1983 Flatiron A5-2 on eBay

**Jim Garber** · Jun-08-2012, 1:11pm

I am watching this one only because my best bluegrass-sounding mandolin is the same model and year.

1983 Flatiron A5-2

NFI and I am not interested in bidding... mine is a wonderful sounding and playing mandolin which I bought new in 1983. One of the very first carved Flatirons and pre-Gibson.

The photos on eBay look much greener than mine.

**fatt-dad** · Jun-10-2012, 1:09pm

it went for just under $2,100.00. Fair price and below retail. Seems like a good deal for both buyer and seller.

I bet it's a great mandolin!

f-d

**Jim Garber** · Jun-10-2012, 1:35pm

if it is anything like mine, I heartily agree with you F-D!

**sgarrity** · Jun-10-2012, 1:35pm

There was a time when those were going for $3000+

**Mandobar** · Jun-11-2012, 2:13pm

that was when there was nothing else around. Now we have all these great builders. Lots of good stuff floating around.

**Jim Garber** · Jun-11-2012, 2:20pm

No, I think Shaun was right. it wasn't so long ago (like a year or so when there were many makers) that that would have gotten at least $500 more. Perhaps it was somewhat under the radar. I count myself lucky to have bought mine brand new -- I needed to have a 2nd (!) mandolin back then when my Gibson was in the shop. I saw they just came out with these carved instruments and Mandolin Brothers had two. They only had A models the A5-1 and the A5-2 (the fancier). IIRC the price was maybe $100 difference and I opted to get the A5-2. Soon after I realized that for playing in a band it was a great instrument, since I could hear myself better.