Flatiron gift

**rosstifer** · Apr-26-2009, 7:04pm

So I'm new to the forum, somewhat new to mandolins. My wife just gave me a '95 Flatiron Festival F at a surprise 30th birthday party (yes, my wife is awesome). I was wondering if y'all might have some answers/suggestions for me.

1. Why does mine say "Flatiron" instead of "The Flatiron" on the headstock?

2. My wife said that the previous owner made some upgrades, but she wasn't sure what was upgraded other than the bridge. Are the tuning pegs original? Anything else that could have been upgraded?

3. Anyone have suggestions for some good strings on this instrument? Not sure what's on there now... sounds awesome though.

Here are some photos... let me know what you think. Thanks!!

**JeffD** · Apr-26-2009, 8:15pm

Your wife is a gem that you need to cherish for the rest of your life.

**fatt-dad** · Apr-26-2009, 8:30pm

Nice axe! Not sure about "The" versus the "no the" history. It is a real nice looking mandolin though. I like the EXP-74's (D'Adderio) strings on my Flatiron (it's an A5-1). Some like the plain ol' J-74s, which are similar but not coated.

Now to learn, eh?

f-d

**GTG** · Apr-26-2009, 9:05pm

Originally Posted by rosstifer

1. Why does mine say "Flatiron" instead of "The Flatiron" on the headstock?

Something of a guess, but I'm thinking that on this vintage, 'The Flatiron' was reserved for the slightly facier (fully bound, etc.) Artist model. I think the new ones (made in China) have 'The Flatiron' for the Festival model as well, but I don't think that was the case in the '90s. Regardless - nice axe! Looks totally mint.

**The Mandolin Store** · Apr-26-2009, 9:16pm

WOW! What a great gift from your wife. There were 4 standard model F's made in that era, The Festival, Performer, F-5, and F-5 Artist. The first 2 have a different neck joint than the latter 2. In my experience, the Gibson Sam Bush monel wound strings perform the best on that particular model. They usually warm up the bottom end a little. No matter how you slice it, Flatirons have MOJO!

It looks all original to me including the tuning keys.

Around the world wives of mandolin players are now hearing this story!

Enjoy!

**Big Joe** · Apr-26-2009, 9:21pm

Tuners appear original. The mandolin is a nice one and you should enjoy it immensely. I too recommend the EXP 74's. They will give you good tone and long life. I don't see anything that looks like an upgrade, but it is pretty hard in just a photo. Congratulations.

**man dough nollij** · Apr-26-2009, 9:36pm

Originally Posted by rosstifer

(yes, my wife is awesome).

Does she have a sister?

(Who doesn't mind getting a little cold now and then, and isn't afraid of penguins...)

**rosstifer** · Apr-27-2009, 5:55am

Thanks for all the replies. Yeah, it's definitely mint (aside from one tiny chip on the back) and an absolute joy to play compared to my old one (Tacoma M1E... I didn't pick that one out).

As for my wife, trust me... I will cherish her for the rest of my life, and yes she has a sister (who just got engaged... sorry).

Anyway, thanks again... hope to be a part of many more conversations here!

rosstifer

**Capt. E** · Apr-27-2009, 2:41pm

It would have been hard for your wife to do any better. Great gift. I expect you may never need another mandolin. Of course, my wife just bought me a new car. I would have loved a new mandolin instead, but I defer to her judgement. Sounds like you are smart enough to do much the same.

**Jim MacDaniel** · Apr-27-2009, 3:37pm

Originally Posted by rosstifer

So I'm new to the forum, somewhat new to mandolins. My wife just gave me a '95 Flatiron Festival F at a surprise 30th birthday party (yes, my wife is awesome)...

You're a lucky man. Congrats on a sweet looking mandolin, as well as on a thoughful and supportive wife. (My wife is averse to buying me mandolin accessories, let alone a mandolin, although she has been somewhat supportive of my golf habit -- which is odd because the latter keeps me out of the house for more frequent and longer periods of time.

)

**Mike Snyder** · Apr-27-2009, 3:52pm

When production of this particular instrument went to Nashville, the headstock was not bound and was inlaid with a flowerpot only. It did, however read "The Flatiron". Yours is a VERY nice mandolin, and they do not last long when offered in the Cafe classifieds. Your wife is pretty choice, too.

**Tripp Johnson** · Apr-27-2009, 4:40pm

Congratulations!!! Awesome looking mandolin. I've heard fatt-dad's and another Flatiron here in town a good bit and they're great sounding mandos!

**Willie** · May-02-2009, 10:53pm

I also have a Flatiron Festival model and I have tried various string makes on mine and I prefer G.H.S. 270`s for bluegrass...The A string is a bit heavier than the J-74`s,,,Just think when your wifes birthday rolls around what are you giving her that will compare to that nice mandolin? Mine never has given me a mandolin but she lets me buy any that I want to try, and thats been a few over the years....Good luck....Willie

**pickinNgrinnin** · May-04-2009, 10:25pm

Nice ax. Tuners look like the original Schallers. I don't see any upgrades from the pictures you provided. The Festival has an integrated fretboard as in the fretboard is actually part of the Mandolin's top unlike an elevated fretboard found on the F-5, Artist and Master Flatiron models. The integrated fretboard was a cost savings measure for production purposes. I could swear I've seen some performers with "The" Flatiron on the headstock. I use J-74's on my Mandolins.

What a great surprise! Congratulations!

**Mike Snyder** · May-04-2009, 10:57pm

Although I'm not sure of the timeline, the Festival became an elevated fretboard mandolin at some point. I'm sure I've seen some pre-Nashville Festival Fs that way. I owned an '01 that was. Elevated and Nashville, that is.

**Jason Kessler** · May-06-2009, 1:30pm

Not a huge fan of 'bursts, personally, but that one is subtle and sweet.

**rosstifer** · May-06-2009, 6:27pm

Originally Posted by Jason Kessler

Not a huge fan of 'bursts, personally, but that one is subtle and sweet.

Agreed about the 'bursts. And agreed about mine being subtle.

I was pleasantly surprised (translated: I'm in love with this instrument).

**Ray(T)** · May-08-2009, 9:58am

Can we have some pictures of the wife so we'll all know what to look for next time? (Nice mandolin by the way!)

**Skip Kelley** · May-08-2009, 1:49pm

Originally Posted by Ray(T)

Can we have some pictures of the wife so we'll all know what to look for next time? (Nice mandolin by the way!)

With a wife like that, I would concentrate on keeping her happy!
Congratulations! That's a nice mandolin!

**mandopete** · May-08-2009, 5:40pm

A wise Greek once said "Do not look a gift horse in the mouth".

You are a lucky man.

**CTH Man** · May-11-2009, 7:13pm

Welcome to "The Flatiron" family..

**allenhopkins** · May-11-2009, 9:40pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

A wise Greek once said "Do not look a gift horse in the mouth."

Actually:
As with most proverbs the origin is ancient and unknown. We have some clues with this one however. The phrase was originally "don't look a given horse in the mouth" and first appears in print in 1546 in John Heywood's A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, where he gives it as:
"No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth."

Heywood is an interesting character in the development of English. He was employed at the courts of Henry VIII and Mary I as a singer, musician, and playwright. His Proverbs is a comprehensive collection of those known at the time and includes many that are still with us:
- Many hands make light work.
- Rome wasn't built in a day.
- A good beginning makes a good ending.
and so on. These were expressed in the literary language of the day, as in "would yee both eat your cake, and have your cake?", but the modern versions are their obvious descendents.
--The Phrase Finder

Wonder if Heywood played mandolin?