This is a project that we’ve been working on for years. There are lots of great cane reeds out there so it’s not easy to improve on those and offer something really new and different. So it took a long time, but we finally got there and the final result has totally surpassed our expectations.
First and foremost, these BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds play amazingly, just like with mouthpieces we prefer a design that feels at home in a variety of styles.
We call these jazz cut reeds but that’s a very broad term meaning: reeds that are great for all popular styles of music where you want a nice balance between low medium and high frequencies coming out across the full range of the instrument.
This is a proprietary cut meaning that you can’t get this same reed profile in any other box of reeds, it is truly a unique and new design, not just new packaging.
Speaking of packaging, the main reason we wanted to develop the ideal saxophone reed was so that we could play great reeds everyday, and never again have to waste those stupid single use plastic reed holders.
It is actually crazy that people are still packaging reeds in those things. We are literally throwing 10s of millions of those into the garbage every year.
BetterSax reeds come in cardboard sleeves, the boxes are cardboard and we don’t wrap them in cellophane, because it’s entirely unnecessary and wasteful.
It’s time that the saxophone community insists that we end the single use plastic reed sleeve now. If your favorite reed brand is still using plastic in their packaging and that bothers you, you can send them a message, and buy reeds that don’t until they change.
Our reeds come from French cane growing in the south of France and we developed them with Marca, a family owned business that has been making premium reeds for multiple generations.
Extra added bonus, BetterSax Jazz Cut reeds are made with organically sourced cane. It’s another win for the planet and hopefully that’s the direction all other reed manufacturers will go in.
Each reed in this pack of 5 buzzed like crazy. Reeds are true to their listed strength and are very consistent. They provide warmth and projection at all registers of the horn. Do yourself a favor and try them out!
Lucas, thanks so much for trying the reeds. We are thrilled you dig them!
Resilient reeds. Project very eell with an edge. Great quality control makes a difference.
Thank you for shipping the reeds to Germany. I am very satisfied with this reed for alto and tenor. Great projection and warm sound. I’m very happy with it and it gives me the jazz sound I was hoping for. I hope that these reeds also exist in Germany.
I’ve been playing tenor since 1963 and have gone through all different brands of reeds. You used to have to go the the music store and select one or two individual reeds out of a box to find a good one. The first reed out of the box of Better Jazz tenor reeds was about as close to perfect as you can get. Matches well with my Berg Larson vintage metal mouthpiece. Great tone, strength and ease of play throughout all registers. (as long as my lungs and lips hold out).
I got myself a birthday present earlier this year, a Theo Wanne Brahma 8* for my tenor. I thought it was okay but hard to control. Could start squealing any time. Different reeds, both Rico and Java, same story. They just wouldn’t seal, even for a second. Tried a Rovner ligature, same story. Was getting ready to send it back to them to see if there was something wrong with it when my Better Sax reeds arrived. Figured I’d try them out on it before I boxed it up. First reed out of the box sealed immediately and my problems with the Brahma went away. The 2.5’s were a little stiff for me but a little shaving freed it up. These are quality reeds for a great price and I already ordered a box of alto reeds as well.
Very satisfied with my recent tenor jazz reed purchase. All 5 reeds have performed beautifully.
I have found new reeds!!
I’ve played Rico/D’Addario Jazz Selects on my tenor for about 25 years, mainly because of their consistency, they gave me the sound profile I like, and ease of play. With the BetterSax reeds I was happily surprised that not only did the first reed out of the box play like my “old reliables” but every reed did! Strength matched what I was already playing on which made the transition really smooth. I used them at a rehearsal for my gigging band the second day I was using them. These are some great reeds. My next box of reeds will definitely be BetterSax!
I have now played through 7 tenor reeds out of the 2 boxes I purchased and they are AWESOME! 6 of the 7 were out-of-the-box 8-9 out of 10 and, with a little trimming and care, played through several performances (tough on reeds) and many hours of practice. The 7th reed was a great practice reed (probably a 6 out of 10), but these outperformed other reeds by a lot! PLEASE start offering soprano reeds! Now, time to order more tenor reeds . . .