One-piece vs. Two-piece Bell

Saxophone bells will either be made from one or two sheets of brass. Student models and some intermediate saxophones generally have a two-piece bell which are easier to manufacture. Saxophones that have a one-piece bell is a sign of the instrument's quality. One-piece bells are usually hand hammered which strengthens the integrity and resonant qualities of the metal.

High F# Key

This key has been around for a while but wasn’t standardized until around the 1980s or so. Because of that, a lot of vintage horns won’t have this key. The high-F♯ key is useful for a lot of advanced repertoire, but some would argue it affects the sax’s overall tone.

While it’s fairly standard on most saxes today, there are some exceptions. It’s a nonessential key, so some student instruments leave it out altogether. Similarly, a handful of professional saxes can be specially ordered without the high-F♯ key.

Ribbed vs. Post-to-Body Construction

The key posts on a saxophone are fixed to the body in one of two ways. In a post-to-body saxophone, the key posts are individually soldered directly onto the body tube. With a ribbed body, they’re soldered onto a long plate of brass (a.k.a. “the rib”), which is then soldered to the body tube.

The added mass on a ribbed saxophone changes the way it vibrates, giving it an overall warmer tone. Conversely, post-to-body saxes vibrate more easily than ribbed saxes, which is why many student saxophones are built this way.

It’s a misconception that ribbed saxophones are “better” than post-to-body saxes. They simply vibrate differently. It’s possible for pro-level saxes to have post-to-body keys and student saxes to have ribbed bodies.

Decorative Bell Engraving

The bell is where the look of your saxophone really stands out. A lot of high-end saxophones have stunning, hand-engraved designs, giving the instrument an artist’s touch. Other saxes feature simpler designs or lack engraving altogether. Engravings are purely aesthetic and don’t impact the sound.