What Is the GIANT Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece?
The GIANT series introduces a new concept in saxophone mouthpiece design that we call “Stealth Metal” combining the outside shape and look of a hard rubber mouthpiece with the precision of Aerospace Grade Hard Anodized Aluminum.
The GIANT has a dark, big saxophone sound but with strong projection and cut. The JodyJazz GIANT is excellent for Jazz, Straight Ahead, Bebop, Big Band, even Rock, Funk, and Blues. Due to its versatility, it can blend nicely with a concert band or saxophone quartet.
Big • Complex • Timeless
The GIANT is a great saxophone mouthpiece that seems to appeal to a very broad variety of players.
Made on our five-axis CNC mill in our factory in Savannah. The Aerospace Grade Hard Anodized Aluminum provides the perfect tone and the ability to manufacture with extremely high tolerances.
Four Goals in Creating the JodyJazz GIANT Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
- To capture the very best of our popular HR* hard rubber line of mouthpieces and then through 3D modeling take it to the next level.
- To create a tenor sax mouthpiece that is both warm and dark but with has a huge sound at the same time.
- To make a metal mouthpiece with the same cutting edge technology as our DV sax mouthpieces, but costs less to produce since we don’t 24kt Gold Plate the Hard Anodized Aluminum.
- To demand and achieve the most rigorous QUALITY CONTROL possible. Each mouthpiece is individually play tested by Jody Espina or one of our professional saxophonists on staff to insure a perfect seal with the reed and proper response throughout the range of the saxophone.
JodyJazz GIANT Tenor Sax Mouthpiece Available Tip Openings
- 6* = .095
- 7* = .105
- 8 = .110
- 8* = .115
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JodyJazz GIANT Tenor Sax Mouthpiece Price: $350
The mouthpiece comes with Deluxe Mouthpiece Pouch. Free domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping and handling included. (Click “Buy Now” button to see overseas shipping).
$350.00 – $395.00
Does Not Include Ligature
This mouthpiece does not come with a ligature. Your current ligature (if you have a hard rubber mouthpiece) should fit this mouthpiece, but for upgrades on the ligature you can look here at our POWER RING® Ligatures. The POWER RING HRT1 Gold and HRT1S Silver models are made specifically for this mouthpiece. You can also look here at our H-Ligature options as well.
JodyJazz GIANT Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Demonstration by Jody Espina
JodyJazz Artist – Arno Haas Demonstrates the Tenor GIANT 7* at the 2014 Musik Messe in Frankfurt Germany
Jody Espina Introduces the JodyJazz GIANT Mouthpeice at MusikMesse 2014
JODYJAZZ ARTIST TESTIMONIALS
Vincent Thekal
“With my JodyJazz GIANT Tenor 7*, I can definitely develop and enjoy my own sound. Everything is clear from the bottom to the altissimo, I can have a warm sound, in every situation, from straight ahead jazz to fusion. About nuances too, playing pianissimo or fortissimo is both so easy. After trying so many different mouthpieces, I can say that I found my reference today.”
JD Allen
“A GIANT among mouthpieces. My Jody Jazz Giant 8 makes it easier to express honest human emotions, which is the ultimate goal for any artist; translating the four basic human emotions of Happiness, Fear, Anger & Sadness – onto his or her horn. This mouthpiece is helping me realize this goal.”
Vinicius Chagas
“I often play the fourth and fifth octaves. If the reed is too soft, it shuts the opening and you don’t reach the notes. And, also, if the mouthpiece is too open, you might get tired. Then, to me, that is why the JodyJazz GIANT Tenor 8* is ideal; the tip opening is not too large and neither is it too small, so that I can play the different pitches without getting tired. I can play a soft reed and reach all the pitches.”
MAGAZINE REVIEWS
GIANT Tenor – SEPT 2014
GIANT Tenor – MAY 2014
“The range of sounds the Giant can produce is remarkable…..The response and tone were even in all […]
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Special Notes on the GIANT Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
Every JodyJazz mouthpiece is hand finished to insure the absolute best quality. In addition, each mouthpiece is individually play tested by Jody Espina or one of our professional saxophonists on staff to insure a perfect seal with the reed and proper response throughout the range of the saxophone.
The GIANT Difference
- 5 Axis CNC Machining – Allows for extremely precise manufacturing and repeatability.
- Unique Design – The unique inner and outer shape of the JodyJazz GIANT Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece gives it a unique sound and feel. This is a unique chamber design.
- Hand Finished – Each GIANT mouthpiece is hand finished to ensure the absolute best quality and is individually play tested to ensure a perfect seal with the reed and proper response throughout the range of the saxophone.
