jazzrambler - Posted - 01/03/2011:  16:51:39

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I play a Flatiron, are there any other Flatiron pickers out there? My understanding is the company was bought out by Gibson and then shut down after a few years. Mine is a 1SB with a 7 digit serial number. "The FLATIRON" stamped on the back of the headstock. It was in great shape until a roof leak made the finish peel off the back. I still love it.

ccravens - Posted - 01/03/2011:  17:06:00

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I play an '84 A5-Jr., Carlson signed.
Great bluegrass chop and woody sound.

Jazzrambler, you have a very early flatty, the stamp on back of the headstock being an indication.
The first 2 numbers in the serial number are the year, I'm guessing '80-'82 or 3?

I had a flatty pancake like yours at one time and they are a blast to play!

The short is that the company, selling a lot of good mandos, was bought out by Gibson.
Gibson continued to make the mandos after they bought & moved the company to its Nashville plant, but the Montana ones are highly sought after and get a good resale price.

A few folks at the Flatiron plant decided not to move to Nashville with Gibson; they stayed behind and started their own company, Weber (or Sound To Earth Instruments). Unfortunately, Gibson has now sent their Flatiron brand mandos to be built overseas, with a considerable drop in quality.

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Edited by - ccravens on 01/03/2011 17:10:00

Jeffs - Posted - 01/03/2011:  17:40:22

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I have a Flatiron that was purchased new in 1981. I bought it about 10 years ago from a friend for $300. It's the A style, all blond or maple. It's in pretty rough shape and I'm sorry to say mostly from me and my son's abuse. My boy plays pretty aggessively and with no pick guard he wore the finish right off of it. I tried to have it repaired but it needs more work. I've changed the top 7 frets once already and they're getting pretty worn now. Also the rest of the body finish is cracked from, I assume being too cold. It's model #21A, serial number 81071030 by Back Porch Productions in Bozeman Montana. I love the woodsy tone and it really barks when you lean on 'er. I just talked to a guy who has one very similar to mine that still has the price tag on it. Barely even played for the last 30 years. I'd like to get a look at that one.

fbounds - Posted - 01/03/2011:  18:51:17

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I have three; a '90 F5 Master model (rare), '89 A5 Artist and a 1981 Carlson signed A5-2. They are great mandolins.

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Edited by - fbounds on 01/03/2011 18:52:06

Ken Berner - Posted - 01/03/2011:  19:23:10

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I have been fortunate enough to own two Flatirons, an A5 Artist and an F5 Artist; both built in Montana. I have yet to play anything else that measures up to these mandolins, except my Weber Beartooth.

mando - Posted - 01/03/2011:  20:58:18

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I have a 1992 Flatiron Master model F5 that I bought new in December of that year. I've enjoyed it a great deal, just wish I could do it justice! I have to keep reminding myself that it's " the journey - not the destination" that is important. I feel very fortunate to have this instrument and don't plan to part with it as long as I can still play a little bit.

H20 - Posted - 01/04/2011:  03:59:16

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...my first mando was a Flatiron Festival. Nice mandolin. Seems like every one of the 84 - 85 A's I have heard are cannons!

coelhoe - Posted - 01/04/2011:  06:53:03

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I had '72 Gibson F-5 that looked very pretty but had practically no projection at all. Very heavy construction, but I used it for about ten years. In '84 I contacted Carlson at Flatiron and told him what I was looking for in terms of style, tone and volume. He said he'd send me three that he thought met my criteria. The first one was it! I didn't need the others. '84 A-5 with cross bracing. With the shipping it cost $800.

I sold the F-5 for $1500. I should taken the extra money and bought two Flatirons.

Yes, some time in the late 80's Gibson got tired of the competition since Carlson and his staff were building and selling much better instruments at cheaper prices and Gibson bought them out, and took Carlson and a few of the workers to the new Gibson shop in Nashville. But some of the workers did not want to leave Montana (who would?) so they stayed and started Weber mandolins, still excellent quality though the prices are not as attractive as they were 25 years ago. I think they are still better value than Gibson. However, Gibson has improved both quality and marketing on mandolins, and the prices for used A-5 models seem to be holding better than those for Weber, though the "signature" models look to be taking a hit on the used market.

Maybe some one here knows what has become of Steve Carlson?

