Description
Honoring a historic favorite: the mellophonium! Legends Brass is excited to present the Legends Scodwell Mello, a mellophonium mouthpiece designed in conjunction with the legendary Tony Scodwell. What an honor it is to make this piece available to our customers!
This model is based on a Schilke mellophonium mouthpiece made for Mr. Scodwell in 1963. The cup is reminiscent of a Farkus french horn cup. The rim is semi-round and similar to a 5C diameter. We have updated the original with the Legends enhanced throat and backbore. This piece is endorsed and played by the Legendary Tony Scodwell!
Here is a quote from Mr. Scodwell: “I received the mellophonium mouthpiece from Legends yesterday that was based on my Schilke that Reynold made for me in 1963. I was playing first mellophonium with Stan Kenton in 1962 and 1963 on what turned out to be the very last mellophonium bands Stan had and asked Schilke to make something for me that would help the sound and intonation of the Conns we were playing in the band. Prior to that some of the guys had used Al Cass pieces and other makers looking for improvements mainly with the pitch and if anyone could help, it would be Schilke. I had studied with him at Roosevelt University and hung around his shop on West Lake Street getting my new B3, and he did know what worked. He came up with a Farkus french horn cup and my rim (about 5C diameter) and some kind of throat and backbone which really worked. The difference was amazing. Anyway, this past April my old original Schilke showed up in the case of a mellophonium I had borrowed for a concert in Wisconsin and to be honest, I had no recollection of giving it away years ago. Small world and all that. As I am now playing the Legends mouthpieces on my trumpets and flugelhorns it made sense to send Derek my Schilke and see what he could come up with. What he came up with was every bit as good as the Schilke and even better in the tricky notes above the staff. Sound quality is very good and as I said, the A, B and C above the staff was actually playable with the standard fingerings. I realize the mellophonium has had many bad raps, mostly from players who’ve never held one let alone play the horn seven nights a week on the gig, but rest assured, those of us who appreciate this unusual instrument for the tonal colors they add to a big band now have a proper mouthpiece to utilize. Thank you Derek and everyone at Legends Mouthpieces.”
