Stock Cannonball Mouthpieces

[Stacey]

Anyone care to share their impressions of the standard Cannonball mouthpieces?

My tenor came with a mouthpiece marked "5*". It's okay, but I've realized it has an airiness from middle C all the way down, at least in my hands, and it really annoys me. I thought perhaps it was the horn, or perhaps it was me, so I started changing things. Alternate neck - no effect. Different reed - no effect. Switching to a Ralph Morgan mouthpiece - the airy sound was immediately gone, replaced by a very nice tone. Put the CB mouthpiece back on - airy sound comes back.

Anyone else have similar experiences? I'm sure this is much more obvious to the player than to the listener. I'm also sure it wouldn't bother someone who was honkin' out jazz, rock, or funk or something. But since I'm one of those strange people who is using his Cannonball to play Handel transcriptions and Bach two-part inventions, I'm consciously working to TAME the sound of the CB horn. (With pretty good results, I might add - those who say the Cannonball can't be a classical horn have probably never tried anything like a Ralph Morgan classical mpc on it.)

Thoughts?

[awholley]

I wasn't impressed with the Cannonball mouthpieces that came with my alto or soprano. The Morgans worked quite well with them, as you experienced. (So do Raschers for that matter!)

[Phred168]

I got mine with the "7" marked (around .100" tip opening). It's not a bad piece. a bit too open for my liking though, and seeing as i play nearly all classical music, and it's intended to be a jazz mpc, it didn't fly. I like my beechler 6 belite for non-classical stuff much better though.

[alto86]

I bet people "honking out" jazz, rock, and other things let issues like that bother them too. I know I do. :)

Classical tone is just different - not necessarily more refined.

Perhaps you weren't trying to imply that. I just thought I'd throw in my opinion on the issue.

[Stacey]

...Or may I WAS trying to imply that! :evil:

No, I wasn't. In fact, I look at my total ignorance of playing jazz as the stupidest thing I've ever done (or failed to do, in this case) in music. What was I thinking? Did I really think there was a future for me playing classical stuff on the saxophone? Doh!

I'm trying to learn a little, though, since any good music educator would tell you "it's never to late to learn". I should have started 25 years ago, though.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in my thoughts about the CB mouthpieces. Not a BAD mouthpiece, but just not something to write home about. Now if I ever receive the Morgan "Christmas presents" I ordered for myself, I'll be set. That's the problem with hand-finished, high-quality works of art - you want them NOW NOW NOW, and their production just doesn't work like that! But I'm sure they'll be worth the wait.

[Stacey]

Nice. One short post, at least two misspellings (plus the usual crappy grammar). Time to trash the "National Spelling Bee Finalist" trophies, I suppose...

"may" ==> "maybe"
"to" ==> "too"

:roll:

[Stacey]

I have recently acquired one of the Cannonball "Classic" C* mouthpieces, and it has been very interesting to try this alongside the 5* that I already had but didn't like (see above).

The C* did EXACTLY what I hoped it would. It cut out the airy/buzzy sound in the low register, and took the edge off the sound throughout all of the registers. Interestingly, playing with the C* has also helped me like the 5* a little better. I'm really at a loss to explain this, except to theorize that by having the C* and the 5*, I've learned which aspects of the tone are a result of the horn, and which are a result of the mouthpiece. Or maybe (probably) I'm just nuts. Anyway, the C* has gotten me to like the 5* a little better, although I will undoubtedly stick with the C* for most of my playing (until my Morgan arrives).

And just how big a difference did the mouthpiece make? Well, with the C* piece, the sound from my tenor is roughly the equivalent to what I get from my stock Mark 7 alto. The difference is that the CB has a lot less resistance (and a lot louder fortissimo, when needed!).

I can now say that there is absolutely NOTHING about my tenor that has me less-than-happy. That's a great feeling!

[Jazzyausten]

The Cannonball mouthpiece is made for vandorean reeds only. Thats why u r getting that sound

[alto86]

Jazzyausten - I'm not sure that's correct - I know that facings can be adapted for a certain cut of reed, but it seems unlikely that any other type of reed would work.

From all of the CB jazz mouthpieces I've looked at, they are fairly close to Meyers, which certainly can be played on more reeds than Vandoren.

[saxmasta89]

I have a cannonball alto 5 mpc..An alexander classique works on it better than the vandoren did...of course thats my personal opinion. Anyway, i sent an email about the cb 5 mpc and they told me that it was modeled after the new york meyer 5. but i'm still lookin for somethin

[Bootman]

If you have any of the Cannonball mpcs that you dont want, I will happily take them off your hands. You can get me in the usual way.

[saxmasta89]

Sorry...i kinda like mine better than my beat up yamaha 4c mpc. 8)

[Chris S]

I personally met and talked with the owners/CEO's/whatever they're called of Cannonball once a few moons ago, before I think they really took off. I don't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure that their pieces will work with any reeds, they aren't faced for any specific reed. As I recall anyway.... they were VERY nice people and for that, I gave them some of my hard earned money from my after-school job to purchase one of their black nickle sopranos. I don't think I'll every buy another soprano (Yeah right!), or at least, I'll never get rid of it...

Chris S

[saxmasta89]

Does anyone know how to get a classical cannonball mouthpiece without buying a horn with the classical preference? Mine came with the jazz piece and i've heard the 5*'s are pretty good, but i dont know how to get it....

[alto86]

I bet if you e-mail Sheryl at Cannonball she could tell you. She (and her assistant) have been helpful and prompt when answering my e-mails.

[saxmasta89]

I did email her about 2 months ago with the same question..she told me to contact my local music store and see if they have one or could get one delivered. I called Mississippi Music and they kinda sounded dumb, and didn't know what i was talkin about and they still haven't called me back.

[Stacey]

Does anyone know how to get a classical cannonball mouthpiece without buying a horn with the classical preference? Mine came with the jazz piece and i've heard the 5*'s are pretty good, but i dont know how to get it....

The 5* is not the classical piece. The classical piece is the "Classic C*".

I've occasionally seen CB mouthpieces on eBay, where they tend to sell pretty cheaply. I don't think I've seen any of the "Classic C*", though - just the 5* and the "7".

Some of the CB dealers don't seem to have any understanding of what mpcs are available with the CB. Many of them are only aware of the 5* and the 7, and not of the Classic C*.

Good luck to you!

Stacey