A few years ago I went to visit Mandolin Brothers in NYC and I spent an afternoon trying out all of the new Gibson mandolins they had, eight different "signature" models, all F-5 design. I set them out on a couch in the mando room and one by one I played Fisher's Hornpipe on each. I really didn't care for any of them. The best sounding mandolin in the store had been made by a arch-top guitar maker in Brooklyn, D'Angelico or D'Aquisto, (I don't remember which) but it did not look anything like a BG instrument and they were asking $10K for it.

flatironman - Posted - 01/04/2011:  17:19:20

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I have a 1983 A5-2 signed by Steve Carlson.A great mandolin that I have owned since 1990. Shows a little wear on the top finish.Have had frets replaced twice and recently installed an Allen TR3 tailpiece.

ccravens - Posted - 01/04/2011:  18:21:37

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quote:

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Originally posted by flatironman

I have a 1983 A5-2 signed by Steve Carlson.A great mandolin that I have owned since 1990. Shows a little wear on the top finish.Have had frets replaced twice and recently installed an Allen TR3 tailpiece.

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Why'd you change to the Allen, and how did it affect the sound, if at all?
I've got a Carlson Flatiron also, that dude made some awesome mandos.
Thanks!

fbounds - Posted - 01/04/2011:  18:57:50

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quote:

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Originally posted by ccravens

quote:

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Originally posted by flatironman

I have a 1983 A5-2 signed by Steve Carlson.A great mandolin that I have owned since 1990. Shows a little wear on the top finish.Have had frets replaced twice and recently installed an Allen TR3 tailpiece.

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Why'd you change to the Allen, and how did it affect the sound, if at all?
I've got a Carlson Flatiron also, that dude made some awesome mandos.
Thanks!

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I have an Allen tailpiece on my A5 Artist. The original tailpiece split at the bend a few days before a gig. The only tailpiece I could get quick at the time was an Allen. I like it. Seems like it did change the tone a little. I think a little more sustain from what I recall.

flatironman - Posted - 01/05/2011:  17:30:37

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[/quote]

Why'd you change to the Allen, and how did it affect the sound, if at all?
I've got a Carlson Flatiron also, that dude made some awesome mandos.
Thanks!

I changed out the tailpiece just to find out for myself if it would make much difference.I don't think it has,The tone was great before and still is. Perhaps the solid cast type tailpiece would make a noticeable improvement on an instrument of lesser quality??...t
The Allen looks great......String changes may be a bit easier... I kept the old tailpiece just in case I want to return to original condition.

jbalch - Posted - 01/06/2011:  06:33:04

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I used to have a Carlson Signed flatiron F-5. I owned it for several...and eventually sold it to raise money for my first banjo CD project. It was an awesome mandolin but I play so little that I could not justify keeping it.

I think this one was from 1983. it was sold brand new a few weeks after Gibson bought the brand. No-doubt it was essentially a pre-Gibson product. I got it in a trade with George Gruhn.

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Edited by - jbalch on 01/06/2011 06:34:50

H20 - Posted - 01/06/2011:  07:48:54

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awesome! That Carlson sure knew how to built a mando ...even new ones had mojo! I would love to run across an old one in great shape like this!

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Edited by - H20 on 01/06/2011 07:49:43

jazzrambler - Posted - 01/06/2011:  17:27:54

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Looks like mine is an '81. I like it. Like me, it ain't fancy, it ain't pretty, but it's pretty loud and doesn't sound too bad. I traded an old turntable for it. The back is separating from the sides where it got wet a few years ago. I had it in a hanger on the wall and the roof leaked during a tropical storm. It's been re-glued but gets drug around to campfires a lot. This past weekend seems to have overdone it. I aim to re-glue it before bed tonight. I've been playing it so much I haven't wanted to stick it in the vise.

Last year I thought I might look around for a better mandolin and I tried everything in town. Nothing came close. I tried several, all imports, nothing was louder, played or sounded better. Prices ranged from $250-500. Most where prettier. When I was gluing it last time, one of my kids wandered off with the compensated bridge and it never turned up again. I should have looked in the Lincoln Logs. Anyway, a friend gave me a bridge off another flat top and I modified it to fit.

If I ever find a better mando, I'll try to take better care of it. This thing is a trooper, though.

fatt-dad - Posted - 01/11/2011:  20:18:45

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I have two from 84 - a 1N and an A5-1. Love them a lot! Great mandolins!!

f-d

jazzrambler - Posted - 01/15/2011:  14:38:23

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I re-glued the back and she's singing again. I bought a gig bag to carry her in. Maybe I'll replace the old belt and shoelace for a real strap one day.

