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DE shank/cup question
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:24 pm
by quiethorn
When specing out DE mouthpieces, if the shank and cup have to match, why is the shank sold separately from the cup to begin with? For example, if you want a D cup and a 3 shank, you'd order a D3 shank, so why aren't they just sold as a single unit? Maybe it's easier to make them separately, or a cost offset by not plating the shank? Or I'm just misunderstanding how things work.
Re: DE shank/cup question
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:42 pm
by Doug Elliott
It started as a way to experiment and I decided to keep doing it.
With one cup you have options of many different backbores depending on the instrument. Just another way to fine tune your setup - and it really does make a major difference.
Re: DE shank/cup question
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 2:27 pm
by quiethorn
Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:42 pm
It started as a way to experiment and I decided to keep doing it.
With one cup you have options of many different backbores depending on the instrument. Just another way to fine tune your setup - and it really does make a major difference.
Oh I see. I thought you
had to order a matching shank/cup combination for them to fit together or something. I didn't realize they were interchangeable.
Re: DE shank/cup question
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 2:28 pm
by Burgerbob
quiethorn wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 2:27 pm
Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:42 pm
It started as a way to experiment and I decided to keep doing it.
With one cup you have options of many different backbores depending on the instrument. Just another way to fine tune your setup - and it really does make a major difference.
Oh I see. I thought you
had to order a matching shank/cup combination for them to fit together or something. I didn't realize they were interchangeable.
They're compatible within cup sizes. All C+ and D cups fit all the D shanks, for instance.
Re: DE shank/cup question
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 3:24 pm
by BGuttman
You can even mismatch shanks and cups, although you may not like the result. Shank length is matched to cup length so a wrong shank can make the mouthpiece play out of tune, even though the pieces screw together.
But having separate shanks and cups is useful. For example, I have an LT E cup that I use with an E2 shank on a small bore, an E4 shank on a Bach 36, and an E8 shank on a large bore.