Flatiron F's

[Lane Pryce]

Are the Flatiron mandolins arched on the top and back plates? I have never played one and am considering an F style. What are your thoughts on the FI's in general? Thanx in advance. Lp

[wayfaringstranger]

The F Styles are arched on both plates, yes. They're carved mandolins like any other. The Festival and Performer F's made in Montana, however, have a slightly non-traditional neck joint, however (the fingerboard extension is carved into the top).

I have one, and it doesn't affect tone at all. It's a great little mandolin.

john

[Ken Berner]

Not that I have any monetary interest (other than lust) in this instrument, but there is a great looking Flatiron for sale at Intermountain Guitar & Banjo in Salt Lake City. It is a 1989 Flatiron F5 Artist (Steve Carlson); check their web site. I own a 1992 model and it is a superior mandolin.

[jim_n_virginia]

I own a Flatiron A style Performer that I have played for years and when I upgraded I got a Flatiron F. I checked out a dozen other mandolins from other makers but went with the Flatiron F Performer WHY?

But it just plays so good. It is a workhorse mandolin. One thats meant for playing and not for collecting and putting up somewhere in a climate controlled environment.

Mainly I just love the shape of the neck. So easy for me to play. And when set up right it really barks!

[KevinM]

The Nashville built Flatiron Festival F is, in virtually all substantive respects, an F5G, i.e., a very fine instrument with the same Loar dimensional specs as any other current Gibson F5. But check out the price on a new F5G and the price on a used Flatiron Festival F, the latter going for half the price for what IMHO is the same mandolin. I am a big fan of my Flatiron.

[mandolooter]

Heard my first Flatiron this weekend at a small local festival, and it was an A model. That said it was the best sounding mando I heard all weekend 'cept mine but I might be a little bias in that respect...know what I mean! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[jbrwky]

I have two. One from Montana, and one from Nashville. Luv 'em both.

[Danny Clark]

there is a F-5 Custom at Elderly ,anyone with ibnfo on one of these?

[AeroJoe]

Hope this helps...it was offered between the F5 Master and the F5 Artist in the Signiture Series line...this info is directly from the 1991 issue of Mandolin Brother Catalog, page 34...

Please read the Flatiron Thread I started above if you are interested in the instruments of the Signature Series Flatiron Line.

AeroJoe.

[Greenmando]

Mine is from Montana, great mando.

[Dead Head Fred]

I sent an email to Weber about Dennis and got this reply from Paula:

[QUOTE]Mark, Dennis Balian was an interim GM at the time of his signing. He is in construction and hasn't been in the musical industry for quite a while.

Many of the original luthiers are with us including Bruce D. Weber, Joe Schneider, and Helen Beausoleil. 1988 was a long time ago. I came on board in 1991. We hope to bring the luthiers' page up yet this year. It is a lot of fun for players such as yourself to see who they are and what they do in the building process...pjl

I was curious because Dennis signed my 1998 F-5A Weber also did a neck reset and fret job on her right before I got her.