Trade Flatiron F5 artist for Collings MF Gloss?

[Zemper]

Heres my dilemma....

I was originally looking to trade my Flatrion F5 Artist for an older F4, but I have been getting so many offers thanks to the classified site, that now I dont know what the best thing to do would be.

I was offered a brand new Collings gloss top MF in trade. Im worried that it will not hold its value the way a Weber made Flatiron will. I respect the boards opinion and really would like to hear your input on this one.. How do the two match up, and since they are still making these mandolins, is it a bad investment for me to make that trade. The good part of the deal is that the MF is coming from a great guy who is very knowlegable and who has been really cool and very helpful.

Another option is a $4000 cash offer I recieved, but it will take the buyer some time to get the money together

Below are pictures of the two mandolins I am reffering to. I know this is a matter of taste for the most part but I was just wondering what your opinions were and what you thought of the investment grade of each. Your advice is so greatly appreciated, I would be lost on this one without you guys.

My mando:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/classifieds/upload/18450.jpg

Collings MF Gloss top:
http://www.themandolinstore.com/ProdImages/MFG1.jpg

Thanks,
Adam

[woodysny]

Keep the Flatiron! There are plenty of Collings MF's out there for way less than $4000. I think there are 3 listed on the Cafe; one for $2700. Your Flatiron can command more than $4000,IMHO. I have both an '87 Flatiron F5 and a Collings MF5; they are both great mandos but they do sound much different. As good as the Collings models are, I don't see trading my Flatiron for an MF.

[Hal Loflin]

I agree with woodysny...keep the Flatiron. I have a 96 Flatiron Artist (Weber/Montana) and as I have watched the prices that they are going for recently they appear to be appreciating. You should keep it and save up for a Collins if that is waht you want.

[JEStanek]

Bruce isn't making Flatirons anymore. It should hold its value in the long run. What else do you have in your stable? Does the Collings sound much better/different than your Flatiron? If it was me, I'ld hold onto the Flatiron. But then nobody is plopping a beautiful Collings in front of my nose and saying, "Trade ya!"

Jamie

[pickinNgrinnin]

Why would you want to part company with the Flatiron? Trade it for a gloss top MF? Not in this lifetime. That Flatiron looks like a keeper from my view - unless the tone and volume rate high on the dud factor. I've owned and played a bunch of Flatirons over the years and not many were duds.

If someone offered you $4K for the Flatiron, that's a great offer. Selling it for financial reasons is one thing but to trade it for this Collings would be a bad deal IMO. The Montana Flatirons are gone and they aren't coming back. Its value will hold and likely increase over the years. The gloss MF would likely lose close to a grand if you decide to turn around and sell it.

[Zemper]

Thanks for the reply. The Flatiron is probobly the best sounding mando Ive ever heard, its not the reason I wanted to trade. I was just sort of curious as to what it would bring in and now that I have seen whats out there and heard all of your nice comments and advice, I think I will hold on to it. I love my mando, I guess I just wanted to test the waters, and now that Ive seen what is out there, It really makes me appreciaate what I have so much more.

Thank you all for the great advice and for knocking me back to my senses. You guys are awesome.

Sincerely,
Adam Aftab

[stevem]

I don't know. 4k is a nice sum of money for a Weber Flatiron. I'm certainly not an expert on market prices, but that seems like the top end of what you might expect, from prices I recall seeing. The market goes up and down all the time of course.

I would have said the market was going down from my limited experience: I sold basically identicals Flatiron Performer A's here. The one in 2003 sold for $1050 in under an hour. The one in 2005 sold for $825 after a couple months of floundering in the classifieds. Eastman mandolins and the rise of so many quality small builders at reasonable prices offer competition for Flatiron prices that just wasn't present a few years ago. Carlson Flatirons are another story...

Your's does look totally sweet though. Perfection on the coloration.

