Ellis #108 [Archive] - Mandolin Cafe Forum

homeslice

Dec-28-2007, 5:48pm

Biorkman......the man with the plan!!!(that heals tendonitis) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Im so happy for you! That is a magnificant looking instrument. I hate to be the one to ask for a sound clip, but how 'bout it?

dcoxmandolin

Dec-28-2007, 6:05pm

Nice lookin axe! How's the woof? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Don Grieser

Dec-28-2007, 6:41pm

Exquisite. Bet the tone is too. Congratulations.

Quanah

Dec-28-2007, 7:01pm

That's a real beauty! Love to hear a sound clip.
I am fortunate to own #86. #Tom and his associates are wonderful people and talented artists. #Had a change to visit his shop a couple of months ago to see everyone in action. Like I said, "fine people". #I try to play mine everyday. #You can't let a mando like that go to waste.
Enjoy!

pjlama

Dec-28-2007, 7:10pm

Gosh, that thing is beautiful. I'm a little jealous, that back is perfect, I love one piece backs and that one's as good as I've seen. Welcome to the Ellis family. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine and use it in good health. CONGRATS!

surfandstrum

Dec-28-2007, 7:14pm

Congrats...give us a review soon when you can put it down a moment or two...

Phil Goodson

Dec-28-2007, 7:31pm

biorkman,

That's a GORGEOUS mando!! Congrats!!!

Phil

Chris Biorkman

Dec-29-2007, 8:25am

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Unfortunately I don't have recording equipment, so the sound clips will have to wait for now.

I'm still getting acquainted with the intsrument, but I am very impressed with the tone so far. It's really got it all, great bass and mids, and trebles that ring like a bell. It's got incredible sustain and really seems to love being played high up the neck. Pretty darn good chop too. I'm very, very pleased with it and thankful I have a wife who lets me indulge a pretty expensive addiction.

The playabilty is very nice. Coming from an MF-5, the rounded neck shape will take a little getting used to, but it's very comfortable. The varnish is very thinly applied on the neck and it feels great.

I don't think the fit and finish could be better. It really is a beautiful instrument that is immaculately constructed.

In other words, I like it.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Chris Biorkman

Dec-29-2007, 8:44am

Here is a picture of it from the SMG website that more accurately shows the actual color of the finish.

bradeinhorn

Dec-29-2007, 9:13am

yum

Doug Edwards

Dec-29-2007, 9:14am

Nice! I played one earlier in the year. The workmanship is perfect.

surfandstrum

Dec-31-2007, 11:37am

please keep the reviews coming and if you can get a sound clip that would be much appreciated and admired too... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

jaco

Jan-02-2008, 11:37am

I got to play this instrument on Dec. 25. All I can say is you got one of the best mandolins I've ever played. I'm still in awe of it. Hope to have one of Tom's in the future. Congratulations!

surfandstrum

Jan-02-2008, 11:40am

Hey PJ...you mentioned in a past thread that you put tone gards on your mandos...Did you put one on your Ellis #100? Did you notice a noticeable tone difference? What about damage to the varnish?

pjlama

Jan-02-2008, 11:49am

Yes there's a toneguard on it from the first day, no damage to the finish at all and it helps a lot. I find that on most new instruments a toneguard allows things to open up much quicker. When I remove it now that it's six months old there's less difference almost a small enough difference that I could do with out it but it does protect the entire back so I'm leaving it for now.

surfandstrum

Jan-02-2008, 11:56am

So did #100 sit anywhere for a number of months or did you get it from Tom right away? I know sometimes mandos can sit around awhile before shipping or in a store (and that's a very small amount of time)...Just curious...

pjlama

Jan-02-2008, 1:00pm

It went from Tom's to Smoky Mountain to me in the space of seven days.

surfandstrum

Jan-02-2008, 1:09pm

Thanks PJ...Now back to #108...Great mando lucky guy... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

grassrootphilosopher

Jan-03-2008, 5:56am

Nice looking - and surely nice sounding - instrument. Just out of curiosity: Did you compare it to the Duff they supposedly have at Smoky Mountain Guitars? If yes, please drop a line of comparison.

Chris Biorkman

Jan-03-2008, 7:16am

No. I live in California so I never actually physically went to SMG.

