Flatiron Zouk

[Sweetpea44]

A local 3K Flatiron Bouzouki has become available and I'm curious if I could get some more information about this instrument. From what I can read on the photograph, the serial number is 8405277 .... would this be a 1984 instrument? I think the label reads it was made in MT, but the photograph is a little blurry. Did these instruments have truss rods? There doesn't appear to be a truss rod cover on the photograph. It looks to be strung with octave pairs on the G and D courses. When did Gibson take over production .... was that in '87? Do people tend to like these earlier models? Thanks!

[Eddie Sheehy]

The early ones did not have truss rods, check the neck for bowing. 3K means level 3 (top of the line) and Koa back and sides. You can string them any way you want but they came with unison pairs so check the nut and bridge for modified slots.

[allenhopkins]

My 3K Ser.#8702398 (1987) has a truss rod; I bought it new and have nearly 30 years of use out of it. Excellent long-neck OM. I kept the original unison stringing. Here's what it sounds like playing rhythm on Road To Boston:



I'd definitely check this one's neck for straightness, if it doesn't have a truss rod. If it's OK and playable, I'd say, based on my experience, that it's likely to be a good instrument.

[Sweetpea44]

Thanks for the replies .... the seller says it was recently set up, but I would want to make sure the neck is straight as well. Having no truss rod makes me a little nervous. I've read in other threads that people have had trouble with the tailpieces for the early versions as well. What would be a fair price for a model such as this?

[allenhopkins]

...What would be a fair price for a model such as this?

I'd say high three figures, just "south" of $1K. Given the fact that US-made OM's at reasonable prices are not all that common, might be willing to go a bit higher...