I`m a senior in high school and have been playing tenor since middle school. My first sax was a pawn shop Martin not really worthy of mention, though it probably would have been really nice if I had had it fixed up. I got a Blessing to replace it in 8th grade and a Monique last year. The Blessing was a gift and cost my parents something like $2.3-2.4k. I bought the Monique myself because it couldn`t be but so bad for the price. The plan was that if it was as good as advertised, it would become my new concert instrument, and if it was crap, it would become my marching band practice instrument. It was far better than I had expected. The only problem is that the low C# key has always stuck. It`s an easy thing to fix, but I`m lazy.

Now, let`s talk sax theory. I`ve never played a Cannonball or any pro level sax for that matter other than my Monique and my friend`s Bundy, but I do know that everyone who knows the difference that I have heard from has said that a sax with a larger bell will get a darker, richer tone. On top of that, the subtones will speak more clearly with a big bell, helping to darken the sound of an ensemble that includes such an instrument. Also, a thicker, heavier horn will help to darken the sound. I say this only knowing what I`ve heard from professionals. What I do know about from experience is mouthpieces. With my metal Selmer 5* mouthpiece and a Java 3 on my Monique, I can get any kind of sound I want, from a deep clarinet-style sound to a bright jazzy sound. It really depends on how you hold your mouth. I can`t get this kind of sound range on any other combination. It`s a matter of how the instrument fits the musician for the most part. A student model will have higher action than an intermediate or professional level instrument, and that is just about the only universal difference. Different instruments will speak differently for different people. Sure, some companies have different innovations, but it all really comes down to build quality. How often will an instrument have to go to the shop despite proper care and handling? That is the true question about brand names. I`ll start the trend: My Monique came with a sticky pad; 1 year no repairs needed. Blessing: 4 years no problems with breakage, lacquer has started to come off, student-intermediate model, relatively overpriced.

so no one likes keilwerth? i personally picked up a new keilwerth SX90R and thought it blew everyother horn that i tried away except for a selmer series II which i couldnt possibly afford. Joe RiPoso, my former teacher agrees with me and so do alot of other guys that i have met on gigs. i think it is a very well rounded, free-blowing sax with excellent tone. all you need to brighten the tone up is a standard meyer 5 mouthpeice. it also sounds good on the classical rep. that i need to do for college

i think that cannonballsaxes are pretty bad. chinese saxes are one of the best, they have a jazzy sound and also have good tone quality. the brnd parrot is what it is. i have a parrot alto. it is very jazzy and chicagoish and thelonious monkish.

go parrot saxes!!!!!!!!!!!!

i would rather play a sax made from cookie dough than play a cannonball sax

ok dude, if you don`t like canonball saxophones, then tell us why. dont just say ooo i dont like them because i own a this or ooo i dont like them because i haven`t tried them.

DUDE, DONT TRY TO ARGUE, YOU WILL NOT WIN. I KNOW WHAT IM SAYING, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TALK RESPECTIVELY. AINT NOBODY DISRESPECTIN` ME!!!!

Ok, I really need help. I`m trying to figure out which saxophone I should buy. I have a Selmer AS300 and I really need a new one. I`ve played a Cannonball before and I was just amazed byt it. I`ve read the other replys and I would like to know what is the difference between Yanis. keilworths, and cannonballs?
Please reply Thank you so very much

I have a student sax, and i was looking for a new professional one. I don`t know which kind to get, seeing that im under a low budget. I`m going to go test some out because each sax is different with each player, but if anyone has any suggestions that would be great!

Recently did a direct comparison between Tenors. Selmer S.A. 80 series II, Selmer S.A. 80 series III, and 3 Cannonball Big Bells(3 different finishes). I found all the horns were quite comparable in timbre, intonation(tested with a tuner) and tone. I was going to buy a Cannonball but I got a Selmer S.A. 80 series II off of E-bay for the price of a new Cannonball.
I`m currently looking at buying a Cannonball alto though!

you People are nuts, I am from a hick state and i love playin the banjo,I love the banjo and i sing a song while playing it. Here it goes you urban losers:
I play my banjo, i play my banjo and i play my banjooo because its better than a sax. ahaa ahaa, you guys are missin out on the banjo. now leave me alone while i plow my farm, go and i`ll be disrespectin` you all i want to!!!!!!!!

Why does everyone hate Keilwerth so much? I`ve played plenty, and I think they`re great. I also love Mark VI`s and am currently interested in buying a Cannonball, but don`t put Keilwerth in the corner. They come in different colors (gold, silver, black) and come with different neckpieces to make different sounds. Maybe I`m just biased because I`m German.

I play sax in a professional touring rock band (check out lloyddoblereffect.com) and I can actually give a first-hand review of my Cannonball Big Bell Global Series tenor.
Until March of 2004, I played a Selmer Mark VII, gigging four or five nights per week, up and down the East Coast. My need for a back-up horn was obvious, but I couldn`t afford the top pro horns and wasn`t intrested in a student model. I played a couple of different pro models (Yamaha and Keilworth) just to see how they felt and sounded, and I came away not very impressed. Then I played a black nickel Cannonball and was blown away. The feel of a horn is important to me, and this horn felt just like my Selmer. When I played it I was really impressed. The sound was huge. Low register, altissimo, growling; it was a screaming rock and roll sax.
In my shopping process I played most of the Cannonball finishes, but the black nickel is the only finish that seems to affect the tone of the horn. I really wasn`t as blown away by any of their other horns, but I played three black nickels and they definately have a unique tone. Loud, but not overly bright. The others were a little stuffy, and I probably wouldn`t have bought one if I hadn`t played the black nickel. Plus it`s friggin` beautiful!
I`ve had this horn for a year now with no major problems. I had a sticky biss key adjusted, and that`s it.
You can`t beat this horn for the money. In my opinion, you`d have to spend a lot more money to
beat it. And by the way, the Mark VII has become my back-up.

Cannonball BB are a great saxophone bottom line. For all the musician`s out there it depends on set-up. Most of the New selmers are way over priced, but if you can afford them get it. Yamaha`s are ok but I heard from friends that there Yamaha`s Keys come out of adjustmet in short really quickly. Yanagisawa on you. Jk on you.

All up to you just there is no reason to knock Cannonballs im willing to bet my alto that most of you havent tried the Cannonballs BB which is said and ur just going of what other people say, but if you have tried them and you are selmer logolized then well i feel sorry for you.... As a matter of fact now a days the saxes are so standardized meaning that any one of those new horns Cannonball BB,Selmer,Jk,Yanagisawa,Yamaha,Dave Guadala if you are a good musician then all those will fit you, perhaps you are Knocking Cannonballs as a personal Preferece..

That is fine for you but for im its <<Cannonball>>

I am a player and also a 32 yr. repairman.For the money, cannons. They play "out of the box" as opposed to the yammadogs and the smelmers. The yanis are good too and they are not as heavy as the cannons. As far as repairability, cannonballs hands down. I have to spend at least 30 min. on each yamma and selmer. As far as a too brite tone on the yanis, play the heck out of it and leave it out of the case. The elements will tone it down. Also you guys keep using the shove its. I get more work from the wet things screwing the saxs up. Flutedog