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I've seen a couple of recent threads where it was suggested that duct tape be used to expand a mouthpiece shank for sizing. This could be because of using a mp in the wrong reciever or needing to flatten the pitch in the event of too short a tuning slide. I have this problem with a particular mp in my collection and have used teflon tape for years as the solution. No adhesive to worry about. It stays in place as if there was adhesive. It also helps insertion and removal. It is cheap.

Just a word of advice- never use tape on a gold-plated mouthpiece. I tried electric tape, because it doesn't leave behind any residue and it comes off easily. However, when I took it off, some of the gold plating on the shank also came off. Bad idea.

What about a thin piece of brass shim? Would that work?

ccobb wrote: I tried electric tape, because it doesn't leave behind any residue

Bad idea indeed! Electric tape has adhesive. Plumbers tape has NO adhesive. Not even the tiniest little smear. It's just a long piece of very thin teflon.

tbn.al wrote:

ccobb wrote: I tried electric tape, because it doesn't leave behind any residue

Bad idea indeed! Electric tape has adhesive. Plumbers tape has NO adhesive. Not even the tiniest little smear. It's just a long piece of very thin teflon.

Thanks for the advice...I'll be sure to use plumber's tape next time.

For years I did this... because that's what Anders did and had us do. Maybe he did it when you were around him back in the day?

I took it off one day, and real or not, I felt that it made a huge difference in the horn's sound. I know it is probably a mental thing, but it really felt like it opened up the horn a little bit and there were a lot more good sympathetic vibrations.

Oh, great. . Isn't there a thin bit available to graduate the European shank to US with minimal flow upset?

I don't remember Andy using it. He did get me started using udder balm he got from the vet though. I got started because I cut the shank down too far on a 30E to use for the bottom of the basement trombone choir parts and I'm still using it on that mp. I don't use it other than the 30E. I only posted this because I kept seeing posters who were using duct tape and the like. If you have to use, this is the good stuff.