New Ellis F5 Ordered

[red7flag]

I just sent the deposit for a new Ellis F5 after a really nice phone conversation with Tom. Tom will pick out the tone wood. May well go with a big leaf, but that decision will depend on what he the best available. Not being a grasser, we are leaning toward softer maples. We are going with the more contrast in the burst, yellow, orange/red, and brown/black. The headstock graphic is a Tom original. I am very excited. For those that don't know him, Tom is a great guy, great person to work with and a pleasure to spend time with.

[Bigtuna]

You can't go wrong with an Ellis. Mine just keeps getting better and better and it's just 4 years old. Go with the EVO wire if it's being made to order. When it's time to re-fret mine it's going back to Tom for the EVO wire and a set up and that's it. I wouldn't change a thing other than that. Mines is big leaf maple by the way and it does all genres well. You will love it!

[yankees1]

I have a F5 ordered to be completed in October. I have met Tom at his shop and he is a very nice gentleman and a great bird photographer !

[Denny Gies]

Now if you can onlyl wait until it comes you will be great. Way to go. I did the same kind on thing back in '93 and had Randy Wood make me an F 5; not one moment of disappointment.

[StevieBGoode]

I just sent the deposit for a new Ellis F5 after a really nice phone conversation with Tom. Tom will pick out the tone wood. May well go with a big leaf, but that decision will depend on what he the best available. Not being a grasser, we are leaning toward softer maples. We are going with the more contrast in the burst, yellow, orange/red, and brown/black. The headstock graphic is a Tom original. I am very excited. For those that don't know him, Tom is a great guy, great person to work with and a pleasure to spend time with.

Since I live in Austin, I'll be happy to test drive it for you.....

-- Steve

[trevor]

"You can't go wrong with an Ellis." Agreed, mandolins don't get any better.

[tburcham]

Congrats red7flag! Mr. Ellis is one of the elite builders of the modern era.

[Capt. E]

Congrats red7flag! Mr. Ellis is one of the elite builders of the modern era.

Indeed, he is a really nice guy. I need to drop by his shop and say hello, been a while (I live only 2 miles away). Missed his annual birthday party/jam. I only wish I had the money to buy one of his exquisite instruments.

[Tobin]

Congrats, Tony! I must agree with the others: you can't go wrong with an Ellis. As I recall, you had owned one previously, so you know that already. I'm glad you decided to come back to the fold. I'm excited for you!

[Timbofood]

Now, let's see, what really good luthiers are NOT nice folk? Without exception every one of them I have met have been kind, generous, sharing ideas, opinions, and as much information as can anyone could hope for. Sorry to say I have not met Mr. Ellis but, I relish meeting anyone who has the talent to take all the un necessary wood away from a tree that holds a mandolin inside!
Good folks make good instruments and good friends for life.

[Bradley]

Ellis mandolins are great instruments. I let one go 3 years ago and it was always the "one that got away". I was lucky enough to just get a new one and it's a gem. I love Toms new flowerpot inlay with the touch of a fern and almost wish I would have ordered one like that but patience isn't a trait that I have.

[StevieBGoode]

I had my first mandolin lesson yesterday. My teacher was playing his Ellis. It sounded magical.

-- Steve

[DataNick]

Tony,

Didn't you already have a one piece back Ellis F5 that we were trying to talk you out of selling just a few months ago?

If so, I knew it...LOL!

[yankees1]

His mandolins should be rated in the top five of builders .

[Jim Roberts]

Besides getting a great mandolin, you'll also get to know Tom which is really special. Cream if the crop in all aspects.

[Billgrass]

I am another lucky Ellis caretaker. I also have had the good fortune to visit with him, Cathy, Pava and the rest his team. I am so glad that Tom had the smarts to build such a successful business in Precision Perl so that his F5s are within reach of those of us not talented enough to have a number one single, and not so obsessed with making bank that we don't have time to play!

[Patrick Sylvest]

I adore my Ellis A. Exquisite!

[doc holiday]

Great news. We could use a little breath of life into the Ellis Mandolins social group ;-)

[almeriastrings]

Do post pics when you finally get your hands on it... I'm sure it will be incredible.

They are the kind of mandolin that inspired the phrase "picking and grinning" because that's the effect they have when you hear yourself playing one. Impeccable wood selection and build quality too. As good as it gets.

[red7flag]

I have ordered the "Bella" headstock graphic, which is hard to describe, but not a fern or pot graphic. This is a Tom design.
I want to share an experience I had a local coffee house. Before playing, I had the chance to compare my friends X braced Gilchrist and the Ellis I owned then. I played the same tunes in the same way. The Gil, up to that moment was my favorite mandolin. It has an absolutely pure clean sound. The Ellis has more overtones, richer and fuller. Both are exquisite. I found that I gravitated more to the Ellis sound. Had I been in the position to choose only one, at that moment, I would have chosen the Ellis. Not that one was better than the other, just that the Ellis tone speaks more directly to me.
I had another moment when I picked up one of Tom's A5s and realize that it had that same tone as mine. Since that time, I have heard that sound in every Ellis I have heard. Each slightly different, but all with that distinctive sound. DataNick was right.

[pheffernan]

I had another moment when I picked up one of Tom's A5s and realize that it had that same tone as mine. Since that time, I have heard that sound in every Ellis I have heard. Each slightly different, but all with that distinctive sound.

Have you played a Pava yet? I'd be curious to learn whether you heard that same distinctive sound in one.

[red7flag]

pheff, I have not had the pleasure of trying the Pavas yet. I have heard nothing but positive from the folks here about them, however. I am looking forward to trying them out.

[lenf12]

......Missed his annual birthday party/jam......

On June 11th iirc, same as mine. Happy belated birthday Tom!!! My fantasy is to take delivery in-person of an Ellis mandolin at his birthday bash in Austin. That would be sweeeet!!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[trevor]

Here's the four std inlays.

Top: Torch and wood (that's what Tom calls it); Bella.

Bottom: Flern; Fern.

[pheffernan]

Tony, I have not had the pleasure of trying an Ellis yet. I have heard nothing but positive from the folks here about them, however. I am looking forward to trying them out.