Who has one?

[Joey]

I have a Big Bell black nickel alto. It is a great axe. In fact, I have an audition today for a college professor. I know I'll do well because I have the C-Ball on my side!

Joey C.

[Jeff Foster]

I have a Wizard alto that I bought the other day. It's a long story but I went looking for a brand new professional line horn and wound up with the Wizard. Can't believe it's a "student/intermediate" model. Fantastic horn and, believe me, I know a good one when I play one.

[Knight Ender]

I've been playing on a C-Ball Tenor(Royal Crown I believe) for almost two years now. I love the feel and the action is very nice. The only tenor I have tried that beat it was a Mk VI. I've recieved many compliments on the big full sound I have(which is partly the horn, the other part me :D ). I'm going to be looking at getting a bari sometime, and if the C-Ball Baris are there, you know I'll be going after it.

[geowulf]

I've got a Big Bell bari, had it for almost a year. Love this horn!!!!

[GHawk]

CashSax has 3 (at last count).
Cash - where yat?

[Andrew]

I am hoping to get one as a back up someday...I tried one out at a sax symposium a while back and MAN every single cannonball i tried blew me away!

[KJ]

I've got a big bell curved soprano in silver, amd a big bell mad meg alto fitted with Schmidt pads...

[Shaun SS]

I just bought a BB Tenor. Pics can be seen @ http://www.geocities.com/sqwznss/Shaun_Liddy.html This horn plays great!! I got it through Jimmi Scimonetti.. He can be reached at jscimonetti@yahoo.com (661)729-2520.. Great guy and shop. He posts on here just can't remember his handle.

[ecweber]

I bought a Black Nickel Big Bell Tenor in February of 2002; it has never let me down - a great horn with a very powerful sound. I use a Dukoff D-8 MPC with Vandoren Java 2-1/2 reeds. This is the best combination I have found for my style of playing: Funk, R&B, and Blues.

I am busy most every weekend gigging and the horn has held up beautifully. Of course there are the typical wear and tear issues like laquer wear under the thumb rest and palm keys; however, I am not bothered by it as I purchased the horn to be played. And it has been played... a LOT! 8)

I would expect this horn to serve me for a long, long time.

The only problem I have had was with the side keys. The lowest one has a tendency to bend if pushed too hard. As a result, I play with a gentle touch. I also emailed Sheryl at Cannonball, making her aware of the problem, and suggesting a foot under the key that would contact the body of the horn, thus minimizing - if not eliminating - the problem altogether. In turn, Sheryl thanked me, let me know they would consider my suggestion in future designs, and sent me a T-Shirt. I thought that was a very nice gesture.

So there you have it, another satisfied customer! :D

[CashSax]

Har Har..yep I got three, they PLAY man..I got an RC straight silver Sop which is great back-up for my outrageous silver Series III on those funkier gigs..my nekkid Big Bell "Meg" Alto which is a genuine screamer too..and my Fav.. the Bare Brass Tenor which will peel paint without breaking a sweat..these are terrific horns for the $$..and yes, I have other horns I like better..but these CBalls serve me well on many of my professional jobs.. 8)

[Jack W.]

I have one too, a Big Bell alto, the SLS model or "Silver Sonic Style" finish (silverplated neck, bow, and bell, lacquered elsewhere). In a word, it plays great. I've used it in pit orchestras, church, and even concert band, and have yet to run into its limitations. I use a Runyon Custom #8 for concert band, a Runyon X.L. #7 for the rock-and-roll style church tunes, and actually I use the stock mpc quite a bit too. It is basically a medium-closed to medium facing Meyer blank.

Must ... not ... buy ... soprano....

[CashSax]

Hey Jack, saw a little shiny Black and Silver CURVY up close today..cuter than a you know what.. :twisted:

[Jack W.]

"Come on Jack, you know you want it!" :P :D

Actually, I'd get a fully straight model in silverplate,
against the recommendations of those who say the
"Saxello style" model is noticeably better. I guess
I'm just too much of a purist.

But I may have caught the alto flute bug beyond
the point of no return, and the oboe is singing
its siren song, and money doesn't grow on trees.... :o

[Goin4DaTone]

geowulf, my son probably needs to move to Bari next year for his high school jazz band. I have been considering the Cannonball Bari, but I haven’t found a dealer that has one to try. And I haven’t seen may post on the bari.

You obviously are happy with yours. Have you played many other bari’s? I know the school horns are Yamaha 52’s, and wonder how they compare. Gear Acquisition Syndrome is telling me I need to add a Bari, and I’m thinking that this may be the best bang for the buck. I also am a bit hesitant to go vintage for a high school player. So. Would you recommend this horn for a high school player? Thanks

[geowulf]

4datone, unfortunately I don't have a very large frame of reference when it comes to the bari. I played bari in jr hi-hi school, and pretty much put it down when i graduated back in '78, concentrated on guitar and have been playing professionally all these yrs. Got the bug to get back into sax, and decided the bari was the way to go. Found the CBall on ebay for a good price about a yr ago, and have been thrilled with it, especially after finding the right mp/reed combo. In school, I played an old Buescher 400, which is really the only other bari I've played. Since I've had the CBall, I can't put the thing down, spend about every spare moment I have practicing, and pretty much only play guitar when I have a gig. Have taken the bari out on lots of gigs, it's not pampered at all, and have had no mechanical issues with it except a little piece of cork coming off a key foot. It plays and sounds great....my personal opinion is that it sounds better than the YBS62 my teacher uses. I'd say this would be an awesome horn for your highschooler, it's a fully pro instrument that will serve him well for yrs to come. If I was a kid I'd pass out if someone got me something like that. Don't know how the prices are now, reports are that the sell price of these horns has risen of late, they seem to be 'catching on'.

I'll quit rambling now, gonna go make some noise.

George