The Flatiron Mandolin company was founded in 1977 in Bozeman, MT however, most of their noteriety/popularity comes from their association with Gibson. Gibson never really had a true mandolin manufacturing facility after the Kalamazoo, MI plant closed in 1984. In 1987 the recently formed Gibson Guitar Corp. bought Flatiron, build a new manufacturing facility, and move all mandolin production including Gibson, to Bozeman, MT. This lasted for ten years when in 1987, Gibson moved mandolin production to Nashville, TN. Flatiron mandolins were still available, but the brand was eventually phased out in favor of Gibson. For a while, Flatiron mandolins were available as special/custom orders, but by the early 2000s, the Flatiron brand was retired except for a brief run of Chinese-built instruments in the late 2000s. Head luthier Bruce Weber at Flatiron remained in Bozeman, MT and formed Sound To Earth that builds mandolins under the Weber name when production shifted to Nashville. Information courtesy Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars, 100 Years of an American Icon.
Mandolins previously produced in Bozeman, MT between 1977 and 1996, in Nashville, TN between 1997 and circa 2003, and China between 2007 and 2009. Distributed by Gibson in Nashville, TN.

Flatiron Mandolins Models

Flatiron Model 1 Mandolin Image

Flatiron Model 1 Mandolin

- symmetrical round body style, spruce top, round soundhole, maple body, adj. truss rod, rosewood fingerboard, four-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, available in Cherry, Chocolate, or Natural satin finish, mfg. 1977-late 1990s.

Flatiron Festival F-2 Mandolin Image

Flatiron Festival F-2 Mandolin

- F-style scroll body, solid spruce top, solid figured maple back, figured maple sides, tone bars bracing, three-ply top and back binding, two unbound f-holes, figured maple rounded neck, 24-fret bound extended treble side ebony fingerboard...

Flatiron A-5 Image

Flatiron A-5

- symmetrical A-style body, carved spruce top, flame maple back and sides, bound top and back, flame maple neck, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, ebony headstock overlay, pearl logo, nickel hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mf...

Flatiron Festival A Mandolin Image

Flatiron Festival A Mandolin

- symmetrical A-style body shape, spruce top, maple back and sides, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, nickel hardware, available in Cherry finish, mfg. 1977-late 1990s.

Flatiron Model 2 Mandolin Image

Flatiron Model 2 Mandolin

- symmetrical round body style, spruce top, round soundhole, exotic body woods including bird's-eye maple, curly maple, curly mahogany, and koa, body binding, adj. truss rod, ebony fingerboard, four-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, available...

Flatiron Festival F Mandolin Image

Flatiron Festival F Mandolin

- asymmetrical two-point F-style body shape, spruce top, maple back and sides, top body binding, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, fern headstock inlay, nickel hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1977-late 1990s.

Flatiron A-5 Junior Image

Flatiron A-5 Junior

- similar to the A-5, except has a smaller body and less ornate appointments including an unbound back, mfg. mid-1990s-early 2000s.

Flatiron F-5 Image

Flatiron F-5

- asymmetrical two-point F-style body, carved spruce top, flame maple back and sides, bound top and back, flame maple neck, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, ebony headstock overlay with pearl logo/flower pot inlay, nickel hardware,...

Flatiron Performer A Mandolin Image

Flatiron Performer A Mandolin

- symmetrical A-style body shape, spruce top, maple back and sides, top body binding, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, nickel hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1977-late 1990s.

Flatiron F-5 Artist Image

Flatiron F-5 Artist

- similar to the F-5, except has a curved fingerboard, pearl logo/fern headstock inlay, and gold hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. mid-1990s-early 2000s.

Flatiron Performer F Mandolin Image

Flatiron Performer F Mandolin

- asymmetrical two-point F-style body shape, spruce top, maple back and sides, top and back body binding, adj. truss rod, bound ebony fingerboard, bound headstock with fern inlay, nickel hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1977-lat...

Flatiron Model 3 Mandolin Image

Flatiron Model 3 Mandolin

- symmetrical round body style, spruce top, round soundhole with herringbone rosette, exotic body woods including bird's-eye maple, curly maple, curly mahogany, and koa, black body binding, top herringbone purfling, adj. truss rod, ebony fi...

Flatiron F-5 Master Image

Flatiron F-5 Master

- similar to the F-5, except has a curved fingerboard, custom fingerboard inlays, fancy pearl logo/fern headstock inlay, MOP pearl tuner knobs, and gold hardware, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. mid-1990s-early 2000s.

Flatiron Scout Mandola Image

Flatiron Scout Mandola

- entry level mandola, adj. truss rod, rosewood fingerboard, Grover tuners, nickel hardware, available in Cherry satin finish, mfg. mid-1990s-early 2000s.