$451.00
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Jon Gross Signature Tuba Mouthpiece – New Orleans Powerhouse
Inner Rim: 33.2mm / 1.308" | Cup: Shallow | Throat: .295" | Premium Stainless Steel Construction. This signature mouthpiece is the result of a collaboration with Jon Gross — the unstoppable New Orleans tubist who's been anchoring the scene for over 20+ years. From powering the legendary Treme Brass Band through second lines and street parades, to recording on movie scores, TV spots, albums, and commercials, Jon does it all with that signature Crescent City energy and passion. When the room is loud, the band is roaring, and the bass line needs to cut through like thunder — this is the mouthpiece built to deliver. It started life as the iconic LM-12 (the legendary "loud" shallow-cup design), which Jon played as his main piece for nearly a decade. But we didn't stop there. Jon worked directly with us to refine it: a modified rim for superior comfort (less undercut for a smoother, more supportive feel), reduced overall weight to fight fatigue during marathon gigs, and subtle tweaks to the cup and throat for added mid-range depth, richer tone, and incredible dynamic range — from bone-rattling fortissimos to whisper-quiet pianissimos in intimate trad-jazz trios. Why tubists (and sousaphonists) love it:
Whether you're laying down the groove in a second line, anchoring a brass band, or recording in the studio, this mouthpiece gives you the tools to own the low end with power, comfort, and confidence. Jon Gross doesn't just play tuba — he commands it. Now you can too. Jon Gross on his signature piece: "I tried a bunch of other mouthpieces for several weeks, and I kept coming back to this one. It's honestly just fun to play on. It projects way more than the LM-12, with better tone depth — and it's super comfortable for the long haul”. Grab the Jon Gross Signature and feel the New Orleans magic in every note. Built for the streets, the stages, and the players who make the city pulse.
We carefully pack every mouthpiece to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Orders are processed within 1–2 business days and shipped with tracking provided once dispatched.
If you're not completely satisfied, returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery. Items must be unused and in original condition.
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Driven by a deep passion to enhance response, articulation, and overall playing ease, Ivan Giddings channeled his extensive understanding of brass performance into innovating mouthpiece design. Starting with just an idea to create better mouthpieces, his relentless drive led to the development of truly unique designs that prioritize superior playability and sound.
The Giddings Jon Gross mouthpiece is well manufactured and designed. It has a notably shallow and wide cup that renders its sound generally punchy, yet it still retains the low end resonance necessary for concert tuba playing. The dragon's breath add-on changes the hardness of the stainless steel, but—unfortunately—don't expect it to look quite as vibrant and saturated in color as shown in the sample image. The laser engraving option is just as expected and comes in a pleasing font.
Personally, I am using this mouthpiece with a sousaphone for a college marching band. Our program features both corps-style field shows and bombastically-loud football stands tunes. The Jon Gross mouthpiece is good for this mixture of styles because it allows for “cranking” with massive air movement and for warm full-sounding sustains. Just from the month I have been practicing on this mouthpiece, I have increased my peak volume to over 128 decibels and vastly improved my non-cranking playing as well. Although I have a long way to come as a tubist, I have been playing for several years and have performed in many ensembles; with this experience, I firmly believe that this piece of hardware is a good one to have in my arsenal.
Furthermore, I think offering my insight into how this mouthpiece compares to some other standard ones might help an interested buyer determine whether or not it is the right choice. I have owned several mouthpieces for concert playing and marching, including the Helleberg 7B, Perantucci PT-88+, and Laskey 30H. The Jon Gross is far larger and produces a more colossal sound than the Helleberg any day of the week. The 7B is a very small mouthpiece that is really only good for F tuba for students transitioning from high brass to tuba. Despite the Perantucci PT-88+’s size, the Jon Gross outpaces it in all registers. The Gross's low-mid range (Bb below the staff to F right below the staff) is notably loud, something I have seen in no other mouthpiece as of yet. The PT-88+ has a remarkably warm tone but is hindered by its massive size, leaving its sound without much core. The Laskey is perhaps the most similar mouthpiece to the Jon Gross in terms of output, but the Gross simply has more to give at the most extreme dynamic levels.
The true pedal range of the Jon Gross is very strong, and I find myself bouncing low Fs off of the surrounding mountains when I really give it all I have. That being said, I can empty my lungs entirely while this mouthpiece mocks me and begs for more air! I will say that the higher registers of this mouthpiece are harder to control than the funnel-shaped Laskey. This is probably an issue with the player, not the equipment. All in all, this mouthpiece is excellent for playing ridiculously loud, and great for playing regularly as well. I give it five enthusiastic stars and can’t wait for my next marching season with it.
My LM 12 was recently stolen… after using that one for over 10 years I’m happy to say this is a very comparable model. It does feel easier on my chops while still doing all the best things that the LM 12 did. Only giving it four stars because I don’t really care for all of the giant and very visible letter engraving that encompasses the entire mouthpiece
Exceeds expectations
This mouthpiece is great. Its balanced in the high and low range. It has a similar feel to the original LM-12 but with more control over the sound. You can still get the petal out loud.
love the mouthpiece it it’s pretty shallow and has an extremely comfortable rim also it doesn’t have a after smell or taste after playing it for a while it’s also a crank machine it makes playing hbcu style pretty easy.
Designed and manufactured in Mississippi, USA, our mouthpieces represent the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Built with precision and care, they deliver consistent performance trusted by professionals and passionate musicians worldwide.
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