Greg Black Mouthpieces

What Greg Black Mouthpieces does

Greg Black Mouthpieces (legal entity GB Mouthpieces, Inc.) designs, hand-crafts, and sells brass instrument mouthpieces from a workshop in Mount Holly, North Carolina. Founded by Greg Black in 1985 in Manhattan and later relocated, the company produces mouthpieces for trombone, trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, French horn, tuba, and euphonium. Its primary customer base consists of professional brass musicians in orchestras (New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony), jazz ensembles (Count Basie Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), Broadway shows, and touring bands (Dave Matthews Band), with secondary segments spanning student players — including those who wear braces — and British-style brass band musicians.

The product portfolio centers on handcrafted brass mouthpieces organized into core instrument lines (trombone, trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn, French horn, tuba/euphonium), a modular component system with interchangeable top sections and backbores, and specialty offerings such as Braces Pieces (BP) — positioned as the first mouthpieces designed for players with braces — and DELRIN thermoplastic modular tops. Custom services cover mouthpiece duplication, original design, alterations, and custom stamping. Signature Series collaborations with professional artists (Jim Nova, Michael Baker, Wendell Brunious, John Blount, Rich Szabo) provide artist-designed variants distributed exclusively through partner dealers.

Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of mouthpieces (price band $99-$429), professional custom services ($15-$449), and premium brass instrument resale via the ECT Brass Shop (Adams, Blackburn, Michael Rath, Powell, S.E. Shires, Taylor, Van Laar). Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce on Shopify (with 3-4 week handmade-to-order production lead times) and an authorized dealer network spanning more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The business is privately held and founder-operated; Benjamin Strickland has served as business manager and apprentice since 2019, indicating active succession planning for the artisan-led operation.

Name

Greg Black Mouthpieces

Legal name

GB Mouthpieces, Inc.

Website

https://gregblackmouthpieces.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Greg Black Mouthpieces designs and hand-crafts brass instrument mouthpieces for professional musicians and students worldwide, operating a Shopify direct-to-consumer storefront and an authorized dealer network spanning more than 20 countries from its Mount Holly, North Carolina workshop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical instrument accessories

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE), Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

Keywords

• Brass instrument mouthpieces
• Handcrafted mouthpieces
• Custom mouthpiece design
• Trumpet accessories
• Brass band equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Holly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mouthpiece Sales: One-time sale of handcrafted brass mouthpieces for trombone, trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, French horn, tuba, and euphonium. Standard models and signature series. Price points range from $99 to $429 depending on product type and customization.
2. Custom Mouthpiece Services: Custom mouthpiece design and duplication services. Includes custom duplications/designs for various instruments ($309-$449), mouthpiece alterations ($25+), custom stamping ($15). Consultation required for custom orders.
3. Third-Party Brass Instrument Resales: ECT Brass Shop resells other premium brass instruments including Adams, Blackburn, Michael Rath, Powell, S.E. Shires, Taylor, and Van Laar. Products sold through the same e-commerce platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Greg Black Mouthpieces designs and handcrafts brass instrument mouthpieces for trombone, trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, French horn, tuba, and euphonium, organized into core product lines plus signature and specialty series. The company sells stock and custom-made mouthpieces direct to consumers through Shopify and via a global authorized dealer network. It also offers custom mouthpiece duplication, design, alteration, and stamping services, and resells third-party premium brass instruments (Adams, Blackburn, Michael Rath, Powell, S.E. Shires, Taylor, Van Laar) through its ECT Brass Shop section.

