Inspiring the next generation of brass musicians
Our tools and resources, shared with educators around the world, are designed to help students build sound fundamentals and inspire their passion for music. Founded in the heart of the brass community, our company has dedicated itself to producing high-quality mouthpieces, instruments, and accessories for musicians of all levels. Over the years, we have grown from a small workshop to a trusted name in the industry, continually innovating to meet the needs of our customers.
Featured Collections
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Regular price From $85.00Regular price
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Regular price From $95.00Regular price
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Regular price From $95.00Regular price
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Regular price From $25.00Regular price
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Regular price From $400.00Regular price
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Regular price From $750.00Regular price
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Regular price $29.95Regular price
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Upcoming Tradeshows
Everyone wants to try new Pickett mouthpieces and Blackburn instruments firsthand! And we know it's not always possible to take a trip to our shop in Lexington, Kentucky. So we bring everything on the road and exhibit at trade-shows around the country and world. Coming up next are the following: Midwest Clinic Chicago, Illinois December, 2025 NAMM Anaheim, California January, 2026 TMEA: Texas Music Educators Association Conference San Antonio, Texas February, 2026 NTC: National Trumpet Competition Location: TBD March, 2026 ITG: International Trumpet Guild Conference Eastman School of Music May, 2026 ITF: International Trombone Festival Location: TBD July, 2026
Upcoming Tradeshows
Everyone wants to try new Pickett mouthpieces and Blackburn instruments firsthand! And we know it's not always possible to take a trip to our shop in Lexington, Kentucky. So we bring everything on the road and exhibit at trade-shows around the country and world. Coming up next are the following: Midwest Clinic Chicago, Illinois December, 2025 NAMM Anaheim, California January, 2026 TMEA: Texas Music Educators Association Conference San Antonio, Texas February, 2026 NTC: National Trumpet Competition Location: TBD March, 2026 ITG: International Trumpet Guild Conference Eastman School of Music May, 2026 ITF: International Trombone Festival Location: TBD July, 2026
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150th Kentucky Derby Bugle
Blackburn designed and created the bugle that was used for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on May 4, 2024. We were honored to work with Steve Buttleman, the official bugler for Churchill Downs and Keeneland. This was Steve's 29th year playing for the Kentucky Derby. The two instruments that we created for Steve included a straight bugle (no valves) as well as a 3 piston herald model, both in the key of Bb.
150th Kentucky Derby Bugle
Blackburn designed and created the bugle that was used for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on May 4, 2024. We were honored to work with Steve Buttleman, the official bugler for Churchill Downs and Keeneland. This was Steve's 29th year playing for the Kentucky Derby. The two instruments that we created for Steve included a straight bugle (no valves) as well as a 3 piston herald model, both in the key of Bb.
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Why do we make mouthpieces?
The thought of starting a brass instrument mouthpiece company never really crossed my mind, it just happened. That doesn’t seem possible, but only in hindsight does it look like a logical progression. When I started making trumpet buttons in 2003 on a manual lathe in my garage, it really wasn’t intended to be ‘big business’ or any business for that matter. I like to create things, bringing something to life that didn’t exist before. Something that serves a purpose whether for the art, for basic mechanical function, or for an organization that accomplishes something. In economics, we hear about supply and demand on a regular basis. When consumers want something “the demand goes up and prices go up”. Subsequently, somebody else decides to start making that thing (the supply then increases) and at a certain point the supply and demand are balanced and all are happy. When the supply begins to get too high (somebody makes too much of something), the consumer gets enough, and so demand goes down (and prices go down as people don’t want it anymore). This balancing act of supply and demand is what drives business success. Produce too much of something, the price drops, and as a result, the profit goes away. Produce too little, prices skyrocket and consumer sentiment can take a nosedive. When I was making trumpet buttons in my garage, there was no sense of “demand.” Nobody wants or needs replacement trumpet buttons right? However, I was proven wrong, just one customer at a time in the first several years. One person would see the simple, brass buttons on my trumpet and ask me to make a set for them. At this point, the supply was very low and the demand was brand new for me. As I produced more sets of buttons, the supply increased and met the demand. However, the demand slowly leveled off and therefore I made fewer and fewer sets of buttons and ultimately demand declined.
Why do we make mouthpieces?
The thought of starting a brass instrument mouthpiece company never really crossed my mind, it just happened. That doesn’t seem possible, but only in hindsight does it look like a logical progression. When I started making trumpet buttons in 2003 on a manual lathe in my garage, it really wasn’t intended to be ‘big business’ or any business for that matter. I like to create things, bringing something to life that didn’t exist before. Something that serves a purpose whether for the art, for basic mechanical function, or for an organization that accomplishes something. In economics, we hear about supply and demand on a regular basis. When consumers want something “the demand goes up and prices go up”. Subsequently, somebody else decides to start making that thing (the supply then increases) and at a certain point the supply and demand are balanced and all are happy. When the supply begins to get too high (somebody makes too much of something), the consumer gets enough, and so demand goes down (and prices go down as people don’t want it anymore). This balancing act of supply and demand is what drives business success. Produce too much of something, the price drops, and as a result, the profit goes away. Produce too little, prices skyrocket and consumer sentiment can take a nosedive. When I was making trumpet buttons in my garage, there was no sense of “demand.” Nobody wants or needs replacement trumpet buttons right? However, I was proven wrong, just one customer at a time in the first several years. One person would see the simple, brass buttons on my trumpet and ask me to make a set for them. At this point, the supply was very low and the demand was brand new for me. As I produced more sets of buttons, the supply increased and met the demand. However, the demand slowly leveled off and therefore I made fewer and fewer sets of buttons and ultimately demand declined.
