Sheryl Laukat, CEO Tevis Laukat, President

CEO Sheryl Laukat tells a little bit about the history of Cannonball...

"Tevis & I met in 1982. I was a Jr. High Band Director and Tevis was sponsored by the local music store to visit my band classes as a guest clinician. We both loved the saxophone. It was my major instrument in college and Tevis was a professional musician, playing all the doubles, but especially the saxophone. He had a B.S. degree in music performance. We soon married, and several years later we discovered something grand!

Tevis and I both played on valued vintage saxophones. But one day a newer saxophone came into our hands. The trouble was, it didn't play or sound very good. Tevis regulated it and it improved, but the sound and the pitch was still lacking. For fun, we began to experiment with the horn, altering the air flow and changing the acoustical properties of the instrument. We were amazed at what happened! Through divine inspiration we soon became very good at altering the pitch of any note we wanted, and changing the tone quality of the instrument. If we wanted clearer altissimo we could do it. If we wanted more lows, or focus we could do it. Before long, it was nearly impossible to tell the difference in sound between our valued vintage horns and this new horn and the pitch surpassed our vintage horns. We were jumping up and down with excitement! We knew we really had something! We were so excited that we risked everything and mortgaged our home to pursue our new adventure!

We first needed to find a place to make our saxophones."


Where are Arezzo Clarinets Made?

The research and development of our Cannonball Arezzo clarinet division began in the USA, where we analyzed many clarinets and found the positives and negatives of each. We used that information to lead us to manufacturing facilities that would build to our specifications. It is very important to us, as with our other lines, that our ideas and innovations be perfectly implemented on our models. For example, it is critical to have the proper drying time, temperature, and humidity for the wood; many other procedures are similarly important in building a professional clarinet. We manufacture the upper and lower joints of our professional clarinets in northern China, where we also make our semi-professional and student clarinets. We manufacture the bells and barrels for our professional models in Utah, USA. Most importantly, the final assembly, mechanical fine adjustments, fine tuning, and acoustical customization for all of our clarinets are meticulously completed in our Utah, USA facility.




Salt Lake City, Utah Facility

Cannonball facility in Sandy, Utah.

After all clarinet parts are finished they arrive at our 12,000 square foot/1,115 square meter facility in Sandy, Utah, USA - 15 miles/24 kilometers outside of Salt Lake City. This is where the most important work is done. In Utah, we hand customize and fit each instrument to ensure quality and consistency. After we dry the wood for our professional bells and barrels for up to 7 years in a humidity- and temperature-controlled environment, the bells and barrels are precisely cut by a state-of-the-art CNC machine. Each clarinet is then carefully fitted, regulated and inspected. Finally, our professional clarinetist play-tests each horn, hand undercutting tone holes, adjusting pitch and tone, setting a uniform timbre up and down the scale, assuring that the sound is full-bodied and full of ping, and adjusting the throat tones to be clear and full.

Owners of Cannonball

Sheryl Laukat

Sheryl Laukat, CEO
Personal Saxophone: Big Bell Stone Series Lacquered Alto

Sheryl was raised in Utah. Saxophones were played by her family and extended family so she kept up the tradition. (Her mother still plays and performs with her saxophone at age 78.) Sheryl graduated from Weber State University with a degree in Music Education and an emphasis in saxophone. She was the band director at Millcreek Jr. High School in Bountiful, Utah. Sheryl donated her time for over 11 years as the pianist and arranger of the International Children's Choir which performed for visiting ambassadors, royalty, and religious leaders from all over the world. She currently serves as the Vice President for the Board of Directors of the choir. Sheryl also serves on the National Advisory Committee for Weber State University and will be honored as a Distinguished Alumni 2010.

What does Sheryl do at Cannonball? She oversees all operations. While managing instrument production, she enjoys frequent communication with our partners in Taiwan, Germany and China. She also heads International Distribution. The marketing aspect of Cannonball is one of her favorite fortes, as is talking with musicians and dealers. Above all, Sheryl loves happy customers.

Tevis Laukat

Tevis Laukat, President
Personal Saxophones: Vintage Reborn: Dark Amber Lacquer Alto, Dark Amber Lacquer Soprano Big Bell Stone Series: Raven Tenor, Raven Bari