Product overview

Greg Black Mouthpieces is a handcrafted brass mouthpiece manufacturer founded in 1985, producing custom and stock mouthpieces for professional and student musicians worldwide. The product portfolio centers on handcrafted brass mouthpieces organized into core lines: Trombone Mouthpieces (including New York Series, AL Style, G-series variations, NY Legend, Signature Series), Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn Mouthpieces (including 1-Piece, New York Model, NY Legend, Signature Series), French Horn Mouthpieces (Models S, J, C, F, B), and Tuba/Euphonium Mouthpieces (290 Series, HELLEBERG, F1, C1). The company also offers Custom Services & Alterations (custom duplications, designs, alterations, stamping) and operates the ECT Brass Shop as a reseller of premium partner brass instruments (Adams, Blackburn, Michael Rath, Powell, S.E. Shires, Taylor, Van Laar). A specialty offering includes Braces Pieces (BP) designed specifically for players with braces. All mouthpieces are handmade to order in Mount Holly, NC with typical 3-4 week lead times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NY Legend Series: NY Legend mouthpieces featuring wide cushioned rims for extra support and cushion feel
• New York Series
• Braces Pieces (BP)
• 290 Series
• Signature Series
• Modular System

Products and services

• Trombone Mouthpieces Handcrafted brass mouthpieces for trombone covering Symphony Tenor, Alto, Tenor, Contra Bass, and Bass variants. Available in multiple series including New York Series, AL Style, G-series (3G-6G), NY Legend, Jim Nova Signature Series, and Braces Pieces (BP). Sold to professional trombonists and students.
• Trumpet, Cornet & Flugelhorn Mouthpieces Comprehensive handcrafted brass mouthpieces for trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn including 1-Piece, New York Model, NY Legend, John Blount Signature Series, Rich Szabo Signature Series, and modular top sections. Available in various rim sizes, cup depths, and bore options.
• French Horn Mouthpieces French horn mouthpieces in Models S, J, C, F, and B with varying cup diameters, bore sizes, depths, and rim widths. Supports screw rim options and multiple plating choices.
• Tuba & Euphonium Mouthpieces Low brass mouthpieces including 290 Series Euphonium, New York 290 Series Euphonium, HELLEBERG Tuba, F1 Tuba, C1 Tuba, and NY Legend Tuba. Multiple shank options for American and European instruments.
• Custom Mouthpiece Services & Alterations Custom mouthpiece duplication and original design services for all brass instrument types, custom alterations, custom stamping, and custom weights. Consultation required. Prices range from $15 for stamping to $449 for custom trombone designs.
• ECT Brass Shop (Premium Brass Instrument Reseller) Curated selection of premium brass instruments from partner manufacturers including Adams Brass, Blackburn, Michael Rath, Powell Trumpets, S.E. Shires, Taylor Trumpets, and Van Laar Trumpets & Flugelhorns, sold through the same e-commerce platform.
• Braces Pieces (BP) Mouthpieces First mouthpieces specifically designed for players who wear braces. Engineered with trumpet player Rich Szabo to reduce cut lips, improve sound and range. Features cushion rim and V-cup to reduce back pressure. Available for Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French Horn, Trombone, and Cornet at $99.
• DELRIN Modular Mouthpiece Top Sections Modular trumpet, cornet, or piccolo mouthpiece top sections made from DELRIN (polyoxymethylene), a durable engineering thermoplastic with high tensile strength, low friction, and excellent wear resistance. Available in multiple rim sizes and cup depths in black and white/natural color options.
• NY Legend Mouthpieces Premium mouthpiece line for trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn, and tuba featuring wide cushioned rims for extra support and cushion feel. Includes Artist series variants with gold-plated rims and interior cups. NY Legend Artist Trombone Mouthpieces priced at $429.
• Wendell Brunious Signature Series Trumpet Mouthpiece Signature collaboration mouthpiece with New Orleans jazz trumpeter Wendell Brunious, based on a 30-year-old Black^Hill design. Exclusively distributed via New Orleans Trumpets.
• Michael Baker Signature Series Piccolo Trumpet Mouthpiece Piccolo trumpet mouthpiece signature collaboration with trumpeter Michael Baker, based on a Bach '3' sized cornet mouthpiece with unique VM cup design. Exclusively distributed via Dillon Music.
• Jim Nova GB Signature Series Trombone Mouthpieces Signature Series trombone mouthpieces ranging from contra bass to soprano, designed for Pittsburgh Symphony trombonist Jim Nova. Premiered at International Trombone Festival 2021 and exclusively distributed via Johnstonbaugh's Music Centers.
• Short Cornet Mouthpieces Innovative shorter length cornet mouthpieces developed with apprentice Benjamin Strickland, featuring balanced throat bores and new 'UK' backbore designed for the British style brass band community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-4 week production time for custom orders, same-day shipping for popular in-stock items
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Orleans TrumpetscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Partnership with New Orleans Trumpets to create and distribute the Wendell Brunious Signature Series Trumpet Mouthpiece. Wendell Brunious is a cornerstone of the New Orleans music scene since the 1970s. The mouthpiece is exclusively available at New Orleans Trumpets.
• Dillon MusiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Dillon Music serves as the exclusive distributor for the Michael Baker Signature Piccolo Trumpet Mouthpiece. Michael Baker is a professional trumpeter who has worked with Greg Black for 25 years on various mouthpiece projects.
• Johnstonbaugh's Music CenterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Exclusive distributor for Jim Nova Signature Series Trombone Mouthpieces. Jim Nova is a professional trombonist with the Pittsburgh Symphony who has worked with Greg Black since 2002.
• BONE-AFIDEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Greg Black Mouthpieces is proud to sponsor BONE-AFIDE, an emerging chamber trombone ensemble from the UK comprised of Royal Academy of Music students. The quartet won the International Trombone Association Quartet competition in 2020 and received the Tunnell Trust Award and Royal Philharmonic Society Philip Jones Prize.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bach (Conn-Selmer): Industry-leading brass instrument and mouthpiece brand owned by Conn-Selmer, the largest US musical instrument conglomerate. Comparable because Bach mouthpieces are the default mass-market brass mouthpiece and compete head-on with Greg Black across trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba, but at much higher volume and lower price points.
• S.E. Shires: Premium US brass instrument maker (trumpets, trombones, tubas) sold through Greg Black's ECT Brass Shop. Comparable as a high-end handmade brass instrument manufacturer targeting the same professional orchestral and jazz market with overlapping customer relationships.