Brown Akers - Posted - 01/15/2011:  16:34:37

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I have some questions about Flatirons maybe someone could help me with? and possibly some answers....
fbounds - Is the 81' the earliest year for carved top mandolins, A or F? I've not seen any sooner than that - weren't they all flat top before this date? Have any idea what the first (or earliest known serial number) might be for the carved top mandolins?
jeffs - your serial number is also one of the earliest I've seen - with a Backporch Production label no less - is it a carved top A?
Check Intermountain Guitar & Banjo's mandolin inventory - 2 Flatirons for sale, 84' A5-2 @ 4000 - ever seen one this clean before? Say its unplayed........
the 84' A5-1 they have @ 2950 - has anyone seen a pickguard like this and what it's called? I've never seen one like that.......
coelhoe- I once found a website with a list of custom inlay companies - which included Steve Carlson. He was in Belgrade, MT. (my brother lives there) and as I understood it he was doing custom inlay and carved top graduation work for a number of companies. Seems he has moved on from the building side of the business, never seen any posts etc.....from him.
Really like this new site - the media archive and tabs and lessons hold alot to study........thanks for the help!
Oh, yeah....Flatiron owners. 83' Flatiron A5-1 #83110137 - a really great mandolin - I found it hanging on the wall at a Guitar Center. Somebody up there likes me............

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Edited by - Brown Akers on 01/15/2011 17:31:41

fbounds - Posted - 01/31/2011:  16:47:00

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I think 1980 or 1981 was the first year for the carved top ones. I am not 100% sure but sounds about right. Steve had something figured out early because the '81 A5-2 is a great mandolin.

Newl Post - Posted - 02/27/2011:  08:48:14

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I used to own an '83 N1. It was my first mandolin. Great choice for a first mando! Bought it new for either $345 or $435. Right numbers, just don't remember the order. I just traded it to my fiddle partner (I'm her banjo partner) of about the past 10 or more years for a 1900's era "fancy inlay" fiddle. I miss that mando. But I got others that suit my needs better. Plus I get to see it almost every time I have a practice session with the new owner.

jgarber - Posted - 03/30/2011:  05:03:54

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quote:

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Originally posted by flatironman

I have a 1983 A5-2 signed by Steve Carlson.A great mandolin that I have owned since 1990. Shows a little wear on the top finish.Have had frets replaced twice and recently installed an Allen TR3 tailpiece.

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I also have an '83 A5-2 which I bought new from Mandolin Brothers. Great chop and bluegrass sound.

marxmando - Posted - 08/08/2012:  11:12:36

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I play a Carlson signed 1986 Flatiron F5 Artist (Chocolate)...and love it!

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Edited by - marxmando on 08/08/2012 11:16:07

ccravens - Posted - 08/08/2012:  19:53:18

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quote:

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Originally posted by marxmando

I play a Carlson signed 1986 Flatiron F5 Artist (Chocolate)...and love it!

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Love my Carlson Flatiron A-5 Jr.

The man could make mandos.

kmangelos - Posted - 11/15/2012:  07:25:55

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I went to college in Bozemen from the mid- to the late- 70's and met Bruce Weber and Steve Carlson during that time frame when they were building instruments and starting the Flatiron company. They were great instruments during the Carlson era. I seem to recall that Steve had a music store back then called the "Backporch Pickin' Parlor" and I think they began selling the early Flatirons out of that store. Fond memories of those days . . .

kma

Jim Yates - Posted - 11/15/2012:  15:46:16

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Were some of these Flatiron A5s X braced and some with tone bars?  I seem to recall Willie P. Bennett saying that his was X braced.  It was the nucest mandolin that I ever played.  It was stolen from his van about 10 years ago in Hamilton Ontario.

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Edited by - Jim Yates on 11/15/2012 15:50:54

jaevans - Posted - 11/16/2012:  14:02:05

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Greetings all.

I have an A5 Artist made in Nashville (after the Gibson purchase) and it has tone bars. It has a good sound but the E string sounds a little muted. I just hit the E string a little harder than the others.

John

hartfordfan - Posted - 11/16/2012:  23:35:50

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Hi folks,

I have two Bozeman built Flatirons.

My first one is a 2m Army/Navy style birdseye that I bought new in 1981

My second one is a 1985 X braced Steve Carlson F5.

