Ellis F5 Special #380

[Jordan Ramsey]

Starting a little corner where I can post videos of my spectacular new Ellis mandolin. As far as I know, she was completed in September, so only about two or three months old at this point. It's already changed a ton, looking forward to how the sound develops over the next few years. A big thanks to Tom Ellis for building such a beautiful mandolin!

First video is a Charlie Provenza arrangement of Whiskey Before Breakfast, published in Mel Bay's Winfield Winners and Mandolin Anthology (Mandolin 2000).

[DataNick]

Superlatives and adjectives could not suffice to describe your brilliant playing and the tone you get from that instrument Jordan!

Awe-inspiring Brotha!

[Skip Kelley]

Superlatives and adjectives could not suffice to describe your brilliant playing and the tone you get from that instrument Jordan!

Awe-inspiring Brotha!

I have an adjective, perfect!!!

[Mark Wilson]

I love that version. Digging the little hesitation on the first A part. Well done!

The tone of that Ellis is as nice as I've heard! Thank for sharing

[billhay4]

Quite lovely--the playing and the sound of the Ellis.
Looking forward to more of your posts.
Bill

[Nick Gellie]

Sounds like my Pava #14.

[Don Grieser]

So happy for you, Jordan. What an amazing instrument to go with your stellar playing!

[JAK]

Nice improvisation there on that basic tune!

[Steve Sorensen]

Nice.

Steve

[Mark Gunter]

Beautiful playing, and that Ellis sounds stellar!

[Clinton Johnson]

Awesome playing Jordan Ramsey!

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Jordan - How are you going to balance out your playing with your Gibson & now,a superb Ellis to choose from ?. I have 3 excellent mandolins which i mostly play in 'rotation',one one day,another another day,but sometime's i'll play all 3 in one day. It's a nice problem to have - which one ?. Enjoy the dickens out of it,
Ivan

[Tavy]

Perfect indeed - great stuff!

[John Soper]

Great mandolin - great playing!

[Jordan Ramsey]

Hi Jordan - How are you going to balance out your playing with your Gibson & now,a superb Ellis to choose from ?. I have 3 excellent mandolins which i mostly play in 'rotation',one one day,another another day,but sometime's i'll play all 3 in one day. It's a nice problem to have - which one ?. Enjoy the dickens out of it,Ivan

Hey, thanks Ivan. The Gibson and the Calace went through their longest periods of shelf time since I've owned them when I brought home the Ellis. I've gradually been working them into my practice rotation, making sure all three get played every day. The Ellis does not have a pickup, so I'm still using the Gibson out regularly. I've got a recital next February, and I'd love to do mostly Calace, so I'll be putting in some major time on the bowlback the next couple of months. Really don't need two F5's, but I feel like I'd always regret letting either one go. Like you said, nice problem to have. Hope all is well, cheers.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Jordan - "..Really don't need two F5's,..". Me neither,but,the more that you play them,the more you begin to appreciate the ''differences'' & that in itself is very enjoyable. Plus,you have a top quality 'spare' if ever your Gibson needs sidelining for any reason.
I've often thought of trading in my 3 for an Ellis F5,but i know i'd miss the 'different tones' that i get from them. My Ellis "A" style is quite sufficient. I'm very fortunate to own 3 high quality mandolins & i know it,
Best wishes - Ivan

[mcgroup53]

Nice buddy. Sounds like my 2015 Special, which is saying something

[wildpikr]

That flows so well - a seminar on improvising and melodic playing all by itself! Thanks for posting...please keep 'em coming!

[Mark Seale]

That is really nicely done. Incredibly clean.

[Johnny60]

Hi Jordan - hope you're keeping well!

Have to say that I had the opportunity of hearing Jordan's new Ellis up close and personal during his recent visit to the UK, and he was kind enough to let me have a quick spin on it. It's a FANTASTIC mandolin, and he's a fabulous player and a really nice guy too.

Enjoy it, Jordan, you deserve it!

[Jordan Ramsey]

Merry Christmas, Mandolin Cafe! Testing out a new phone camera, here's my take on Dempsey Young's arrangement of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".

[Mike Snyder]

There are, to my ears anyway, some significant differences between the tone of the Ellis vs the Bush, probably enough to justify keeping both. I have loved and coveted your Bush for many years. The new Ellis is awesome also. Thanks for posting the tunes.

[Ivan Kelsall]

To own 2 mandolins (or more) with 2 very distinct tones (or more) of their own,is one of the benefits of having so many great builders out there. As much as i'd love (understatement) to own an Ellis F5,i would definitely miss both my Weber & Lebeda mandolins. Each is an absolute delight to play just for ''the differences'',
Ivan

[Jim Hilburn]

Hey, it's not just about tone. You WON them both!

[Don Grieser]

Beautiful.