thoughts on this Flatiron Performer A

[darylcrisp]

http://www.morganmusic.com/usedmando...tegory=4256012

was following a link to the Red Diamond Crusher just to look, and as usual, clicked on the "used" mandolins.

found the above. made a quick call and spoke with "Bob".
what i found out was:

1 1/8" nut width.
1 1/2" string spacing at the bridge.
no radius fretboard.
Bob thought the frets looked larger than the vintage/skinny mando frets.
interior label with Bozeman and serial number, but no signature(i should have asked for the serial # but didn't).
said it played very easy and sounded really nice-neck was set up flat.
played it over the phone and it did sound quite nice.

mandolin is on hold till morning.

done some search here for this model. anything anyone can tell me to look for in the Flatiron A's would be appreciated. will get the serial # in the morning-although looking at this SKU FLAT071684-C, i'm wondering if that may be the serial #.

if there is a good thread for the A models point me to it.

thanks folks
d

[Russ Donahue]

Daryl:

There's this thread:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...iron+Performer

And DataNick had a Flatiron A for a while I believe he thought very highly of. You might PM him if he doesn't chime in...I believe he's on the west coast so may be up yet for a while.
Russ

[darylcrisp]

Daryl:

There's this thread:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...iron+Performer

And DataNick had a Flatiron A for a while I believe he thought very highly of. You might PM him if he doesn't chime in...I believe he's on the west coast so may be up yet for a while.
Russ

thanks Russ
and will send DN a note
d

[darylcrisp]

something else i noticed, and not sure if this is significant in dating the mando, the fretboard and headstock inlay appear rosewood-was that a common spec?

rosewood doesn't bother me in the least, but i suspicion this might help establish a date/time period. also not sure if the fretboard material is of significance with regards to value of this mandolin(other words, do you think the price requested is reasonable/high, etc)

thanks
d

[darylcrisp]

DataNick
attempted a PM, appears your mailbox is full and will not receive.
any thoughts regarding this mando appreciated.

d

[fatt-dad]

I'd think it x-braced and a powerhouse! I owned a pre-Gibson a5-1 that was just great!

f-d

[almeriastrings]

The rosewood fingerboard and headstock overlay indicate an earlier, X-braced, M+T neck joint, pre-Nashville model.

[DataNick]

Darryl,

Sounds like Almeria has it right. My Flat (which is in pawn) is a 99' Nashville model with the dove-tail neck joint, parallel braced, ebony fretboard. They're different animals. The Bozeman ones can be very good, the only thing I would look out for is if the fretboard is integrated versus elevated. Nashville Flats are elevated, some Bozeman Flats are integrated. I think you lose some volume & punch with an integrated fretboard as my Bozeman Flatiron Festival A that I used to own was (it's a little on the quiet side).

How much do they want for it?

Sorry for the late reply but I just got in from playing a gig tonite.

Good luck with it!

P.S. I'll clean out my inbox!

[Scottydawg]

Hey Nick!
Click on the OP link to morganmusic...hard to tell if it's integrated..you could most likely tell from the pics tho..
How was your gig?

[DataNick]

Hey Nick!
Click on the OP link to morganmusic...hard to tell if it's integrated..you could most likely tell from the pics tho..
How was your gig?

Scotty,

We were the opening band for First Tuesday at Roundtable, went well! I'll check that link.

We'll connect re: The Great 48 tomorrow!

[DataNick]

Looks like it's integrated and with the A5-G on the classifieds for $1350, I think that's the much better deal

93' Gibson A5-G

[darylcrisp]

Darryl,

Sounds like Almeria has it right. My Flat (which is in pawn) is a 99' Nashville model with the dove-tail neck joint, parallel braced, ebony fretboard. They're different animals. The Bozeman ones can be very good, the only thing I would look out for is if the fretboard is integrated versus elevated. Nashville Flats are elevated, some Bozeman Flats are integrated. I think you lose some volume & punch with an integrated fretboard as my Bozeman Flatiron Festival A that I used to own was (it's a little on the quiet side).

How much do they want for it?

Sorry for the late reply but I just got in from playing a gig tonite.

Good luck with it!

P.S. I'll clean out my inbox!

thanks Data
well, that is interesting-I knew nothing concerning the fretboard being integrated or elevated. looking at the pictures, it kinda looks sitting on the top-wood, but in the third picture I see the binding having a slight curved rise.
I will email MorganMusic and ask which way the fretboard is sitting.

what do you think based on this picture-its kinda hard to tell actually?


$1199 is the price they list.

more pictures are in the OP link.

thanks
d

[almeriastrings]

That looks like an integrated (top-contact), non-elevated to me. $1199 is at the high end, too, though the condition does look very good.

[DataNick]

Darryl,

See my post #11...I think that's the much better deal...

[darylcrisp]

thanks guys
so much to learn and find out,
thanks for the quick replies and info-made a big difference
d

[darylcrisp]

just in case there is an counter offer, what might be considered a good price on this Flatiron?

it had quite a nice sound over the phone(I know that's probably the last ditch effort to qualify an instrument, but......), and the Gibson in the classifieds is over my budget-I'd like to keep it more under $1000.

do these integrated necks pose any issues/undesired qualities down the road vs elevated? (other than being possibly quieter than the elevated)

thanks
d

[mandobajo]

heres top of the line Flatiron http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/82466
its worth twice the price

[pheffernan]

heres top of the line Flatiron http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/82466
its worth twice the price

I absolutely agree. His Ellis is priced attractively as well: http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/82462.

[DataNick]

Forgot about that Flatiron Artist, which is a Nashville Flat with the elevated fretboard and parallel braced. Great deal there!

[darylcrisp]

heres top of the line Flatiron http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/82466
its worth twice the price

thanks for the heads up.
I did inquire on this one, and its really a nice looking mandolin, unfortunately the nut width is too tight for me, its between 1 1/16" and 1 1/8. that's really tight for me. so this one will not work.

I will let the other pass as well-but this has been a good thread, learned a lot just overnight concerning the Flatirons.

question: were there ever any Flatirons with wider nut widths around 1 3/16"?


d

[DataNick]

Darryl, if you could squeeze the other $300, that Gibson A5-G is a really good deal. That's about the cheapest I've ever seen those, and you are getting a signed Gibson mandolin; a nice piece of Gibson history there. The Bozeman Gibsons can be very good mandolins as I can attest...If Weber or Carlson signed, it's really a gem!

[Josh Levine]

Looks like it's integrated and with the A5-G on the classifieds for $1350, I think that's the much better deal

93' Gibson A5-G

Agreed. I have the same model I believe, with the non elevated fretboard. Its decent, good even tone and plays easy, but wouldn't go out of my way to get another and not at that price. The A5G on the other hand could be awesome, though. Neither really fit your criteria of wide nut though.