Cannonball makes excellent saxes. The reason they are not used at the university level is that the Selmer Paris (as well as top Yamaha, Keilwerth, Yanigasawa) models are better for classical music, which is a big part of the studies. They are not made for "blowing away" anything, they are for precise sound.

If you are a high school student and are competing in regionals or sectionals at level 6, look at the used Selmer Mark VII and SA-80, or Yamaha 62 saxes which you can get for less than a new Cannonball. These are excellent instruments, but can be had at reasonable prices.

If you want to have a horn to "blow away" other saxes, get a Buescher 400 from the 50s or 60s. This was made to be a jazz horn and to rip.

I have played on a black big bell soprano sax, the one with the metalic keys. The sax has special intonation and eveness qualities. The interior of the body is filled with " bridges" that change the airflow at specific points eliminating intonation problems. These same bridges make most of the notes across the spectrum very even. In other words the tone quality of all the notes is about the same. (No note sticking out in a scale) The interior modifications also boost low register response and overtones. I don`t know anything about their durability, however initially they are the best value with no real competition. The sax I tried with all the bells and whistles was around the same price as a Yamaha 475 soprano(good horn)which can`t fairly compete with the big bell global series.
You are a fool if you don`t at least try these superior horns before you spend an extra $1000-$1800 on the comparable competitors.

I disagree with anyone that says that the cannonball is not a great saxophone. I`m in ninth grade and have the only CB there. My section Leader said it was one of the best saxophones he ever played. This sax has great sound as well as intonation

Get a Yanagasawa ( I think that`s how you spell it)

I have been playing Saxophone for 26 yrs and have played on the road for a big part of that. I don`t consider myself an authority on equipment as I have had the same King Super 20 tenor sax for 12 yrs and have never seen a reason to change. Recently I decided to start looking for a new horn and with the recommendation of a well known musician I tried one of the Cannonball un-laquered models. Although the horn played very well and produced a really nice UNIQUE sound, the store clerk suggested I try a Yamaha Custom Z model beside the Cannonball. In my opinion te Cannonball was not even in the same league. The Yamaha had much more power and response. It difference could be summed up by stating that the Cannonball is a good horn for around 1500.00, but the Yamaha was a Great Horn for around 3000.00. Just thought I would pass this along

Cannonball is good but i dont no. I was wondering if I should get a yanagisawa T901,T991 or a Yamaha YTS-475 or a YTS-62 or Z thats the big conflict...

I really don`t know what all the fuss is about! Every sax maker eventually makes a great horn and a horrible horn at some time or another.

Just like many of you, in 23 years of playing sax I`ve played more horns than I care to count, and aside from a few that were really crappy horns, I`ve found that at least 90% of them played great, with little effect on tone, pitch etc. The biggest difference I`ve found is that period of becoming fully acclamated to different horns, by that I mean every horn feels different in the hands.

Remember the guy (or gal) in high school that always blamed their horn, or reed, (Can`t forget tounge rings for the young`ins these days) etc. as the reason they played awefully? So you gave them a new reed, or let them play your horn, and for some reason they still SUCKED! Well, some people are just poor musicians, and it was never mean`t to be!

Get A YANI!!!!! simple Yamahas are Cool but cannonballs.. ehh its up to u but the Yani 902,991,992 are all good hors for a good musician. Also try the website www.saxophones.co.uk they have very well known saxes for a very Pleasing price

Those knocking the Cannonballs have obviously never played them. Also, please keep in mind that not all horns respond well to the same reed/mouthpiece setup. If you grab a horn you`ve never played before, you may need a different reed/MP to make it speak.

I have been playing for years and have been a Selmer guy for almost all of it. I don`t wanna hear any more about the dang Yanis. They are the most overrated horn on the planets.

The guy I learned from had an alto, tenor and soprano Yani. He now plays on Selmers because he got tired of fighting with inconsistent intonation and forking out money to have his horns overhauled about every year.

Needless to say, I bought my first Cannonball Saturday. It is like the voice that has been in my head for years now has a way to come out. My riffs speak more clearly, the low notes are pure velvet and the altissimos speak like never before. I bought the Big Bell Global pro alto (nickel plate with nickel keys) for list price at $2995. Try getting a Yani for that.

Play them both and you`ll see why this Selmer guy now owns a BEAUTIFUL Cannonball. The thing looks like it should be in a display case.

Sounds like it, too.

Rich i do agree with u on people knocking the cannonballs but i agree with micky yani all the way. Its true Cannonballs are good instrument i thought that cannonball made the best saxes since Mark VI except sops. I Fell in love with them i couldnt shut up i kept on telling my fellow musicians check this out, this is great its along with Mark 6 and its cheaper Blah.... Blah.... That was until i tried the yani 902 which was Terrific, better then the cannonball in my opinion although the cannonball has very good things built into it that makes it heavier than many horns. that same day i tested the Selmer series III it to me was beatin by the Yani. Although I will try ur advice and check out cannonball with a differnt Reed maybe it will be better.

Does any body no any thing about the Black ice tenors from CB

I agree with Micky yanis are fantastic and i feel better than cannonball. They are always being improved all yanis are great u cant go wrong with any of them.

Yanagisawa produces the top ( to pro`s) Sopranos, all over they have fantastic Altos, Tenors, and Very Great Bari`s.

I see alot of people say cannonballs suck and what not i do not think that is at all true cannonballs are great just the weight is not as light as it could be (it feels like a begginer bari i was not good at moving fast on heavy instruments i was focusing on holding the Cannonball when i tested it! so its all up to u hope i helped

All the Big Bells are amazing,fantastic truly great horns there is no big problem all u need to do is goo out and try out one i did and im in love. Besides for a player like Gerald Albright (A wonderful player)he uses them and so do many players just check out there website www.cannonballmusic.com .

These saxes are great do u hear him play, i mean he uses one it cant be as bad as u guys and girls think. So go try one it wont hurt it might be the best sax u ever played just remember the mouthpiece is a PRIME FACTOR so have many or ask the clerk to try some with it give the sax a serious honest try

Hey... I`ve been looking into the cb`s for a couple weeks and i am going and trying one tomorrow, i am16 years old and in 10th grade, i think its time to move on from my crappy student model yamaha (though i will of corse keep it for field and marching band). i was wondering if anyone could tell me if the cannonball`s fineshes make a whole lot of difference in the sound. if they do not make a difference in the sound i want a black nickle plating and brass keys, but if there is a difference i want the one that sounds the best.

i tried out a selmer reference 54 and i truely loved it i really hope that the cannonball sounds as good as that did because i think it looks so much cooler, i think it would be so cool to have a black saxophone, but if the finishes make a difference could someone please tell me what finish could sound the best. thanks dave

Ok my bf owns a Cannoball Alto Sax.
He absoltely loves it.
i personally don`t like it because it is too heavy for me.
But he gets a wonderful tone out of it..better than mine.. or the other altos.
I would say get a cannonball.
they are of good quality.