I finally got an opportunity to spend a few real-time with a cannonball big bell stone series tenor , and honestly, it's a bit associated with a beast within the best way possible. If you've been hanging about saxophone forums or even local shops for any amount associated with time, you've probably seen these items. They're hard to skip. Between the enormous bell flares plus the actual semi-precious stones glued on to the keys, they definitely make a declaration before you even blow an individual note.
Yet beyond the flashy looks, there's the lot to unpack with how these types of horns actually enjoy. Cannonball happens to be a bit of a good outlier in the sax world. These people aren't seeking to be a vintage Selmer clone, and these people aren't trying in order to be a courteous, refined classical car horn. They're built intended for power, and the Big Bell Stone Series is fairly much the flagship of that idea.
That Substantial Bell and Exactly what It Actually Does
The very first thing you notice—obviously—is the bell. It's significantly larger than what you'd discover on a standard Yamaha or Selmer. Right now, there's always the big debate regarding whether bell dimension actually changes the particular sound for the player or just for your audience, but about this tenor, it seems like it adds a certain "spread" to the tone.
When a person push air through a cannonball big bell stone series tenor , it doesn't feel like requirements is coming out associated with a narrow hay. It feels wide. When you're playing in a funk band or a noisy rock setting, this is just what you want. A person can lean in to it, and the particular horn just will keep taking more surroundings without thinning out there. The lower end, especially from low D down to Bb, is just massive. It's got this resonant "thump" that makes you feel like you're vibrating the floorboards.
Why the Stones Aren't Only for Show
The particular "Stone Series" portion of the name comes through the semi-precious gems (like Picasso Jasper or Blue Soft drinks Sodalite) that are usually set into the essential touches and also the neck. Cannonball promises these stones modify the way the horn resonates. I'll be totally truthful with you: I don't know in the event that I purchase the technology behind stones modifying the harmonic series of a brass tube.
However, they do feel excellent under your fingertips. Most saxes use plastic or mother-of-pearl, but the stones possess a different fat and texture to them. They experience solid. They don't get as slippery if your fingers get a bit exhausted during a long set, plus they just give the horn the "custom" believe that a person don't get along with a mass-produced pupil model. Even if the acoustic advantages are on with argument, the tactile knowledge is top-notch.
The Two-Neck Scenario
One of the coolest things Cannonball will is include two different necks with the cannonball big bell stone series tenor . You get a traditional throat that matches the finish of the horn, and then you get their "Fat Neck. "
The Fats Neck is a bit of a game-changer. It's an underslung design, signifying the octave essential mechanism is on the bottom rather than the top. But more importantly, the taper is usually different. When I actually switched over in order to the Fat Neck, the horn experienced more free-blowing together a noticeably "fatter" (hence the name) sound in the mid-range.
The conventional neck will be great if you want a little bit more focus plus resistance—maybe for a traditional jazz gig where you want to keep things the bit more "centered. " But for most people, that Fat Neck is the main reason why they buy the horn. Having both options right out of the situation is a large plus because it's like having two different instruments in a single.
Build Quality as well as the "Brute" End
Cannonball provides a ton of different finishes, however the "Raven" (black nickel) and the "Brute" (aged brass) are usually probably one of the most iconic. I spent nearly all of my period with a Brute finish tenor. It looks like it's been sitting in the damp basement intended for forty years, yet in a great, vintage way. It's unlacquered, so it's going to continue to change and patina over time while you play it.
The build quality feels incredibly sturdy. These aren't lighting horns. If you're utilized to a classic Mark VI, the particular cannonball big bell stone series tenor will experience like a container. It's heavy, the particular brass feels solid, and the keywork is snappy. They will use Italian natural leather pads with metal resonators, as well as the seal out of the particular factory is usually pretty tight. The particular action is adjustable, too, so you can get it experience exactly how you desire.
How It Feels to Play
Ergonomically, it's very modern. If you've played a contemporary Yamaha or Yanagisawa, you'll feel ideal at home. The high F# key is simple to reach, plus the table keys for the left-hand pinky (Bb, N, C#, G#) are usually smooth and don't require a load of finger power to go.
The "vibe" associated with the horn is definitely aggressive. This wants to be played loud. That's not saying you can't play a ballad on it—you completely can—but it takes a bit more control to keep it whispered plus sub-tone heavy. It naturally wants to bark. For prospect tenor players within a big band or anyone enjoying contemporary jazz, that's usually a marketing point. You in no way feel as if you're fighting the horn to be heard.
Is It Worthy of the Hype?
I think the cannonball big bell stone series tenor occupies the really interesting space in the market. It's more expensive than a simple intermediate horn, but it's often the few thousand dollars cheaper than the top-tier "Big Three" professional models.
For many pro players who don't want to take a $10, 000 vintage horn into a smoky bar or even on the grueling visit, these Cannonballs are the perfect option. They are dependable, they look amazing under stage lights, and they have got a personality that's all their very own.
The primary "downside" for several may be the excess weight. If you possess neck issues, you'll definitely want the good harness mainly because this thing is usually substantial. But that weight translates into the sound that is incredibly stable. It doesn't wobble you whenever you're pushing the particular limits of the altissimo range.
Last Thoughts
All in all, a saxophone is really a tool, and the cannonball big bell stone series tenor is a very specific type of tool. It's daring, it's loud, plus it's unashamedly contemporary. While some purists might roll their own eyes at the particular "acoustic stones" or the oversized bell, you can't claim with how the particular thing plays.
It's obtained a fast response, excellent intonation, and the look that really stands out in the sea of gold-lacquered instruments. If you're searching for a tenor that has some "growl" and can handle anything from a wedding gig in order to a funk festival, this one should definitely be on your shortlist. It's simply fun to perform, and honestly, isn't that why all of us all picked up the sax in the first place? It makes you need to keep exercising, and that's probably the best compliment I can give any device.