Cannonball Review

[Dweekie]

I ran into this review from Jason Dumars about Cannonball saxophones. He seems to be quite impressed with the sound they produce. http://www.dumarsengraving.com/cannonball/cbreview.html

[garyinla]

Open question to Jason Dumars after reading that review (and previously reading on SOTW and other websites that he has owned Selmers, Buffets, etc, Keilwerths etc.)

How much did you PAY (in cash) for those Cannonball horns?

Call me a skeptic.

[Randall]

Sorry to put in my .02, but I read Jason's piece linked above, and I couldn't agree more with him.
I had virtually the same experience with my 98 Cball alto in copper plate (could be pink gold.....not really sure).

Like Jason, I have had my hands on virtually all the major sax brands an models and quite a few minor ones....and the C-ball alto gave me the sound I have always been wanting on alto, but never seemed to be able to achieve.

I picked mine up for 900.00 used on Ebay.
This used price is not far off the wholesale price, FYI.

I STILL play/prefer it over the following horns that I keep in my rotation:
Selmer Ref 54, Selmer Series III Millenium, JK SX90 straight, Selmer padless (mint).
I prefer it over the following horns I have turned loose of:
Selmer SBA, MK VI, BA, Low A MK VI, Guardala 401 BN, Buescher Aristocrat, Grafton, Martin, King Super 20, King Zephyr Special, Conn Chu, Conn 6M, Late Buescher 400.

Ther has been one notable exception- I played the Yanigaisawa solid sterling silver alto 2 years ago when it first came out (the completely sterling model with the fabulous engraving) and I A/B'd the C-ball and it.
I found them to have virtually the same sound FOR ME.

Of course the Yani is very desireable, but not for that much money.

I am interested to try the newer Big Bell alto (have tried the BB no laq tenors and loved them too, but not to the extent I love the 98 alto).
I am also interested to try the Medusa alto and A/B it against the CBall.

Fit and finish of Cannonballs has been steadily improving. They are really fine horns deserving of far more recognition than they currently recieve.
Jason's mentioning of the bore of the horns and about what kind of mp you use affecting your response is very very true.
I have also seen the Cball taken apart and the body tube (the straight portion only) is extrodinarily heavy. The bell and bow by comparison seem somewhat mismatched. However this is not to say the bell and bow are too thin.
I believe this also has something to do with the sound of the CB...although I am not an expert in these matters.

[newking70]

:shock: Randall do you have a certain fetish for sterling silver saxophones :?: