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fbounds - Posted - 07/19/2011: 07:30:51
I have a '91 Flatiron F5 Master Model (signed by Dennis Behlin). It is a really great mandolin.
Was wondering if anyone else has one and knows the history of these. From what I understand there were not many made.
I also have two Flatiron A style mandolins ( A5-2 and A5 Artist ) and they are exceptional. I am a huge fan of Flatiron mandolins.
Edited by - fbounds on 07/19/2011 07:46:17
Muscle Tone - Posted - 07/19/2011: 07:52:46
As far as I know some of the older Flatirons were made by Gibson. Your three Flatirons could have possibly been made around that time frame.
fbounds - Posted - 07/19/2011: 07:59:28
I have an '81 A5-2 that was made by Carlson (pre-Gibson). The A5 Artist and F5 Master were both made during the early Flatiron/Gibson period in Montana.
Hard finding any information on the Master model and how many were made.
Jim Yates - Posted - 07/19/2011: 09:40:46
Do your A5 types have X bracing? The nicest mandolin (in my opinion) that I've ever played was a Flatiron A5 style owned by the late Willie P. Bennett. It was X braced and Willie had replaced the saddle with one made of bone.
Sadly, Willie's mandolin was stolen from his van in Hamilton, Ontario.
fbounds - Posted - 07/19/2011: 09:49:30
Yes, the A5 Artist, A5-2 and F5 Master Model all have X bracing. I think they all have great tone.
WeberInstruments - Posted - 07/20/2011: 07:23:07
Bruce remembers the F5-Master was at least being made in 1986 (right b4 Gibson bought them)- can't remember how long before. I do know that the main reason this all came about was because Henry saw Steve's instruments at NAMM and they thought up the re-issue of the F-5L so perhaps the F5-Master impressed him. Dennis Balian was Steve's right-hand-man for years b4 Gibson, then became General Manager for awhile of what was then called Gibson-Flatiron Division (the new acoustic plant), around 1991 was the year the mandolins and about 14 guitars/day were moved into the new plant.
The serial number will tell us the year and how many of the total F5 Signature Series were made at that time. I am not sure if any were made after the 1997 move to Nashville unless parts were left over for a few. I am going to try to attach a couple of price lists we have from the later period as they might be of interest.
I keep saying somebody needs to get hold of Steve and get his memories and memorabilia as the memories are fading : ) I have been trying to hunt up a poster we have stashed somewhere that Steve had made with a (young) David Grisman and Flatiron. It was very exciting however unfortunately there was a big mis-spelling or the saying was off somehow and was very funny. Of course Gibson will have the info for after 1987 or so (maybe : ). Fun, but I better get to work.
Edited by - WeberInstruments on 07/20/2011 07:23:34
fbounds - Posted - 07/20/2011: 15:14:57
quote:
Originally posted by WeberInstruments
Bruce remembers the F5-Master was at least being made in 1986 (right b4 Gibson bought them)- can't remember how long before. I do know that the main reason this all came about was because Henry saw Steve's instruments at NAMM and they thought up the re-issue of the F-5L so perhaps the F5-Master impressed him. Dennis Balian was Steve's right-hand-man for years b4 Gibson, then became General Manager for awhile of what was then called Gibson-Flatiron Division (the new acoustic plant), around 1991 was the year the mandolins and about 14 guitars/day were moved into the new plant.
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Thanks! Someone needs to write up a history of Flatiron and the instruments. They are wonderful instruments and that tradition is being carried on by you folks at STE.
Edited by - fbounds on 07/20/2011 15:17:40
Jim Yates - Posted - 07/20/2011: 20:23:23
Was that the poster with David playing an Army/Navy style Flatiron and saying something like,"I wish these had been around when I was starting out."?
WeberInstruments - Posted - 07/21/2011: 15:50:55
YES! That was the saying except that there was something 'off' about it...I didn't remember that it was a flat either- I was thinking he was holding an F...mw
pickn pete - Posted - 08/10/2011: 23:56:37
I have noticed recently that Flatiron mandolins say 83-85 are advertised at around $4500 for an F and around $4000 for an A 2. Are the A's so much better than the F's ? I wonder.
fbounds - Posted - 08/21/2011: 10:11:28
quote:
Originally posted by pickn pete
I have noticed recently that Flatiron mandolins say 83-85 are advertised at around $4500 for an F and around $4000 for an A 2. Are the A's so much better than the F's ? I wonder.
I'm not sure either is better just sound a little different. I have two Flatiron A's (81 A5-2 and 89 A5 Artist). Both are really great sounding mandos. I like the A's for fiddle tunes. They seem to have a little more sustain. I think the chop of the F has a little more bite. I like all three of them and honestly couldn't say I like one better than another. In general, I think the two A's sound every bit as good as the F. In fact, the mandolin I play the most is the '89 A5 Artist. It does have a nice overall balance.
Edited by - fbounds on 08/21/2011 10:12:33
coelhoe - Posted - 10/14/2011: 14:24:54
I paid $750, more or less, in 1984 to Steve Carlson for a Flatiron A-5-2. Mine has a square tube under the fingerboard, instead of an adjustable rod, similar to the older Martin guitars. I talked to Steve and told him of my experience with the lone Loar A-5 at Tut Taylor's, and he said he thought that the mando he was sending me was pretty close in tone. He said he'd send two others if I wanted but the first was just right. Still is.
Here's my other note on this from last year: mandohangout.com/topic/18753
Edited by - coelhoe on 10/14/2011 14:26:53
ccravens - Posted - 10/15/2011: 11:42:10
quote:
Originally posted by fbounds
In general, I think the two A's sound every bit as good as the F. In fact, the mandolin I play the most is the '89 A5 Artist. It does have a nice overall balance.
The body style has very little (some would even say none) to do with the tone, so it's no surprise the A's sounding better.
I consider it one of the great enduring myths of mandos.
Captain Jack Sparrow - Posted - 12/14/2011: 13:22:44
I owned one of the Flatiron Signature Master Models...Bruce Weber signed the label. According to a lady I talked with at Flatrion (Paula Jean?), I was told less than 20 of these were made. There was one even higher model called the Flatiron Master Elite, the only difference was the Elite mandolin had the Vine of Life down the fretboard. If you look in your old Madolin Brother's catalog, you can find advertisements for them in those.
