Live from the NAMM Show 2026 floor, we sit down with Matt Ambrose, Chief Machinist and CAD Designer at Theo Wanne Saxophone Mouthpieces, to talk innovation, manufacturing, and the newly announced partnership with JJ Babbitt.
Matt has been with Theo Wanne from the very beginning, and his expertise in CAD design, programming, and precision machining has been central to the brand’s success. If you’ve ever wondered how Theo Wanne mouthpieces achieve such consistency and detail, Matt is a big part of that story.
Founded in 2007, Theo Wanne Mouthpieces & Instruments blends classic craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. The brand has become a favorite among leading saxophonists including Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, and Chris Potter, and continues to push the boundaries of modern saxophone sound.
In this episode, we go behind the scenes on the NAMM floor to explore Matt’s role inside the company, what the JJ Babbitt partnership means for the future, and how Theo Wanne continues to innovate, most recently with the new Essentials Collection.
⏯️ Tune in for more of Theo Wanne:
👇Here’s the timestamps of what we’ve talked about:
00:09 Introductions
00:41 The Big Reveal
01:26 How the partnership started
02:25 The Metal Otto Link – The NY
03:34 Super Tone Master
04:15 Double Ring Florida
04:45 The Metal LA
05:06 The Link tenor sax line in metal and hard rubber
05:18 More on the collaboration story
06:13 Hard Rubber NY
06:49 LA Hard Rubber
07:08 The nature of molding hard rubber mouthpieces
07:48 The new manufacturing process
09:05 Patreon subscriber question and Theo’s process
10:42 Always innovating
11:23 Philosophy of working with JJ Babbitt
12:17 The reverence Theo pays to legendary mouthpieces
16:07 2025 Essentials Mouthpieces from Theo Wanne
🔗 Stay Connected and Explore More from Theo Wanne:
- Theo Wanne’s Website: https://theowanne.com/pages/essentials
- Theo Wanne’s Bio in Timeline form: https://theowanne.com/pages/mouthpiece-refacing?srsltid=AfmBOopjVy7POIiHp3JBdCOqexmPqgqljDaZFzjXPskzdpVOG4iWLpux
- Theo Wanne’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theowannemusic/
- Theo Wanne’s Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/theowanne/
- Theo Wanne’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheoWanne
- Theo Wanne’s TikTok Account: https://www.tiktok.com/@theowannemouthpieces
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💡This episode is sponsored by the free Masterclass, How to Improvise With Confidence
It’s not about memorizing more theory. It’s about unlocking the instincts and tools you already have so you can finally solo the way you hear it in your head.
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