I ordered a Kessler Custom Tenor

[leehwd]

Dave Kessler has been very attentive to my long list of questions, and he was always kind and informative. He gave me a lot of helpful information on the sax business, and I now know that there are so many differences in the price of those horns out there, not necessarily looking very much different from each other.

I finally made a decision to go with the Kessler Custom Tenor in Brushed finish with Polished Keys. He will send two mouthpieces, standard and the pro version, for me to try both. The Tone Booster was also included for my curiosity as well. This is going to be my first tenor - I am an intermediate sax player. I am playing the Yani S991 (sop) and the Yani A991 (alto) for the past 6 years.

I originally thought to buy the B&S clones (i.e., Medusa, Curtois, Chicago Jazz, and Allora), but the price of the Kessler is not something that these horns can beat.

The sax will get here some time next week. I am really thrilled how this sax will turn out. I will report my test results.

Howard

[bradshawm]

Howard,

I had the same experience with Dave. I asked questions and probably drove him crazy for over a year before I purchased my first horn from him. Dealing with him has been great, and I now own both an Antigua soprano and a Kessler Custom alto. I will be in the market for a new tenor in the next few months, and will seriously consider looking his direction for the purchase. Let us know what you think of the Tenor.

Marshall

[pknight]

I have commented on the great service from Kessler in the past. Last week I sent payment for a custom bari, but I haven't heard when it will ship. I will report on how things go once they have gone.

[jgill2000]

I just received my new Kessler Custom Tenor from Dave last night. I got the Antique finish (love it), and the Pro mouthpiece. I'm an intermediate player as well. It'll take me some time to learn how to control this mouthpiece, but I really like it. It's one that I can grow into. Big, fat tenor sound. I probably need to find a more sedate mouthpiece for 'classical' use - church stuff, etc. I'm open to suggestions here, if anyone has input.

The Kessler Custom is VERY well made - it's just a solid sax - and great intonation, great keywork, great mechanics. (Oh yeah, I bought the Tone Booster too.) It's everything that other folks on this web site say - and WELL worth the money. I wouldn't have been any happier with a sax twice the price.

I also really like the case - but one warning - they must have used some very potent adhesives when making the case, because it smells like a chemical factory right now. The contact cement smell (I would guess) is quite nauseating. I need to let the case air out for a few days. One funny thing - the case can be work like a big back-pack (probably a good idea for school kids having to haul their sax to school) - and the case has a couple of reflective strips that will glow in headlights. A nice safety feature when waiting for the school bus I guess. I'm 40, so I will not wear this on my back, nor ever again ride a school bus, but I thought that it was a nice touch.

BTW, this is my second sax from Dave. I bought the Antigua A590-BC soprano from dave two summers ago, and still absolutely love it. When it comes time for me to pick up a new Alto, I'll surely call Dave again.

I visited Dave a couple of weeks ago when I was in Vegas on a little vacation. Dave is great to visit with, and the folks in his store are all very friendly and knowledgeable. And while it's possible to take ride public busses from The Strip to Dave's store, the busses are painfully slow - do yourself a favor and just take a cab. It's about 7.2 miles from The Bellagio to Kessler Music, if anyone is curious. That's an hour+ bus ride each way. Yeah. Take a cab.

Thanks, Dave! You were right (once again). This sax is exactly what I was looking for.

Jonathan