[Big Joe]

We have a used F5 Artist in our store. It is priced at 4K. It is a killer mandolin too. We seldom get them used and rarely in this condition. This one was built in Nashville with a dovetail neck joint. The one advantage for Flatiron is they have an established market and they have proven to rise in value over time. Many of the newer builders do not have the history to show what will occur with their instruments. It does not mean they are not great mandolins or that they will not increase, we just have no track record to follow.

[mandopete]

FYI

From the Mandolin Cafe Classified ad's:

Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,200.00 6/21/2005
Flatiron F 1991 F-5 Artist $2,900.00 7/7/2005
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $5,000.00 8/12/2005
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $4,195.00 8/18/2005
Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,650.00 9/5/2005
Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,500.00 9/8/2005
Flatiron F F-5 Artist $3,900.00 9/22/2005
Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,300.00 9/27/2005
Flatiron F 2001 F-5 Artist $3,200.00 11/14/2005
Flatiron F 2001 F-5 Artist $2,900.00 11/28/2005
Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,600.00 11/29/2005
Flatiron F 1994 F-5 Artist $3,500.00 12/15/2005
Flatiron F 2001 F-5 Artist $2,900.00 12/31/2005
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $4,800.00 1/13/2006
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $3,995.00 1/26/2006
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $4,500.00 2/10/2006
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 Artist $4,500.00 3/29/2006

[Bill Van Liere]

I agree with Steve; that is a good price for a Weber Flatiron.

When I purchased my F5-Master in 88 I had a good friend with a F5 Artist , SN 87###002, who sold it to purchase a Gilcrest. Yes, a good move then but he has since purchased a Collings MF-5 to drag around to festivals as he complains about the varnish finish on the Gil. He has both (Gil & Collings)still. Last summer I play one tune with him, he on the Collings with my on the Flatiron, when he says "I wish I never sold my Flatiron." This is not a knock on Collings, mileage will always vary on individual instruments.
I am in the same boat today as I recently purchased a varnished BRW to replace the Master. I had a buyer for the Master but I am not pushing a sale of it as my old pick-up truck is running fine and my wife is not complaining. The only thing she complains about is the Flatiron being too loud. AKA the 'Obnoxious Bluegrass Mandolin.' She is an Irish flute player.

I still like the way the Flatiron cuts through a lousy PA system.

[mandopete]

I own both a Collings MF-5 and a Flatiron F-5 Artist and I love them both. #They are as different as night and day in my humble opinion and I will likely keep them both.

With respect to the Flatiron, I believe that the Carlson signed models command a higher premium than the ones signed by Weber. #The one you have pictured above appears to be in very nice shape and I might suggest you try to hang on to it. #As one other person pointed out, there are quite a few Collings mandolins out there, but Weber-signed Flatirons are in limited supply.

# # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[sgarrity]

Either keep it or sell it for the $4000. If you trade it for the Collings MF you just turned $4000 into about $2800!

[stevem]

What's Steve Carlson up to nowadays? Is he still making mandolins?

[AlanN]

Good looking mandolins, both of them.

One unrelated observation: when photographing mandolins, or when simply setting them down, people (in the past, me included) tend to set them down sunny side up. Obviously needs to be done to show the front/top, but I realized some time ago that this stresses the instrument, and can mar the back point of the headstock. A better way to do it is sunny side down - only two touch points - top of bridge and top of nut. Better yet, in the case.

Back to network TV...

[Tom C]

While I have the Performer F model(made in Belgrade MT in '95), I would never sell it or replace it. I got my BRW over 2 years ago but I would not have sold the Flatiron to afford the new purchase.

[muldoon]

[QUOTE] While I have the Performer F model(made in Belgrade [QUOTE] MT in '95), I would never sell it or replace it.

I agree with Tom C. Don't do it!!! Unless you are into blues music. Then you'll be singin' the "I wish I had never sold my Flatiron" blues.

Listen to these fine folks.
My $.02

[Zemper]

Advice taken, Thank you all for helping me divert a really bad decision... All hail MandolinCafe.com!!!!