$2,649.00
In stock
Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor SaxHandmade Series Tenor
The Kessler Custom Handmade Series tenor sax is just as the name implies, a completely handmade tenor sax. Built by a only 4 skilled artisan technicians, countless more hours are spent on each saxophone ensuring the best build quality with the lowest amount of stress in the construction. The techniques employed on the Handmade models’ construction produce an instrument that has better vibration, response and tonal performance. When combined with our direct sale approach, this gives the customer a saxophone that offers performance without compromise!
Handmade Series Improvements
Our Handmade models are also equipped with 4 other distinct improvements not found on the other models in our Kessler Custom line.
– Upgraded Body Alloy
– Pisoni Pro Pads
– Highest Quality Blue Needle Springs
– Handmade Professional Mouthpiece
We wanted our Handmade to be completely set apart from anything else on the market. So we went all out on it. The Pisoni Pro pads are the best leather pad available on the market today and are the same pads you will find on the Selmer Paris horns new. We further improve the feel of our Handmade models by using the highest quality blued needle spring for excellent key action. Lastly, we include on of our Kessler Custom handmade professional saxophone mouthpieces with each horn in the Handmade Series.
Kessler Custom Handmade Series saxophones utilize the Pisoni Pro pads. These pads are the best leather pad available on the market today and are the same pads you will find on the Selmer Paris horns new. These pads are a firmer pad than typically found on most saxophones. In order to use these pads, a saxophone has to be manufactured to a much higher level of build with more precise toneholes. Once installed, these pads offer 2 major benefits:
Stability
When combined with the better tonehole manufacturing necessary to use the Pisoni Pro pad, these pads are more stable and less likely to develop little leaks. They also provide a much firmer feel to the mechanism of the sax.
Tone Projection
Pads are made from leather and felt which serve as an acoustic dampener which is why saxophone pads use resonator discs. However, even with a resonator, your air column still comes in to contact with the leather and felt of the pad. With the firmer Pisoni Pro pad, you will have less acoustical dampening from the pad which yields better projection, response and power.
Red-Brass Alloy
Typically, saxophones are made out of the alloy called “cartridge brass” (also known as “yellow brass”). While the exact formulation of brass can vary from vendors and suppliers, the typical formula is a brass that consists of 70% copper and 30% zinc. Our Handmade Series are made from “Red Brass” which consists of 85% copper and 15% zinc.
The extra 15% copper adds a little more mass to the alloy helping to produce a darker core tone. When combined with our professional bore and enhanced resonance from the Handmade construction, this alloy produces a wonderfully complex tone while maintaining excellent response and projection.
Vintage Dark Lacquer
Our Dark Vintage Style Lacquer is quickly becoming a fan favorite! Designed to emulate the look and feel of 50+ year old lacquer, the dark lacquer is truly unique. It is paired with Black Pearl finger touches to give a beautiful look that is only matched by the saxophone’s sound!
Does the finish impact the sound? Depends on who you ask… Dave Kessler chimed in on this topic on his personal blog… go give it a read and see his thoughts on the topic.
The Kessler Custom Handmade Series Tenor Sax is available in the following finishes:
Financing starting @
$56.85 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$60.26 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$67.08 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$68.24 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Every horn we send out to a customer is not released from us unless it has been completely setup in our shop first. This is because the setup on the horn is of the utmost importance! Sometimes, a saxophone (regardless of who the manufacturer or the price point is) comes in needing 20 minutes of adjustments and then the very next one can require 2 hours! So if you were to get 5 of the same model right out of the box, they will all play different which leads people to believe that they are “good” or “bad” saxes… but the reality is that the one that was the best out of the 5 was likely the one that needed the least amount of work and on the flip side, the “bad” sax was the one that needed 2 hours worth of adjustments!
