The altman sound

[Sadee]

For those of you that have played an Altman mandolin, I'm just curious as to how you would describe it's sound. Does it fall in the more traditional Gibson range or more modern sounding. Are there more well known makers that you would compare the Altman tone to?

Thanks!

[Capt. E]

I would say Altman has a different tone than Collings for example. The Altman has more of a traditional Gibson sound...actually superior to most Gibsons. I think my Weber Bighorn compares quite favorably to an Altman two point that I have played side by side. Very similar tone and volume. The Altman is a "better" instrument with subtle differences that an advanced player would probably best appreciate, but at 2 1/2 times the price I went with what I could afford.

[rmartinez]

I believe I've played the same Altman that Capt. E referred to and I would have to agree.

Interestingly enough, in my opinion, as a two pointer, the Altman sounded more like a 'traditional bluegrass' F. It looked like it wanted to play jazz but that was not the sound at all.

Descriptors are always funny business but I would characterize the low end as resonant, woody and complex (with a strong oak finish - joking). It was very even but more 'traditional' to my ear. The highs were very clear and quite loud (not piercing but strong enough that they jingled the eardrums).

Of course this is all based on my assessment from playing and sitting behind it. If I had the money I would pony up for the two point. The F's were nice as well and very consistent with their sounds but I decided to report on the two pointer because that one caught my ear more than the others. Hope this helps.

rm
MF #217

[Capt. E]

That is a very good description of the Altman two point. It is a very balanced instrument. The Weber Bighorn I bought comes pretty close, though. Clay, the owner at Fiddlers Green, thinks its one of the only two points Altman has or ever will build. Probably a bargin.

[wannabethile]

ive played one altman, and it sounded awful. the salesman and the music store agrees as well. it just sound so tinny as if it had been built with ply wood or something! id like to try one again to redeem it, but first impressions are everything...

[troika]

I have an Altman and a Collings. Both are great instruments. The Collings has a harder, more direct tone, a little louder in the treble range. The Altman has that beautifully full midrange with more of a "ringing" tone. It also has that wonderful "tubbiness" that Gibsons have. Both mandolins have perfect setups and excellent fit & finish. After 2 years I'm still deciding which one I like best. The Collings has an AD top while the Altman has an Englemann soundboard. I'll probably keep both.

[Chris Biorkman]

ive played one altman, and it sounded awful. #the salesman and the music store agrees as well. #it just sound so tinny as if it had been built with ply wood or something! #id like to try one again to redeem it, but first impressions are everything...
I've never played one, but that's the first negative thing I've heard about one of these. I guess they can't all be winners.

[Links]

I played one of his early ones and have withheld any comments because I did not think it was fair to judge it based on playing just one and at a guitar show (where acoustics were not good). Compared to several others at the same table, including a Collings), it did nothing to make me say wow. I was impressed with the craftsmanship, as that is very important to me, but there was nothing about the sound that would have made me buy it. This is when they were about $3500, I think. I am anxious to play one of his newer ones, as the concensus is that they are still flawlessly made and sound great. If they now sound as good as they look, I would be a buyer.

[lgc]

I've played 4 i think. They sounded really different from each other. In my experience though they really bark. The attack was awesome. I'm assuming that the wannabethile guy likes mandos with lower action. I found the altmans to play well when play aggressively-when really laid into. Overall I really liked them.

[jealbe49]

[QUOTE} (wannabethile @ Aug. 08 2008, 01:41)
ive played one altman, and it sounded awful. the salesman and the music store agrees as well. it just sound so tinny as if it had been built with ply wood or something! id like to try one again to redeem it, but first impressions are everything...

This is the first negative I have heard too! I wonder what store it was? Cotten Music, Elderly, and Fiddler's Green all rave about them. I personally have played over 15 of them including the very first one he made and what impressed me is how they all are consistently great sounding mandolins. If one of them sounded tinny it must have sustained some sort of damage.

[Sadee]

I agree - this is the first negative post that I've seen about Altmans. I know Elderly has a used one for sale and they don't carry Altmans so maybe that's the store.

[jealbe49]

I would be suprised if it was Elderly. I called Elderly when I saw it on their website and asked for an in hand description. The salesman played it for me and said it was one of the best sounding mandolins they have in stock.

[Greg H.]

Well, since wannabethile is based out of gNashville I doubt seriously if it's the one at Elderly he's referring to. Far more likely to be one of the Altmans at Cotton Music.

[jealbe49]

Maybe wannabethile should let us know the rest of the story. I met Bob at Cotten when I picked up #16 and they have had Altman's in stock or on order since then.

