Are Cannonballs sold under another name internationally?

[Anonymous]

I've been hearing about these horns ad nauseum... my question is...
are they sold under another name in Europe?

Nobody knows these horns here.
How can that be?

[SaxHack]

I believe they go by Cannonball only. I had a couple of lengthy and pleasant discussions with the company president at a convention in December. He personally play-tests and sets up each and every sax they sell (about 25 horns a day!). They are a USA company. With the attention they are generating here, my guess is that they are busy establishing distribution in the US and will get to the rest of the world eventually.

You can contact them through their website and I am sure they would give you more information.

[BayviewSax]

Bit behind in reading, but I like this thread. Here's my thoughts:

I'm not a pro, just an inspired hack who can't put down a nice horn when I pick it up. Thanks to a random stroke of good luck, I was able to purchase a Selmer SerieIII last fall. I've owned a student Vito (by Yamaha) alto, a Holton tenor (don't miss that puppy) and a King Zephyr (SML vintage). After a layoff, I picked up the King again and realized very quickly that it needed TLC. I bought it from Emilio about 20 years ago. I figured I could sink another $500 into this $350 horn, or reward myself with a new toy. Hence, the Selmer. I played a bunch of horns including a Yanisagawa, a Yamaha, a Monique, and a Cannonball professional model. I loved the resonation out of the Cannonball (nickel plated). But frankly, it felt very cheap to me. The gaudy engraving sort of bugged my eyes, but not my ears. Best way to explain it, I once had the good fortune to test drive a Porsche 911, but owned a VW. The VW was quick and fun, but nowhere NEAR the same universe as the Porsche. That is my take on the Cannonball vs. the Selmer. The Selmer just sucks you in and you cannot put it down. It is without question the greatest purchase of my life.

[Morry]

The Cannonballs aren't marketed under another name elsewhere in the world, but I don't think CB has a factory of their own. Instead, I believe that the horns are manufactured somewhere in Asia to CB's specs. Since their gross sales volume is fairly low by worldwide standards, I would guess that the manufacturing facility also makes horns for other companies, many of which may have similar specs. So, to answer you question, a reasonable facsimile of a CB may be available in your country under another name.

[SaxHack]

This is my understanding based on face-to-face conversations with the owner/president of the company in December: Cannonball DOES indeed OWN the factory in Taiwan. The factory makes instruments for Cannonball ONLY. The instruments receive final adjustment in Salt Lake City before being shipped to dealers.

I will again encourage all with questions about the manufacture and distribution of Cannonball instruments to first do research at www.cannonballmusic.com or contact the company directly through email. Tevis Laukat, the gentleman with whom I spoke, seemed eager to share information with all who are interested and I'll be surprised if you don't get a satisfying and informative response from the company.

[Dr G]

... a King Zephyr (SML vintage). After a layoff, I picked up the King again and realized very quickly that it needed TLC.

Two very different horns, the King Zephyr and the King-Marigaux (SML). In my experience and to my tastes, the King-Marigaux would be worth a fresh overhaul.

[BayviewSax]

I like the horn, but in terms of ergonomics, it's a dinosaur. I do plan to overhaul it. That's my summer project once my Steve Goodson video gets here. (Got me a new hobby!)

[Dr G]

So which do you have, a King or an SML?

[BayviewSax]

I have a king, made by SML. All Kings of my vintage were actually manufactured by SML and then given the King label. (source: Steve Goodson)

[Dr G]

Mmmmm, no, I respectfully don't agree and I don't know that I've ever heard or read Steve suggest that SML and King are one and the same. The King-Marigaux was a stencil made by SML (France) for King as their entre to the classical world in the period from the last '60's to the mid- '80's. The remainder of the King line, Zephyr II, Super 20, and SivlerSonic, were made in Ohio (United States of America).

You may read up on the two companies at www.saxpics.com.

[BayviewSax]

Mmmmm, okay, whatever you choose to think. Here is the text:

From 1960 until the mid 1980’s, King imported the Marigaux line of saxophones from SML in France. These horns were SML Gold Medal models (no rolled tone holes) and were marketed to the classical community. They were engraved with the King logo, and later examples were fitted with a high F sharp key. They are SML’s in all but name, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

And here is the URL:

http://www.saxgourmet.com/king__saxophones.htm


I respectfully request that you research the source I give before telling me I'm wrong.

