Flatiron

[KitLarson]

Hi does anyone know,if the Gibson Flatirons had radius finger boards?:mandosmiley:

[lenf12]

I've never seen a radiused fb Flatiron that was factory stock. It may have been offered as an option or done aftermarket.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[pickinNgrinnin]

Yes, flat as Western Kansas.

[Mike Snyder]

Yeah!

[Russ Jordan]

I thought certain Flatirons had a radiused fingerboard. Charles Johnson describes two Artist models at his site as having radiused fingerboards.

[Mandoblab]

Dear Deeflubb,

When I was about to purchase a Flatiron A-5 Artist in 1986, I wanted to get a radiused fingerboard. At the time, they were only produced with flat boards. Fortunately, the music store got me in touch with Steve Carlson personally and he was willing to make up the mandolin with a radiused board for me. I still have that mandolin. Its a keeper!

Mandoblab

[Bill Van Liere]

Yes, Russ is correct about certain models having a radiused board; I had a 88 F-5 Master that came from the factory that way

[pickinNgrinnin]

As a rule, they are flat. The majority of Flatirons made have flat boards. However, you will find some exceptions here and there. The Master that Bill refers to are fairly limited in numbers.

[Bill Van Liere]

Yea my guess is there are about 50 F-5 Masters produced.

Not certain but I thought the F-5 Artist also had a radiused board, many more of those produced.

I do still have my 84 A-JR, no Florida extention with a Kansas profile: square and real Flatty.

[John Hill]

My Flatty's fretboard is, well, uh...flat.

[fatt-dad]

Lou Stiver did an aftermarket radius on my Flatiron A5-1.

f-d

[Mike Snyder]

My '94 Festival A and '01 Festival F (Nashville) were both flat. Unlike Kansas, which is just mostly flat.

[allenhopkins]

Perhaps you need to investigate the little-known Radiusiron mandolins?

[Bill Van Liere]

Perhaps you need to investigate the little-known Radiusiron mandolins?

Ha, your joke a little flat with me Allen.

[mando.keith]

My Flaty has a flat fret board also. I have a further question about Flatirons. I have a '96 Performer F model and the tag inside says it was made in Belgrade, Montana. I haven't found anyone in my neck of the words that can give me any ideas on the "Belgrade" location as as far as how it fits the chronology of the Flatiron story. Any ideas?

[Capt. E]

My Flaty has a flat fret board also. I have a further question about Flatirons. I have a '96 Performer F model and the tag inside says it was made in Belgrade, Montana. I haven't found anyone in my neck of the words that can give me any ideas on the "Belgrade" location as as far as how it fits the chronology of the Flatiron story. Any ideas?

Gibson's Flatiron Division, headed by Bruce Weber at the time, moved to Belgrade in 1993. Gibson moved the division to Nashville in 1996, without Bruce and company.

[mando.keith]

Thanks Capt. E. My Flatiron says Belgrade with a serial number 96021465. Things must have been in high transition when this baby was made.

[Capt. E]

Doesn't mean it isn't a good instrument. I got the history info from Bruce Weber's bio on Sound to Earth site. http://www.soundtoearth.com/aboutus.php?cat=4

The move to Nashville wasn't completed until 1997.