Compulsive purchase- Flatiron 1N

[Nathan Sanders]

And here is the Flatiron 3MC Octave Mandolin (Bouzouki) I recently acquired.

[Josh Levine]

Wow, sounds great. The pickin ain't bad either.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Nice job!

[pickinNgrinnin]

Congrats on the MW! I really do enjoy my 1SH!Mine came with the original chipboard case, too. I really never found a case that really fits the Flatiron, but eventually contacted Steve at Cumberland Acoustics to see what they ship with their Redline Traveller, a modern version of the Flatirons. He offered to sell me one of his cases so I bought it. As it turns out, the case he uses is a Guardian model made for the A-Style mando.

I think the tag that was in the case labelled it as a CG-020-MA but I must have thrown the tag away.

As you can see, the Flatiron does fit, just not that well.

There is a lot of room over the headstock. I guess you could put a strap there.

The body is also smaller than the case requiring additional padding for a reasonable fit.

I trimmed a piece of bubble-wrap that had the big bubbles to lay under the mando and raise it up so the neck rested evenly over the storage compartment. I also used a large, rolled-up microfiber cloth at the bottom to keep the mando snug & secure from moving around in the case.

Overall, this case does offer more protection than the original fiberboard one. It also looks better, too. :-) I suppose at some point I can try to create some sort of padding that looks a little better, but it is still pretty much of a compromise for a Flatiron mando.

Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for a case that really fits my Flatiron!

Take care,

Frank

I had the finish on a Gibson J-45 react from being in contact with bubble wrap. Since then, I keep it away from my instruments.

[Dave Hanson]

Love it.

Dave H

[eastman_315]

I had the finish on a Gibson J-45 react from being in contact with bubble wrap. Since then, I keep it away from my instruments.

Thanks pickinNgrinnin,

Great to know! I haven't seen anything like that happening yet, but I'll keep checking. At least I can cover it with some cloth or something.

I really wish there was an aftermarket case for these wonderful little mandos!

Take care,

Frank

[Nathan Sanders]

Rosin the Beau on the Flatiron Bouzouki

[Cobalt]

For the sake of completeness I might add the model number of mine. I don't see the Flatiron 1DC mentioned anywhere else on this entire site (apart from one of my own earlier posts).
Model No. 1DC MANDOLIN
(The word 'mandolin' appears as part of the model number).

It is a 1994 version with a matte (non-glossy) dark chocolate finish and adjustable truss-rod. I've had it since new, with matching hard shell case. The instrument has travelled around quite a lot with me, it's still one of my favourites, very playable and nice tone.

[Josh Levine]

Someone needs to buy this 2k before I do. Great price. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Fla...2k-Mandolin.gc

- - - Updated - - -

Well is was priced at $440 on sale but moved up in price now.

[harper]

I became the lucky owner of a Flatiron 1N this Christmas. It has light GHS strings on it. I experimented with several picks and found that the V-pick called Chicken Picker draws out the sweetest, clearest, bell-like sound. Thinner picks produce a thinner sound on it. This one is on my do-not-sell list and is now my go-to mandolin for everyday playing.

[fatt-dad]

Happy New Year Pancake fans!

f-d

[harper]

Dear Flatiron Fans,

I bought the Flatiron 2K referenced in the link to Guitar Center in JWalterWaethermans's post. Details: built in 1983, koa back and sides, ebony nut and bridge, spruce top, no truss rod. Some minor dings, but almost no finish checking. The construction is very solid with no cracks, evidence of repairs, or seam separations.

I spend yesterday morning cleaning it and putting on new strings. Three of the tuners were frozen. I took them apart and cleaned them with advice from Graham MacDonald. Reassembling was tricky, lining up the cog, worm gear and stem of the tuning post. I had to turn one cog 14 different ways before the unit would fall into place. I put a smalldrop of Teflon bicycle chain lubricant on the brackets that hold each worm gear. They moved well enough unstrung, but now that they are under load two of them are very hard to turn. The one 1 turned 14 different ways works fine. I used Savarez 1540X strings, which are fairly light.

