John duffey's blonde f-5

**John Kasley** · Jan-17-2007, 9:37pm

On the album cover of the Country Gentlemen, Country Songs Old and New (FA 2409) John Duffey is shown playing a Gibson blonde F-5. The headstock shows the usual "The Gibson" inlay. However the usual, stylized flowerpot inlay appears to be replaced by a "real" flowerpot with the plant extending to the extreme point of the headstock.
There also appear to be what I would call, "banjo style" inlays on the fretboard. Does anyone know anything about this instrument? Did Duffey have the inlays added? If so, who did the work?
The same instrument can be seen on the cover of FA2410, but only the headstock and a portion of the neck.
BTW, Eddie Adcock is shown playing an Epiphone banjo, which seems to me a somewhat unconventional choice...but then the Gentlemen were a very unconventional bluegrass band when these albums were recorded in the sixties.

**cooper4205** · Jan-17-2007, 10:14pm

i think jack tottle has the same mandolin or one similar, here is a pic (if you can make it out.

if i recall correct he said it was a 1919-21 F4 that had a new top and neck put on it, i can't remember of the top of my head who did it (but i'm sure somebody here will). if it is the same one it's a really cool mandolin.

**AlanN** · Jan-18-2007, 5:47am

Is that the same instrument he played on Back Roads Mandolin? That was a cool release, probably 1977 or so. Nice mix of tunes, some chestnuts, some obscure, and featured the great Kenny Kosek on fiddle and Van Manakis on guitar. Jack is one heckuva cross-picker.

That Tottle above is one good album - down home and hot at the same time.

**allenhopkins** · Jan-18-2007, 9:54am

I attended a Tottle mandolin workshop in Cambridge in the late '70's, and he said that his mandolin was an F-4 conversion.

**f5loar** · Jan-19-2007, 11:35am

I suspect Tom Morgan had a hand in fixing one up for Duffey. Duffey became a master luthier too with his introduction of the first "duck"F model mandolin. He was after a "bone"crusher and "mastertone"killer.

**Markelberry** · Jan-19-2007, 11:42pm

Originally Posted by (AlanN @ Jan. 18 2007, 06:47)

Is that the same instrument he played on Back Roads Mandolin? That was a cool release, probably 1977 or so. Nice mix of tunes, some chestnuts, some obscure, and featured the great Kenny Kosek on fiddle and Van Manakis on guitar. Jack is one heckuva cross-picker.

That Tottle above is one good album - down home and hot at the same time.

Alan I used to have a copy of that recording is it still availible? Mark

**bush-man** · Jan-20-2007, 12:46am

Originally Posted by (f5loar @ Jan. 19 2007, 12:35)

I suspect Tom Morgan had a hand in fixing one up for Duffey. Duffey became a master luthier too with his introduction of the first "duck"F model mandolin. He was after a "bone"crusher and "mastertone"killer.

When I think of Duffey, I always think of him playing that "weird" looking mando of his. Does anyone know how many of them he built? The only other player I know of that played one is Akira Otsuka. That mando looked like it would fly away if you took your hand off the finger board! lol

russell

**cooper4205** · Jan-20-2007, 12:53am

akira and the duck

**MandoSquirrel** · Jan-20-2007, 3:14am

Just the two.

**John Kasley** · Jan-20-2007, 3:51pm

Thanks for the post about the possible Tom Morgan connection. I think I'll try to follow that lead and see where it takes me.

**cooper4205** · Jan-20-2007, 4:08pm

didn't duffy also play an F7?

**cbogle** · Jan-20-2007, 5:00pm

As I remember, Duffey played the "duck" as his primary instrument after the theft of his F-12. After recovering it, he began playing mostly the Gibson again.

**bush-man** · Jan-21-2007, 12:52am

Originally Posted by (MandoSquirrel @ Jan. 20 2007, 04:14)

Just the two.

Really? Wow I didn't know he only built two. Now I am curious, does anyone know where His "Duck" went after his death?

curious russell

**cooper4205** · Jan-21-2007, 1:03am

was he playing an F7 or F12 on the High Lonesome DVD? it really looked like the one Big Mon used to play with Charlie.

does anyone have any pics of the mandolin the original poster was refering to?

and one more thing, what was it about the 'duck' that made it a cannon. were those wings hollow?

**Rroyd** · Jan-21-2007, 10:06am

The original "duck" is rumored to be in the hands of a friend of his, who resides in the Nashville area. He is a player, but not well-known, as I recall.

**MandoSquirrel** · Jan-21-2007, 3:38pm

There was either an interview or article 25-30 years ago where the ducks were discussed, but I don't remember which mag. As I recall, they were laminate entirely hollow, but I could be remembering wrong.

**don richards** · Jan-21-2007, 3:49pm

Not to digress - but if he would comment - Willie of CAFE fame knows something more concerning the supposed "theft" of John's F12 - which was later..."found"..!? hee...hee... You out there Willie? - Moose.

#

**bush-man** · Jan-22-2007, 3:14am

Now I am really curious....

russell

**f5loar** · Jan-22-2007, 9:57pm

Duffy's F12 was a pre-war F12 which had the short necks in them like the F4s. He had a long neck like the F4 put in it keeping the original inlays. That was one cutting mandolin in his hands. The duck was more of a passing fad at the time.

**cooper4205** · Jan-22-2007, 10:02pm

thanks, i only regret that i never had a chance to see duffey play live

**MandoSquirrel** · Jan-22-2007, 10:53pm

Originally Posted by (cooper4205 @ Jan. 22 2007, 23:02)

thanks, i only regret that i never had a chance to see duffey play live

Anything in the spirit of fun; I'll never forget him using a Bic lighter to play slide (I think it was "After Midnight"). nice guy, who'd talk to fans, like most BG stars.

**levin4now** · Jan-24-2007, 12:36pm

I don't have any Seldom Scene recordings (gasp!) but have been hearing them here and there. I really like Duffey's playing and singing. I think "wait a minute" is a great song too.

Anway, how did John die and how old was he? (i'm sure i can find this out via google, but I'm here now.

**levin4now** · Jan-24-2007, 12:38pm

Here is the wikipedia on him. #Maybe you folks want to expand it?

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John Duffey (March 4, 1934 - December 10, 1996) was a bluegrass music innovator and musician.

Known as "The Father of Newgrass," Duffey founded two of the most influential groups in bluegrass, The Country Gentlemen and The Seldom Scene. His tastes were eclectic. He raided old folk song books and Protestant hymnals for non-standard material. He embraced the music of Bob Dylan early. His mandolin paying was jazz-inflected.

The son of a singer at the Metropolitan Opera, Duffey possessed a soaring range that shifted almost unnoticeably from high tenor notes to falsetto. The contrast of his voice with the mellow baritone of Country Gentleman guitarist Charlie Waller created a rich blend without precedent in bluegrass.

As a member of the Country Gentlemen, Duffey was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1996.

#This article about an American musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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**f5loar** · Jan-24-2007, 6:46pm

He was also the first bluegrass artist to sing about a gay barber named "Bruce" in the song "Big Bad Bruce". His stage humor was always entertaining. Very innovative mandolinist. Whenever I hit a "way out there" lick I just say I learned it from Duffey!