Flatiron Festival A Model Carved Top Mandolin (1993), Bozeman, Montana, serial # 93031602.
This Festival A mandolin was built in Flatiron's original Bozeman, Montana factory some years after Gibson had absorbed the small independent builder, but while Bruce Weber was still running the shop. Flatiron Mandolin and Banjo Company was started in Bozeman around 1987. The company's mandolins in particular were so good they soon caught the eye of Gibson, and the entire operation was soon purchased by Gibson, inc becoming for a while their exclusive high-end acoustic builder after an larger facility was built in 1991. The "Montana era" of Flatiron is remembered for consistent, high quality traditional eight-stringed instruments, but Gibson closed the factory down in 1996, moving all production back to Nashville.
the "Festival A" represents a mid-line model in the mandolin series, intended as a professional quality A-style instrument without any fancy trimmings. It mostly resembles an 1920s Loar-era A-Junior, but with F-holes instead of an oval soundhole. The carved black-finish spruce top sits over a dark stained maple back and sides, with a mahogany neck topped with a rosewood fingerboard. The hardware is typically Gibson derived, and the entire instrument is essentially a Gibson by another name. This is really a superb player's mandolin, unpretentious but with a lot of sound quality built in.
Overall length is 26 1/4 in. (66.7 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This mandolin shows only light wear and scuffing overall with a few small dings and scratches mostly to the top. It is all original and an excellent player with a bright punchy sound and plenty of volume, housed in the original case with a complete unfilled-out warranty card. Overall Excellent Condition.
