Abstract: A woodwind instrument with improved tonal characteristics that plays both in-tune and with a timbre consistent with the rest of the range of notes. The instrument may be an improved saxophone having a tone hole on at least one joined section of the saxophone. The joined section may be a joint between a saxophone body and a upper bow, a joint between a saxophone body and lower bow or both. A connecting ring may be used at the joined section and, if used, will receive the tone hole. A method of improving the tonal characteristics of a saxophone comprises the steps of identifying at least one joint between two sections on said saxophone and soldering a tone hole at the joint. A connecting ring may be soft soldered to the joint.