What Does The GIANT Do?
- Big Warm Complex Sound
- Free Blowing with a touch of resistance
- Extremely even sound throughout the range of the saxophone
- Responsive in all registers
- Power and Projection
- Good for all styles of music
How Does The GIANT Do It?
- Large Chamber
- Precision – CNC Machined
- New facing curve
- Hand finished baffle and tip rail
- Play tested by Jody Espina or one of our professional saxophonists
- Unique material – Anodized Aluminum
A Giant Step for Your Sound
- not loud, BIG
The GIANT has a large chamber and a large sound. This tenor saxophone mouthpiece is somewhat unique in the fact that normally to get a lot of projection you have to have a smaller chamber, which gives you a brighter more cutting sound. And when a mouthpiece has a larger chamber the sound becomes warmer but the projection goes way down. Another way to say that is that large chamber saxophone mouthpieces are typically quieter. But the GIANT has a large chamber and huge warm sound due to the following unique factors that make up the GIANT: Material – Anodized Aluminum, Facing Curve – this is a brand new facing curve that allows maximum reed vibration, Baffle – this is the material inside the mouthpiece right next to the tip rail (extremely important for projection), Chamber Shape – The GIANT has its own unique chamber shape which is allowing warmth with projection.
- not focused, COMPLEX
The GIANT produces a sound that has a core and more. There are many aspects to a saxophone sound and when we say a mouthpiece has a focused sound we mean that you hear more core to the sound than anything. The chamber and material combination of the GIANT are allowing it to create a sound that can be shaped by the player and ultimately have many interesting and complex aspects to the sound creating unique beauty to your saxophone sound.
- not vintage, TIMELESS
There are so many Jazz saxophone mouthpieces on the market today that are simply trying to recreate mouthpieces of the past. When making the GIANT we did not have this goal in mind although we think that those players wishing to evoke the sound of Classic Jazz mouthpieces should look at the GIANT. But rather we were trying to move into the future using state of the art manufacturing techniques, new material and new ideas to create a new Classic Jazz Sound.
- Stealth Metal
The GIANT has the outside shape and look of a hard rubber mouthpiece but the Anodized Aluminum material gives it the precision of a metal mouthpiece. CNC machined to exact tolerances. The large chamber is expertly hand finished to produce an extraordinarily full sound.
GIANT Tenor George Garzone Signature Models
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JodyJazz GIANT GARZONE Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Demonstration by Jody Espina
The two newest additions to the GIANT Tenor range. Working with world-renown Tenor Saxophonist George Garzone, the company has developed the GIANT Tenor 9* and 10* models both of which will be launched as George Garzone “Signature” models.
“George Garzone is one of my favorite Sax players and in my opinion one of the greatest Tenor players of all time. He is inarguably one of the greatest living Tenor players today,” says Jody. “Larger tip openings give you more harmonics in the sound and a darker tone. The larger distance allows the reed to vibrate further, generating more harmonics. I knew these characteristics would truly lend themselves to the inherent qualities of the GIANT Tenors but larger tip openings saxophone mouthpieces are more difficult to play and require more control and practice. So I was determined to develop large tip openings to offer in the GIANT range that would be easier to play and working with George I’m proud to say we’ve more than achieved that goal.”
The main way this was accomplished was by using a facing curve that is similar to the curve on one of George Garzone’s old Hard Rubber Link 10* mouthpiece that he used to play many years ago. Essentially it is a shorter facing than you would expect on a large tip opening.
“I’ve been playing the JodyJazz HR* hard rubber for years and thought I would never look at another mouthpiece, but when Jody invited me to the factory to work with him on the larger tip openings for the new GIANT Tenors, I was intrigued,” said George Garzone. “Many years ago we’d worked together to develop the facing curve on my HR* Tenor 10* and we applied the same principles to the new GIANT Tenor 9* and 10*. Jody’s facing curve makes these larger tip openings much easier to play. The metal mouthpiece with the hard rubber shape is the perfect mix for me. The colors in the sound of the GIANT are amazing and I love the way I can lean into it to shape my sound.”
Many people will doubt that they can play a 9* or a 10* but they are so often surprised that it does not require much more energy than their current 8* for example. We encourage you to try the Giant George Garzone Signature Model for yourself.
Customer Reviews
Absolutely the Best
"I’ve been exploring the JodyJazz mouthpieces for about seven years since my first convention in 2016. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked. I’ve tried other companies and strayed off the beaten path, but I always find myself coming back. I recently even purchased the HH and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a mouthpiece. Thank you, JodyJazz, for seeing me through my journey as a musician! Here’s to many more years."
