what I was looking for.
Scerby –
initial playability is great. Nicely done for the price.
Todd N. –
This is a great mouthpiece for bari sax. The quality and craftsmanship are fantastic. And the mouthpiece is really easy to play.
Steven S. –
Very good Mouthpiece, and a very good price.
THOMAS P. –
Nice step up from my Yamaha 4c that came with the rental alto saxophone. I would recommend
DANIELA –
Amazing mouthpiece, very easy to use and I love the sound quality, also a very affordable option