Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

  1. #1
    Pogue Mahone theCOOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Halifax, NS, Canada
    Posts
    664
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Am enjoying a new-to-me '83 Flatiron 1N this week.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20141209_044953.jpg 
Views:	223 
Size:	192.1 KB 
ID:	127526

    Thanks Franc Homier Lieu!

    Cheers,
    Coop
    1983 Flatiron 1N - Pancake/Army-Navy
    2011 Eastman MD-315 - F-style
    Rover RM-50B - A-style

    2014 Satin Cherry, Gibson USA 120th Anniversary SGJ14
    Godin Guitars' Art & Lutherie "Spruce" 6-string dreadnought. Hand made in Canada.

  2. #2
    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    2,400

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Sweet. Have you seen this epic thread?

  3. #3
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,859

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    I'd be curious to learn what kind of armrest that you have on there. I bought a McClung pancake style but couldn't get it to fit on my 1N, ended up installing it on a Mid-Missouri that has since moved on to greener pastures.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  4. #4
    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    2,240
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Hi Pheffernan, What is the best tool used to tighten the McClung on the mandolin? They are a very nice armrest and I want to make it snugger. There must be a trick to this.
    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I'd be curious to learn what kind of armrest that you have on there. I bought a McClung pancake style but couldn't get it to fit on my 1N, ended up installing it on a Mid-Missouri that has since moved on to greener pastures.
    2014 BRW F5 #114
    2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model

    YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"

  5. #5
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,859

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by lflngpicker View Post
    Hi Pheffernan, What is the best tool used to tighten the McClung on the mandolin? They are a very nice armrest and I want to make it snugger. There must be a trick to this.
    Doug Edwards includes a small, cylindrical piece of wood with a piece of wire extending from it. When I send one to a friend, I hide one in an egg carton which is functioning as part of the shipping materials. If it has disappeared, conceivably a needle or small kitchen skewer could be used to rotate the holes in a clockwise direction until the armrest sits snugly on the edge.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  6. The following members say thank you to pheffernan for this post:


  7. #6

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I'd be curious to learn what kind of armrest that you have on there. I bought a McClung pancake style but couldn't get it to fit on my 1N, ended up installing it on a Mid-Missouri that has since moved on to greener pastures.
    That is a McClung that I bought for a Kentucky KM-172 I owned briefly. It did not fit the 172 but did fit the 1N.

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Franc Homier Lieu For This Useful Post:


  9. #7
    Registered User biologyprof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Allison Park (Pittsburgh), PA USA
    Posts
    114

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I'd be curious to learn what kind of armrest that you have on there. I bought a McClung pancake style but couldn't get it to fit on my 1N, ended up installing it on a Mid-Missouri that has since moved on to greener pastures.
    I just received a 1/2 OTP (over tail piece) from Doug that he made for my 1N. He asked for a photo to make sure that he knew what it was going on. It seems to fit ok.

    Coop, enjoy your new 1N. They sure are fun to have around.

    Note: The photo was oriented correctly in my iPad. What did I miss that caused it to take a quarter turn?

    Greg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpg 
Views:	169 
Size:	144.2 KB 
ID:	127527  
    "I yam what I yam"

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to biologyprof For This Useful Post:


  11. #8
    Pogue Mahone theCOOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Halifax, NS, Canada
    Posts
    664
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    The armrest would seem to me to be made for the 1N shape-wise. However, and I don't know, it might be tightened as far as it will go.

    I slipped it off easily enough (it's snug but not loose nor does it have a death grip on the mandolin) and the sleeves don't turn by hand, so I assume they're at the end of the threads.
    1983 Flatiron 1N - Pancake/Army-Navy
    2011 Eastman MD-315 - F-style
    Rover RM-50B - A-style

    2014 Satin Cherry, Gibson USA 120th Anniversary SGJ14
    Godin Guitars' Art & Lutherie "Spruce" 6-string dreadnought. Hand made in Canada.

