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Welcome to
Ellis Banjo Company
Ellis Banjo Company LLC is a one-woman banjo shop located on a family farm in south Alabama and owned by Emily Ellis.
Every part of my build is hand-guided.
All of my inlays are done by hand.
Ellis Banjo Company is my full time job, and I'm so grateful to everyone that has supported me to get here
Price List:
GOURD Banjos start at $1200
TACKHEAD Banjos start at $1500
Both banjo prices include Gotoh tuners and a custom peghead inlay that we collaborate on together
Additional item costs:
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Rosewood fretboard with or without flushfrets +$125
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Fret Dots along the side of the neck at 2,3,7,9,12 +$50
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Additional inlay along the neck $100 plus
(please ask for a custom inlay quote)
Commissions:
My commissions are now closed for 2027.
I will open my books back up in June of 2027 for builds in 2028. If you would like to get on that list, email me. I will collect the deposit in June of 2027.
I simply do not feel comfortable taking deposits over a year in advance
I will be offering my personal project banjos for sale as well through this website and social media. Stay Tuned! Thank you!
Contact Emily Ellis
Fairhope, AL, USA
You can also Facebook Message Me through the
link at the top right of the page or the very bottom of this page
My two last banjos sold out in one day. Thank y'all so much!!
Fox Face Gourd Banjo
I have been holding onto the Fox Face banjo for quite awhile because I like it so much. I grew the gourd here on the farm. It has a rosewood, flush fret fingerboard, walnut neck with dark walnut heel cap, goatskin head with brass tacks. The strings are Aquila reds. It has nice antiqued brass Gotoh tuners making tuning changes quick and easy. The fox face inlay is done by hand, by me. I don't use any computer CNC machines or lasers to cut anything out. I use a little saw and various woods. I like the look of the human touch, the human involvement...
SOLD
Hen Portrait Number 3
The Hen Portrait Number 3 tackhead banjo features a 13 inch rim made out of a three ply walnut, steambent rim. It is finished off with an African mahogany rim cap. The head is goatskin with brass tacks. The neck is made of walnut with a rosewood fretboard. The frets are flush frets, meaning you can see where to place your fingers but still have the nice slide sounds of the fretless banjo. The peghead has Gotoh tuners for hassle-free tuning changes. The inlay is my Hen Portrait Number 3. She bears a striking resemblance to our hen Frilly. I made it with various woods, including spalted birch, pink ivory, bloodwood, holly, and the beak is cow horn. The cameo portion is wenge wood. The inlay was designed by me and all done by hand. This banjo has been such a joy to sit out on the hot summer porch and strum along to the heat and humidity. ha!
SOLD
Please click the icon to follow my facebook for farm and banjo life pictures.
welcome to our little homestead
The Story Behind Ellis Banjo Company LLC
My name is Emily Ellis, and I live on a family farm in south Alabama. We have horses, cows, chickens, ponies, goats, dogs, cats, one pig and one large tortoise. Most of my family lives on this farm. Mom and Dad are next door and my brother is just down the road. Lots of cousins call this farmland home as well. I enjoy working on the farm, creating art, woodworking, being in nature, making music with friends and camping with my husband, Joel, and two kids. I have always loved the old way of doing things and often feel like I was born during the wrong time period.
All of my banjos are hand-guided in their building, meaning I do not use laser cutting, or a computer program or a CNC machine for my inlay or shaping my necks or any other part of the building process. I mainly use hand tools like a horse hoof rasp and variously sized files. I do use an electrically powered bandsaw and drill press. All this to say that you are getting an instrument that is handmade, and that is really important to my personal process. I love the deep, soulful sound that gourds and tackhead banjos produce, and one of my favorite parts of the building process is oiling the neck for the first time and seeing the wood really come alive. I spent the last several years building banjo after banjo until I started producing banjos that I love to own and play.
It is truly an honor to build your banjo for you, and I take being your builder seriously.
