Submitted by Unknown on 10/1/2003

Where Purchased: Used from a friend

Year Purchased: 1995
Price Paid: 1800 ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

My dad bought this banjo from a friend after I had been playing for a few years and my parents knew that I wouldnt give it up. They said I could have any banjo I wanted, including a gold mastertone that I had my eye on. My parents were shocked when I told them I wanted the banjo from the picker in my dad's band. Even then the sound was so incredible that a pre-teen could tell the difference. :-)
People tell me that it's the loudest banjo they've ever heard. It's very bright and crisp. A good chomp could make your heart skip a beat.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

The banjo was stock besides scruggs tuners. The set up was incredible so I never changed anything until recently. The sound just started to go down hill as I grew with the instrument.
I recently got interested in Lutherie and experiemented with different set ups. I'm using a 11/16 bridge and a clear head to brighten the tone.

Setup Rating: 8

Appearance

This banjo has a really cool design on the head and fretboard. Each inlay is a exact silloutte of the record elk horns taken in Montana that year. The neck and resonator are a gorgeous curly maple with sunburst finish. Engraved on the arm rest and tail piece is the Flatiron logo. Unfortunately in my teenage years I wasnt very nice to the finish so there are some scratches.
The only ware is on the arm rest and the finish is rubbed off the back of the neck from capos.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

This banjo is solid as a rock. But because they are so rare, I'm afraid to take it to festivals. Need funding to get a backup. lol.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Flatiron got bought out back in 1990 by Gibson. Gibson immediately stopped the banjo production under the flatiron name and continues to make Mandolins today.
After doing some research, I discovered that the Sound to Earth company in Montana (Makers of Webber mandolins) is what's left over from the Gibson buy-out. I talked to them over the phone and they said that this instrument is very rare and they only made several hundred in this model. I quote,

Customer Service: 10

Components

This banjo sounds great with a clear head. I'm not much of a fan of frosting. At least not with my style.
The down pressure on the tailpiece changes all the time due to a bad screw. I will experiment with tailpieces soon.

Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

This will definately be a heirloom. But my family will have to pry this banjo from my cold dead hands.
In heaven, the only banjos will be Flatirons. :-)

Overall Rating: 10