G&W Baer vs Dillon AGR

[bort]

I just tried plugging a Standard shank G&W Baer MMVI into my American Shank Dillon AGR, and the receiver is still too large (the mouthpiece is not actually seated in the adapter, it just sits in there).

Are G&W mouthpiece shank sizes different than other brands? Should I expect a G&W Euro to fit the American AGR?

[Tom]

Your AGR has the two interchangeable "bits," right? One for American and one for Euro.

No, you shouldn't expect a Euro shank mouthpiece to fit in your American receiver. G&W has both Euro and standard shank offerings...are you sure that yours is actually the standard shank?

Possibly (???) helpful info from Matt Walters Re: tuba shanks:
viewtopic.php?t=10390

[cjk]

The diameter of an American shank should be .520 inches. Measure the mouthpiece.

[bort]

Thanks, Tom.

Yes, the AGR has two bits, labelled A and L (A = American/Standard, L = Euro/Large). The G&W Baer MMVI that I have is a standard shank (because it doesn't say "Euro" on it), and the American receiver is still too large for it. Kind of a head scratcher, since every other standard shank mpc works in it.

The only thing I can figure is that it's the extra mass on the MMVI is located at the point on the shank where the mouthpiece (without the extra mass) would seat in the receiver. That is, the MMVI has the extra part that bulges out just below the cup, which effectively shortens the rest of the shank. Bummer.

My question about the Euro fitting in the American receiver is mostly about how to get the Baer to work with the AGR. I'm wondering if a Euro Baer and the L bit would have the same problem, or if the Euro Baer and A bit would work.

I really have no desire to mess with the AGR, it's a neat gadget, but if it wasn't installed by this tuba's last owner, I wouldn't have installed one. My only goal now is to just have mouthpieces that are all compatible with the same-sized AGR bit. My Conn Geib is a standard shank, so that's what I want to use for everything. If I have no desire to twist the AGR a series of 1/4 turns, then I really have no desire to fully remove/replace the A/L bits when I change mouthpieces. Yes, I'm just that lazy Thanks again!

[bort]

The diameter of an American shank should be .520 inches. Measure the mouthpiece.

Will check it out next time I have a chance... but unless G&W makes a size smaller than standard shank, I'm certain that it's standard shank.

[doublebuzzing]

I think the GW standard shanks (and Euro) are a tad smaller than many other brands.

[rudysan]

I tried both euro and standard GW MMVI on my 5/4 Rudolf with the A receiver of the AGR. Both were fitting well, they didn't move. Maybe your mouthpiece has been drop and is not perfectly straight ?

I prefered the euro with my Rudolf. There was a little air sound with the standard shank when playing loud. I suspect that big horns that usually take euro shank mouthpieces will sound better with euro or perantucci.shank with the AGR. Mine sounds best with perantucci shank size.

[bort]

Seems unlikely due to damage, it was only lightly used by the previous owner. Did you have to really jam your MMVI right up to the end to get it to fit? Maybe I'll take a picture this weekend if I think of it.

I agree about using Euro shank stuff, and that was actually sort of my plan all along, because one day I may put the stock (Euro) receiver back on there. I had intended to get all Euro shank mouthpieces, but then acquired a Conn Geib, which has a standard shank. So, then that became the common denominator...

[cjk]

I have one g&w mouthpiece. It's unmarked as far as size is concerned. It measures under .520 at the tip. It's around .515 to .518.

[PaulMaybery]

Yes, the Dillon AGR does have two bits. My euro bit is to large for the euro shank Baer MMVI. I need to use the American Shank bit. I never really measured to see if the G&W euro shanks were a bit smaller. I do have some other euro shank MPs that fit the Dillon euro shank bit, so my feeling is that the G&Ws are a bit smaller in their euro shanks, but I ain't positive.

[bort]

Yes, the Dillon AGR does have two bits. My euro bit is to large for the euro shank Baer MMVI. I need to use the American Shank bit. I never really measured to see if the G&W euro shanks were a bit smaller. I do have some other euro shank MPs that fit the Dillon euro shank bit, so my feeling is that the G&Ws are a bit smaller in their euro shanks, but I ain't positive.

That's what I ended up doing as well, using the G&W Euro shank mpc in the American Shank bit.

Seems to work well, but honestly I think the AGR is going to be removed the next time I take my horn to the shop and replaced with the original (Euro) receiver).

[Worth]

Are G&W mouthpiece shank sizes different than other brands?

For sure, yes. Without taking calipers, I can tell you that the Blokepiece American shank, the PT-50 standard shank, and my Mike Finn MF-3H American shank all fit my W900 and Miraclone receivers just right. The GW Euro shank doesn't go in far enough for my taste (large resultant gap on each) and the GW American shank goes in way too far on each. When I had a GW American shank piece, I used some teflon tape as a workaround.

[Aglenntuba]

I never really checked the width of it, but I always thought the extra mass made the shank a little too short, so it wouldn't go in far enough before hitting the bulge.

[bort]

To the last two posters, thanks... That is exactly what I observed with my tuba.

I will probably just remove the AGR and reinstall the stock Euro receiver. The AGR is neat and all, but it's just another variable and I really don't use it anyway.

[DouglasJB]

The GW mouthpiece I have seems to have a slightly smaller shank then any other American mouthpiece I've tried

[Steve C]

I don't have a G&W tuba mouthpiece, but if they are like the bass trombone mouthpieces, then there is extra mass around the throat and top of the shank. The mass ends in a "step" just above where the shank fits snug in the reciever. This mouthpiece doesn't fit slightly oversized recievers
I do have a Dillon AGR, and both recievers hold their respective mouthpieces MUCH higher up the shank than my horns with standard recievers.
If the G&W tuba pieces have that "step" at the top of the shank like the bass bone ones do, then I don't see how one would fit in the intended AGR at all