Flatiron 1N (The one that got away) and Northfield Calhoun

Elderly listed a Flatiron 1N on the classifieds yesterday or today. I spent all day contemplating it, reading past threads, searching YouTube and checking in with my MAS Anonymous sponsor. I tried to be good, but couldn't scratch the itch and was ready to pull the trigger, but alas, somebody with a worse case of MAS than me was lucky enough to buy it. Dang-it. At least my marriage survives another day.

I own two F-styles, a Eastman MD-515 and a Northfield F5S. I seem to becoming more of an OT guy than a BG guy and have the incurable desire for something with a hole in it and really like the whole pancake thing. I've been playing some OT with a fiddle player and would love a bit more volume than my F's offer and open hole tone.

Since the Flatiron was sold, I'm thinking I might need a Northfield Calhoun. Anybody have first hand experience with both of these? Similar price range and I love my current Northfield.

I think about old Gibson's but $1000 would be the max budget, actually $164.36 is the max budet, but I can make it work.

Next question is there a difference in a Flatiron 1N and a 3MW beside cosmetic appointments?

Next question, anybody have a Flatiron 1N they want to sell?

Last question, will the cravings ever end?

Carry on you dirty enablers...

HA! great post! I had a 1N a few years back and at the time it just didn't feel right for me so I sold it here on the Cafe and regretted it for a while... so for my first Mando build, I built one! LOVE IT!!!!

While I am not that familiar with the Calhoun, I can say that if you are interested in a Pancake, I'd say to check the classifieds here as well as Reverb regularly, I am always seeing them here and there in the $400 to $600 range. Another option is to look at the modern facsimiles: Crystal Forest Mandolins and Sawchyn Beavertails.

And to my knowledge, all Flatirons of the Number-plus-letter(s) nomination are just different appointments as you asked. Though some have different species of woods that do effect tone.

I watched your 1N video a few times today. Congrats on the build, watched that video as well.

It's a real letdown feeling when you go through all that pondering and thinking and then the rug is pulled out from under you. Back in January, before I had any mandolins at all, I saw one on craigslist that was located not far from my husband's workplace down toward Boston. We called, it was not spoken for, and he arranged to meet the guy at the end of the day. Well, after work, it turned out the guy got confused and sold it to someone else. I had been thinking about nothing else all day, and had ordered books from Amazon and so forth.... I was so crushed.

That's when I started seriously shopping. And yeah, it's hard to stop :))

post deleted.

Do check out Morris mandolins in the classifieds

I got a Northfield Calhoun from Elderly right before all the lockdown hit. It's got a great sound; much different than my F style The Loar. I wanted an O or oval hole sound. Spent a lot of time researching and listening to similar mandolins. No regrets here.

big fan of the 1N!

Love my A3 for old-time too!

I do think the modern bench-made pancakes are getting a lot of attention; however. I just have my 1N and love it!

f-d

I have a 1N, 2MC, and 1C. They are a little different because of the different tone woods, but not much. Pretty much any flatiron pancake is a nice instrument (sorry). Also like the big muddy’s as flat tops, if you want to scratch that itch.

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Originally Posted by Gunnar

Do check out Morris mandolins in the classifieds

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On that note, this looks right up your ally:


https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161694#161694

There is this Flatiron 1-C in the classifieds...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/162004#162004

I think the C stands for cherry?

NFI

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Originally Posted by Charles E.

There is this Flatiron 1-C in the classifieds...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/162004#162004

I think the C stands for cherry?

NFI

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I can tell you from experience that Mr. Duggan is a good guy to deal with, too.

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Originally Posted by Trader Todd

I own two F-styles, a Eastman MD-515 and a Northfield F5S. I seem to becoming more of an OT guy than a BG guy and have the incurable desire for something with a hole in it and really like the whole pancake thing. I've been playing some OT with a fiddle player and would love a bit more volume than my F's offer and open hole tone.

Since the Flatiron was sold, I'm thinking I might need a Northfield Calhoun. Anybody have first hand experience with both of these? Similar price range and I love my current Northfield.

I think about old Gibson's but $1000 would be the max budget, actually $164.36 is the max budet, but I can make it work.

Next question, anybody have a Flatiron 1N they want to sell?

Last question, will the cravings ever end?

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I'm supremely surprised that your current Northfield isn't giving you enough volume. The ones that I've played are like cannons!!!

The Calhoun's are nice but do land in that $1000 range and aren't actually a pancake shape. For the money you could get a Big Muddy or a Morris or others for probably half the price!

Todd, I have a flatiron 3K for sale. Call lee, 801 698 2086. I also have a !N but I really like it just a smidge more that the 3K. lee

A few posts have mentioned Morris mandolins. They are great mandolins at a very good price, but they are not flat top mandolins. They are a arched, carved top.

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Originally Posted by unclelee

Todd, I have a flatiron 3K for sale. Call lee, 801 698 2086. I also have a !N but I really like it just a smidge more that the 3K. lee

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That's against Cafe rules.

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Originally Posted by mandobassman

A few posts have mentioned Morris mandolins. They are great mandolins at a very good price, but they are not flat top mandolins. They are a arched, carved top.

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Yes, some are!

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/161694#161694

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Originally Posted by Zach Wilson

Yes, some are!

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Mine is, and I like it very much. But including the shipping and a gator case for it, I am into it for over $800. Easily the most expensive instrument in my (admittedly small) herd.

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Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

Mine is, and I like it very much. But including the shipping and a gator case for it, I am into it for over $800. Easily the most expensive instrument in my (admittedly small) herd.

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Nice! I considered getting one when I was looking for a flat top, his mandolins appear to be really nice! I ended up having James Wilson build me one of his Red Valley flat tops and couldn't be happier! With a case and shipping I stayed under a grand.

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All this to say, I dont think that you could get a new Calhoun with a case and shipped for the OPs budget.

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$164.36?

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Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

$164.36?

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I've been wondering about that too but think it may be a typo??? My budget is about that as well.... I might buy a BlueChip, a couple sets of strings, and a Cumberland bridge and be content with my Mandolins. $164.36 can go far. Just not a new instrument kinda far 🤣

Yeah but you might spend more than you really have because you really want it. Been there, done that :mandosmiley:

Yes, some are!


I wasn’t aware of that. Never saw a Morris flat top.

The OP sounds like me a few months ago. I too own a Northfield F5S and was looking to diversify my sonic palette. I play a bit of classical and am really into choro at the moment and wanted something that, as OP said “had a hole in it”. I’ve had the opportunity to play a Calhoun on a couple of occasions and thought it had a nice sound and was well built. But after doing a bit of research here on the forum, I decided to pull the trigger on a Sawchyn Beavertail pancake and I love it. So much fun to play and a totally different sound and vibe than my F5S. That would be my recommendation.

[QUOTE=Zach Wilson;1794320]I'm supremely surprised that your current Northfield isn't giving you enough volume. The ones that I've played are like cannons!!!

My Northfield has a wonderful tone, plays great but I think it could use a little more projection. Everybody keeps telling me the Big Muddy and Morris is the way to go.

I decided to pull the trigger on a Sawchyn Beavertail pancake and I love it. So much fun to play and a totally different sound and vibe than my F5S. That would be my recommendation.[/QUOTE]

Looks nice, I'll have to check into it. Thanks for the input. How does it differ from the F5S