Cannonball

[dooce]

Not previously knowing a lot about this brand, other than they are finished in a spectacularly garish range of colours and textures, I came home with one on Friday night. I did get the wife a big bunch of red flowery things in recognition of Valentines day being the next day, so i think I got away with it :laugh:

I just happened to have a couple of free hours in Cambridge so went along to Wood Wind and Reed, and they very obligingly let me honk away on a Yam 62, Yani 901 and a Mauriat. I told them to put the Mauriat out of reach - fabulous instrument but well outside what I was thinking of paying. An "ice-nickel" Big Bell Stone Series Cannonball was also put within reach - the finish is a frosted gunmetal grey, with a sort of frosted silver crook (I can hear traditionalists spinning in their graves at about 60 rpm).

I tried not to like it - after all I was playing it against 2 "industry standard" horns - but I couldn't help myself. It had character, it worked for me, the guy in the shop fitted me up with the perfect mouthpiece and reed combination, I got what sounded to me like a gorgeous tone out of it, and that was it - job done. I've managed to start loving its looks now I've got it home. It certainly gets a gasp from onlookers every time I open the case.

No disrespect to the Yam and Yani - maybe if I were a better player, there would have been no contest with the Cannonball. I guess coming from an old Conn 10M made it feel more natural to me as well.

I'll post pictures when I get some time - it certainly is different.

 

[griff136]

How do you find them weight wise?

I've had a few through the workshop and I found them a tad on the heavy side.

played well though.

 

[peedee]

It must be the semi-precious stone on the neck that does it! :laugh:

 

[DaveW]

A review by Stephen Howard in 2002

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Tenor/Cannonball_Tenor.htm

 

[Jules]

you're an R&B kind of guys, aren't you? Cannonballs seem spot on for anyone wanting a big, powerful horn, with a modern sound for rock gigs (as opposed to a big, powerful horn with an old fashioned sound for rock gigs- namely my Mauriat). loads of welly and umph....

 

[dooce]

Griff - yes, it is conspicuously heavier than either my old Conn or the other horns I was playing. Must be all those layers of laquer/metalflake paint or whatever. The case doesn't help - it is like carrying a medium sized safe around.

PeeDee - the semi-precious stone looks suspiciously like the off-cut from a B&Q marble worktop........ Not very precious, anyway.

Dave - as the review states, it was of a pretty old model. I'm no expert but this one does seem very nicely put together and has a lovely light and smooth action.

Jools - I understand the reputation of the Mauriat now - I could have just walked away with the instrument after a couple of minutes blow - but the dosh was out of my range. Yes the Cannonball has a great rock & roll tone, but also a lot more responsiveness, subtlety and depth than I have been used to from the Conn.

 

[thomsax]

You must be kidding! Swap your Conn 10M for a Cannonball. According to the clip (soundclip dept) from the pub lat year, I think you sounds great on your Conn.

Thomas

 

[ByteOfTheCherry]

dooce wrote:

Jools - I understand the reputation of the Mauriat now - I could have just walked away with the instrument after a couple of minutes blow

Please can you stop publishing comments such as these..
😡 ..it has made the 'slim new' version of my wallet feel very nervous 'n' worried.. :cry:

 

[Jules]

ByteOfTheCherry wrote:

dooce wrote:

Jools - I understand the reputation of the Mauriat now - I could have just walked away with the instrument after a couple of minutes blow

Please can you stop publishing comments such as these..
😡 ..it has made the 'slim new' version of my wallet feel very nervous 'n' worried.. :cry:

your YTS 82Z-UL will get jealous!

 

[Pjonah]

It'll be interesting to hear this bad boy on full chat this Thursday Bill.

Simon

 

[Taz]

Make sure your windows and doors are locked and that black and white spotty thing isn't fed or I'll be 'avin' it Very nice looking beastie, I'd be interested in hearing it too!

 

[Linky Lee]

I played a few of these a couple years back and they struck me as being good horns, just inconsistent.
I think along with Mauriat they've improved their quality control in recent years and are starting to build a respectable reputation. Mauriat certainly have.

I still don't like these cannonballs though, it's all the PR rubbish they hit you with and I'm not a fan of their finishes either.

Sounds like you got a horn that suits you well though. When are the soundclips coming?

 

[thehunt]

Great looking sax, very powerful sound, i tried one back in Nov but once i picked up my Mauriat PMXT 66R i was smitten, but hey ! It depends what sound you are after. It really was a toss up between the Cannonball and the Mauriat, i'd just got a bonus so bit the bullet and forked out the dosh. If i hadn't i would most certainly have gone for the former. Good luck Phil

 

[Jules]

While they're both good horns with plenty of guts I've found that there's a big difference in sound between Mauriat 66Rs and Canonballs- to my ears Cannonballs sound really contemporary- Sanborn, Kirk Whalum etc while Mauriats are very dark and old fashioned sounding (I personally love the combo of raw power but with a dark, booming tone)....

 

[Moz]

I have had a go on a friends Cannonball bari and tenor and they are both gorgeous to play and I'm sorry, but I like the looks. My own sax is a Yani 901 tenor (and I have a 901 soprano) so I have spent the money but they are not as easy-playing compared to the Cannonball.

I like them.

Moz

 

[dooce]

nachoman wrote:
While they're both good horns with plenty of guts I've found that there's a big difference in sound between Mauriat 66Rs and Canonballs- to my ears Cannonballs sound really contemporary- Sanborn, Kirk Whalum etc while Mauriats are very dark and old fashioned sounding (I personally love the combo of raw power but with a dark, booming tone)....

Very accurately summed up I think Jools.

The dog and I have been playing with my extensive library of mouthpieces this evening and it does seem that the Cannonball (or "CB" as they get referred to on SOTW) is very mouthpiece-tolerant.

I bought it with a metal Link 6, which gives a nice "middle of the road" tone and gets a gentle, almost appreciative whining from the dog.

My old Lawton 7* is a bit tougher to blow but gets a good penetrating R&B sound, and the dog really got into this one, opening up his embouchure nicely.

However a Runyon Quantum 9 started causing minor structural damage and had the dog screaming for me to stop, while relative peace was restored with an old white ROC Brilhart which produced a darker tone and calmed Dylan quite effectively.

Couldn't get a Mauriat tone, but I think it's a splendid piece of kit anyway. And who said saxophones had to be brass coloured? 😉

 

[Pjonah]

What an excellent horn, so easy and sweet across the range. I can see the appeal of this horn now, coupled to the Otto Link its an awesome combination, spot on nice one Bill!

Desperately trying not to turn green 😡