Cannonball Musical Instruments

Cannonball Musical Instruments is a manufacturer of saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, flutes, trombones, and musical instrument accessories. The company was founded in 1996 by musicians Tevis and Sheryl Laukat, and is based in Sandy, Utah.[1] Cannonball specializes in professional, handmade, and uniquely "acoustically hand customized" instruments.[2][3]

Cannonball Musical Instruments
TypeMusical Instrument Manufacturer
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded1996
FounderTevis and Sheryl Laukat
HeadquartersSandy, Utah
Area served
Global
ProductsWoodwind instruments, Brass instruments
Websitehttp://cannonballmusic.com

Saxophones

Cannonball Musical Instruments first began as a saxophone manufacturer. Cannonball saxophones in current production are student Alcazar, intermediate Sceptyr, and professional Big Bell Stone Series, Vintage Series, and Key Artist Series models,[4] are 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).[5][6][7]

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
  • Key Artist Series

Hand-engraved models

Most professional Cannonball saxophone models are hand engraved at the Utah facility, and are categorized as Unlimited or Limited.[8]

Unlimited
  • Gerald Albright signature soprano, alto, and tenor models feature hand engraving on the bell, bow, body, and key guards, including a pair of golf clubs as a nod to one of Albright's hobbies.
  • Vintage Reborn soprano, alto and tenor models are engraved with a traditional-style flower design.
  • Big Bell Stone Series models produced since early 2013 (excluding Raven and Hotspur) are hand-engraved instead of laser-engraved.[9]
  • Key Artist altos and tenors
Limited

A limited hand-engraving series for alto and tenor Vintage Reborn Series saxophones is made concurrently with the unlimited engravings. Chronologically, the limited engraving series to date are:

  • Lady Godiva
  • Sea Dog
  • Falcon
  • Empire
  • 20th Anniversary[10]

The first Pete Christlieb signature Vintage Series models were a limited edition sporting an engraving motif of a drag racer emitting smoke and flames to portray one of Christlieb's interests.[11] Following the limited series, these Signature models were engraved with an unlimited flower design, and were eventually replaced by the unlimited Vintage Reborn series.

Trumpets

After about a decade of manufacturing saxophones, Cannonball introduced a trumpet line.[12] Cannonball trumpets currently in production include professional Artist Series, Big Bell Stone Series, and Lynx; semi-professional Sceptyr; and student Alcazar.

42 Artist Series

Made in the US and introduced in 2014, Cannonball's Artist Series trumpets include 42 (Bb), 42C (C), and 779 (flugelhorn) in various finishes. These received multiple industry awards soon after their release.[13][14]

Big Bell Stone Series

There are two professional models of Big Bell Stone Series trumpets. The Big Bell 725 series has a 4.921" (125mm) bell, and the Bavarian Lion reverse leadpipe 789RL series has a 5.315" (135mm) bell. Both have a medium-large 0.459" (11.66mm) bore and are hand-built in Germany.[15]

Lynx

The Lynx 688LX-S series, also made in Germany, is a pro model designed for lead trumpet players with a unique leadpipe, 4.803" (122mm) bell, and medium-large 0.459" (11.66mm) bore.[16]

Other models

A silver-plated semi-professional model, the Sceptyr, was added in 2014.[17] The student model Alcazar trumpet was introduced in 2013, with availability limited to lacquer finish.[17]

Clarinets

Cannonball Arezzo clarinets were added in 2008,[18] and include student Zeloso, semi-pro Fiore, professional Veloce, and premium professional Piacere models.[19] Cannonball also produces various designs of clarinet barrels and bells in cocobolo and grenadilla.[20]

Flutes

Cannonball introduced its full line of Mio flutes in 2013, including professional, intermediate, and student C flutes; professional and student piccolos; alto flutes; and bass flutes.[21][22][23] Intermediate and solid-silver professional Mio flutes are supplied with both a standard silver-plated crown and a "Royal Crown" made of titanium with an inlaid dome-shaped stone.[24][25][26]

Patents

Cannonball owns many design patents 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.[27][28]

Artists

Cannonball instruments are endorsed by over 150 musicians[29] such as:

The Cannonball Band

To show their company is run by musicians,[35] Cannonball owners and staff compose, record, and produce music videos of live and studio recordings. Songs are composed by CEO Sheryl Laukat, artists Vince Norman and Kris Johnson, and others such as Gordon Goodwin. Performances feature President Tevis Laukat; staff Ryan Lillywhite, Randal Clark, Daron Bradford, Ryan Laukat, and Howard Summers; and various guest musicians and artists.[36]

In January 2013, the Band performed with other Cannonball artists at the Cannonball Artist NAMM Jam hosted by Gerald Albright in conjunction with the NAMM Show.[37]

References
  1. Enright, Ed (August 2007). "Cannonball's Ascent". Music Inc. Magazine: 26.
  2. Warchol, Glen (16 November 2003). "Quality is instrumental to Utah business' success". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E6.
  3. Sollitto, Zach (May 2014). "What to Look For in Today's Professional Model Saxophones". Downbeat: 80.
  4. Cannonball saxophone models webpage
  5. Jazzwise Magazine, retrieved 25 September 2009
  6. "Cannonball saxophone finishes webpage". Archived from the original on 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  7. Phillips, Zach (May 2010). "Brute Force". Music Inc. Magazine: 99.
  8. "Cannonball Saxophone Tour - Engraving webpage". Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  9. Cannonball Hand Engraving webpage
  10. "Cannonball Limited Edition 20th Anniversary Saxophone Models". SBO Magazine: 35. January 2016.
  11. "Pete Christlieb Bio webpage". Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  12. "Sax maker Cannonball adds Stone Series Pro trumpets". Music Trades Magazine. June 2005.
  13. "Editor's Choice Awards". Music Inc.: 83. March 2014.
  14. "Best of the NAMM Show 2014". Downbeat: 72. April 2014.
  15. "Bavarian Lion's Dark Roar". Downbeat: 84. April 2013.
  16. "Let's Hear it for the Band!". The Music Trades: 76. September 2013.
  17. "Cannonball trumpets webpage". Archived from the original on 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  18. "Cannonball Attacks a Bigger Battlefield". Music Trades Magazine. May 2008.
  19. "Cannonball clarinets webpage". Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  20. Cannonball clarinet barrels & bells webpage
  21. "Flute Expansion". Downbeat: 70. April 2013.
  22. Cannonball blog: flute introduction
  23. "Introducing Mio". Music Inc.: 55. June 2013.
  24. Mio flutes webpage
  25. "Retail Holiday Gift Guide". The Music Trades: 77. September 2013.
  26. "Gear: Pro Flute". Music Inc. Magazine: 76. August 2007.
  27. "Patents". Salt Lake Tribune. 21 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  28. Patents.com, retrieved 25 September 2009
  29. "Cannonball artists webpage". Archived from the original on 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  30. "Gerald Albright FAQ webpage". Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  31. YouTube video of Branford playing Cannonball Alto
  32. "NSCQ links webpage". Archived from the original on 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  33. "Raul Agraz equipment webpage". Archived from the original on 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  34. Winston Byrd artist page
  35. blog introducing Cannonball Run song
  36. Cannonball YouTube playlist of Cannonball Band songs
  37. "Cannonball Musical Instruments and Gerald Albright Bring a Taste of NAMM to Spaghettini". Smooth Jazz News: 24. February 2013.
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