flatiron for 500.00

[Steve Jeter]

Saturday the guitar shop close to home had a Flatiron festival A for 500.00 Almost in brand new condition one little nick. Guy said he got it on trade in. PLayed and sounded gooood. Hardshell case included. I put 100.00 down for lawaway. Did I get a good deal??
Thanks
steve

[fatt-dad]

Sure. If you're drawn to it and it has a strong voice, well made and in good condition you did GREAT!

f-d

[Chip Booth]

If it's a good sounding mandolin it's a steal.

Chip

[Alex Fields]

What are the differences between the models (Performer, Artist, etc.)? Also, around how much would a Performer F-5 (used but in good condition) sell for?

[Ken Berner]

The Flatiron Master Model and Artist are X-braced with top-quality tonewoods, completely bound, pearl nut, beautiful fern inlay on the headstock and gold plated hardware. The position markers on the MM are quite attractive. Those are the main things that set them apart from the Performer and Festival models. I cannot speak to various values of these mandolins, but the Montana-era Flatirons (before Gibson purchase and after) are held in high regard.

[fatt-dad]

Stevo,

We need a photo and the first few digits of your serial number. It's lots of fun to see these Flatirons and as they just aren't made anymore, I have taken to documenting the earliest of the bunch.

f-d

[mandoforme]

Steve, you got a great deal! #That is so awesome, you lucky guy! #I have a great sounding 94 Festival A that I bought in February for $695.00 and I thought I got a good deal, but man you got an even better deal. #What color finish does your Flatiron have? #Mine had the red laquer finish, but is currently being refinished in varnish by Allen Jones (builder of Glenn mandolins). #It sounded great with the laquer finish, but I think it will sounded even better with the varnish finish. #I can't wait to get it back. #Probably have it back around the first week of June. #Congratulations on your purchase.

[stevem]

Serial number would help. If it's a later model, I believe it would sell anywhere from $700-$1100 in the classifieds or ebay. Probably $800-$950. Earlier model (Carlson) might be a little more. Good deal!

[Steve Jeter]

fatt-dad , mandoforme
fd-- I wish I could give the serial #s to you. I want to find out more info on it. Unfortunately, I put 100.00 down for lawaway and with uncle sams 8 1/4 % tax I still owe like 450,00. Family vacation is coming up in june so it will probably be late summer when I can afford to get it out, cant wait!! I did notice when I was checking it out when I bought that it was made in boseman not nashville.
I would love to find out more about it, but I guess Ill have to wait a while
mandoforme-- Its got a black top and rich brown body. I saw one that looked just like it when I looked on ebay yesterday, That one on ebay went for 1200.00 something. Im not crazy about the black top but oh well .
thanks for your input.
steve

[Chip Booth]

I'm a big fan of black tops, so if it doesn't work out for you...

Chip

[bluegrassjack2]

I just purchased a 1992 Flatiron festival 'F' model and find that it has dots on the fret board that are in 5, 7, 9, 12 & 15 positions.
All other mandolins I've seen have dots n the 5, 7, 10, 12 & 15 positions. Anyone know if Flatiron were making them different at that time period??
Thanks

[bluegrassjack2]

Well, Every mandolin I've looked at has a dot in the 10th position instead of the 9th. Glad to hear there is another like mine out there, ha.

[mandoforme]

Steve, you could always go ahead and buy the Flatiron and take the vacation late summer. #When you go on vacation, you could take the Flatiron with you to play. #Of course getting the family to agree to that might be difficult

[bluegrassjack2]

Well, mandopluker, I have a Kentucky and then bought the FI and when i started playing songs and relying on the dots, i found that they were different. I just came back from the Doyle Lawson festival and looked at several FI and also all the other mandolins i cud find and they all had the dot at the 10th position.