1995 the flatiron a-5

[mandolinbill1949]

Was wondering if somone could tell me little info such as value and playability?

[Michael Wolf]

I have a 1995 A5 Artist. It´s very loud, punchy and deep. I think many would describe it as "try". It sounds very clear up the neck. Playability is as good as the setup I´d say. It has a flat fingerboard and the neck is rounded, not v-shaped. Workmanship is very good, significantly better than my 1989 Flatiron A5.
For my taste the e-string could be a little more open and singing, but it´s clearly a great mando.
I can´t really tell the value, as I live in Germany. Maybe it would be a bit more expensive here than in the US. It seems to be something in the direction of 2000,-$ for a Artist.

[MikeEdgerton]

You really can't speak to the price until you know the model.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Performer? Signature Series? Artist? Master?

[Michael Wolf]

You really can't speak to the price until you know the model.

I believed the 1995 A5 is the model.

[mandolinbill1949]

Performer? Signature Series? Artist? Master?

Its a signature series.

[MikeEdgerton]

I believed the 1995 A5 is the model.

Actually there were A-5 Performer, Artist, and Festival that I know of. They all carried different levels of trim. For example, I own this 1994 Flatiron Festival. Unless they changed their model designations a year later, there probably is a model name associated with it.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Its a signature series.

I had a 96 signature series A5 that was signed by most of the folks working at the Gibson Flatiron shop. If I remember correctly, it was X Braced. I sold it for $1,400 but that was a few years back. My 96 had a very comfortable neck and it played and sounded great. It's one of my Mandolins I wish I had not sold. Great tone and volume, excellent fit and finish. Hard to go wrong with a Flatiron, Gibson Flatiron or a Nashville Flatiron. The Montana made Flatirons have a Mortise and Tenon Neck Joint which is secured for gluing purposes with a very tiny bolt. The Signature Series also have an elevated fretboard.

[Ken Berner]

Here you go: The Flatiron A5 is a member of the Signature Series;
carved spruce top
X-bracing
maple back & sides
ebony fretboard
.080 fret wire
ebony peghead veneer
Fleur-de-lis peghead inlay
binding on top and back
sunburst stain
lacquer finish
nickel hardware
adjustable bridge
shaped case

[Michael Wolf]

Actually there were A-5 Performer, Artist, and Festival that I know of. They all carried different levels of trim. For example, I own this 1994 Flatiron Festival. Unless they changed their model designations a year later, there probably is a model name associated with it.

Once I owned this: 1988 Flatiron A5
It only says A5 on the lable and it´s signed, so I assume it´s from the signature series. I thought the OP is referring to this model, which seems to be the case. But you´re right, it would have been better to ask at first if he´s probably referring to one of the other A5 models to be sure.
I still own the 1995 Artist I was talking about before. It can be seen in this group. It seems to be one step above the A5 in trim level. They sound very different btw.

[MikeEdgerton]

OK, Now I'm back to the beginning. Did they always have a signature series? If in 88 it was marked this way, was it always there?

[Ken Berner]

Mike, I may be misguided here, but I think Mr. Carlson designated the mandolins A-1 or A-2. When Gibson bought the Flatiron name, they instituted the Signature Series. I think the A-2 is the equivalent of the A5 Artist. No doubt someone will jump in here and straighten this out.

[CTH Man]

The A-5 2 was later named the A-5 Artist , don't know when the named change though.
Kevin