A BRIEF HISTORY

(Take a brief tour to learn how our mouthpieces are manufactured)

The first Sugal factory for producing mouthpieces  was  Located on South Street in Downtown Providence. In 2001 the factory was moved to East Providence, directly off Route 195 East  (11 Tenth Street, E.Providence) 

Musicians Travel From All Over The World 

Located in East Providence Rhode Island, Sugal Mouthpieces is considered the "premier leader" in the world of high-tech Computer Numerical Controlled manufacturing of saxophone mouthpieces. The company was founded by Gary Sugal in 1990.

About Gary Sugal

As a teenager Gary Sugal played the saxophone and studied with such luminaries in New York as Leo Paul Joe Allard.and Bill Scheiner (former teacher to Stan Getz)

In the late 60's in order to support his family Gary Sugal decided to pursue a career within the jewelry manufacturing industry. After a hiatus from playing of about seventeen years Sugal's love of the saxophone drew him back to music and saw him enroll into the Berklee College of Music.

Business Backround

His jewelry-manufacturing business began in New York City, but while traveling to such exotic places as India, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, France and Brazil, buying and selling jewelry-related products, he often came to Providence to sell his merchandise.

Realizing that Rhode Island offered wonderful opportunities for manufacturing and marketing, Gary built and established his jewelry factory in Providence, where later on Sugal Mouthpieces was also established..

Attends A Music College

In 1988, at the age of 46, Gary's quest for musical excellence led him to enroll as a full-time music student at the world-famous Berklee College of Music in Boston. His goal was to study musical theory and to become fluent the language of jazz. Learning at an early age that sound was just as important as many other aspects of playing the saxophone, Gary wanted to somehow connect his passion for music and sound with his experience as a jewelry manufacturer and designer.

Music With Business

Soon after his studies at Berklee College, which he completed in 1990, he attended a tool-machine trade show in Springfield Connecticut. Using his experience in and knowledge of manufacturing Gary decided to pursue some type of business related to the music industry.

Purchases A High Tech CNC Machine

While attending the machine trade show he looked at some advanced computer and machining technology with an eye to the manufacturing of high-tech saxophone mouthpieces. The sophisticated technology he saw proved ideal for machining mouthpieces.

Numerical Controlled Machining Center (CNC)

In July, 1990, Gary decided to buy a Computer Numerical Controlled Machine and to produce saxophone mouthpieces for the saxophone community. Having bought the Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine, Gary designed a unique high-tech fixture to hold the mouthpiece parts on the machine. The goal was to produce the world's finest saxophone mouthpiece, a mouthpiece better made than any other, and capable of producing a better sound than any other.

Gary wanted his mouthpiece to be different than any thing else on the market and went to extraordinary lengths both in cosmetic and acoustic design. The mouthpiece Gary was using prior to his purchasing his CNC machine simply did not offer the player any of the attributes he wanted to incorporate into a mouthpiece bearing his name.

Introduces New Designs at the NAMM Show

In September and October of 1989 several prototypes were presented to Dave Liebman and Jerry Bergonzi for evaluation. Many original features not found in any other mouthpiece were incorporated into the early designs and are still inherent qualities found in the latest models. Dave Liebman and Jerry Bergonzi offered their recommendations and field tested many of the early models.

In January, 1991, at the National Association of Musical Merchants trade show held each year in Anaheim California, Gary introduced the complete line of SUGAL MOUTHPIECES, revolutionary saxophone mouthpieces.  

Shortly, after his first trade show in 1991 the Sugal factory was swamped with orders. Some of the most prestigious players in the world sought out (and still do) these new high-tech saxophone mouthpieces.  

Musicians such as David Liebman (soprano), Jerry Bergonzi, (tenor) David Sanborn (alto) Nick Brignola (baritone), Ronnie Cuba (baritone) Bob Sheppard (tenor) Kirk Whalum, (tenor) Gary Campbell (tenor) Mark Colby (tenor) and hundreds of others owned and played a Sugal mouthpiece.

Re:Saxophones

In 2001 Gary Sugal was approached by a world leading manufacturer of saxophones to design and sell under his own name all types of saxophones.

An exlusive agreement was entered into by Sugal Mouthpieces to design and sell his saxophones to semi-professional as well as professionl musicians.

Acceptance over the past sixteen years by the professional saxophone community of the "SUGAL" mouthpiece as well as the complete line of :"SUGAL" saxophones has been nothing less than tremendous.!