[Dr G]

That's cool if it says "King-Marigaux" on the bell (see www.saxpics.com for examples). If it indeed says "King Zephyr", as I thought you said in an earlier post, then it is a King, made in America, rather than a SML. Again, www.saxpics.com has excellent examples of these as well.

So, just 'cause I'm curious, which do you have, a King-Marigaux or a King Zephyr?

[max]

mainesaxman, while it is true that King imported SMLs and called them King Marigauxs from 1960 to the mid-80s, that doesn't mean that they didn't make any horns of their own during that period. (for example, see the paragraph above the one you quote: "King was losing money on every Super 20 produced, and the line was discontinued in 1975")

I'm curious, too - do you have a King-Marigaux or a Zephyr?

(I'm an SML fanatic...)

[BayviewSax]

Oh, I'm SOOOOoo conFUSED!!!! :roll:

Stand by... lemme check....

Okay... I've rechecked the paragraph, and I know even less than I did a moment ago. The bell says King Zephyr, but the paragraph still leads me to believe that the Zephyr was and SML afer 1960 (hence my confusion). The preceding paragraph seems to be speaking of the Super 20. All I know is this, it's a real windbag, but has a nice BIG sound. The bell DOES say Zephyr. If that's the case, my apologies for my misunderstanding and reaction to Dr. G.

[Dr G]

I respectfully request that you research the source I give before telling me I'm wrong.

Been there, done that. Have you visited www.saxpics.com? It's a very informative site and well worth the effort.

:borg:

[BayviewSax]

Okay... confusion settled? :roll:
I hope.

It seems to be a Zephyr II based on the guards. I rested too much stock in the paragraph that was not clear to me. I maintain that the paragraph I cited does suggest that the horn is an SML, I certainly didn't intend to mislead anyone. Near as I can tell from the link you gave, I'd say its a Zephyr II.

[Dr G]

Looks like our last couple posts overlapped a bit. :wink:

Nothing wrong with a Zephyr - good ol' American horns. Now you've got an excuse to get another horn - a King-Marigaux. I had one earlier this year - that's the only reason I'm familiar with 'em. Very different from the classic American horns such as the King, Conn, Buescher (no particular order).

Enjoy!

:borg:

[BayviewSax]

Actually, got another horn, and then another. (life is good :D )

I have a Selmer SerieIII (that's my baby) but I just picked up a Martin to refurb and turn over (I hope). I'm going to "train" on the Martin so that I can refurb the King. Not only am I cheap, but I'm eager to learn this stuff, ya know? :)

[Randall]

This post has migrated to Kings...let's go back to C-balls:
I can tell you, categorically, that C-balls are sold under other names.
I got this info from someone in Taiwan who knows, and works at the plant supposedly making instruments for C-ball and C-ball only.
This is not to say that the other horns will play as well as Cannonball brand horns; there is the neck difference to consider ont eh C-ball horns....but it is pure myth that these horns are not sold under other labels. :idea:

[Jeff Foster]

This post has migrated to Kings...let's go back to C-balls:
I can tell you, categorically, that C-balls are sold under other names.
I got this info from someone in Taiwan who knows, and works at the plant supposedly making instruments for C-ball and C-ball only.
This is not to say that the other horns will play as well as Cannonball brand horns; there is the neck difference to consider ont eh C-ball horns....but it is pure myth that these horns are not sold under other labels. :idea:

Thank you, Randall. Boy, talk about thread hijacking.

[michaelbaird]

All of those asian horns look alike and feel the same to me. I think the bird horns are the same as the cannonballs. They can do what ever they want to the necks. They are thin sounding cheap horns and will not take the abuse that a Selmer will. I owned a CB soprano and an alto. I can proudly say that I no longer do! I traded the alto for a selmer USA, and the soprano for a trutone. The pads fall out of the Cannonballs along with the mother of pearl, the corks and they posts aren't soldered well either. The keys also bend very easily. I don't miss their intonation problems either!