BetterSax Tenor Sax Jazz Cut Reeds – Box of 5

$26.99

It took years to get exactly what we wanted, but the wait was worth it! Now saxophone players can have great playing reeds perfect for all popular music styles that are made from premium, organically sourced, French cane. Our Jazz Cut reeds deliver long-lasting consistency in a planet friendly package. We have eliminated plastic sleeves and cellophane wrap from our packaging and hope that the entire industry follows suit.

*All reed purchases are non-refundable. 

Quantity:

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.

 

BetterSax Reed Comparison Chart

Weight 0.02 kg
Dimensions 9.9 × 2.03 × 3.56 cm

9 Comments

Lucas says:

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!

Jay Metcalf says:

Lucas, thanks so much for trying the reeds. We are thrilled you dig them!

Gary W. Boyd says:

Resilient reeds. Project very eell with an edge. Great quality control makes a difference.

Ralph Noecker says:

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.

Joel Sheetz says:

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).

Todd says:

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.

Bernie Krause says:

Very satisfied with my recent tenor jazz reed purchase. All 5 reeds have performed beautifully.

Trevor Hewitt says:

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!

Mark Drezdzon says:

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 . . .

Praise for BetterSax Reeds

The Better Sax tenor reeds have the exact balance of resistance I need in all registers. I can play the palm key register ppp with no wavering of pitch or intonation. And crescendo to fff smoothly and decrescendo to ppp, no problem. Out of the box of 5, 4 were identical and 1 was slightly softer. I will be very happy when these hit the market.
Bob Rockwell
Jazz Recording Artist
I have been playing saxophone for 57 years and like most people I have had to always battle reeds. I tried using Better Sax reeds on my tenor sax a few months ago and I got really excited.  Every one of them plays great and I really like the tone they give me. I just put them on my mouthpiece and blow!!  I love them. They JUST work every time. They have saved me so much time. I also really like simple, "green" packaging. I only wish I had been playing them for the last 50 years. Nice job, Jay!!!
Chuck Surack
Founder & Chairman of Sweetwater Sound
I Love these reeds!
Terrace Martin
Saxophonist, Producer, & Composer
Jay, I enjoy trying musical products that are new to me and I am finding these Better Sax alto saxophone reeds are really fantastic!
Christopher Burnett
Alto saxophonist, Educator, Leader, and Composer
I've just discovered your BetterSax Reeds and to put it tamely, your reeds have blown my mind out of the water. I am completely in shock, they are the best reeds I've ever played, something I never say but I have to tell you that I'm blown away.
Tony Kofi
Jazz Saxophonist, Educator & Composer

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Overview

BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds

What BetterSax Jazz Cut Reed Players Are Saying

Got them... and they're awesome. Great job. Best reeds I've played, and I played all of them.
Glenn F.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
I received the alto and tenor sax reeds. What a revelation they have proved to be! After all these years to have finally found reeds with enough depth to maintain tone quality throughout the entire range of the instrument! Notes above the staff are better in tune and sound larger, versus how they used to sound, which was rather thin. I also think these will be more durable.
Margaret S.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
These are by far my favorite reeds ever.
Rick Metzger
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
Jay, I'm a professional baritone sax player. I bought your alto reeds and love them. Any chance you releasing bari Better Sax reeds? I think they would go real nice with my new Burnin bari mp! Love the Burnin mp by the way!
David Hirano
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
I absolutely love both the alto and tenor reeds. I highly recommend them!!!
Lloyd Lydell
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
Just received my ReedGeek and BetterSax alto reeds... LOVE LOVE LOVE the sound those reeds produce! I've tried many brands in search of that noir-retro sound and finally am very happy with this product! Thank you Jay!
Harold Maxwell
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
Just tested them, really nice!!!
Dexter Tolson
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
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.
Ralph N.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
I just opened a box of BetterSax reeds, selected one at random, and was shocked at how much I enjoyed this reed! The tone was great throughout the range, from subtone to altissimo- nice and clear with good projection, but still fat. After playing it for an hour, I went back and play-tested the few broken in reeds I had been using and there was no comparison.
Willie S.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
I received my new Alto reeds from Sweetwater a few days ago and so far I really like them. I got the 2.5 strength which seem to play similar to the Vandoren red jazz 2.0 but I can get a better tone on the high notes with the Better Sax reed. I play a Better Sax Burnin mouthpiece 6 tip opening.
Alisdair M.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
I'm in love with your BetterSax Jazz Cut reeds for alto saxophone! They offer a great response and outstanding consistency!
Bernhard H.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
Ordered both the alto and tenor. I have been happy with the reeds i have been using but am tired of the single-use plastic. I am happy to say these reeds have played great across the entire range on both instruments and come with minimal packing. Thanks for making a great product and eliminating waste.
Peter S.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
Just wanted to let you know that I love your reeds! Typically, breaking in a reed is a killer but your reads break in quickly and work so well! I also love that there is no plastic involved! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Catherine H.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
These reeds are totally unique. I've tried different reeds over the years but never had a reed play this uniquely. It is just like trying a different mouthpiece. They have a quality of sound that is different from the sound I get with other reeds, that I'm just getting used to. They play with even intonation all over the horn. And they last for a very long time. I have no idea how the folks who developed them developed them! I have two friends who have also bought their first box and they feel just as I do. They are blown away. I first bought a box of 2's and wasn't sure about them, they were too easy to play, too free blowing but then I bought a box of 2.5's and they gave enough resistance to be great. Every horn play must try these.
Bruce F.
Jazz Cut Reeds Customer
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