Tuba Shank Size?

[bbuxx2026]

I’ve been playing my new Kalison DS, but the mouthpiece I’ve been using has an American shank. It seems to go in deeper than I expected, which makes me think the horn might actually take a Euro shank, even though I’ve heard some people say the DS is an American shank horn. I’d appreciate it if you could take a look and let me know what you think.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[donn]

It's hard to say for sure how much shank is in there, but it looks to me like that shank might be a little large for "American".

That sure happens. My amateur caliper measurements make some common American mouthpieces, like Schilke, closer to .530 inch - conventionally held to be "European", though they aren't sold as such.

I have a different model of Kalison tuba, and I like mouthpieces to go in with no more than 1/4 inch clearance. Maybe it's just coincidence, but the ones I like the best have the smaller shanks.

[Sousaswag]

Try a PT or RT piece - Their “standard shank” size is .530. See if that makes a difference. It sure did for some of my tubas.

American is probably .525, and Euro is probably .540

[Mark]

You can also get shank adapters.

[bloke]

Find the choke point:
the place where the receiver ends and the mouth pipe tube starts

Mark that place on the outside of your receiver temporarily with a Sharpie.

Insert your mouthpiece and make a mark at the insertion point on your mouthpiece shank.

Pull the mouthpiece out and line everything up.

If the small end of your mouthpiece doesn't reach all the way down to the choke point, you're going to be fine.

[Pauvog1]

My old DS had an "in between receiver" that I generally used American shank on for everything except Giddings pieces (needed euro).