How do you adjust a Dillon AGR?

[bort]

My tuba has a Dillon AGR on it -- how do you adjust this to best "dial in" the sweet spot? Seems like guess and check, which isn't very efficient, because you get a LOT of room to dial it in.

Is there a better method? (And frankly, it all sounds pretty good and about the same, so maybe I'm doing it wrong?)

[bisontuba]

Try different spots while turning the AGR out, then in, until the 'best spot' for your playing is found. Make sure you are using the correct shank mouthpiece for the AGR part in there--use the Euro AGR part for a Euro mthpce and the American AGR part for an American mthpce.

[bort]

Thanks -- sounds like exactly what I've been doing. Will give it another shot. No bad results to be found, just a little curious if I was doing anything wrong.

Another thought is there an easy way to "remember" the AGR spot so you can switch between mouthpieces? With the constant adjusting and fiddling to get the perfect spot, it seems like if you want to change mouthpieces, you have to start all over. Nevermind the fact that of my two go-to mouthpieces, one is Euro and one is standard. It's a little annoying, but maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

Thanks!

[Ben]

FWIW, I tested all out (not my taste), then all in (lacked clarity - easy slurs), and then slowly backed out the ARG a quarter turn and tested until I found the attack and flexibility characteristics I liked.

[bort]

Thanks Ben, that makes sense and again, is basically what I've been doing. It seems like a LOT of quarter-turns to try, and still concerned about the lack of flexibility to change between mouthpieces easily and remember where I ended up (unless I start all in and count the turns to my spot).

I *do* have the original receiver, if I should ever want to revert from the AGR. That's work though, and I'm lazy. The AGR already attached to the tuba, so I'll work with what I've got.