Flatiron FG5 Sign by Michael Owens Information?Any body know him?

[bhaltom]

I have a Flatiron F5G mandolin that was signed by Michael Owens on Feb. 2001 on the inside top of the Mandolin, Had to use a dental mirror to see it, Does anybody know anything about Michael Owens? thanks

[bhaltom]

Maybe Michael Owens dad was Buck Owens?

[Danny Clark]

never heard of Michael Owens or a Flatiron FG5

[bhaltom]

Gibson Flatiron Festival-F built in 2001

[DataNick]

Gibson Flatiron Festival-F built in 2001

He probably was filling in for Charlie Derrington that day at Gibson. What's the full serial number?
Big Joe might know if Charlie D was out of town or unavailable during that time roughly.

BTW: That Flatiron Festival F made in Nashville in 2001 is equivalent to a same period Gibson F5G...

[bhaltom]

serial number: 10219020

thanks for the reply DataNick!

[DataNick]

serial number: 10219020

thanks for the reply DataNick!

You bet!

That one was made 2001, Feb 19th, 2nd one that day...I've got one made in March of the same year on hold.

Big Joe could probably clue us in as to who Michael Owens was...but we do know that at this time Charlie D. was the head of OAI at Gibson, I think Danny Roberts of The Grascals was working there as well as Big Joe.

Michael Owens probably in the organization hierarchy had the "signing duty" that day because of Charlie D's unavailability for whatever reason.

You've got a good'un...I'd keep it!

[Eddie Sheehy]

Center-forward for Liverpool FC?

[Willieee]

Googling " 'Michael Owens' mandolin" turns up this Linked In profile, which shows him to be a past luthier at Gibson:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-owens/57/751/5b6

(And unless I'm mistaken, I was the original owner of the very fine 2001 FFF in question.)

[bhaltom]

Yep williee, I believe I purchased from you many years ago, play it every day, great mando!

[Willie Poole]

I am confused at to what mandolin that is actually being talked about here, an F-5G or a Flatiron Festival F model? I have a Flatiron Festival F made in that same year and it doesn`t have a signed label....

Willie

[Russ Jordan]

read post #1--signed on underside of top

[sgarrity]

Did Charlie sign any of the Flatirons?

[John Ritchhart]

Not that I know of Shaun. When I got my second Artist F-5 made in 2003 Danny Roberts told me they weren't signing Flatirons anymore but I convinced him to sign mine. I've talked to him since then and he said he had signed several afterwards. My 1991 was signed by Bruce and he left the company a little after that. So did anyone sign them after Bruce left? I never heard of Charlie signing one.

[allenhopkins]

I am confused at to what mandolin that is actually being talked about here, an F-5G or a Flatiron Festival F model? I have a Flatiron Festival F made in that same year and it doesn`t have a signed label...

Think it's a Festival F with the underside of the top signed by Mr. Owens -- not the label.

You might check yours with a dental mirror and see if the top's signed.

[bhaltom]

This is a Flatiron Festival-F signed not on the label but the inside top by Michael Owens. He also signed the date of Feb. 2001. I used a dental mirror, digital camera and flashlight. Once I got a few pic I pulled up the pics on photoshop, mirror it so I could read it. I know it sounds like a lot of work but I was curious. Also i thought a festival-f and f5g was the same thing. Sorry bout that, it's a flatiron festival-f.

[DataNick]

This is a Flatiron Festival-F signed not on the label but the inside top by Michael Owens. He also signed the date of Feb. 2001...Also i thought a festival-f and f5g was the same thing. Sorry bout that, it's a flatiron festival-f.

See my post #5...they are the same basically the same mando as stated multiple times by Charlie D., Danny Roberts, etc...

[Willie Poole]

I understand about it being signed on the underside of the top, what I am confused about is why did the OP call it a Flatiron F-G5, I am also aware that the Gibson F-5G and the Flatiron Festival F model are basically the same mandolin and I never have understood why Gibson elected to make both and have about a $1500 price difference in them...with just a small amount of extra effort they could all have been called F-5G`s and sold for the higher price...

Willie

[Scottydawg]

Nick
Bring a Dental Mirror to the next jam...will check mine for a signature

[DataNick]

Yeah and maybe Steve can bring mine that is on hold to check it too!

[DataNick]

I understand about it being signed on the underside of the top, what I am confused about is why did the OP call it a Flatiron F-G5, I am also aware that the Gibson F-5G and the Flatiron Festival F model are basically the same mandolin and I never have understood why Gibson elected to make both and have about a $1500 price difference in them...with just a small amount of extra effort they could all have been called F-5G`s and sold for the higher price...

Willie

In hindsight it appears that while production was in Bozeman, that Flatirons were built to Flatiron specs, and Gibson to Gibson specs in the same facility. When Gibson re-tooled for the switch to Nashville, tooling was done for "Loar" specs; so initially to keep the Flatiron brand alive they cut the models offered down to 4 (Performer A, Festival F, Artist A, Artist F) and built all mandolins to "Loar" specs. In analyzing their production/business practices they concluded they were basically competing against themselves, and Charlie D. said they didn't believe the Flatiron customer base would buy/accept a stripped down, "F9" Flatiron so they put the F9/A9 models into production and dc'd Flatiron. Later they brought the brand back with an outsourced pac-rim model.

[bhaltom]

Willie asked:
"I understand about it being signed on the underside of the top, what I am confused about is why did the OP call it a Flatiron F-G5"

The answer is I ment to type "F5G", not FG5. Then after reading some other post I then thought maybe the F5G should only be used to described a Gibson mandolin, although Im still not sure. Then I tried to described the Flatiron as a Flatiron Festival-F, sorry bout that Willie, hope that makes sense. I tried to edit the orginal title but wasnt sure how, anyway thanks for all the posts.

[bhaltom]

I emailed M. Owens and asked if he was the person who signed the mando and if he worked at Gibson and also asked what was the difference between the Gibson and the Flatiron i have? Btw Mr. Owens very nice guy, he also sent pics, very cool!
His response:
the only difference should be in the head stock logo and tailpiece. #The F5-G has the "flower pot" inlay and "The Gibson" logo inlay. #Your Festival should have the "fleur-de-lys"##and the "The Flatiron" inlay. #Tailpieces would be engraved with "Gibson" or "Flatiron". The#body construction was the same. #


Michael

[DataNick]

I emailed M. Owens and asked if he was the person who signed the mando and if he worked at Gibson and also asked what was the difference between the Gibson and the Flatiron i have? Btw Mr. Owens very nice guy, he also sent pics, very cool!
His response:
the only difference should be in the head stock logo and tailpiece. #The F5-G has the "flower pot" inlay and "The Gibson" logo inlay. #Your Festival should have the "fleur-de-lys"##and the "The Flatiron" inlay. #Tailpieces would be engraved with "Gibson" or "Flatiron". The#body construction was the same. #


Michael

Yup, that's why I've got a 2001 Flatiron Festival F being held for me by a friend to buy...basically a Gibson F5G...they are a great deal!

[bhaltom]

I agree 100%, when I was looking to buy a better mando from my morgan monroe I really wanted a Gibson, are they the best? Who knows? but thats what I wanted. A friend had a Flatiron Festival-F playing in a Bluegrass band and using the heck out of his suggested I look at a Flatiron like his. He said you can pick one up for less and have a Gibson, As long as I didnt mind it didnt have the Gibson name on the tailpeace. Well I took his advice and so glad I did. I didnt have the extra cash to get into a Gibson and just barley was able to get the Flatiron. Im very happy with it! I think it sounds great!