Beginner Saxes Cannonball... Or Yamaha?

[Luke LeValley]

Hello! I have been deciding on a new Alto Saxophone and I've brought it down to the Cannonball and Yamaha.
My current saxophone is a Selmer, I've played a Conn and one other type I can't remember. But personally I LOVE the Cannonball. But... I've decided to ask the experts. So. Yamaha YAS-62II or the Cannonball A5-BICEB?

 

[kevgermany]

Play both and see which works better for you.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I LOVE the Cannonball.

Enough said

 

[ProfJames]

Agree with Colin, go get your Cannonball

 

[jbtsax]

They are both excellent choices. Each has its own "personality" and feel. In my experience you can "push"the Cannonball and get a bigger sound, if that is what you are after.

 

[0483]

Have you already played them both?

 

[ProfJames]

You should also try the 82Z and the 875 Ex Custom. I had an 875 and loved it. Also played the Cannonball Gerald Albright. Not a lot in it though I would be swayed towards the Yam. You have to try them both.

Nice quandry to be in!

 

[dooce]

You should also try the 82Z and the 875 Ex Custom. I had an 875 and loved it. Also played the Cannonball Gerald Albright. Not a lot in it though I would be swayed towards the Yam. You have to try them both.

Nice quandry to be in!

Agreed. Also bear in mind that if bought new, the Cannonball will depreciate much faster than the Yam.

 

[jbtsax]

Agreed. Also bear in mind that if bought new, the Cannonball will depreciate much faster than the Yam.

I don't know about the British market, but that doesn't seem to be true in the U.S. where Cannonball holds its own with the other major brands in terms of resale value.

Alto Saxophone Sales 2012

 

[Guenne]

Hey,

you should try each horn of your model of choice you can get your hands on.
There is not one playing exactly like the other, and this is true even for Yamaha.

I owned a Selmer Reference some years ago, sold it.
This August I visited a store in Germany where I could play several References.
Didn't like them, except one which is the best Alto I have ever played.

Cheers,
Guenne

 

[Luke LeValley]

I have played both, and I am leaning toward the Cannonball. I love the sound and the two different necks are great! And the Iced-Black finishing is great, as well as the semi-precious stones! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Alc.]

Take your time. Try everything you can get your lips on. Could be a vintage moldy-oldy with history might make you listen. Or maybe only new will do. Que sera, etc.

 

[secondhandsaxes]

yamaha i find are much better for re-sale....and one day,you will want to sell it....
cheers,philip

 

[ProfJames]

I don't know about the British market, but that doesn't seem to be true in the U.S. where Cannonball holds its own with the other major brands in terms of resale value.

Alto Saxophone Sales 2012

Unfortunately it is a true statement JBT.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Unfortunately it is a true statement JBT.

I would not give any value to that study whatsoever, being ebay.

However if I did, then the difference between cannonball and yamaha is quite small. Cannonball seems about average and is better than Selmer.

The other thing is all the other prices are as advertised by discounting vendors, cannonball don't do that AFAIK so the prices of Cannonball's are presumably RRP, which is not always realistic.

 

[Pete Thomas]

It also means that the most discounted horns have the best resale percentage, does imply this is because those are the horns which the shops discount heavily because nobody wants them?

 

[ProfJames]

I would not give any value to that study whatsoever, being ebay.

However if I did, then the difference between cannonball and yamaha is quite small. Cannonball seems about average and is better than Selmer.

The other thing is all the other prices are as advertised by discounting vendors, cannonball don't do that AFAIK so the prices of Cannonball's are presumably RRP, which is not always realistic.

We were talking resale value. Cannonball lose more than Yamaha.

 

[Pete Thomas]

We were talking resale value. Cannonball lose more than Yamaha.

Yes, I realised that.

 

[Targa]

yamaha i find are much better for re-sale....and one day,you will want to sell it....
cheers,philip

Not necessarily.
Or it it's after one year maybe you shouldn't have bought it and if it's after ten years what does it matter.

 

[dooce]

I don't know about the British market, but that doesn't seem to be true in the U.S. where Cannonball holds its own with the other major brands in terms of resale value.

Alto Saxophone Sales 2012

Fair point. I hadn't checked the OP's location.