Direct peers

• Curry Mouthpieces: US-based handmade brass mouthpiece maker focused on professional trumpet and trombone players, known for hand-crafted construction and pro-endorsement marketing. Direct peer in the premium handmade brass mouthpiece niche.
• Pickett Brass: Independent maker of handcrafted brass mouthpieces favored by orchestral and chamber brass players. Comparable as a small-scale premium mouthpiece specialist targeting professional classical and chamber music segments.
• Denis Wick: UK-based maker of premium brass mouthpieces and mutes, particularly dominant in British brass band and orchestral markets. Comparable as a handmade, professional-grade mouthpiece manufacturer with strong European dealer networks and signature artist endorsements.
• Schilke Music Products: Long-established Chicago-based maker of premium brass instrument mouthpieces, including the celebrated Schilke trumpet and trombone lines. Highly comparable as a handmade, premium-priced, professional-trombone/trumpet-focused mouthpiece manufacturer with deep orchestral and jazz penetration.
• Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces: California-based custom brass mouthpiece maker offering handcrafted mouthpieces, custom modifications, and play-testing services. Comparable as a small-batch custom mouthpiece specialist serving professional brass musicians (also notably listed as a Greg Black dealer).
• Marcinkiewicz: Family-run US maker of handcrafted brass instrument mouthpieces with strong following among professional trombone and trumpet players. Direct peer in premium artisanal mouthpiece manufacturing with similar price points and customer profile.
• Hammond Design Mouthpieces: Independent maker of premium brass mouthpieces with custom design services and artist collaborations. Comparable as a small-batch custom mouthpiece manufacturer competing in the same professional brass player segment.
• Doug Elliott Mouthpieces: Boutique brass mouthpiece manufacturer focused on trombone, trumpet, and bass trombone, with strong reputation among jazz and chamber professionals. Direct peer in the handmade premium mouthpiece category serving similar artist-driven channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greg Black Mouthpieces