Cannonball Musical Instruments is a woodwind and brass instrument manufacturer based in Sandy, Utah just outside of Salt Lake City. It was founded in 1996 by Tevis and Sheryl Laukat.
Prior to starting Cannonball, the Laukats were accomplished musicians and educators. They’d spend their spare time tweaking and modifying saxophones at home. That led them to start their own company, which became Cannonball Musical Instruments.
Today, they are one of the most prominent instrument manufacturers in the music industry. They’re best known for their Big Bell Stone Series saxophones, but also produce a wide line of other student, intermediate, and professional instruments:
- Saxophones, including alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone saxes.
- Clarinets and flutes, all of which are produced under the MIO brand.
- Trumpets, including Bb and C trumpets. They also make flugelhorns.
- Trombones, including small-bore tenors, large-bore tenors, and bass trombones.
Most Cannonball instruments are manufactured in Taiwan, then go through an extensive setup process when they reach their Salt Lake City headquarters.
They own over 30 trademarks and patents. Many of them involve how their semi-precious stones affect their instruments’ resonance and tone production.
Where to Buy Cannonball Instruments
Unlike almost every other brand, you can’t find Cannonball instruments anywhere online. They sell exclusively in-store through their dealer network. If you don’t know where your local dealer is, reach out to Cannonball directly and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Learn More About Cannonball Instruments
I’ve put together a few resources about Cannonball saxophones. Take a look:
- The Ultimate Guide to Cannonball Saxophones: Our comprehensive guide to Cannonball saxophones. We go over every current model, plus talk about accessories and answer common questions.
- Big Bell Stone Series vs Vintage Reborn (Differences Explained): Take a deep dive into two of Cannonball’s most popular lines of professional saxophones. We explore the similarities and differences between the Stone Series and Vintage Reborn saxes.
- Cannonball AA-L Alcazar vs. A90-L Falcon Student Saxophones: This guide explores the similarities and differences between Cannonball’s two lines of student saxophones.
