Ellis mandolins

[Goodin]

I am thinking about upgrading mandolins to about the $8-11K range (gulp). Has anyone played or own an Ellis mandolin? I played one at Gruhn Guitars awhile back and it was the sweetest thing I have ever beheld. I just want some other opinions on the Ellis Mandolins...or any other excellent quiality mandolins you would like to suggest.

Thanks! Goodin

[Chris Biorkman]

I have #108 and I absolutely love it. It is great in every respect.

[Sean Greer]

Lucky you! The Ellis at Greg Boyd sounds amazing. How I'd love to play that for a couple hours. Good luck in your search!

[woodysny]

I think you should look at the Heiden in the classifieds and the Collings Varnish Deluxe as well as the Ellis.

[Mr. Loar]

$8,000 to $11,000?

*bangs on desk in jealous rage* I could buy a nice car for that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ninevah]

I have owned Ellis #75 a little over two year now. Before the Ellis I was like many others at this site always looking for "the" mandolin. I've played or owned Nugget, Randy Wood, Gilchrist, Heiden, Tucker, Weber, Collings, Smart, Gibson MM (Derrington signed), and ....
If you want to stop MAS imo get the Ellis.

[Denny Gies]

Don't be too swift to pass on a Randy Wood. Mine is a wonder.

[pjlama]

Goodin,
I've owned #100 since last June, when it was new. To date it's the finest mandolin I've played. They're perfectly made, ultra responsive, have great balance from high to low, serious volume and a sweetness in tone that's tough to match. I'm very happy and would highly recommend an Ellis. I play mine so much I had a partial refret after only six months and that's around the magic mark when the flood gates open to mando nirvana. As others stated there are certainly other great options in that neighborhood so you almost can't go wrong but since you asked I gave my opinion/experience. Good luck and let us know what you end up with, vicarious MAS is the next best thing to a new mandolin.

[Michael Lewis]

All this testimony points out that there are many fine instruments out there, Ellis being one, that likely can satisfy your yearning for a great mandolin. My point is that you should play some of them and find out which one lights your candle. Know that some are better than others and what suits one person may not excite the next person. It is a very subjective situation and you should find the instrument that excites YOU. Happy hunting. If you do this right it may become more arduous than you like but it will be well worth the effort, and you will be much more aware of style, tone, feel, fit and finish, etc. That said, you can't go wrong with an Ellis. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[surfandstrum]

I have #109 and fully agree with what everyone says...It makes you want to play because it's one of the easiest playing mandolins I've touched...The neck is lightly finished to give it a smooth feel as you play...It makes you want to stare at it because it's so beautiful...The fit and finish give Collings a run for their money...It also makes you want to listen to it because the tone is balanced and bold...

Another great thing about owning an Ellis is that Tom is a great guy too...

However, play a bunch like people will say...But since this is an Ellis thread...I say go for it if you can... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Goodin]

I played on an Ellis a few years ago at Gruhn and I was in heaven for those brief moments I had it in my hands...and I have been thinking about it every since then. I only wish the price was a little cheaper!! I am thinking I will sell my second vehicle (who needs a convertible anyway) and take out a small personal loan...I think it will be worth it in the long run! I play a Summit F-200S right now and the low rnd just doesn't cut through the banjo on a solo.

[Gary Hedrick]

If Michael Lewis checks in positively on an Ellis then I stand up and take notice. I owned a Lewis mandolin for several years (got it as a trade in item on a Monteleone F5). It was one of the best made, artistically dramatic instruments I have every owned. Not a bluegrass cannon so I sold it but really really nicely done and a great sound. ............

[Albert Whiting]

I have played several Ellis mandolins and every one I have played has been incredible.

[surfandstrum]

Here are some of the other Ellis links for your reading pleasure if you have seen them yet:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=52441;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=52020;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=50931;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=49718;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=46776;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=41216;hl=ellis)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....l=ellis (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=40807;hl=ellis)

[jealbe49]

You should play several in that price range as there are some great ones. If possible, I highly recommend you play an Altman.

[troika]

I'll second The Altman motion. I too have played and owned quite a few high-end mandolins. The tone of Altman mandolins is just amazing.

