View Full Version : information on Ellis mandolins
Nick Royal
Feb-04-2005, 10:17pm
I saw an ad for an Ellis mandolin played by Ricky Scaggs. I assume it's a fine mandolin, but know nothing about the maker. Who can tell me something about Ellis?
Bradley
Feb-04-2005, 11:03pm
I know that he had made a couple for Skaggs and also Buck White.He is somewhere in Texas..?
The one for sale at Greg Boyds has the prettiest back I have ever seen.
Charles Johnson
Feb-04-2005, 11:18pm
Tom Ellis has been the main mandolin builder and repair guy in Austin Texas for years. He's been building since at least the early 80's that I know of. Like all small builders his work can be a little uneven, but when you get a good one its killer.
Charles Johnson
http://www.vintagemandolin.com
Greg H.
Feb-04-2005, 11:52pm
I tried the one Greg Boyd has for sale at IBMA and it's definately a great mandolin. Whether or not it's worth $18,000 is up to you (it would have to be something a lot better than the Brentrups that were about 30' away at the time for me to consider coming up with that kind of money)but it definately had the looks and the tone.
Scotti Adams
Feb-05-2005, 12:44am
Tom is also a master inlay cutter....hes in the midst of cutting me variation of a fern now. I know he does all the inlay patterns for Taylor guitars and Gibson mandos. Check this article out # # http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/FieldTrips/Ellis/ellis.html # Ive got his email addy if you would like..PM for it....hes the real deal makes a great mando. I just talked to him last week....real pleasant and good people.Keep in mind that that $18000 price tag includes alot of mojo...being it was Skaggs'. Tom is back to building mandos again.....he told me they would be in the $8-$10,000 range.