New Ellis F5 Tradition

[Todd Bowman]

My new Ellis F5 Tradition arrived earlier this week and I have to say I am beyond impressed with this mandolin. Thanks to Scott Ruttencutter you can see pictures of it on his ruttlist website here:


Ellis - F5 Tradition 2018 [View On Ruttlist]

I have to say I love everything about this mandolin -- the shape of its neck, the EVO frets, the James tailpiece, the Waverly tuners, the side bound triple binding, and of course the sound and master-class workmanship. When you see the words "heirloom instrument" describing Tom Ellis' work, you can believe it.

I took it to its first jam session last night and was extremely impressed with its tone and volume for an instrument that has only been in my hands less than a week. The torrefied top certainly has impressed me with the maturity of its tone and volume. Can't wait to hear what it sounds like with some serious play-time under its belt!

Thanks Tom Ellis for curing my MAS (for the time being anyway).

When I get a chance, I will add a video or sound clip in the next couple days.

Peace,
Todd

[HonketyHank]

Congratulations on the new Ellis! I confess to jealousy, envy, and covetousness. May your MAS-free hours stretch into days!

[Todd Bowman]

And Here is a quick video of the Ellis F5 Tradition. Nothing fancy. Just tried to play up and down the neck and do a bit of chording, chops, etc.:

https://youtu.be/RFsxeCTdRGI

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hank said it for me !. Enjoy the dickens out of it. Tom's my favourite builder & i can only dream of ever owning a mandolin such as that - however, my humble 'used' "A" style DeLuxe (also on Scott's listing) is incredible,
Ivan

[yankees1]

I have an Ellis A5 which is fantastic but it became quite lonely so I adopted an Ellis F5 which is fantastic ! Great builder and person ! If you have never met Tom Ellis I encourage you to make an appointment with him and visit Tom at his shop !

[Victor Daniel]

Congratulations! That mandolin looks and sounds amazing. Is his traditional model designed to have more of a vintage, loar like tone than the normal more modern Ellis tone?

[Todd Bowman]

Congratulations! That mandolin looks and sounds amazing. Is his traditional model designed to have more of a vintage, loar like tone than the normal more modern Ellis tone?

I didn't ask that question of Tom, I guess it might have been one of the goals. I do know that the torrefied top makes it sound much older than it is and is very close to the tone of my 6 year old Harvey Master Model. I think the Ellis is a bit brighter, but I would expect that from a newer instrument (torrefied or not). I'm glad I made that video so I can compare it a couple of years from now.

[Scott R]

Wow--that video is fantastic. Thanks for sharing, great playing and I really dig the sound of the Tradition. Really crisp.

[Don Grieser]

Really great tone out of that Ellis. I'm a torrified believer.

[lenf12]

I took it to its first jam session last night and was extremely impressed with its tone and volume for an instrument that has only been in my hands less than a week. The torrefied top certainly has impressed me with the maturity of its tone and volume. Can't wait to hear what it sounds like with some serious play-time under its belt!

Peace,
Todd

Hey Todd, where is this jam at? I'm just down the road from Crystal Beach in Clearwater and used to attend the sunset jam on the beach. I'd love to check out your Ellis in person.

Regards,
Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Todd Bowman]

Hey Todd, where is this jam at? I'm just down the road from Crystal Beach in Clearwater and used to attend the sunset jam on the beach. I'd love to check out your Ellis in person.

Regards,
Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Hey Len, That one happened to be at the Ale and Witch in downtown St. Pete. It happens regularly on Wednesday nights 7-10 pm. I only make that on occasionally. There is also one on Thursdays at Woodrights in Dunedin and one at a trailer part in Largo on Sunday afternoons. Search for "Tampabay Bluegrass association" on facebook and you find a listing of a lot of area jams. My schedule doesn't allow me to get to them on a regular basis.

If you want to get together sometime just to see the Ellis, I'd be happy to meet you somewhere.