Tevis was raised in beautiful Sacramento, California. He started playing clarinet at a young age and he quickly added the saxophone and flute. As a junior in high school, he was invited to play with the Consumnes River College Jazz Band. He later attended Brigham Young University where he mastered all of the woodwinds and graduated with a music performance degree. During college, he was awarded outstanding soloist in several jazz festivals. As lead tenor sax player, he toured Hungary and Romania with BYU's Synthesis Jazz Band, which was the very first non-communist musical group allowed in each of those countries. After graduating, he had a successful career as a professional woodwind doubler in both Utah and California. He played in the Concord Pavilion with the Mills Brothers, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis and the Spinners. He also played for the Donny and Marie Television Show, Ray Charles, Bob Hope, the Utah Symphony, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, just to name a few. He played in live musicals for 20 years in Salt Lake City's Pioneer Memorial Theater and Sacramento's Music Circus, which often included New York original casts. Besides live performances he has recorded for television, radio commercials, CD's, and many major motion pictures. What does Tevis do at Cannonball? He oversees and participates in hand acoustical customization of the horns. He also creates, experiments with and tests new ideas. Communication is his talent and it is a great pleasure for him to communicate with musicians and dealers. His dealer area concentrates on USA and Canada but he enjoys being involved with all Cannonball dealers and distributors worldwide. He provides laughter for the staff by using his kid-like enthusiasm for life, good food, cars, and especially great musical instruments!


Cannonball Acoustical Experts and Quality Control Staff

Daron Bradford
Professional Clarinet and Woodwind Artist,
Head Clarinet Acoustical Customizer

Personal Clarinet: Piacere

Daron Bradford, our main acoustical expert, was the principal clarinetist for the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra and played for the Donny and Marie Osmond TV show. He currently plays solo performances on clarinet, saxophone, and celtic instruments with the Utah Symphony and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Daron is a faculty member at Brigham Young University School of Music teaching saxophone and clarinet, and is also a first-call recording artist and freelance musician on all woodwinds.


Randal Clark
Professional Saxophonist, Acoustical Expert, Director of Media and Education

Personal Saxophones: Big Bell Stone Series: A5 "Mad Meg", T5 "Mad Meg. Vintage Reborn: Dark Amber Lacquer Alto, SA5 BiceB "Raven"

Randal plays and acoustically customizes most of the Alto and Soprano saxophones. He is a professional saxophone player in the Salt Lake area. He has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Utah with an emphasis in saxophone and conducting. He is a frequent recording artist for commercials, television, CD's, and has been featured on many soundtracks for computer game software. He has appeared at the Park City International Jazz Festival and the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival. While a member of the University of Utah's Jazz Ensemble One, the ensemble took 1st place at the collegiate competition at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at Moscow, Idaho in 1996. Randal currently plays principal alto saxophone in the Utah Wind Symphony. In addition to working for Cannonball, he is a full-time high school band, orchestra, and jazz band teacher. His ensembles have been consistently the top in the state. He is the conductor of the Canyons Symphony Orchestra, an honors orchestra involving students from all over the Salt Lake Valley, and has been the conductor of the Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony, a professional adult wind symphony in the area. We are also happy to have him serve as our education coordinator. Randal is in demand as a guest soloist, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator.


Ryan Lillywhite
Professional Saxophonist, Acoustical Expert,
Parts Manager, International Representative
Personal Saxophones: Vintage Reborn: Dark Amber Laquer Alto, Brute Tenor
Big Bell Stone Series: Black with Silver Keys Tenor

Ryan plays and acoustically customizes most of the Tenor and Baritone saxophones. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in business management and a minor in music. As the lead tenor sax player for three years in BYU's top jazz band, Synthesis, he toured with the band and was a frequently featured soloist. Ryan has performed with numerous ensembles throughout Utah including the Utah Symphony. He performs and records regularly and has taught saxophone and clarinet lessons. He can be heard on a number of soundtracks and CDs. An innovative musician, he has won awards in organ and piano competitions and played ukulele for a Tahitian dance team. Ryan is also fluent in French and Tahitian and volunteers his time to interpret these languages for worldwide conferences. He has had extensive training and experience in instrument repair, facilitating his roles as parts manager and contributor to the design of Cannonball instruments.


Ryan Laukat
Professional Trumpeter, Acoustical Expert, Master Engraver
Personal Trumpets:

Ryan plays and acoustically customizes all of the Cannonball trumpets. He is a lifelong musician and has played trumpet at the University of Utah in the Jazz Band and Wind Symphony, as well as in community orchestras, musicals, and events. He is a current member of the Utah Wind Symphony, and has performed many times as a guest artist with the International Children's Choir. He is also a professional artist/illustrator; he works as the head of hand engraving at Cannonball and is part of the advertising team. His art is featured on many Cannonball products and advertisements. The new Lynx brace design is Ryan's original creation. He is also a freelance illustrator and specializes in books, board games, portraits, and advertisements. He is fluent in Spanish. He is also a trained saxophone and clarinet technician and runs all laser engraving at the Salt Lake City facility.


Quality Control Staff

Julee	Lindsay	Rachel	Chris	Rachel
Corrine	Mary	Austin	Robert

Piacere

The premium professional Piacere model (pronounced "Peeah-chey-rey") is the ultimate in sound and superior action. "Piacere" means "pleasing" Italian. Every attention to detail is meticulously carried out by our Acoustic Customization professionals. Piacere comes standard with an exotic cocobolo wood body and gold-plated keys. The wood is dried in our specially monitored wood rooms to help prevent future cracking. The action is tuned to the needs of the most discriminating player. Every Piacere comes with two custom cocobolo bells two custom cocobolo barrels.

