Cannonball Musical Instruments
Encyclopedia
Cannonball Musical Instruments is a manufacturer of saxophone
s, clarinet
s, trumpet
s, and musical instrument accessories. The company was founded in 1996 by musicians Tevis and Sheryl Laukat, and is based in Sandy, Utah
. Cannonball specializes in professional, hand made, and uniquely "acoustically hand customized" instruments.
s in current production are student Alcazar, intermediate Sceptyr, and professional Big Bell Stone Series and Vintage Series models, made in a variety of finishes including The Brute (aged brass), Raven (iced black), Mad Meg (bare brass), and Hotspur (iced black and iced silver).
s: the Big Bell 725 series, the Bavarian Lion reverse leadpipe
789RL series, and the Lynx lightweight pro model.
s are the newest instrument line by Cannonball, and include student Zeloso, semi-pro Fiore, professional Veloce, and premium professional Piacere models.
s and utility patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
, protecting its innovations such as the Fat Neck and the use of semi-precious stones.
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s, and musical instrument accessories. The company was founded in 1996 by musicians Tevis and Sheryl Laukat, and is based in Sandy, Utah
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
. Cannonball specializes in professional, hand made, and uniquely "acoustically hand customized" instruments.
Saxophones
Cannonball Musical Instruments first began as a saxophone manufacturer. Cannonball saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s in current production are student Alcazar, intermediate Sceptyr, and professional Big Bell Stone Series and Vintage Series models, made in a variety of finishes including The Brute (aged brass), Raven (iced black), Mad Meg (bare brass), and Hotspur (iced black and iced silver).
Historical List of Saxophone Models
- Royal Crown Series
- Wizard Series
- '96 Excalibur Series
- 1998 Knight Series
- 98 Knight Series
- 99 Knight Series
- Big Bell Global Series
- '03 Excalibur Series
- Big Bell Stone Series
- Alcazar
- Sceptyr
- Vintage Reborn Series
- Gerald Albright Signature Series
Serial Numbers and Manufacturing Dates of Saxophone Models
A detailed list of serial numbers and approximate manufactured dates of Cannonball saxophones is available at the Serial Number Chronology page.Trumpets
After about a decade of manufacturing saxophones, Cannonball introduced a trumpet line. There are three professional models of Cannonball trumpetTrumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s: the Big Bell 725 series, the Bavarian Lion reverse leadpipe
Leadpipe
In a brass instrument, a leadpipe is the pipe or tube into which the mouthpiece is placed.For example, on the illustration of a trombone, the leadpipe would be between #3 and #4, the mouthpiece and the slide lock ring. In the illustration of a French horn, the leadpipe is #2.Some instruments have a...
789RL series, and the Lynx lightweight pro model.
Clarinets
Cannonball Arezzo clarinetClarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s are the newest instrument line by Cannonball, and include student Zeloso, semi-pro Fiore, professional Veloce, and premium professional Piacere models.
Patents
Cannonball owns many design patentDesign patent
In the United States, a design patent is a patent granted on the ornamental design of a functional item. Design patents are a type of industrial design right. Ornamental designs of jewelry, furniture, beverage containers and computer icons are examples of objects that are covered by design...
s and utility patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
, protecting its innovations such as the Fat Neck and the use of semi-precious stones.
Artists
Cannonball instruments are endorsed by musicians such as:- Gerald AlbrightGerald AlbrightGerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist.Albright has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals.- Biography :...
- Pete ChristliebPete ChristliebPete Christlieb is a jazz bebop, West Coast jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Christlieb was born in Los Angeles, California and is the son of bassoonist Don Christlieb...
- Branford MarsalisBranford MarsalisBranford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
- Eric DariusEric DariusEric Darius is a smooth jazz saxophonist and composer. He is a native of New Jersey who grew up in Tampa, Florida.- Biography :Darius began his performing career at the age of 11 when he toured with the youth-based Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band. The tour's final performance was held...
- NajeeNajeeJerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard....
- Raul Agraz
- The New Century Saxophone Quartet
- Jamey AebersoldJamey AebersoldJamey Aebersold is an American jazz saxophonist and music educator. His "Play-A-Long" series of instructional book and CD collections, using the chord-scale system, the first of which was released in 1967, are an internationally renowned resource for jazz education...
- Daniel Freire