[surfandstrum]

Altmans are great mandolins and my friend has one...However, fitting for the Ellis thread...He keeps wanting to play my Ellis rather than his Altman...He even tried to do a trade since the prices were about the same...Needless to say, I said "heck NO" and he's saving up his pennies to get one of Tom's mandolins...I haven't seen the Altman lately, but it might have moved on to another picker... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[surfandstrum]

Greg Boyd has an Ellis up for sale...I think Greg was saying that it was from a collector who was just going through is stock and trading some in to get others to try...Chad Fadely has some great sound clips of the mandolin on the site...I wish I could get my rendition of Kentucky Mandolin to sound like Chad's version...My #109 sounds as good, but I just don't play as good... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Don Christy]

I've lusted after an Ellis. Right now though, I have a Kimble on order. You know, my wife's last name is Ellis. Maybe I can convince her we need both?? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Don

[Goodin]

Greg Boyd has an Ellis up for sale...I think Greg was saying that it was from a collector who was just going through is stock and trading some in to get others to try...Chad Fadely has some great sound clips of the mandolin on the site...I wish I could get my rendition of Kentucky Mandolin to sound like Chad's version...My #109 sounds as good, but I just don't play as good... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
How do you like your #109 Ellis? How would you describe the sound? I am looking for a loud woody tone (isnt everyone?).

THanks!

[surfandstrum]

I LOVE my Ellis...Fit and Finish is perfect, better than any other mandolin I've had ...It projects very well granted I don't gig with it, but kills over my friends mandos...I wouldn't describe it as Loar-woody, but very close to Gil sounding...It can crossover and play a variety of different genres, not only BG...Note separation is excellent and ease of playability is phenomenal...All in all it's my MAS curing F mandolin...

[Goodin]

Well, I am (soon to be) the proud owner of Ellis #118! Dan just got one in fri. at Smoky Mtn in Pigeon Forge. It's about 45 min from me so I was able to go play on it. I tell you the only mandolin I have ever seen or played that was as good as this one was the Ellis I played at Gruhn's about a year ago. I played on a Gilchrist this weekend and I think this Ellis is a better made, sounding, and playing instrument, and it's half the price! The balance and workmanship is just perfect, I mean perfect. I played on a few of the Gibson F-5L's he had and it made them look like jap made. He said he had four other people waiting on the mandolin to come in but he held it for me since I was local, and if I didnt take it that it would be sold the next day. At first I thought this was some sales gimmick but after playing the Ellis I realized he probably wasnt kidding! Will post pics mid-next week (gotta transfer funds, its on hold, ehh). Oh, and now my Summit F-200S is for sale if anyone is interested.

[Goodin]

Well, I am (soon to be) the proud owner of Ellis #118! Dan just got one in fri. at Smoky Mtn in Pigeon Forge. It's about 45 min from me so I was able to go play on it. I tell you the only mandolin I have ever seen or played that was as good as this one was the Ellis I played at Gruhn's about a year ago. I played on a Gilchrist this weekend and I think this Ellis is a better made, sounding, and playing instrument, and it's half the price! The balance and workmanship is just perfect, I mean perfect. I played on a few of the Gibson F-5L's he had and it made them look like jap made. He said he had four other people waiting on the mandolin to come in but he held it for me since I was local, and if I didnt take it that it would be sold the next day. At first I thought this was some sales gimmick but after playing the Ellis I realized he probably wasnt kidding! Will post pics mid-next week (gotta transfer funds, its on hold, ehh). Oh, and now my Summit F-200S is for sale if anyone is interested.
P.s. - Dan told me that David Grisman played this mandolin for an hour down in TX before it was shipped up to TN...so, the dawg started breakin' in my mando...how cool is that!?!

Hey what is all this talk about MAS? mandolin addiction sickness?? i dont get it.

Goodin.

[Chris Biorkman]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it.

[Daniel Wheeler]

Mandolin acquisition syndrome

[surfandstrum]

Congrats...Looking forward to reviews and pics...

[Goodin]

Well I just got it last wednesday, #118. Dan at Smoky Mtn was a pleasure to deal and made the sale very easy for me. Thanks Dan! I still can't comprehend how a mandolin can be built so perfectly. It is far superior to any other mandolin I have ever played (even the super high dollar ones...you know which ones I'm talking about!). I have been playing it non stop and my fingers are about to cramp! Here are some pics:

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[Goodin]

Thanks Tom for building such wonderful mandolins!

[Glassweb]

Beautiful looking mandolin... and I dig that TR cover... very pretty. I'd like to see a more graceful treatment to the fingerboard extension though... nit pickin' here... sorry!

[surfandstrum]

Congrats on the mandolin...You'll love it more and more...Happy Pickin'

[Bradley]

Congrats on the new Axe...On all that you said about the Ellis Mandolins I will give a big Amen to. I am mighty proud of #101, its a hit everywhere we play