 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lmwilkey
Date: 2013-03-22 04:01
Is there any way to determine how old a Frank Wells mouthpiece is? I know that I've owned it since 1976-ish. Thank you for any advice.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-03-22 05:00
Take a look at this thread:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=86176&t=86151
In particular, look at the second message where Doug Philpot gives a little history about the Stowell, Wells and Schneider partnership. That will give you at least a rough starting point for mouthpieces stamped only with Wells' name.
BTW, your mouthpiece is probably worth almost as much as (possibly even more than) the clarinet you mentioned in your other thread.
If you use the bulletin board's search function (link is above your message) to search for "Stowell Wells Schneider" without the quotes you will find more information about these mouthpieces. As I recall, Wells experimented with his design and came up with some rather interesting variations. In addition to searching the Bulletin Board archives, you might try searching the Klarinet list archive.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Bill
Date: 2013-03-22 19:35
I've seen two different "keyhole" designs (bottom of window flat, bottom of window curved) and two throat designs (parallel and A frame), plus traditional rail thickness and rails thicker near bottom of window. Have the impression the "keyhole" came at the mid-point of his designs. I find they don't command much $.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: golfnclarinet
Date: 2013-03-22 22:14
I have F. Wells B2 with curved window, not sure about throat-don't remember (I’m in office now).
I found it in local repairman's drawer and paid $60.
I wouldn’t sell or trade it for any mpc available.
Simply The Best
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2013-03-23 03:48
This is probably a stupid question... but, what is good about the Wells mouthpieces? My old teacher has a couple of them, and I haven't tried them for a few years... from what I'm reading here, it might be a good idea to try them again?
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-03-23 15:27
The question what is good about the Wells MP. It's like any other MP that a person likes, if you love the tone, feel and pitch than it's a good MP for you. I used a Wells in my last year of college, I got it from Russianoff and played on it for about 15 years until I found something I liked better. It was great when I liked it until I found a different one I liked better.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-03-24 00:02
I'm sure Jason's answer is meant to be ironic.
Back in the day (and back in Chicago) many students were sent to Wells for the same reason many players choose Vandorens these days, you could rely on them to be well made - period. There was the added advantage for us Chicagoans that we could sit down with him for hours and have it tweaked until it was pretty much a custom mouthpiece.
Now since this was Chicago (a highly populated place) there were quite a number of mouthpieces made for professionals and students alike. That leaves quite a few still floating out there somewhere to be re-discovered and become "sought after."
Personally I don't find anything more mystical about it than that, so I soughta agree with Jason, though I still play on one myself :-)
................Paul Aviles
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