The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Wells of Chicago

Author: lrlvideo
Date: 2006-02-21 16:39

Hi,
I not sure if this is a dead topic or at the end of the line topic, but I thought I'd give it a try.
I knew Frank Wells for over 25 yrs. I would see him at least once a year. the trip was always worth it! ( I always told my wife it was to see her parents!) In the late 70's, when I first met him, Frank was making his MP's in a small shop in the city(Chicago). When I went in the first time he had about 15 clar. MP's on pegs. He asked what kind of sound I was after and what opening I used. At that time I think he was only shipping out MP's with either B2 or C I think it was. I own about 8 of them and they all play great but they do all play differently! He had the models that were sold at Sam Ash etc. and he had the ones that were custom done while you wait at his shop. The process went like this...
He first had me try a few "stock" MP's that were goig out to stores. I made a few comments and he'd hand me another one...after 3 or 4 different MP's he'd ask me to play one of the past 4 again....and then after a few seconds he'd say gimme it! and he would start to work on that one piece. After a 1/2 hour of working the MP inside & outside, he would ask me to try it, sometimes asking you how it felt, other times it was just a gimmie it! Once we both felt we were in the right ballpark he made finer and finer adjustments. One that blew my mind was when he was working on the tip and used the BACK of a piece of sandpaper...And all of a sudden the MP played great! Wild! This is why I always tell my students to use only Kleenex type tissue to clean out a MP....or you'll change it!
My point to all of this is if you find any Wells MP that is stamped with letter# (B2)most likely it's a classical MP. It will play unless it's damaged or refaced buy a hacker....if it has nothing on it, it 's prob. a custom MP & could be either classical or jazz. It was made for the player, horn & the reed he used (both brand, type and #...so if you buy one from someone always ask what reed they used on it and what horn and type of music they played..as it makes a HUGE diff.!!!
The only guy that I would trust to touch up a Wells MP is Mike Blanchard at the Sax shop in Ill. He worked with Frank for years after I begged Frank (many years) to teach someone his art before it was lost. He would show me many tricks about MP's and offered to keep teaching me but I at the time just couldn't move to Ill...So I'm glad Mike has all the knowlege & skills to make them and work on them.
I could go on for days...He was a great guy and I miss him!
Mike Graz in CT.

LRL Video

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics