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I have been assuming that the "European" shank is larger diameter than the "American" shank because my new Cerveny has a larger diameter receiver and all of my old Bach, Conn, etc. mpcs have smaller diameter shanks. However, I've seen references to the European shank being the smaller one. Which is correct?
How important is the airflow transition between the mpc shank and the receiver? I.e. does it make an important difference if one just wraps some tape around the smaller mpc shank to position it in the receiver?

Matt Walters had a great article on this subject. I can't find it to repost it, but briefly, the three main shanks are the smaller, older "British" shank (Wick no-letter models) which was standard until a generation ago, with a .490 tip diameter; the "American standard" .520 tip diameter, and the current "European" .530 or so tip diameter.

Old Alex and some others here and there are even larger; some older American tubas, like eefers, have receivers that are smaller, like the old British, or even approaching bass bone size; some, like an old Herco, have a different taper but a similar tip, so they fit, but they "wobble," and so forth. But these are the main three that 99 44/100 of tubas and mouthpieces have now.

Thanks, I think I found the one you mean:

Re: Tuba Noob Question: Euro Shank vs. Standard...

New postby windshieldbug » Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:12 pm

MattW goes through 5 general shank sizes. My confusion is between the "official" EUROPEAN shank (which is smaller than the AMERICAN) and the LARGE which is used on larger European tubas.

I still have the question: How important is smooth diameter transition between the mpc and the receiver?

In my experience, wrapping tape around the shank makes it play like a pig. Dillon's sells an adapter to match an American (Morse taper) shank to a Euro receiver, and it makes all the difference.

Because I am fairly sure I will be dealing with this soon, can someone elaborate on the Dillon AGR, what it specificially is, and what is needed to attach it to the horn? (obviously, if it's more involved than a simple plug and play, I would go to my repairman)
Thanks

Everything you need to know about shank sizes:

http://www.angus1.com/ssh/shank.htm

Regarding the Dillon adapter, or any other issue, just email Matt. He's a gentleman who will return your emails ASAP.