JGpercussion was started in 2008 by Jason Ginter. For ten years JGpercussion has worked toward the goal of creating the finest quality timpani mallets. While he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, Jason and his colleagues wondered if it was possible to expand their sound palate with different mallets. His professor Timothy K. Adams (formerly Principal Timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony) was incredibly demanding, because as he said: “This is what the music requires.” The music must drive your sound choices, Adams said, and in turn this informs your stick choices. This introspection resulted in the creation of the JG Original series, which is now discontinued but some of the models can be found in the American Series.

After moving to California later that year, Jason met Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Timpanist Joseph Pereira. The pair began designing a new Signature Series, with bamboo shafts and a mix of ball sticks and flannel mallets. Again the choices were driven by the music. “How can we make a stick that has the proper sound for Mozart? For Beethoven?” Joe asked. The ten models of the Joseph Pereira Signature Series are the result of this search.

Soon after, Jason met Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Timpanist David Herbert. JGpercussion assumed production of David’s mallets, streamlining the process while keeping the same innovative carbon fiber shafts. An exacting musician and a brilliant technician, David asked the question, “Do you want to make good mallets, or do you want to make the best mallets?” The two worked together to refine the sewing process and the construction of each pair. The resulting models have become the David Herbert Signature Series.

In recent years JGpercussion has expanded to new orchestras and ensembles – JG mallets can be found on six continents. Ultimately the goal remains the same: to be driven by the music to create the highest quality timpani mallets.