Flatiron Festival F on ebay

[flairbzzt]

I'm looking at a Festival F on ebay (listing #7301661713). Response to questions about the label say that there is no signature. Does anyone know if this is common? It is listed as nearly new so it would've been made in Nashville. Are there clues in the serial # (30801020)?

[El Rey del Mando]

Hey Rich,They did not sign any Flatirons below the artist model that I know of.As far as the serial number goes,they changed when they moved to nashville.The pre Gibson Flatty numbers were as follows 87032435,which translates to,1987-march-and the 2,435th mando made to that date.I pulled that number out of the air,just to show you how they did it before Gibson.Hope this helps.A call to Gibson will help verify the new number.They moved there in late 96.

John

[acousticphd]

The SN should indicate August (8) of 2003. But as John says, some of the older ones (for ex, a 1991 owned by a friend of mine) also lack signatures, or model names on the labels. I guess those would be Performers or equivalent.

[El Rey del Mando]

Rich,I took a look at that Flatty on E, and it seems a little pricey for that model.There is one right here on the cafe for 1700.Who knows maybe you can do some talking to him.At least you can communicate with people here in a different way,outside of E.You can't wheel and deal there.Good luck my friend.

John

[flairbzzt]

I saw the one in the classifieds too. I'm tring to remember where I saw a performer F for sale somewhere also. Of course, finding an artist model would be ok too..

[Mandobar]

there is an artist for sale at mass street music and maybe one at the music emporium.

[KevinM]

There are no signatures on the now discontinued in favor of Nashville built Flatiron Festival Fs. I do not know if there are signatures on its virtually identical twin brother, the Gibson F5G. Flatiron Festival Fs, which are Loar dimensionally spec'd, are a bargain right now ($1750-$2000 or so) if you have scroll/Gibson MAS. The next bump up for a "full Gibson finish" mandolin is to a F5L at around $4000-$4500 used, maybe more. IMHO, YMMV applies.

[KevinM]

In favor of Gibson F9s, he meant to say....