1995 Flatiron A festival at Elderly

[mandolin tony]

how good of a mandolin is it, & is $985.00 a fair price. item # 90u-7163. thanks for your input Tony.

[Eric F.]

It should be a fine mandolin, and the price strikes me as in the ballpark. You might get one for less from a private seller, but you might not. I had one of these years ago and it was a very good mandolin. It certainly ought to be a major step up from the Eastman 305 and Kentucky 252 you asked about in another thread.

[mandolin tony]

thanks Eric, some times I can't remember yesterday. with a little luck from God maybe I will get my money from car accident soon & I will jump on the flatiron. if not I think I will buy the Km-252 & the md-305.

[fatt-dad]

I sure that Flatiron is great! They usually are!

f-d

[Mike Arakelian]

I have a ‘91 Flatiron Performer A that I love. It has a nice mellow and woody sound with good bark. What other mandolins I own or might own, I doubt I’ll ever sell the Flatiron. I paid $1,000 for mine about two years ago, so Elderly’s price is good.

[DataNick]

I owned a 96' just like that one and those have integrated fretboards: spells Q-U-I-E-T in my experience, YMMV

[fatt-dad]

Every single paddle and snake-head Gibson a-model and the F-2 and F-4 F-models have integrated fretboards.

My A3 is not a quiet mandolin.

I just don't agree with the point above, in my experience.

f-d

[CES]

My Silverangel Econo has an integrated FB, and I don’t feel like it’s quiet at all. Not doubting your experience, Nick, which exceeds my own, just relaying mine. It may be worth a call to Elderly to have them play the Festival and a 305 to give you a point of reference...

[doublestoptremolo]

I think the price is good. I haven't seen this model selling for much less.

But I think the 99 Nashville Performer on eBay right now (NFI) that has a repaired crack on one of the F-holes is a better deal, aesthetically and maybe sound-wise. It's been sitting a while so you could possibly make an offer and get it for around $1,000.

[DataNick]

No dispute on my part, but I also had an A-50 with same thing that was Q-U-I-E-T...I do believe there's a sonic rational for elevating the fretboard no?

[Russ Donahue]

Call Elderly. Ask them to do an over-the phone walk-through on this instrument with you. I have found them to be brutally honest about their instruments when describing strengths and weaknesses. They will also play them for you (over the phone) and describe tonal characteristics. Lastly, if you don't like it, they will take it back. Great company, great service. Wish I lived closer to them so I could visit. NFI.

[pops1]

If you listen over the phone, which I have done many times, use speaker phone. If you know someone who plays mandolin and you are familiar with the sound of their mandolin have them call you and play it over the phone so you can hear what something familiar sounds like and that might help you make a judgement on others.