[Chris Biorkman]

Or you could just leave him alone. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[Albert Whiting]

I have played a couple Altman mandolins. HE was set up at Universal Chevrolet concert series in Cleveland Georgia and to be honest I didnt think they were impressive. The workmanship was a little rough and the sound was very thin and weak. I dont think he had been building long so he may have gotten alot better, but I have never played one that I cared for.

[Links]

Quote: "Or you could just leave him alone. Everyone is entitled to their opinion."

I agree totally. However, I was careful not to make my post negative, as I don't think playing one mandolin in a less than a perfect environment (in my case) is a fair evaluation. I tried to put my "evaluation" in context. I played a Gibson MM at Jackson's Music a couple of years ago and would not have given it a second (or third, or fourth) thought. Their DMM sounded fantastic. Two weeks later when I went back by, I picked up the MM and it sounded fabulous - I guess from a proper set-up. I'm anxious to try another Altman as I put a "lot" of stock in Cafe members evaluations. So much so, as any negative thoughts I had on the first Altman I played were probably a problem with me and not the mandolin!

[troika]

My Altman is one of the best mandolins I've ever played. I've continually bought, sold, and traded until I got my Altman. It is a magnificent instrument.

[jealbe49]

I know what you mean as I did the same. Though I have kept for variety, a 24 snakehead and an 84 Flatiron A-5.

[wannabethile]

yikes!! sorry, gang!! i havent been on in a few days, and didnt know that i was being summoned, haha. well im really sorry if i offended anyone with my post. first and foremost, i didnt want to seem like i was attacking the builder and implying that every one of his mandolins suck. im sorry that that is how i came across. i remember that aesthetically it was just as pleasing as any other.
and no, i dont crave only to mandolins with low action, haha my very own doesnt even have very low action and im not keen on changing that any time soon. again, im sorry for upsetting anyone with my post, i was just mentioning my one and only experience with that mandolin.

[Sadee]

Wannabethile - no offense taken at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You could just not like the Altman sound or maybe you played a bad one.

Just wanted to share some youtube posts of Kym Warner from the Greencards playing an Altman. The one where he is in a store is Cotton Music. Sounds good to me... of course he could make any mando sound wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivdN9FAdrlI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXM4L_xXJ_k&feature=related

[Charles Andre]

Since I got my Altman, I have stopped constantly looking for and seeking another "better" mandolin. It has made me a better player because I enjoy the sound, the look, the playability, all things that go into my mandolin enjoyment. I sold my 2004 Gibson F5 and haven't looked back.

[wannabethile]

thanks, sadee!! ive seen those videos before, and i know; wow!! im sure that he does make any mando sound great, and he probably doesnt have to try very hard with that altman http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[homeslice]

I've had the honor of playing 7 or 8 of Bob's mandolins. While the tonal character differs slightly from one to another, I would say that each and every one could be described as "powerful"....and that may be the understatement of the year. Each of these has been a very loud instrument. To be honest I'm suprised that even one of his mandolins could be described as thin or tinny, but then I haven't played all of them.

My opinion is that the tone is complex and very layered. There is a whole world of tonal range in each one that I have played, manipulated by the amount of attack that the player puts into it. When played softly, the notes seem to bubble with anticipation...giving just enough tonal character to beg for more. When you really lay into it you get an entirely different range, and no matter how hard you drive it the tone just gets sweeter. I've never put an Altman away thinking that it couldn't handle my musical appetite. His mandolins motivate me to be a better musician and to dig deeper in what is possible with my own playing.

[Albert Whiting]

ummm............dang

[troika]

Has anyone played the Loar copy that Bob Altman made? There's one currently for sale at Fiddler's Green.

[jealbe49]

Dewey Farmer has one, but I do not have his contact info.

[Capt. E]

I've tried it out. Very very nice...

[johnhgayjr]

I met Altman at IBMA last fall and played a couple of his mando's. #Really nice guy. #I also played a couple of Altmans at Fiddlers Green in Memphis (Fiddlers Green has subsequently moved to Austin, TX). #They were all great sounding mandolins - to me they have the vintage Gibson sound and excellent workmanship. They are a little pricey for my check book.

I've got a Daley that I really love and its sound and price are more to my liking.

John Gay
Memphis

[Capt. E]

Yeah, the price is a big reason I bought a Weber Bighorn instead of the Altman two point.

[jealbe49]

We are living in a great time for instruments. There are so many good production and individual makers of all instruments. To me, the difference in price for individual makers over production instruments is each instrument is also individual. The really great luthiers have the gift of getting the most from any set of tonewoods. They make changes in the graduation for each set of woods since one set may be very stiff and another soft, so no two are really alike and each has their own voice and refinement of tone. The time spent to create a great instrument justifies the price. This also puts individual maker instruments out of the price range of many players. Fortunately though, a really gifted player could make a living playing a Collings MT, so there is something available for everyone’s wallet.