Hulluporo
01-17-2005, 01:33 AM
Caveat to all you CB lovers: This is just MY opinion and experience. Different set-ups could have produced different results....but I'm not knocking the playability of this instrument in my remarks below.
Cannonball Gerald Albright Series Tenor? – it’s a horn. I took a leap of faith and thought I’d try the GAS tenor out. Since tenor isn’t my main axe (Alto is - I play a Ref. 54 and also play a Yanagisawa SC-991 sop), I wanted a tenor again (should’ve never sold my 60’s vintage Mark VI) - something what should have been above an intermediate level horn but didn’t want to spring for the big $$$ for one of the big 4. Well, I ordered one and got it in the blind, but from a reputable dealer with whom I would do business with again. At first glance, the horn “looked” very nice. Stone keys, silver plated body, nickel bow, bell, fancy necks and all. However, I thought the case was a little funky, which gave me my first premonition of what was to come.
It played pretty decently on my old (I mean old) Berg Larsen 110/3 M, which of three mouthpieces, (that and the stock Cannonball 7 facing, and a Brilhart Tonalin 4*) had ended up as the best test set-up. ED Lig. I played the horn for well over an hour or so using a combination of Java's and ZZ's (a random La Voz or two in there, as well). I liked it, but not for what I paid for it.
I'm sorry to say that for the money, it just didn't live up to the expectations I had from all the SOTW posts and advertising I'd seen about the Cannonball pro series saxes. I guess always being primarily a Selmer and recently a Yanagisawa advocate, the lack of a solid feel to the horn was the first impression out of the case. I was keeping objectively in mind that the Selmer and other big 4 horns also cost twice as much.
However, I think even if compared to the Keilwerth EX series Tenor (which is cheaper) “feel”, the Keilwerth makes you feel like you have something solid in your hands, although still not near a pro horn. If I could characterize this horn (the GAS) in one word, I would say it was "thin". The rods and posts seemed almost frail by comparison to other horns I have played and currently own. Did it play OK, yes; I’ll give it that; But........over the long haul, I thought I was looking at a high-maintenance instrument. I will go along with the somewhat consistent theme here on the SOTW site that they are over-priced for what you get.
When working the left hand spatula keys that control the bell keys there was a terrible "rattle" when going through the action. Yes, most of you will say that is obviously an adjustment thing. My wife was listening and she said while I was playing it was like while you would be expecting the quiet ride of a high-end Jaguar, you could hear the rods knocking in the engine. Even the Zeiss lenses in my glasses couldn't find out why this was going on, and I’ve been looking at “goings on” in saxes for 45 years. I could hear it while I was playing, too. By this point I was desperately trying to like this horn; especially after all of the mystery and hubbub that went down to get it. The upper stack didn't "feel" quite right, either. That was the decision point.
So, I really felt crappy about having had to tell the retailer that this horn was not going to take the pole position on the center of my SaxRax, and sent it back. I just personally needed a little more than what this horn had to offer.
My solution was to buy a Yanagisawa T991 to ride shotgun with his little brother. An equitable compromise, but still more $$.
Cannonball Gerald Albright Series Tenor? – it’s a horn. I took a leap of faith and thought I’d try the GAS tenor out. Since tenor isn’t my main axe (Alto is - I play a Ref. 54 and also play a Yanagisawa SC-991 sop), I wanted a tenor again (should’ve never sold my 60’s vintage Mark VI) - something what should have been above an intermediate level horn but didn’t want to spring for the big $$$ for one of the big 4. Well, I ordered one and got it in the blind, but from a reputable dealer with whom I would do business with again. At first glance, the horn “looked” very nice. Stone keys, silver plated body, nickel bow, bell, fancy necks and all. However, I thought the case was a little funky, which gave me my first premonition of what was to come.
It played pretty decently on my old (I mean old) Berg Larsen 110/3 M, which of three mouthpieces, (that and the stock Cannonball 7 facing, and a Brilhart Tonalin 4*) had ended up as the best test set-up. ED Lig. I played the horn for well over an hour or so using a combination of Java's and ZZ's (a random La Voz or two in there, as well). I liked it, but not for what I paid for it.
I'm sorry to say that for the money, it just didn't live up to the expectations I had from all the SOTW posts and advertising I'd seen about the Cannonball pro series saxes. I guess always being primarily a Selmer and recently a Yanagisawa advocate, the lack of a solid feel to the horn was the first impression out of the case. I was keeping objectively in mind that the Selmer and other big 4 horns also cost twice as much.
However, I think even if compared to the Keilwerth EX series Tenor (which is cheaper) “feel”, the Keilwerth makes you feel like you have something solid in your hands, although still not near a pro horn. If I could characterize this horn (the GAS) in one word, I would say it was "thin". The rods and posts seemed almost frail by comparison to other horns I have played and currently own. Did it play OK, yes; I’ll give it that; But........over the long haul, I thought I was looking at a high-maintenance instrument. I will go along with the somewhat consistent theme here on the SOTW site that they are over-priced for what you get.
When working the left hand spatula keys that control the bell keys there was a terrible "rattle" when going through the action. Yes, most of you will say that is obviously an adjustment thing. My wife was listening and she said while I was playing it was like while you would be expecting the quiet ride of a high-end Jaguar, you could hear the rods knocking in the engine. Even the Zeiss lenses in my glasses couldn't find out why this was going on, and I’ve been looking at “goings on” in saxes for 45 years. I could hear it while I was playing, too. By this point I was desperately trying to like this horn; especially after all of the mystery and hubbub that went down to get it. The upper stack didn't "feel" quite right, either. That was the decision point.
So, I really felt crappy about having had to tell the retailer that this horn was not going to take the pole position on the center of my SaxRax, and sent it back. I just personally needed a little more than what this horn had to offer.
My solution was to buy a Yanagisawa T991 to ride shotgun with his little brother. An equitable compromise, but still more $$.