Ellis F5 Special

I just received this new Ellis F5 Special #550 today. This mandolin is a testament to Tom’s ability to voice a mandolin! Its rich, vibrant and lively, with great SUSTAIN!! Tom’s workmanship is flawless.

I was able to get this Ellis F5 Special through The Music Emporium while it was in the process of being made I added a Weldon Lister engraved James tailpiece. I can honestly say after getting this Ellis F5 Special I won't be looking for anymore F5 mandolins. I’m DONE!! Thanks to Tom Ellis what a great guy to work with. We need more people in this world today like Tom Ellis and Andy at The Music Emporium.

Here are a couple pics.
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Here are some more pics of the Ellis F5 Special.
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Congrats Darwin! Boy howdy, that's one spectacular mandolin! The tailpiece is so nice too. Wow!

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Originally Posted by Darwin Gaston

I won't be looking for anymore F5 mandolins. I’m DONE!!

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Famous MASt words! ;)

Absolutely stunning instrument!

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Originally Posted by Don Grieser

Congrats Darwin! Boy howdy, that's one spectacular mandolin! The tailpiece is so nice too. Wow!

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Thanks Don for the nice comments!

A few years back I had purchased an Ellis A5 from Evan one of the Mandolin Cafe members and I got stupid and sold it and regretted doing it. So I decided to sell a couple of my guitars and purchase an Ellis F5 Special mandolins and I’m so glad I did. I’m one happy camper right now!!

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Originally Posted by bradeasley

Famous MASt words! ;)

Absolutely stunning instrument!

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Thanks Bradeasley,

If I get stupid and get another F5 mandolin after getting this Ellis F5 Special my wife has every right to chew my you know what out!! :))

You're on a roll man... first the Flatiron Artist and now this... game over man! Play on... play on!

Beautiful mandolin. And that’s quite the stable! Enjoy :mandosmiley:

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Originally Posted by Glassweb

You're on a roll man... first the Flatiron Artist and now this... game over man! Play on... play on!

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Your right I don’t have any excuses not to play mandolin now! When those Flatiron Artist A5 mandolin shows up for sale you have to jump on them quick or they are gone. I have to say those old Bozeman made Flatiron Artist A5 are one sweet mandolin.

That's purty! Congrats on finding a lifer :mandosmiley:

That is such a beautiful tailpiece and the Ellis is its equal. Stunning. No doubt you'll enjoy it to the max!! Thanks for sharing the amazing pics.

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Originally Posted by dan in va

That is such a beautiful tailpiece and the Ellis is its equal. Stunning. No doubt you'll enjoy it to the max!! Thanks for sharing the amazing pics.

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Thanks Dan for the nice comments.

Believe me I’m enjoying playing the Ellis F5 mandolin. I need to play it more everyday because the more I play the Ellis F5 the better it sounds! I now understand why the guys that play Ellis mandolins speak so highly of them. I think Tom’s workmanship and the finish that he puts on his mandolins are spectacular. When he added the James engraved tailpiece by Weldon Lister it was like putting icing on a cake. Tom’s mandolins are a true work of art.

Wow, that is a work of art! Congratulations and enjoy!

While certainly a work of art, Tom Ellis mandolins (and everything else coming out of his shop in Austin, TX) is in a class of its own. Compared to the "top tier" builders (you know their names), Tom's mandolins are certainly a relative bargain. and aesthetically of a much higher level of artisan skills IMHO. The TME photos don't hurt either ;) Gorgeous mandolin, enjoy forever!!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

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Originally Posted by lenf12

While certainly a work of art, Tom Ellis mandolins (and everything else coming out of his shop in Austin, TX) is in a class of its own. Compared to the "top tier" builders (you know their names), Tom's mandolins are certainly a relative bargain. and aesthetically of a much higher level of artisan skills IMHO. The TME photos don't hurt either ;) Gorgeous mandolin, enjoy forever!!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

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Len,

I have to agree with you Tom Ellis is one of the “top tier” builders and I’m surprised he doesn’t charge more for his mandolins!

Really lovely!

That mandolin proves again that Tom makes mandolins that look almost as good as they sound!

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Originally Posted by Darwin Gaston

Thanks Bradeasley,

If I get stupid and get another F5 mandolin after getting this Ellis F5 Special my wife has every right to chew my you know what out!! :))

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I’m pretty sure you can say the word ‘ear’ on the cafe.

Gorgeous mandolin, too, and they sound and play better than they look.

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“If I get stupid and get another F5 mandolin after getting this Ellis F5 Special my wife has every right to chew my you know what out!!”

Then you haven’t seen the latest Girouard G5 then?

There’s no be-all-and-end-all in mandolin-land.

I don't own one. I wish I did. The few Ellis mandolins I've had a chance to play were superb in craftmanship, played like a dream, were beautiful to look at, and sounded perfect to my ear. Congrats Darwin!

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Originally Posted by Mandobar

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“If I get stupid and get another F5 mandolin after getting this Ellis F5 Special my wife has every right to chew my you know what out!!”

Then you haven’t seen the latest Girouard G5 then?


There’s no be-all-and-end-all in mandolin-land.

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I know what you are saying. I have a Concert Master Girouard F4 Oval that Max made for me. Also I want to say his wife does a beautiful job of staining his mandolins. That’s a sweet looking Girouard G5!! Thank goodness my wife changed the password to both the checking and savings account after I purchased the Ellis F5 Special. :))

Wow, what an amazing instrument ! Enjoy picking that beauty.
I received my Ellis F5 Special custom in September this year and could not be happier. Mine has an Engelmann top, one piece back and tortoise binding. I also opted for a dark sunburst and no inlays on the fretboard. I had to sell all my mandolins to collect funds, but I do not regret. Showed it to my local dealer and he stated he has never seen an instrument of that beauty before - and for sure he has seen quite a bunch.
I just finished a vid to display it.

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Originally Posted by mando-bob

Wow, what an amazing instrument ! Enjoy picking that beauty.
I received my Ellis F5 Special custom in September this year and could not be happier. Mine has an Engelmann top, one piece back and tortoise binding. I also opted for a dark sunburst and no inlays on the fretboard. I had to sell all my mandolins to collect funds, but I do not regret. Showed it to my local dealer and he stated he has never seen an instrument of that beauty before - and for sure he has seen quite a bunch.
I just finished a vid to display it.

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Robert,

Please post your video of your Ellis F5 Special again for some reason its not showing up in your post.
Thanks,
Darwin

Somehow the link to my video did not work. I try again here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHdGCGB_rUU

Next try posting the vid. Hope it will work this time and sorry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHdGCGB_rUU