Russ Barenberg got me interested in Strad-o-lins as festival mandolins. At the time I took a workshop from him (1984), he had two of them.

While well-made, the Flatirons I've played always seemed unbalanced to me...the body was too light for the neck/headstock. I'm sure I haven't played all of their models, though. A used Flatiron may cost less than a new one.

-Greg