AtamiraM30-Big disappointment

DragonPL

Got the M30 and I must say it is a big disappointment. The quality of this instrument is comparable to instruments 1/4 it's price. I own other instruments in this price range and lower, also made overseas, even put together an electric guitar with top notch parts from Warmoth for about $1500, and none are that bad! The attatched link shows a botched up fret job that was not fixed (or was) during the purchesed setup which along with other dinks, loose paint scrapes etc. show the overall "quality" of this istrument. I taught guitar for about 15 years and had students come in with Home Shopping network Esteban guitars which are of comparable workmanship to the M30. see below:
http://www.smokguitar.com/M30/frets.jpg
If I knew spending $1200 would get me this I would gave gotten $450 Gitane model which seemed better of now when trying one out at Guitar Center.

rimm

I was about to get one!

Lango-Django

Bummer... Any chance of sending it back?

DragonPL

Unfortunately manouche guitars are not that popular and pretty scarce to come across so most must rely on internet shop, vs. trying one out at a local store. I guess things aren't what they used to be, and even when I go to guitar stores to check out guitars the "higher end" ones $1500 and above, some still lack good quality and are also sales floor abused only to be rest assured they're "fine" by the seles dudes sleazy car salesman like sell tactics....

MichaelHorowitz

Tom,

Sorry again to hear that you're not happy with the Altamira. As I said over email you are free to return it.

Unfortunately there aren't the quantities of scale in the Gypsy jazz market to allow for high grade, refined instruments in the sub $2K range. In the classical and flatop world they are producing instruments in huge quantities which allows for higher quality at a lower cost. By comparison, only a few hundred Asian made gypsy guitars are made a year. There simply isn't the demand to produce refined, low cost instruments for this genre so it's not possible to compare the quality of Asian made gypsy guitars with other types of instruments.

Anyone who has been around Gypsy jazz for a while knows how overjoyed we were to even have anything under $2K. Up till about ten years ago you either had to play gypsy jazz on a flatop or spend $2k or more for a handmade guitar. Now can you can have a Gypsy guitar for as little as $400 which is amazing!

Unfortunately the Gitanes aren't any better. They have all the same issues and have the added problems of inferior materials and design flaws which make them sound thuddy and flatop like. It's worth mentioning that despite his endorsement with gitane, John Jorgenson has performed with an Altamira for years as do a number of other pro players. The Altamiras are our best selling instrument in this price range and people routinely trade up from Gitanes to an Altamira.

Despite their flaws Altamiras are still the most popular guitars in the sub $2K range as they are the closest in sound and feel to handmade French guitars. For ultra clean workmanship and higher grade materials, the next step up would be a Dupont Nomade which is $2,100.

Sorry again you weren't happy with it. I'm sure we can find you another guitar that will work.

Thanks,

Michael

bopster

Sorry to hear that DragonPL. From whom did you purchase it? Michael here at Djangobooks took good care of me (and I think Jason Cook as well). Both of us are happy owners who play our Altamiras professionally. I only saw the photo showing the poor fret work. Mine had no such issues when opened the box. Contact Jason to hear about his experiences (and his recordings with his guitar).

I know that this type issue would not fly with Michael, and he would provide a quick remedy to your satisfaction.

Bones

What is the issue? Is that a loose fret? What is the white paint?

Loose frets can happen and it's typically not a big deal but I agree that for $1200 it shouldn't happen.

The good news is that if it is just a loose fret any luthier can fix it quickly and cheaply.

pickitjohn

@DragonPL
Was going to ask why you didn't purchase your guitar here.
Since Djangobooks is one of a very few Retailers that give a Trial Test Period I was going to say @Michael Horowitz would have taken care of any problems. You got it from Michael, sorry you had a problem,
Just return it, you should have one you Love. I've got an Altamira M01D I love.

pick on
pickitjohn

HotTinRoof

Michael, terrific post.

HotTinRoof

DragonPL - Michael will not steer you wrong. As he wonderfully illustrates, sub 2k gj guitars are just one of those things. Not a lot available to pick from - which actually does makes it easier. You choose or save a bit more. You can find some lovely deals on used 3k guitars in the low 2s and so forth.

Al Watsky

That white spot can easily be removed . Its from an accelerant being used on the glue used to hold down the fret ends.
Not a huge problem.
Its disappointing to find flaws in a newly purchased instrument, but it happens even in the higher priced end. We live in an imperfect world.
What does the instrument sound like ? If it sounds good and plays well your really OK.
A drop of solvent on a Q tip will wipe that white spot off of the fret end in seconds.