Veloce

The professional Veloce model, like the Piacere, meets the needs of the pickiest professional clarinetists. "Veloce", pronounced "Vey-low-chey", means "velocity" in Italian. The sound and action are tuned to our extremely exacting standards making Veloce a perfect choice for someone looking for a high-end clarinet. The body is made from the finest Grenadilla wood aged in our specially controlled wood rooms for even drying to help prevent cracking. Every Veloce comes with two custom cocobolo bells and two custom cocobolo barrels.

Fiore

The semi-professional Fiore, pronounced "Fee-oh-ray" means "Fire" in Italian. This full grenadilla wood clarinet is designed to please the most demanding player with solid tone and action. Even though this is our semi-professional model, the Fiore goes through the same customization process as our professional models. The body is made from the finest Grenadilla wood aged in our specially controlled wood rooms for even drying to help prevent cracking. Every attention to detail is observed. The Fiore comes standard with silver-plated keys.

Zeloso

The student level Zeloso, pronounced "Zay-low-so" means "Zealous" in Italian. Designed specifically for the ambitious student where the desire to learn is equal to the clarinets potential to deliver. Tone, and exceptional build quality are the hallmarks of this solid clarinet. The Fiore goes through the same customization process as our professional models. The body is made from quality ABS, and the player will have the choice between polished-nickel plated, or black-nickel plated keys. Zeloso comes with one bell and barrel.

Ergonomics and Extra Keys

Our register key is Arezzo's custom ergonomic design. When you hold your thumb to the instrument, it is at 45-degree angle; so, we have made the key's left side taller than the right to accommodate a better feel. Piacere models include a G#/C# trill extension key, and an Eb/Ab lever.


Right Hand G#/C# trill extension key and Auxilary Eb/Ab lever

These extra keys help with alternate fingerings and facilitate difficult passages.

Undercutting and Bore Design

One of the most important steps in finishing the clarinet in our Utah facility is undercutting. Each tone hole is hand undercut to ensure correct intonation and resonance during the acoustical adjusting process.


Bore Design

For superior intonation and uniform timbre, a clarinet’s bore must have specific areas that increase in diameter, as well as others that decrease in diameter. Our polycylindrical bore design also incorporates reverse tapers, which align the pitch of the 12ths between upper and lower registers.

Our Piacere and Veloce professional models include two bells and two barrels with each clarinet. We make four different styles of bells and barrels of cocobolo wood; two of these styles are offered with the Piacere, and two with the Veloce. The different styles give you an option of sound and response, so you can easily adapt to your unique playing situation. Our wood bells come without a metal ring on the bell with helps with better resonance and true unobstructed sound.

Wood Bell and Barrel sound description:

Classic
Good Foundation, Traditional in sound, good response.

Fjord
Quick response, light feel, and precise attack, more projection.

Countess
Slightly darker and warmer while retaining quick response, solid and woody, focused, round sound.

Goblet
Round, warm, deep and darker, full bodied sound, more playing resistance, gives weight to the sound.

Wood

We use only the best wood to make our Arezzo clarinets. You can see the rich, dark brown wood grain of the premium unstained Grenadilla we use for our Piacere, Veloce, and Fiore models; compare this to lower quality Grenadilla which is usually stained a dark black color to hide blemishes and flaws. Our wood drying rooms are constantly maintained at a strict humidity and temperature range, and are continually monitored so we know when the wood is optimal for cutting. When the wood is ready, we cut it precisely with a computer-controlled lathe, and then age it for at least three more weeks as the wood continues to settle. A final cut is then done when the wood is settled, and the joints are hand-fit to the clarinet bodies. We import our Cocobolo and Grenadilla woods from environmentally conscious and sustainable sources in South America.

Key Finishes

Arezzo keys are made of strong nickel silver, and are plated with gold, silver, or anodized black nickel.

Engraving

The Arezzo logo artwork was designed by artist Kelly Ricks, and is engraved in Utah, USA with a precision laser engraving machine.

Acoustical Customization

Each clarinet is individually finished at our Utah, USA facility. Daron Bradford, master acoustical technician, acoustically adjusts each clarinet by hand. This includes thoroughly inspecting and adjusting pitch, timbre, balance, response, resonance, focus, and overall sound and feel.

The Arezzo logo artwork was designed by artist Kelly Ricks, and is engraved in Utah, USA with a precision laser engraving machine.

Each clarinet is individually finished at our Utah, USA facility. Daron Bradford, master acoustical technician, acoustically adjusts each clarinet by hand. This includes thoroughly inspecting and adjusting pitch, timbre, balance, response, resonance, focus, and overall sound and feel.

Acoustic Customizers

Daron Bradford & Tevis Laukat