Thanks, yes sounds like Marchisio might be the better better bet due to the ramps (is it obvious how to line these up correctly?), but I will probably need a 30 sprocket and definitely a 32, or possibly even 34 - for these, can I just use sprockets taken from Shimano or BBB cassettes?
There is no way to line up ramps because the sprockets fit in one way only on your freehub. Do the ramps help? I don't know, but if they do it must be in "marginal gains" to quote Sky. As I said I am not an aficionado of Shimano stuff. I've used sprockets without ramps for 50 years now, and even with indexing I cope just fine. My Campag and Marchiso equipped 10 speed changes gear perfectly - no ramps or low profile teeth to wear prematurely.
Okay, that's good to know! The Miche sprockets might be easier to source, though, given that Marchiso is only going to be available as NOS stock now, as the company went into liquidation. Could you mix and match Miche and Marchiso, or would that be a bad idea? Also - am still not sure if I would still be able to use 30/32/34 sprockets from Shimano or BBB with Miche or Marchiso sprockets - if not, then there's no point in me going down the custom route.
I think I only have spare lockrings for 11T first sprockets, I'd understood the lockring for 12T first sprockets and up is different. Would I have to buy a 12-xx cassette just to get a 12T first-compatible lockring?
It seems to me that an 11T lockring must be a smaller outside diameter, that is all, so I see no reason for it not working.
Okay, well I guess there's only one way to find out for sure...
I'm of a generation and mindset that is used to mixing and matching parts (never bought a "groupset" for example) so am happy to experiment and see what works and what doesn't.
My Hewitt Cheviot SE tourer is a mix of parts from different manufacturers (mostly Shimano and Hope now for the key components, though a mix of "road" and "MTB" stuff) and various components I've changed for different ones over the years, so it's certainly not made up of any recognisable "groupset".
With the custom cassette sprockets, it's not that I don't want to experiment, it's just that up to now I haven't known how to with these, so it's all new to me.