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Thread: 50's Fender 5 string

  1. #1
    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    Default 50's Fender 5 string

    I posted this photo a while ago in another section, but I didn't notice that the mandolin is a 5 string! I'm pretty certain that the 5th string is an "aftermarket" addition. I wonder how he altered the bridge.
    The player holding it's name is Buddy Wallis. Does anybody have any info?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Subscribed to this thread....

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    acoustically inert F-2 Dave's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    A quick google search turned up next to nothing about Buddy Wallis or his mandolin. I wonder if he or the mando are still around?
    "Mongo only pawn in game of life." --- Mongo

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    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Yeah, I tried google. The only thing I found was the picture. I found some info about the steel player, Bob Meadows, but nothing about Buddy Wallis.
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Wallis was also known as a hot jazz violin player and he was from Ft. Worth. He is no longer among us. More as I find more.

    He's listed as a player on a recording in 1993 on the fiddle and the mandolin with pianist Johnny Case here. Anybody know if Johnny is still around?

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    When you blow that picture up it isn't real clear but it looks as though the headstock isn't altered. I'm wondering if he ordered it that way. In those days those necks were pretty much all done by hand anyway.

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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    I just spoke with Louise Rowe, western swing bassist (and the only female instrumentalist ever in Bob Wills' Texas Playboys), who confirmed that Buddy Wallis was a well-regarded fiddle and electric mandolinist in the Fort Worth area. Yes, as Mike indicates, he's passed away. Sorry I don't have any further info -- just that he's was a known freelancing professional player in that region.
    Paul Glasse
    Driftwood, Texas
    http://paulglasse.com

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    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Thanks for the info and links! It's always nice to find out about players you've never heard of before.
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    It appears that the tuning machine farthest from the nut might have been an after-market addition.
    Here's a stock 1956 head stock.
    Click image for larger version. 

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  11. #11
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Blow-up of five string above.
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    This has come up a lot and I have invested time and money trying to contact his family, with no luck. If anyone has any leads or anything of the sort, please let me know!

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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/...s#.UiU6AY2yLWY

    That him? I'm going to assume so, and hopefully track down one of his children.

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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    So, I've tracked down "Laura Joblin", related to Dot Joblin, Bob's sister, who happens to live in the area! Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this. I'm curious to find out if this thing is still around.

  15. #15

    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Quote Originally Posted by John Rosett View Post
    I posted this photo a while ago in another section, but I didn't notice that the mandolin is a 5 string! I'm pretty certain that the 5th string is an "aftermarket" addition. I wonder how he altered the bridge.
    The player holding it's name is Buddy Wallis. Does anybody have any info?
    Buddy Wallis was my Great Uncle. I realize this thread is five years old. We do not have or know where that mandolin ended up. We do have his five string Tiny Moore Robert's electric mandolin as well as a couple of great guitars. He was my father's uncle.

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  17. #16
    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Thanks for the response! Did you ever see that Fender mandolin?
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
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    Default Re: 50's Fender 5 string

    Quote Originally Posted by briancjordan View Post
    We do have his five string Tiny Moore Robert's electric mandolin....
    Well, now we know why he wanted that Fender to be a 5-string...
    Tiny was a pretty large influence on a lot of players, then and now...

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