 

pickn pete - Posted - 11/25/2012:  21:27:38

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nice Carlson you got thar..

harmonicajohn - Posted - 01/07/2013:  14:03:13

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I have a Flatiron 1N sn 96116445 made in Belgrade MT... headstock decal says "The Flatiron"... has a chipboard case... i made a new bridge for it because the original compensated bridge was damaged before i got it.... I'm wondering if replacement (original style) bridges are available.... Also trying to come up with a value for this instrument... Can anybody help?

ccravens - Posted - 01/09/2013:  10:39:38

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Those are going on ebay from $300-$500, depending on condition, wood type, etc.

harmonicajohn - Posted - 01/23/2013:  17:54:56

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They appraised mine at Elderly instruments @ $750

Anyway, it is for sale if anyone is interested..

 

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Edited by - harmonicajohn on 01/23/2013 17:56:11

Loarcutus - Posted - 01/30/2013:  15:59:01

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Hello All!
I'm a proud new owner of a 99' Performer A model, made in Nashville, excellent-minus condition. It was hardly played, so I'm having a great time playin the heck out of it to "open it up". Great bark and nice tone...I'm sold!!!

harmonicajohn - Posted - 03/20/2013:  14:13:42

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Flatiron 1N for sale 

ebay.com/itm/181106237033?ssPa...555.l2649

joemcg - Posted - 05/01/2013:  15:58:28

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  My '82 2K just acquired yesterday.

Joe

mpettengell - Posted - 08/28/2013:  06:23:25

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i'm new to the site.....and thought i'd mention that i just purchased a performer F style flatiron from '91; it is without a doubt the best sounding and most accomodating instrument i have ever played----it almost plays itself.....just got it from bentley's guitars in parkville, mo---mark is a heck of a nice guy.....i also own a price tone and a stanley A style. greetings all.

TSSN - Posted - 08/28/2013:  10:10:20

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Welcome aboard!

Loarcutus - Posted - 11/19/2013:  10:06:52

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Just picked up a 96 Flatiron Festival A to go with my 99 Nashville Flatiron Performer A a couple of weeks ago.

The 96 Festival is set-up great, plays like a dream, nice "woody" tone, has the "pop" on the chop and has a built in pick-up the last owner put in.

Perfect  BG festival mando, I'm stoked!

trunkdog - Posted - 08/09/2014:  23:39:33

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FWIW:

 

Flatiron

Mandolins previously produced in Bozeman, MT between 1977 and 1996, in Nashville, TN between 1997 and circa 2003, and China between 2007 and 2009. Distributed by Gibson in Nashville, TN.

The Flatiron Mandolin company was founded in 1977 in Bozeman, MT however, most of their notoriety/popularity comes from their association with Gibson. Gibson never really had a true mandolin manufacturing facility after the Kalamazoo, MI plant closed in 1984. In 1987 the recently formed Gibson Guitar Corp. bought Flatiron, build a new manufacturing facility, and move all mandolin production including Gibson, to Bozeman, MT. This lasted for ten years when in 1987, Gibson moved mandolin production to Nashville, TN. Flatiron mandolins were still available, but the brand was eventually phased out in favor of Gibson. For a while, Flatiron mandolins were available as special/custom orders, but by the early 2000s, the Flatiron brand was retired except for a brief run of Chinese-built instruments in the late 2000s. Head luthier Bruce Weber at Flatiron remained in Bozeman, MT and formed Sound To Earth that builds mandolins under the Weber name when production shifted to Nashville. Information courtesy Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars, 100 Years of an American Icon.

 

trunkdog - Posted - 08/09/2014:  23:42:02

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I'm looking at a '91 Performer "A" to string lefty. Only way I'll ever afford a Gibson. $1450 sounds a bit high to me though. Any comments?

 

TIA  -  td

Pjones3 - Posted - 08/28/2014:  10:08:27

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$1450 sounds quite a bit high to me. Seems the performer A's go for around $1000 pretty regularly on the cafe or ebay.

bradlaird - Posted - 10/29/2014:  14:15:28

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I am really enjoying reading about all the great Flatiron mandolins out there! You can read the tale of mine here on my blog:

 

bradleylaird.com/blog-articles...iron.html

 

Maybe we should start a club? I already have a little shrine set up with a little statue of Steve Carlson, a couple of candles and some shavings from a tortoise shell pick. Good mojo!