American vs Euro Shank for Nirschl York

[amawrence]

Does anyone know which shank is better for a Nirschl York copy? I have two of the same mouthpiece, except for the shank size. They both seem to fit, but the Euro shank mouthpiece sticks out a bit more. Thanks!

[barry grrr-ero]

I don't know that tuba. However, my experience is that a tuba plays a bit better if the shank isn't sticking too far into the receiver. That seems to cause problems for me. Given the choice between a tad short and tad long, I gravitate to the tad long one. Of course, if your tuba plays a bit flat, the shorter shank may help (maybe). I'd say play on both of them for a while, check your tuning and see if you can't draw your own conclusions. If you want to be somewhere 'in the middle', you could always pay a good tech to turn down the shank on the longer one. I've had that done in the past.

[Carnival of Venice]

Does anyone know which shank is better for a Nirschl York copy? I have two of the same mouthpiece, except for the shank size. They both seem to fit, but the Euro shank mouthpiece sticks out a bit more. Thanks!

Your receiver is American.

[GeoffC_UK]

https://youtu.be/QnkmuljLAFk

Morning,
I had exactly the same issue with my Willson - see Youtube link above.
In the end both shanks work and play tunefully, as per the fit you see.
G

[Wes Krygsman]

Short answer...both shanks will work in that tuba.

Long answer...both shanks will work in that tuba, but either shank could be a better fit for the way you play vs. how that mouthpiece connects your playing to the tuba. For instance, with my Nirschl York, I played for years on a euro shank. When I went down a mouthpiece buying and trying rabbit hole (which some might argue hasn't ended), I ended up using a mouthpiece with an american shank. I have tried other mouthpieces since "settling" on that setup, but it usually comes back to that specific mouthpiece in american shank.

Also, there's the tuning/intonation factor with the different shanks. I do find that I have to keep my main slide pretty far in or even all the way in while using a euro shank. The american shank allows me to pull the slide a bit further out.

Lastly, I do find both shanks seem to do different thinks better. The euro shank allows for smoother slurring, while the american seems easier to articulate clearly.

These are my opinions, and none of this is even that helpful for anyone else. You must try a bunch of mouthpieces in both shanks to find a great one, and maybe revisit that every couple years as your playing and sound model evolve. Eventually you'll find what works best for you and understand the differences that these minute details make.

That all being said, no mouthpiece or equipment makes up for a lack of practice. It makes a smaller difference than you think. That difference may matter when you get to the final round of an audition, but rarely matters beyond that environment. It is fun to play around with sounds though. Pick something and play it as well as you can, and stay curious.