Mark Walker

Jan-03-2008, 8:33am

It went from Tom's to Smoky Mountain to me in the space of seven days.
PJ - you DO get your hands on a goodly number of fine mandolins, don't you? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # MAS, MAS, and MAS!

Chris Biorkman

Jan-03-2008, 8:47am

I think one Ellis equals several sold Ducatis.

PJ has it bad, but some of us live vicariously through him so I won't be discouraging his new acquisitions any time soon. I say go for it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Rick Smith

Jan-03-2008, 9:00am

Beautiful Biork...Congratulations! Mr. Ellis is making some awesome instruments.

surfandstrum

Jan-03-2008, 9:15am

Well put and the best part of the Cafe is that we can live vicariously through those who have MAS and get the beautiful and sometimes unattainable mandolins...

bcoryh

Jan-03-2008, 9:44am

Congratulations!! #Beautiful instrument. I have #103, built in May '07, and it is just starting to open up and come into its own. #I couldn't be happier. #Tom Ellis is a great guy, too. #Enjoy!!! #

surfandstrum

Jan-03-2008, 1:00pm

Whoa...an Ellis just popped up in the Classifieds...I'm curious how long this one will last... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

pjlama

Jan-03-2008, 2:23pm

It was a busy year for mandolins but #100 is my keeper. I will still go through some stuff, but the longer I have the Ellis the more I love and appreciate it and the MAS is not nearly as bad as it was. I'd almost call my Ellis the cure for MAS but I still enjoy buying, trading and selling so it's just the "ONE" while it gets visiting siblings pretty often. Just think of me a a foster home for wayward mandolins.

Chris Biorkman

Jan-03-2008, 2:46pm

What a great analogy. You wouldn't be willing to accept an annoying English bulldog into your foster home, would you?

surfandstrum

Jan-03-2008, 2:58pm

Hey, I have an English Bulldog I'd be willing to foster out too...My Pitbull is a keeper though...

pjlama

Jan-03-2008, 6:29pm

I guess for the right price I could take a dog http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

surfandstrum

Jan-04-2008, 2:50am

Well...I happened to check out Smokey Mountain Guitars and low and behold Ellis #111 just popped up...Happy New Year to someone... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

surfandstrum

Jan-19-2008, 1:07pm

Man, now there's two...111 and 101...If only I had some spare money...I'm curious about the 101 (just posted in classifieds)...Has anyone played that one? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Bradley

Jan-19-2008, 7:12pm

I just couldnt stand it......

Good Lord willing,I will be playing it in a few days http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Chris Biorkman

Jan-19-2008, 7:20pm

Congrats, Bradley! Which one did you get?

surfandstrum

Jan-19-2008, 7:43pm

please post pics and reviews if you can...

Reid Morsi

Jan-19-2008, 10:13pm

Wow what a beauty!! Biorkman you must be one happy camper. I'm sure she sings.
Tom seems like he is making some of the best stuff on the market today defintely some of the prettiest, and hopefully one of his beautiful sunburst F-5's will be in my possession one day.

pjlama

Jan-19-2008, 10:43pm

Chris, your new avatar is even better than the last. Pearl, which did you get? New or used?

Bradley

Jan-20-2008, 12:03am

I am in the process of getting Ronns #101 from the Classifieds. Really excited to say the least.

Hope to have it in time for SPGMA in two weeks

pjlama

Jan-20-2008, 12:07am

Sweet!

Chris Biorkman

Jan-20-2008, 1:09am

Thanks, PJ. That's my boy, Cole. As you can probably tell, I'm kind of fond of the little guy.

Bradley, are you planning on keeping your MM? If so, that's quite a stable you are building. I hope you love your new Ellis as much as I love mine.

Bradley

Jan-20-2008, 6:36am

Even I couldn't pull that off with the wife http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I will be selling the Skaggs DMM vey soon.I am considering
adding a MT2V to the fold very soon though. I have been playing for 20+ years and have just fallen in love with those Ellis Mandolins. I was fortunate enough to play one at Gruhns back around the time I got the DMM and havent been the same since. I am a loyal Gibson fan and have been for years so I hope that when I send that DMM away I wont have the blues.