Also, the one piece bridge is too high, making the action too high. The fret board is perfectly level.

The instrument is loud and resonant, and for sure a keeper, but I need to do something about the tuners and bridge.

If anyone has any advice on next steps, I would welcome it. I'm learning as I go.

[Bill Kammerzell]

I woke up from a nap this afternoon, searched ebay and did a Buy-It-Now on a 1994 Flatiron 1N with hardcase.
About 10 minutes later when I fully woke up I realized what I had done, it dawned on me that I really don't know much about them. This MAS thing is killing me. I am doing it in my sleep now.
So,,, since I now own one can anyone tell me anything about them?
Please, please, say that I didn't make a bad mistake.
No,,,,, just tell me the truth. I can take it.

Although I do the research, I don't think I've ever bought a mandolin that wasn't a compulsive purchase. Seeing how over the last Five (5) months I've either bought sold (or am in the process of selling) Ten (10) different mandolins. That's 3.33 times the number of mandolins I owned in the 64 years preceding. . Funny thing, as of yet, it hasn't bothered my wife one bit. She even told me how "pretty" the Eastman MD504 is.

[Nathan Sanders]

In keeping with the historical nature of this thread, here are two recent acquisitions, a 1995 Flatiron 2MC and a 1996 Gibson AN.

[JeffD]

I had a 1984 3MW mandola. I got it soon after my first mandolin destroyed itself in a hot car. Getting the Flatiron was the first time I spent what to me was a chunk of change to get a nice musical instrument. I ordered it from Elderly back a long time ago. I recently sold it to someone who is playing the potatoes out of it.

[Nathan Sanders]

Cool JeffD. Out of all the Flatirons I've had, I never have had a mandola. I wish I could have bought yours. If your friend ever decides to sell it, let me know.

[Nathan Sanders]

Here's a recent picture of my pancake arsenal. Pictured are Flatiron 2MC, 1N, Bouzouki, and a Gibson AN. I guess this was sort of a farewell gathering because I just sold the 2MC earlier this week.


(Sorry the picture is sideways. The original is not that way. For some reason it posted this way.)

[soliver]

Old thread, but I'm joining the fray... new 1N owner here. I've been enjoying it thus far. Looking to get some new strings for it and maybe a Wegen TF140.

Can anyone tell me the difference between the GHS Strings and the D'addario's?

[Chris Daniels]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the GHS Strings and the D'addario's?

I perhaps neglected posting to this thread when I got my 1N but if so this should remedy the oversight.

Anyway, I'm a loyal D'Addario player for everything stringed from way back but the GHS A250 set is the closest to the recommended gauges printed on the Flatiron's neck block so I made an exception. They're really sweet strings and to date I've found no reason to switch to EJ73/EJ62, etc. The GHS are nice and balanced on the 1N with good tone + volume across all 4 courses.

~://:~ C.

[fatt-dad]

Yeah, I'm like Chris. The A250s are perfect gauge for the sticker. So, I just use them.

f-d

[Br1ck]

I should have bought the last one I played. Very sweet tone for all but bluegrass.

[fatt-dad]

yeah, I bring my pancake to a bluegrass jam and surprise people. It can be heard! It looks nothing like a mandolin should look. It's fine for such jams though. I'd never say, "Not for bluegrass!" but for the look. . .

f-d

[pheffernan]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the GHS Strings and the D'addario's?

.010 / .015 / .024 / .036 vs. .010 / .014 / .024 / .034

[Jim Garber]

Ah, nice to see this, one of the grandfathers of Cafe threads. Also it is nice again to see all those compulsive purchasers of Flatiron 1N mandolins. A little nostalgia for the old folks.

[Br1ck]

Don't we have a fondness for Zombies? Ah, the classics.

When it comes to Flatiron pancakes, is there a pecking order that denotes fancier appointments? The use of both numbers and letters confounds me. Primer please.