Are BetterSax Burnin’ Ligatures Really – Burnin’?

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Introduction

Since checking out the line of BetterSax products at the 2025 NAMM show, I was able to re-visit the BetterSax Burnin’ Ligatures at the 2026 NAMM show as they are now in production for alto and tenor saxophone. I have always been interested in finding a quality two screw ligature that fits my alto and tenor mouthpieces firmly, is easy to adjust, and when adjusting my mouthpiece on the cork, does not move the ligature. For those of you interested in learning how this ligature came into production, here is a video made by Jay Metcalf (founder of BetterSax) discussing the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature. I will be sharing my thoughts regarding the build quality, adjustment/fit and overall sound.

Product Overview

Build Quality

Unlike many two-screw ligatures that use thin brass and screws without a great finishing process, this is not the case with the BetterSax Burnin’ Ligature. Jay collaborated with Peter Jessen who is known for his repair work, the builder of the G Mezzo soprano saxophone and actually has his own line of ligatures called the Jessen saxophone ligatures. I believe Peter’s goal with his line of ligatures was to create a two screw ligature that would address those players who wanted a hand made ligature similar to the vintage two screw ligatures of the past but with Peter’s design expertise and finishing work.

With that being said, unlike many current two screw ligatures that use 0.4mm-0.05mm brass thickness, the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature is thicker, measuring 0.7mm and is the same brass you would find on the body of a BetterSax Session saxophone. A little bit unrelated, but I believe the thicker brass is why many players prefer the vintage Otto link metal ligatures over the current production as the thickness offers a bit better vibration and plate placement which I believe is what Jay was trying to accomplish with his design.

Due to the thickness, design and construction, I found the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature maintained its shape over other two screw ligatures that would bend very easily. Now I am not saying with enough pressure you couldn’t bend the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature, but the thickness and construction addressed a common problem I have found with modern two screw traditional ligatures. The BetterSax Burnin’ ligature is finished in 24k gold-plated which aesthetically looks great while protecting the brass from tarnishing over time.

Adjustment/Fit

The BetterSax Burnin’ ligature fit my Slant Link and Sumner Acousticut hard rubber mouthpieces as well as Meyer and Phil Tone Meyer alto mouthpieces nice and snug. It was easy to take on and off and adjust my reed position before and after putting the mouthpiece on the neck cork.

Now, I have found with other two-screw ligatures that when adjusting the reed position up or down or the mouthpiece on the neck cork, the ligature can sometimes move. This means that throughout practicing or on a gig, I would have to tighten my ligature every so often which was annoying and shouldn’t be the case.

Besides my Slant Link and Sumner Acousticut hard rubber mouthpieces for tenor, I tried the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature on the D’Addario Select Jazz as well as Gottsu Jazz Soloist Sepia Tone which was designed after a vintage Selmer soloist. The BetterSax Burnin’ ligature fit quite well, but I could tell with certain mouthpieces on the market that have a slimmer body, it did not have the same snug fit. Now, this didn’t mean I couldn’t tighten the ligature enough to hold the reed and play but I did notice that if I was going to adjust the reed on the D’Addario Select Jazz or Gottsu Jazz Soloist, I had to be a bit more careful to avoid moving the ligature slightly which could move the reed out of position. I found this to be the same case with the BetterSax Burnin’ alto ligature on slimmer body hard rubber mouthpieces so my recommendation here is if you are playing a traditional hard rubber mouthpieces such as Links, Meyers, Claude Lakey, Brilharts, etc the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature will fit great. But if you are playing any hard rubber mouthpieces that have a slimmer body, I would trial if possible, as this ligature may not be the best fit for your setup.

Sound

I know when Jay designed this ligature he was looking for a ligature that would add more brilliance and evenness across the range of the saxophone. When it comes to the ability of the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature to make you sound slightly brighter or darker – well that’s quite subjective.

After playing the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature for the past few weeks and swapping between my other ligatures (which I have way too many of), I felt the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature allowed the reed to vibrate evenly across the low, middle, and into the palm keys so my sound felt even and clear with more clarity than edge in comparison to my vintage Bonade ligature and Rico H ligature. I found it was easy to project with the Burnin’ ligature versus  other ligatures that may dampen the sound. I also found my sound generally sounded the same with maybe the upper stack sounding slightly brighter.

Final Thoughts

I would like to thank Jay and Todd for sending me the BetterSax Burnin’ ligatures for tenor and alto saxophone. When it comes to picking the right ligature for your mouthpiece, this can be challenging as there are so many ligatures on the market with various designs, materials, and at various price points.

I know the BetterSax Burnin ligature retails for $69.99 for tenor and $64.99 for alto when I last checked Amazon, Sweetwater, and BetterSax. The BetterSax Burnin’ ligature comes in a black pouch with a rubber cap that is almost identical to the Silverstein rubber cap that came with my Cryo ligature.

I personally would have preferred a metal cap similar to the one Jessen makes for his ligatures versus rubber but I know this would drive up the overall price. With Jay’s goal to design and produce a high quality two-screw ligature at a price point that many players could afford, I believe he accomplished this.

If you like the design and simplicity of a two-screw ligature and are in the market for a new ligature but are on a budget of around $70 dollars, the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature is a great option. Other ligatures at this price point would be the Vandorn M/O, Bonade, Rovner, Selmer Paris, and Rigotti Flexitone to name a few.

In comparison to my Marc Jean, Ishimori, vintage Bonade, and Rico H ligature, I preferred the BetterSax Burnin ligature to my Bonade and Rico H for overall response, fit, and adjustment. With that being said, I overall still prefer my sterling silver Ishimori ligature as it works best with my setup, but keep in mind this ligature is a different design and currently is 5 times the cost of the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature.

In summary, if you want a reasonably priced, high-quality modern two-screw ligature, or are searching for vintage two screw ligatures that may cost more and be in fair condition, I highly recommend you try the BetterSax Burnin’ ligature for tenor and alto saxophone. It can also serve as a solid back-up ligature for those who play on the pricier options.

Additional Resources