-Connor Bigelow
Amazing Mouthpiece
"After answering the 6's from JodyJazz, I received recommendations on what mouthpieces to get, and purchased Giant.
My first impression in one word was..."WOW"! I never understood what "stealth metal" meant until I played this mouthpiece. It looks like hard rubber but it isn't. The sound is a mixture of dark and bright. There isn't a word I can think of to describe my impression, but it's a mixture of dark but powerful. The seal is excellent in this mouthpiece. As you can see in the photo, I do not get the same "pop" sound from my Otto Link Tone Master and Tone Edge when I do the seal test. The difference between Giant and Otto Link Tone Master is like "night and day".
I don't have to adjust my embouchure that much to get to the right tune. I practiced the whole day on the first day this mouthpiece arrived and I lost track of the time. It is so enjoyable to play with this mouthpiece. My other mouthpieces sound like trash compared to Giant. I love this mouthpiece and it’s probably the best one I ever owned. It looks hard rubber but sounds metal to me. I can’t wait to get the DV CHI."
-Cesar Sison
The JodyJazz Giant Tenor 7* was always my favorite
"The JodyJazz Giant Tenor 7* was always my favorite, but I had to experiment with the DV CHI Tenor metal and the JET eventually, just to hear and feel the differences. I currently own all three. I also played a Vandoren mouthpiece for a time. But I always came back to the Giant. Recently, I had to stop playing/practicing due to a moderately severe and long lasting bout of Covid. Just today, I had enough energy to play for about 40 minutes, which was a wonderful feeling. The night before, I had seen Jody's video about embouchure endurance, hours per week playing, and other factors as a means for Jody to help players find the right piece. Remembering his saying that his own embouchure was relaxed across the range, and the importance of the facing curve, etc...I made a slight adjustment to my own embouchure. When I did this, I literally discovered my long sought after personal sound on the Giant. It gave me the "Texas tenor" sound, great intonation across the range, the flexibility in dynamics, and I had to get accustomed to using more air through the horn. I have never been as pleased as I am with the Giant sound with my expertly and recently overhauled Yanigasawa T991. It was a huge leap, and all attributed to the Giant and to Jody's comments, teaching, and advice. I use a 3 Fibracell reed, and I am convinced I have never sounded better on any piece. I also discovered a huge improvement with the DV CHI as well, although I would have to play the Chi a few weeks in order to become totally comfortable with it. I love the spread and larger size of the Giant. I have learned through the years that Jody gives the most accurate and thoughtful advice and descriptions to customers and potential customers. Sure, he wants to sell, and he is getting into other name brands, but it would seem that customers will be able to trust his products and his advice."
-Bruce Henderson
Easy to play, fantastic sound
"A friend of mine sold me his Giant with a number 7* tip opening.
I love how easy it is to play from the bottom all the way through to the top. It's brighter than the average piece in my collection but I tend heavily towards the darker warmer toned mouthpieces.
I find that with a short warmup period of a couple minutes the tones fill out and bring a sound very similar to my early Babbitt Otto Link. A difference I have found is when I push this mouthpiece hard it modulates to a sound that seems more contemporary and suitable for rock or funk. If I lay low on it I can get the breathy warmth of a ballad out of it as well.
Overall this has quickly become one of my favorite mouthpieces for my tenor and is there for me when I want something that can deliver some punch."
-Peter Hawrylyshen
Got my sound back with JodyJazz!
"I currently play the JodyJazz Giant 8* for tenor. For me it's the best of all worlds. It offers plenty of projection and it sits in the middle of the dark to bright spectrum. For me, all that means I can color my sound however I need to. It lets me sing out when I need to and even and cut through a loud rock band, but I can use the same piece to blend into a jazz big band sax section or play in more intimate small ensembles. I can subtone all I want and still play way up in the altissimo register with a good tone and dynamics.
I've been playing JodyJazz mouthpieces since 2012. At the time I was recovering from a case of Bell's palsy -- a temporary, partial facial paralysis -- which obviously prevented me from playing my horn for a while. As muscle movement gradually returned I was determined to play again but my old mouthpieces had too much resistance for my recovering embouchure. Air would leak out of the side of my mouth because I simply didn't have the physical strength or control to deal with it. Through word-of-mouth I heard about JodyJazz and really appreciated the ethos of more free-blowing mouthpieces. I got a JodyJazz Classic Tenor #8 (which was still in production at that time) and an HR* Tenor #7*, both of which were far less resistant than what I had. I could play again! I was still far from where I wanted to be, but just the ability to make the sounds I wanted to hear kept me going and the more I played, the stronger I got. I truly believe playing accelerated my recovery and JodyJazz had a lot to do with that!"
-Darius Hampton