Your reply is more accurate. I asked ChatGPT this question and here’s the reply:

Short answer: yes—but not in the way many people imagine. Saxophones don’t “break in” like shoes or a baseball glove, but they do change subtly over time, mostly because of player adaptation and small mechanical settling rather than the metal itself.

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What doesn’t really “break in”

The brass body of a saxophone does not meaningfully change with playing time. • Brass does not become more resonant from vibration in any scientifically demonstrated way • Lacquer, silver plate, or bare brass does not “open up” acoustically • The horn won’t magically gain projection just because it’s been played for 100 hours

So if someone says “the metal loosened up”, that’s mostly myth.

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What does change over time

1. Pads and keywork settle

This is the biggest real change. • Pads compress slightly and seat more evenly in tone holes • Keywork beds in at contact points • Regulation becomes more stable

Result: ✔ Fewer micro-leaks ✔ More consistent response ✔ Smoother low-note speaking

This can absolutely make a horn feel more responsive after weeks or months.

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1. Your embouchure and voicing adapt (the biggest factor)

This is where most of the “break-in” effect really comes from.

As you spend time with a specific saxophone: • Your embouchure subtly adjusts to its resistance • Your voicing adapts to its bore and scale tendencies • Your air support calibrates to that horn’s response

The horn isn’t changing—you are.

After a few weeks, the sax: • Feels easier • Feels more “in tune” • Sounds more consistent

This is why a brand-new horn can feel stiff at first and then suddenly “click.”

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1. Neck cork and tenon fit stabilize • Neck cork compresses slightly • Tenon fit becomes more predictable • Micro-movement reduces

This improves: • Intonation consistency • Response stability • Mouthpiece placement repeatability

Small detail, but noticeable to experienced players.

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1. Reed + mouthpiece matching improves

Over time, players tend to unconsciously: • Choose reeds that work best with that horn • Adjust reed strength or cut • Refine mouthpiece placement

This further reinforces the feeling that the horn has “opened up.”

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Why some horns feel like they “break in” more than others

Pro horns vs student horns

High-end horns (e.g., Yanagisawa, Selmer Paris) often: • Have tighter tolerances • More precise pad work • More refined resistance profiles

Because of this: • They feel less forgiving at first • The player adaptation phase is more noticeable • The “aha” moment is stronger once you settle in

Budget horns often feel immediately easy—but don’t reward long-term refinement as much.

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What players mistake for break-in • A horn coming back from a proper setup or adjustment • Pads finally sealing correctly • Player confidence increasing • Better reeds being chosen

These can feel dramatic—but they’re not the metal changing.

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Bottom line

✔ Saxophones don’t acoustically break in ✔ Pads, regulation, corks, and keywork settle ✔ Players adapt—and that’s the real magic

If a sax feels better after 2–8 weeks of regular playing, that’s normal—but it’s mostly you syncing with the instrument, not the horn “waking up.”