Once the same 5 saxophones are properly regulated and adjusted to perfection, they become near identical saxophones that even the pickiest of players would be challenged to pick a true “favorite” horn. However, since most stores do not or even can not perform this setup, the player never knows this and is simply relying on the luck of the draw. This is why we perform our setup (in our www.SaxophoneRepairs.com ProShop) on them before delivering your new sax to you. You trust us with your purchase and we want to make sure that you are rewarded by giving you your ideal saxophone setup flawlessly!
| Bore | Professional French Style Bore |
| Body Material | Red Brass (85% copper) |
| Body Construction | Completely Handmade – Fully Ribbed Body Construction |
| Pads | High Quality Leather with Metal Domed Resonators |
| Range | Low Bb to High F# |
| Finish | Vintage Dark Lacquer |
| Finger Touches | Black Cultured Pearls |
| Mouthpiece | Kessler Custom ‘Modern Classical’ Hard Rubber (upgrades available) |
| Ligature | Rico H-Ligature in Gold Plate |
| Case | Standard Series Case |
Stock Case
In order to keep costs down and absorb some of the impacts of tariffs, starting in 2026, the stock case on the Handmade Series will be the same case as the Standard/Deluxe Series. This stock case offers solid protection and convenient portability.
Case Upgrades
If you want a better case, we offer a carefully selected array of case options. The BAM France cases are the top recommendation that we give and you can upgrade for a discounted rate. Models available are shown below:
BAM Conservatoire Case
The new affordable standard from the most trusted case manufacturer, BAM. The Conseravtoire case provides excellent protection, portability and style at an affordable price.
BAM SoftPack Case
Read more about this case on its product page by clicking here.
BAM Trekking Case
Read more about this case on i’s product page by clicking here.
BAM Cabine Case
Read more about this case on i’s product page by clicking here.
We have a myriad of different financing options available for your new instrument! From affordable monthly payments over a longer period of time to other options that can include 0% Interest or Deferred Interest options, we can help find a way to make the instrument of your dreams become the instrument of your reality! Give us a call!
UMWSB offers flexible, long term financing with term lengths of up to 60 months at an affordable 12.99% APR. Better yet, their financing has No Pre-Payment Penalty so you can pay off your balance at anytime and only pay for the interest for the length of time you had the loan! Minimum of $850 required for UMWSB Financing
Click Here to Find Out More
Synchrony Financial is one of the national leaders in consumer financing. With deferred interest options (Interest if waived if paid off in promotional term) and sometimes, they offer manufacturer partnered promotions to offer you an even better term length. Minimum of $299 required for Synchrony Financing
Click Here to Find Out More
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. To find links to manufacturer specific pages about Prop 65, please visit our Prop65 Page by Clicking Here.
Financing starting @
$35.26 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$31.82 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$31.37 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$42.06 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$45.50 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$22.27 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$56.85 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Financing starting @
$53.43 / month
UMWSB, 60 Mo @ 12.99% APR
Rovner VERSA Soprano Sax Ligature 
Inspirada
Sloan Canyon
St Rose
Robert (verified owner) –
I’ve have played Tenor sax since 1956 and retired fro professional playing about 8 years ago. Sold the old 1937 Conn 10M to a working palyer. Recently I decided to play with some frineds for fun and never thought I would even come close to the OLD LADY. Low and behold after a lot of research and some well spent time on the phone with Kesslers, I decided to buy a horn. I bought a Kessler Custom Handmade Tenor in the Dark Lacquer. The horn has the exact sound I was looking for! It is well built with great tone. I love the horn and by no means am I new to playing Tenor. I’m sure the sax will out last me.
Robert Morgey
Scott Farlinger (verified owner) –
A few months back I purchased a tenor sax from you – handmade custom with the dark lacquer. It arrived within a week without so much as a scratch.
Wow, what a horn! It is aesthetically beautiful, but it plays even better. I set it up with a Jody Jazz HR and it has been really sweet. I haven’t played a huge number of tenors (mostly Selmers – a Mark VI here and there, back when they were still affordable, a Mark VII and a Super Series 80). Mostly I played a couple of tenor Yamahas. They were OK but none really spoke right to me.
But your horn is very sweet and enjoyable to play. Couldn’t ask for more. Really digging it. It’s getting more play than my Selmer SBA alto. Sweet sound and great key work. Great set up.
Thanks for your dedication to building quality instruments and offering them at a more than reasonable price.
Scott Farlinger