There has been a resurgence of thrash and death metal in recent years, and a new generation of guitarists is taking the helm. Among the leaders, one name stands out: Brandon Ellis. He is known not only for his lightning speed or technicality, but also for his melodic mastery.
From his time with Arsis to his current tenure with The Black Dahlia Murder, Ellis has proven himself to be a tough player with a deep understanding of the instrument.
So it’s no surprise that Jackson, a brand synonymous with heavy metal, would want to collaborate with him. Meet the Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly.
But before we dive into the specifics of this beast of a guitar, let’s take a moment to talk about the man himself.
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Who is Brandon Ellis?
Brandon Ellis was born on August 11, 1992 in New Jersey, USA. He started playing guitar when he was 11 years old. Brandon was in the 6th grade and got into it because some of his relatives played guitar, and he was into Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen. There were G3 DVDs around the house, and after seeing guys like Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai, he knew he wanted to play guitar.
Brandon learned how to play by himself, without taking lessons. He started by reading tablature but quickly found out that most tabs online were wrong, so Brandon began learning by ear. He got into music theory early on, even though he didn’t fully understand it at first.
Brandon spent a lot of time practicing, sometimes up to 8 hours a day. He even stayed up all night playing guitar and went to school without sleep. His mom was very supportive once she saw how serious he was about playing guitar.
In 2012, Brandon Ellis joined the American death metal band Arsis. In 2016, he was invited to join The Black Dahlia Murder as a replacement for Knight. And this is where he really showed himself. He demonstrated not only speed and technique, but also a deep understanding of melody.
Brandon listens to a wide range of music for enjoyment, from classic rock bands like Toto and Boston to hair metal bands like Winger and Dokken, and even classical composers like Chopin and Tchaikovsky. In metal, he’s into bands like King Diamond, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and many others.
His gear includes various guitars and amps, with a preference for Seymour Duncan pickups and floyded super strats. He also sets up his own guitars, handling everything from electronics to fretwork. For inspiration, he looks up to guitarists like Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Paul Gilbert.
Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly
Design
The first thing you notice about the Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly is its striking appearance. It screams metal, but with a touch of elegance. The classic Kelly body shape, bright Green Crackle finish on a lightweight poplar body.
Playability
Any guitarist knows that playing comfort is of the utmost importance, especially in the demanding world of death metal, where speed and precision are critical. The neck-thru-body maple neck with graphite reinforcement provides stability and resistance to wear and tear while on the road.
What’s more, the ebony fingerboard with a 12″-16″ compound radius and 24 jumbo frets is designed for high-speed playability.
Sound
While design and playability are important, the true test of a guitar is in its tone. It features a single Seymour Duncan® Parallel Axis humbucker. This pickup delivers an aggressive yet defined tone.
For tonal versatility, the guitar also features a single volume control and a Floyd Rose® 1000 Series dual-locking tremolo system. This ensures that the guitar will stay in tune even after the most aggressive dive bombs.
My signature model is based on my custom shop Kelly which is the guitar I ordered when I first teamed up with Jackson. I went with the Kelly body shape because of course it’s classic Jackson, and I really wanted to represent that. The sharp contours really embody the whole attitude that I like to put into my guitar playing. It looks pure metal.
– Brandon Ellis
Specification Table
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand: | Jackson |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Configuration: | H |
| Strings: | 6 |
| Made in: | Indonesia |
| Series: | Artist Signature |
| Colors: | Green |
| Left-Handed Version: | No |
| Body | |
| Type: | Solid Body |
| Body Material: | Poplar |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through |
| Tuners: | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast |
| Fretboard: | Ebony |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Decoration: | Reverse Pearloid Sharkfin |
| Scale Size: | 25.5″ |
| Shape: | Speed |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.775” (19.7mm) – 12th Fret: 0.835” (21.2mm) |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12″ to 16″ |
| Nut: | Locking |
| Nut Width: | 42.9mm (1.688”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch: | 0 Way |
| Knobs: | Dome |
| Volume Controls: | 1 |
| Tone Controls: | 0 |
| Bridge Pickup: | Seymour Duncan Parallel Axis Original (Humbucker / Passive) |