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Thread: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

  1. #1
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Well, all I can say is there's mando porn... and then there's mando porn! Wow!

    Congrats to Tom and his team down in Texas... amazing, amazing builds...

  2. #2
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    I like the hummingbird A style. I'm an A kind of guy.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  3. #3
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    The Ellis shop delivers on looks that look almost as good as they sound. I currently own a twin point and that is a keeper! Wish I'd never sold the A model I had previously. At current prices, I'll need market recovery before I consider an F Ellis, but they stack up to anything on the market.

  4. #4

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    One is already sold

  5. #5

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Theres a Honey-topped Special at Elderly that sounds absolutely unreal. From the quietest tremolo to just flat out stupid loud bluegrass. Just goes to show the best can keep getting better.
    Gunga......Gunga.....Gu-Lunga

  6. #6
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Stunning !

  7. #7

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    The 1 piece back on that F5.... wowza

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  9. #8

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    One is already sold
    And only one remains.
    Gunga......Gunga.....Gu-Lunga

  10. #9
    Registered User Nathan Kellstadt's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    The first time I ever played an Ellis was at The Music Emporium. They obviously look & sound fantastic (they really do), but I remember being dumbfounded by the playability. It played so effortlessly, it felt like I was cheating.

  11. #10

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    I wish they would stop posting those beautiful pictures. The aching desire is giving me a deep ulcerous pain.

  12. #11

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Nathan Kellstadt View Post
    The first time I ever played an Ellis was at The Music Emporium. They obviously look & sound fantastic (they really do), but I remember being dumbfounded by the playability. It played so effortlessly, it felt like I was cheating.
    That's what a good set up feels like.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  14. #12
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by ColdBeerGoCubs View Post
    Theres a Honey-topped Special at Elderly that sounds absolutely unreal. From the quietest tremolo to just flat out stupid loud bluegrass. Just goes to show the best can keep getting better.
    It has a $10K (including a Calton case) tag on it. Pretty steep for an A model.

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Kirk View Post
    I wish they would stop posting those beautiful pictures. The aching desire is giving me a deep ulcerous pain.
    Seriously! I think that TME posts the most droolable photos of all the major US stores. Every instrument of theirs absolutely shimmers in their photos!
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  15. #13
    Registered User Russ Jordan's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    “ It has a $10K (including a Calton case) tag on it. Pretty steep for an A model.”

    It is $7k less than the Gilchrist Style 3 that I just noticed at Carter’s.

  16. #14
    Registered User Chris Fannin's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    If money was no object...
    Eastman MD315 Mandolin

  17. #15
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium


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  19. #16
    Registered User Russ Jordan's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Yikes on that card!!

    I’m sure not complaining about the prices. Ellis has been building great mandolins for maybe 40 years—I hope the mandolins are at a price level that keeps his business sustainable .

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  21. #17
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    I like the hummingbird A style. I'm an A kind of guy.
    And I am a hummingbird kind of guy.
    Jim

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  22. #18
    Registered User Mark Seale's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Tom and his team make exceptional mandolins, and as far as high end builders go, his have been pretty reasonably priced. The recent prices have certainly elevated, but I think it's well deserved and well earned on their part.

  23. #19
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandolin Cafe View Post
    Oh, no. Those overly expensive mandolins.
    In discussions of luxury items, expensive is a given and overly is irrelevant.

    If you search the current inventories of the US mando stores and the Cafe Classifieds, you probably won't find many A models that are over $7K, let alone over $9,999. TME currently has a used 2022 Ellis A-5 Deluxe for just under $7K. So, I still would say that $10K is pretty steep for an A model mando at this point. Is it "overly expensive"? That isn't up to majority vote. If one person pays that amount, then it is priced appropriately.

    Quote Originally Posted by Russ Jordan View Post
    “ It has a $10K (including a Calton case) tag on it. Pretty steep for an A model.”

    It is $7k less than the Gilchrist Style 3 that I just noticed at Carter’s.
    True, but that Gilchrist 3 has been at Carter's for quite a while. In their mando inventory sorted by arrival date, it got there just before that $50K Randy Wood that Clarence White had owned. So, it's been there a few months.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Seale View Post
    Tom and his team make exceptional mandolins, and as far as high end builders go, his have been pretty reasonably priced. The recent prices have certainly elevated, but I think it's well deserved and well earned on their part.
    I agree completely about the quality of appearance, build, and tone of all the Ellis mandolins that I've ever tried out. Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz has been getting a few Ellis A's every year. They've always been great, and they've never lasted in the store more than a month. Some haven't even lasted there for a week.
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  24. #20

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    The used Hummingbird A5 at TME sold for well over $7k a few months back, and within a few days of me dropping it off there.

    As for Sylvan, they have had Ellis mandolins sit there for months on end. I have seen stuff on their website for sale that I'd buy in a heartbeat if it were anywhere else. I gave up trying to buy anything from them.

    As for that Gil, the problem is that TME sold that recently (it was its second time there in the last few years) for $14k. I am sure that I am not the only person who noticed that either.

    As for the Internet and shops inventories, there are a lot of instruments that never make it to websites. So, the Internet is not the true picture of inventories, sales, or prices. A lot of places are holding back stuff for their customer call lists.

    And we can all balk at the prices, but meanwhile, people are buying and enjoying these instruments. It is what it is.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  26. #21

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    As for Sylvan, they have had Ellis mandolins sit there for months on end. I have seen stuff on their website for sale that I'd buy in a heartbeat if it were anywhere else. I gave up trying to buy anything from them.
    Why is that? Pricing? I’ve bought two mandolin from them—a Pava and an Ellis—(in person) and had great experiences and fair value both times.

  27. #22

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Dealing with them on the phone is like pulling teeth. Ever wonder why they have rally nice instruments that just sit for months and months?

    It’s not the pricing. It’s the grumpy attitude.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  28. #23
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    It’s not the pricing. It’s the grumpy attitude.
    Like the above poster, I also had a great experience with them purchasing my Girouard.
    Chris Cravens

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  29. #24
    Registered User Jim Roberts's Avatar
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    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    Dealing with them on the phone is like pulling teeth. Ever wonder why they have rally nice instruments that just sit for months and months?

    It’s not the pricing. It’s the grumpy attitude.
    My one time dealing with them awhile back was favorable. I see they have 131 Google reviews with a 4.5 star review rating. They must be doing something right.

  30. #25

    Default Re: New Ellis Mandolins at Music Emporium

    Check the more recent reviews on Yelp and the content on the Google reviews. Read a couple of the more recent reviews. Either way, I’m glad you all had great experiences. I know plenty of folks who have had the same experience as I have, including local folks, who walked in, and walked out.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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