Small or Large Shank???

[Jared.Soldo]

I need help!! I just recently bought a new Euphonium online and it came with a very small bore mouthpiece. I want to buy a large bore mouthpiece, but I am unsure of how to figure out if I need a small shank or large shank mouthpiece. How do I find this out? If anyone knows how to figure this out, please let me know!

[RickF]

Hi Jared,

Welcome to the forum. What make and model horn did you get? That would tell us what size mpc you need.

[davewerden]

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for asking this question! It comes up pretty often, and I happen to have my calipers handy this time.

Speaking a little roughly, if you measure the small end of the mouthpiece, you'll find this:

Small, tenor trombone-size shank: 7/16" or 11mm
Large, bass trombone-size shank: 1/2" or 12mm

The medium (European) shank measures about halfway between the other 2, or 15/32" or 11.5mm

I checked with a AAA battery, and the diameter is very close to the end of the small shank mouthpiece. The AAA battery ALMOST fits inside the end of the large shank.

Hope that helps!

[davewerden]

This is such a fundamental question I decided to add it to the Reference section of the forum:

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/forumdi...uthpiece-Sizes

Next time this comes up I won't have to go get my calipers!

[iiipopes]

Do you have a friend with a regular tenor trombone that you can compare mouthpieces? If the tip of your mouthpiece is the same as your friend's mouthpiece, then you have a small shank. If it is larger, then you have a large shank.

[John Morgan]

Do you have a friend with a regular tenor trombone that you can compare mouthpieces? If the tip of your mouthpiece is the same as your friend's mouthpiece, then you have a small shank. If it is larger, then you have a large shank.

Well, maybe. If what you mean by a regular tenor trombone is a small bore (.508) tenor, then yes, that would be a small shank. But, if the regular tenor trombone is the larger bore (.547) size, then that trombone takes a large shank mouthpiece.

[iiipopes]

Well, maybe. If what you mean by a regular tenor trombone is a small bore (.508) tenor, then yes, that would be a small shank. But, if the regular tenor trombone is the larger bore (.547) size, then that trombone takes a large shank mouthpiece.

Yes, by regular, I mean traditional regular, from the .481/.491 King 2B through Yammy .525.