Cannonball and the Mark VI- Too close to tell!!

[Saxaholic]

I thought about posting this a few days ago...but I thought I'd wait and give it a chance to settle in and see if I was right or not. Time to open a can of worms.

My teacher plays on a Mark VI alto. He holds a jazz workshop for two weeks during June. It's been going on since June 16. He usually plays with us, and focuses heavily on improv and blues work. I found that...when playing with him or against him in a solo...that we sounded EXTREMELY similar. The tone was so close, it was almost impossible to distinguish the two. Granted...his finger action and note choice were much better than my own...but he also has almost a decade more experience than me.

The kicker: I play on a Cannonball Big Bell series alto ( black nickle plate). When he played on it.....he sounded identical to the sound he achieved on the Mark VI.

He uses a Premier Hite mouthpiece and LaVoz reeds...if anyone cares. I play on a current Meyer 5M and Rico Plasticovers 2.5.

Mark VI sound for half the price! He couldn't say enough good things about the horn, and he especially admired the lower register control and the altissimo register response.

Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. :D

[Balladeer]

My experience with the CBall BB alto is similar to yours using my own Mark VI alto for comparison. However, the CBall BB tenor does not sound close to a Mark VI. There is virtually no resistance on the CBall while the VI will have resistance. The Selmer sound quality that Bootman has described here as "whiney" will be completely missing from the CBall. The tone of the CBall BB tenor compares to a Mark VI as naugahyde compares to leather or as a 2-dimensional picture compares to a 3-dimensional, textured picture.

...just my $0.02

[Morry]

A great old player and local retailer here in B'ham had a very good young player come by to show him his new Cball tenor. The retailer happened to have a very nice (although not cosmetically) VI out fixing a leak. The young kid had never played a VI, so he gave it a few very nice runs. After he was done, he said "Ok, now I see what all the Mark VI fuss is all about". He still likes his CB very much, but he understands the difference.

[Balladeer]

Morry:
That young man may have been the fellow who bought my Cannonball Big Bell. I must say, I held off selling for several months because the instrument played perfectly. It just wasn't as sophisticated in feel and tone as I prefer. That fellow got a very good deal.

[shazzo]

how much does a CB big bell tenor cost by the way? so, these are like the best modern horns ever? :wink:
i might want to get one as a back up to my BA.

[Balladeer]

so, these are like the best modern horns ever?

Not!

[shazzo]

alrighty then...thanks :lol: will have to try one

[Saxaholic]

Cannonball tenors can run you a variety of different price categories. I can refer you to someone who is selling one for $1500...which includes a metal dukoff mouthpiece and all shipping and insurance. If you buy from a dealer, you're likely to get ripped. Find one second hand, or talk to Timothy Glesmann at Sax Alley......an unlacquered beast of a tenor Big Bell ( called the Mad Meg) will cost you $1849 brand new I believe.

[shazzo]

thanks saxaholic. but i've got to get rid of my conn if i were to get a CB. thanks man. :lol:

[DukoffHollywood]

Hi. I bought my cannonball tenor from Balladeer. It's very strange for the topic to be brought up (a very good young player bringing a cannonball tenor in to show the old man in B'Ham) because I recently took my cannonball tenor in to show to a guy in B'Ham. Homewood, to be exact. Anyways, I was there to try out some new mouthpieces. The only mouthpiece to really impress me was the new Lakey Metal....very big, resonant sound with a good edge to the tone. We worked out a deal because the man (George Pruitt) was very interested in trying out my tenor and my personal mouthpiece. I let him try it out, and he let me play on some of his mouthpieces and a Mark VI. This particular Mark VI was bought for $3500. George played my tenor, then he played the VI. I was overly excited (go figure) to play the VI, and to my great surprise, it wasn't a LOT better than the cannonball. The Selmer had more of a solid, centered tone. However it was smaller and possessed probably 200% less power. The cannonball is BOOMING, POWERFUL with a body and presence that the selmer just didn't have....anyways Balladeer gave me the cannonball for WAYYY too cheap ($1350) and when compared to the Selmer Mark VI ($3500), i liked the cannonball much better. I was really hoping to play the Mark VI of my dreams, but it was nothing more than a confidence booster for the Cannonball. George has been playing sax for over 60 years so he has an enormous amount of experience with different instruments. He told me that it was a "good Mark VI we just sold to a pro friend of mine". He was laughing because there wasn't that much difference in the two. I would at most pay 2K for that Mark VI, maybe if I had the money to throw around. After all this time, I am VERY convinced that you are paying a LOT for the Selmer name. Honest to God, this "good playing" VI would have been worth 2K to me. Just curious...was this the story Morry was speaking of? :) On another note, much thanks to Balladeer for selling me this amazing horn. I couldn't describe to you how happy I am with the instrument and its playability....the Cannonball has FAR surpassed my expectations.

[shmuelyosef]

My son works at a local music store that sells Cannonballs...both he (tenor) and my daughter (alto) play Knights (the pro horn before the BB). They are both very good horns that can hold their own with Yamaha and yani..at a substantially reduced price. I tried to convince both of them to 'inherit' one of my nice vintage horns (I play old Kings myself), but they chose the Cannonballs, cause they wanted new. I have played many of these horns, Knights, Big Bells, and Excaliburs (the student model). I have to admit, while I think it's very ugly, the gold plated alto with the sterling bell and neck that my daughter plays (cost <$2000 new) does scream and has reasonably refined keywork with as many adjusting screws as a Conn 26M. She's fortunate to have a repair person in the house. While it projects well and can be played VERY loud, it does not allow quite as broad a sound pallet (from fat subtone to rich altissimo) as other higher priced horns...old and new, including Selmers, Keilwerths, old Kings and even old Conns. They are, however a tremendous value in their price category.
They currently are trying to move an unlacquered tenor for only $1500, as the local population seems to like shinier horns. It could probably be had for less...if you call them on the phone. They are:
Draper's Music Center, (650) 326-3818. Ask for Ari and tell him his Dad referred you.

[davidanthony411]

i would like some feedback on this mouthpiece from dukoffhollywood-the lakey metal for use on the bigbell -what kind of sound, price, where to buy & try
thax so much
DA

[TheChristianSax]

I have to say that I am very impressed with the horns. I have played one and really liked it. It had a lot of power and a great sound. Very sturdy construction and a beautiful lacquer and engraving job. I think they are out to make the best horn possible, so if you get a chance play one. And if you're out there Sheryl, it happened to be Tim Ishii's horn that I had the chance to play. I could have gone on Tim's word alone and that would have been enough, but I just had to play it. Keep up the great work, in God and saxes.