  12. #9
    Pogue Mahone theCOOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Halifax, NS, Canada
    Posts
    664
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by Franc Homier Lieu View Post
    That is a McClung that I bought for a Kentucky KM-172 I owned briefly. It did not fit the 172 but did fit the 1N.
    I had brought home two different new KM-172 from the Folklore Ctr a couple or few years ago. Was not at all impressed with them. I brought the first one back due to blemishes or lifting finish and a knot in the top plate that were not visible in the light at the shop and I brought the second one back for for similar problems with the finish.
    1983 Flatiron 1N - Pancake/Army-Navy
    2011 Eastman MD-315 - F-style
    Rover RM-50B - A-style

    2014 Satin Cherry, Gibson USA 120th Anniversary SGJ14
    Godin Guitars' Art & Lutherie "Spruce" 6-string dreadnought. Hand made in Canada.

  13. #10

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by theCOOP View Post
    I had brought home two different new KM-172 from the Folklore Ctr a couple or few years ago. Was not at all impressed with them. I brought the first one back due to blemishes or lifting finish and a knot in the top plate that were not visible in the light at the shop and I brought the second one back for for similar problems with the finish.
    Yeah, I gave it a try but while the playability and fit and finish were good, the tone never did it for me. Anyway, I will find one of those little McClung tools and drop it in the mail to you.

  14. #11
    Pogue Mahone theCOOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Halifax, NS, Canada
    Posts
    664
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by Franc Homier Lieu View Post
    Yeah, I gave it a try but while the playability and fit and finish were good, the tone never did it for me. Anyway, I will find one of those little McClung tools and drop it in the mail to you.
    Yeah, I didn't like the tone. To me it just sounded like I was playing a 2x4, like the top plate was too thick or something. Maybe they weren't set up properly, I dunno. I didn't want to mess around with them any given the problems with the finish.

    If memory serves me correctly, they came to over $400 with the tax and this included just the mandolin and the cardboard box they shipped in. When I mentioned the blemishes and/or problems with the finish, the owner said "this is to be expected with these cheap import (something or others)".
    1983 Flatiron 1N - Pancake/Army-Navy
    2011 Eastman MD-315 - F-style
    Rover RM-50B - A-style

    2014 Satin Cherry, Gibson USA 120th Anniversary SGJ14
    Godin Guitars' Art & Lutherie "Spruce" 6-string dreadnought. Hand made in Canada.

  15. #12
    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    2,240
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Doug Edwards includes a small, cylindrical piece of wood with a piece of wire extending from it. When I send one to a friend, I hide one in an egg carton which is functioning as part of the shipping materials. If it has disappeared, conceivably a needle or small kitchen skewer could be used to rotate the holes in a clockwise direction until the armrest sits snugly on the edge.
    Pheffernan, I just happen to have something exactly like that tool you described! I found it, though initially I didn't recognize its purpose. Thanks and my Mid-Mo thanks you!
    2014 BRW F5 #114
    2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model

    YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"

  16. The following members say thank you to lflngpicker for this post:


  17. #13
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Richmond, Virginia
    Posts
    7,635

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    often a paper clip works on these armrest screws.

    nice pancake!

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  18. #14
    Pogue Mahone theCOOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Halifax, NS, Canada
    Posts
    664
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: NTM '83 Flatiron 1N

    been having trouble getting the A strings tuned in unison - it always seems to be the A strings. I think I read something about this once, other people mentioning A strings going out of tune more easily or general problems with A strings (not specifically on Flatirons)?

    Anyway, I went around the mandolin with a phillips screwdriver and all the mounting screws and machine screws took the tiniest bit of a gentle turn without overdoing it. It sounded quite a bit better and a little buzzing I was experiencing went away as well. Not quite perfect so I loosened the strings and got the pencil-graphite in the nut slots. The slots were pretty rough feeling against the pencil but smoothed right out.

    Both A strings tuned up to pitch nice and smooth and are in unison. So I think I'm all good

    Favorite trick so far is the pencil-graphite-in-the-nut-slot trick
    1983 Flatiron 1N - Pancake/Army-Navy
    2011 Eastman MD-315 - F-style
    Rover RM-50B - A-style

    2014 Satin Cherry, Gibson USA 120th Anniversary SGJ14
    Godin Guitars' Art & Lutherie "Spruce" 6-string dreadnought. Hand made in Canada.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •