After many years working on Boosey & Hawkes and early Besson Sovereign Tubas, MJC have developed a range of leadpipes that give alternatives to the standard "Imperial" (982) and the Sovereign 981 pipes.
We also give the option to move the angle or height of the pipe to improve the ergonomics of holding the Tuba.
We can also customise the receiver to adjust the response on the instrument, making the notes easier to slur or lock the pitches in better, depending on your preference.

All our leadpipes and receivers are hand made, ensuring that the quality is consistent every time.
All lead pipes come with an MJC brass receiver as standard. Nickel Silver is available at an extra cost.


EEb B&H Besson/Yamaha

MJC-SC Now available
This pipe is based on the rare pipe made for the Swiss market by B&H in the 1970s and 1980s. A focused sound, similar to the Imperial pipe but with better intonation in the high register.

MJC-01(coming soon)
This pipe is similar in size to the Old imperial but with better intonation.

MJC-02 (coming soon)
An intermediate-sized pipe that is a little bigger-sounding than the Imperial/982.

MJC-03
This pipe is a great all-rounder. It's the pipe we've put on more instruments than any other. It works equally well on EEb, CC or BBb.
A large but manageable sound with good focus. Better 4th valve (EEb) register than the 981 pipe. Good intonation.

" The lead pipe Mike put on my EEb has the sound of a 981 with the response of a 982"
Lee Tsamarklis, London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fantastic new leadpipe and receiver designed, made and fitted to my Imperial by Mike Johnson. Made to the exact height I requested and blows great! Has really opened up the tuba and has excellent response. For me it has the symphonic sound of a 981 but much easier to blow and sustain across the whole range. Ta Mike.
Ian Foster Tuba Player Royal Shakespeare Company, English Symphony Orchestra.


BBb B&H/Besson

MJC-02
This pipe is similar to the MJC-03 EEb pipe with a few subtle variations. It opens up the compensating BBb making the instrument respond and raising the amount of sound possible before the sound breaks up.



Nickel Silver Receiver
Gives the aesthetics of a nickel silver finish to the receiver.

As a player who has a very long back, I've had issues with not only the height limitations, but with constantly fighting with the weight of the instrument, pulling the instrument over to the right.
Our Tuba Stick deals with both issues.
Adjustable for different height chairs and for growing players.

The name "Tuba Stick" comes from the first time the late "Benny" Morris (Bass Trombone, Hallé Orchestra 1999- 2015) saw my EEb.
"Oh look! It's a Tuba on a stick! "
So that's the name we use!

"Mike, I could kiss you, well not actually! It feels weightless, I wish I'd had this 20 years ago!
Lee Tsarmaklis, London Philharmonic Orchestra. Besson 981"

Swiss Tuba player Marc Unternährer is 1.98 metres tall in his bare feet! That's 6'6" in old money!
Using the MJC 'Tuba Stick' not only allows the player to sit up straight. It takes the weight of the instrument straight to the chair. All you have to do is balance it. It feels weightless!

The MJC 4th valve conversions came about, almost by accident.
We were approached by a player who was having physical difficulties. The doctors had told him to stop playing.
Not being a large fellow, the stretch round a standard, compensating EEb was causing the nerves in his shoulder muscles to detach from the muscles!
We came up with a plan: replacing the standard 4th valve with a rotor, so the lever could be much closer to the player, and alleviate the stretching.
What we didn't expect, was that this completely opened up the traditionally stuffy 4th valve register! The 'kickback' commonly experienced with the 4th valve register is all but non-existent, allowing truer intonation and truer colour to the sound.
Result: A compensating instrument that is as open as a non-compensating instrument*.

If the instrument has dents where the braces need to go, these will need to be removed. This can be assessed and quoted for accordingly.



* If the main 3 valves are worn, the difference is less but it still works. This can be cured by a valve rebuild.