Altamira M10

First Impressions 5/5: I ordered mine with the Gypsy Jazz Brown case and upon opening it, I was awed by the green crushed velvet lining, but more importantly the beautiful guitar before me. Upon inspection, I noticed that it was quite nicer than I expected. It has a slight arch to the top and back which I was surprised by. It’s my first gypsy jazz guitar so I really didn’t know what they felt like. Everything looked really good and it had that new guitar smell. Fit and Finish 4.5/5: The finish was smooth and even and everything had a very “quality” feel to it. Honestly, everything was immaculate save for 2 things; the label inside the soundhole and the string spacing. The Altamira label inside the soundhole looked like a cheaply applied sticker that came from an old cigar box. Mine was a little faded in some spots and it looked like it might fall off eventually. For the string spacing, it’s even at the nut, but as they go toward the bridge at the highest fret, there is more space on the bass side to the edge than on the treble side. I know this doesn’t really affect sound or playability much, but it’s a personal annoyance. However, everything else was excellent. Sound 4/5: This is my first gypsy jazz guitar so I don’t know what to compare it to except recordings and youtube videos. From what I can tell it’s much brighter than everything else I’ve heard. Maybe it’s just that it’s new and needs to mellow out a little, but when playing along with videos, mine sounds significantly brighter, especially the initial attack. Playability N/A: I put N/A for this rating because I’ve read that these have typically high action whereas I’m used to much lower action on Jazz hollowbodies and “regular” acoustic guitars. Having said that, Michael told me he set it up for 3mm action at the 12th fret and from what I’ve read, that’s the norm. I think from what I’ve read and what I’ve heard, it plays great. It’s not going to be a low action Ibanez shred guitar, but for a gypsy jazz guitar I think it’s exactly where it needs to be. Tuning Stability 5/5: I read that the tuners on the M10 were better than the M01 so I went with this model. So far I’ve had it out sitting out in my living room and after 3 days of hard playing… it holds tune PERFECTLY! These tuners definitely don’t need an upgrade and I don’t foresee having any issues. The tuner buttons are a little “plasticy” feeling but it does its job very well. Perceived Durability 5/5: This is definitely a quality instrument that will last years. The woods seems stable coming from Seattle to Honolulu and have not warped or changed shape at all. Everything is built to a high standard with quality parts and I don’t see it failing on me anytime soon. Value 4/5: Compared to other gypsy jazz guitars like Aria, Cigano, etc… this one is a bit pricey. However, from my assessment it seems to be a very well built and set up guitar. I could where some people would hesitate paying this much to see if they like playing gypsy jazz, but if you make the commitment and are able to spring for it, it’s a great platform to learn on. Overall 5/5: A great guitar to play gypsy jazz on. I don’t know how it compares to one of the ultra expensive original Selmer’s or the like, but for what I intended to get it for, it does it very well. It looks great, plays well, and sounds good. Recommended.

Submitted by: Clarkie on 03/27/2020 01:39:42 AM

This is a GREAT guitar! Michael had been excellent at answering the many questions I had, and when the instrument arrived, I knew that I had made the right decision. The sound is fantastic; it projects really well, but also has a certain warmth. This is my first Gipsy style guitar, and as soon as one plays a few notes, one recognizes the typical Django sound that one hopes for. The set up was great too. The frets are perfectly even, and the action well within the specs for this type of guitar. What really amazes me is the overall quality of the instrument. I work at a guitar maker in PA and inspect a lot of instruments. The finish of this one is perfect. I didn't see any blemishes at all (And no scratches from the set-up at Djangobooks, thank you :) ). Also, no excess glue that often can be found on lower priced guitars from Asia. Lastly, I want to thank Michael for recommending purchasing a Wegen pick as well. yes, they are a bit pricey, but the impact it has on the sound and playabilty is well worth it.

Submitted by: Roman on 11/30/2018 02:26:31 AM

For a gig worthy gypsy guitar at this price point there is nothing else that even comes close...the other higher end models for a few hundred more are also super. For a player new to the right hand technique a $5000+ guitar won't sound any better for the first couple of thousand of hours of reworking your technique. Altimiras are very consistent and GREAT BUYS!

Submitted by: roch on 09/28/2016 11:05:32 PM

First off, the guitar sounds great. I am one month into ownership and am already very happy with the sound. Pretty full, round top end and perfect amount of bass. lots of bloom, almost like reverb depending on where you pick around the sound hole. I think you'll be happy with the sound. I imagine it will just get better as the guitar opens up. The construction is pretty good on the outside, actually kind of comparable to saga-made instruments. I had some dark stain slopped on my neck and some overzealous sanding at the neck join and other places. Very typical "dipped in paint" finish where the paint is welled up at the neck to body join on top, etc. Don't get me wrong, its a really pretty guitar and most of the problems aren't noticeable unless scrutinized. Where this guitar leaves the typical korean or chinese made acoustic in the dust is the interior. The braces are sanded to finish quality, no glue slop, its just beautiful. and I think it contributes mightily to the sound. Definitely intentional attention to detail in the interior construction. I'm really happy with the hardware. It's substantial and looks great. after a few days adjustment it stays in tune really well. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase and am really excited to hear this thing in a year or so. Definitely a keeper. And of course, Michael was fabulous to do business with.

Submitted by: Rob McRae on 03/17/2014 01:33:37 PM

I bought the Altamira M10. The craftsmanship is excellent. My M10 has a beautiful sound quality, and is a pleasure to play. It has always been my belief that money well spent is one of life's joys, and it's not easy to rate a purchase better than that. My opinion is the money was very well spent.

Submitted by: essmatl on 08/05/2013 11:01:52 PM

After much discussion and help from Michael at Djangobook.com, I decided to go with the M10 model. The reason being that for about $125 more than the M01, I would not only get solid mahogany sides and back, but also better tuners. I felt that the other tuners would have to be replaced, and these are totally fine. I think that's a big upgrade for not much money. (It's the equivalent of getting solid wood for about $50 more.) These guitars are a fantastic value, but they need a bit of setup. The frets are a little rough and will need to be polished. You can have them do it before sending, or have your own guy do it. The frets are level, but not smooth and need a light grind and polish. I found the bridge to be OK, that would be another upgrade to consider. I haven't had a chance to A/B it with a better bridge, yet, but the weight is very close. My plan is to use this bridge for a while and maybe upgrade later, but again, you can have their guy just do it for you. The guitar itself is lovely. Great construction and tone, considering the price. It's only going to get better with time as it opens up. If I had realized how good this was going to be, I probably would have opted for the M30, with solid rosewood back and sides. Thanks, Michael!

Submitted by: 2tallB on 07/11/2013 08:22:18 AM

excellent guitar for this price,..

Submitted by: Malin on 04/10/2013 06:22:34 AM

Pros: Great sound

I just had to write a review. This is my first Gj guitar and I have to say "WOW!" I've had several guitars in my life but not one that projects like this. This monster is loud and crisp. It sounds like butter. It's everything the descriptions says. After a bit of research I found that Chinese Luthier (head of Altamira) is Hanson Yao. He studied in the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts before heading to Spain in 2003 for a few years to get a real grasp on making classical flemenco guitars. He's been making great instruments ever since. Top guitar players have supported his instruments ever since including John Jorgenson. His instruments are quality. Delivery was a bit hectic but well worth the wait. If this Item comes back in stock I recommend it to all guitar players.

Submitted by: Jlander9 on 09/06/2012 01:54:01 PM