New Altman Loar series

[jealbe49]

Just ordered one of Bob's new Loar series voiced after Herschel Sizemore's favorite Loar. He had sent me one to evaluate from the same batch that Mike Marshall's came from. It is a departure from his original series that have a throaty clear even tone and pop on every note I love so much. It is voiced higher but what a warm sweet balanced voice it has with clear cutting trebles. Still has plenty of depth, pop and chop and the notes have an air around them that I just cannot put it down. To complete the mojo he even has a limited supply of 220+ year old virgin red spruce from 4500' elevation and the same mountain range used for the original Loars. Will be awesome to have the original Altman tone and his new Loar tone as both are very valid and useful. What a wide tonal palette. Pinch me!


Disclaimer: No financial interest just a long time fan of Altman guitars and mandolins!

[JFDilmando]

I have two Altman's, a torch and wire, and one of his two points... he makes a great instrument... it is really interesting to see a builder evolve his sound, and be successful at providing the sound that so many disparate folks would like.... I have had several custom instruments over the years, and most builders will talk with you and try and find a way to customize their voice to your tastes... but here is a case where it would seem that a guy is hitting on all cylinders and nailing it....

I haven't come across a "lemon" Altman yet...

JohnD

[jealbe49]

You are so right, no Lemons. Even his first had great tone. That torch and wire is very classy. I played both two points and they are very nice. Fiddler's Green had one and Mitch Simpson had one, not sure who has the other one now. Bob has advanced to the point he can voice one to what the player wants. Jesse Brock's new mando will have Bob's original signature tone with a combo top(engleman bass side and red spruce treble). I talked to Herschel and he is thrilled that Bob can make a new mandolin that sounds so close to his favorite Loar.

[AlanN]

Can any of you Altman cats talk about the bridge/saddle enhancement Bob has done wrt to the post screw mechanism he developed? Something like he pioneered a technique to fit the saddle to the bridge base with a threaded screw? Not sure I have that exactly right, but I remember him talking about it some time ago.

There are 2 Altman F-5 mandolins around here and both are dandy. A righty and a lefty.

[Willie]

Alan, I wish I had some pix but don`t so I will try and describe what I saw on an el-cheapo bridge years ago....The screw posts were threaded into the saddle and fit down into holes drilled in the base and the adjustment thumb screw (nuts) always rested on the base and not on the saddle...I thought that was pretty nice idea but haven`t seen it used anywhere lately....Not sure it really makes any difference in sound but one never knows with out trying different things...

Willie

[JFDilmando]

My latest Torch and Wire has one of his new bridges... a very slick idea... I talked to Bob about a patent on it, but he was so put off by the process being such a pain in the ass, he just thought he would pass on the idea. His main aim, to me recollection, is to keep the bridge at right angles to the top... he has a really strong point... as he points out, 8 times out of 10, if you look at someone's mando, the bridge will be slightly leaning... just due to the uneven pressure that the string exert. It gets to the point where you are tilting the base of the bridge so that it doesn't seat well, and starts to do two things, 1) It sits on it's edge, and sound transmission is compromised, and 2) it actually can start digging into the top with its edge, which, I suppose, can do all sorts of bad things with the bridge top contact...

His design seems to deal with this problem.... I would think that he could make just the bridges and sell them... but that would take time from his building I suppose....

JohnD

[Scotti Adams]

Id like to see a pic of one of these bridges

[Philphool]

For a time, Bob had advertisements in Bluegrass Unlimited for his new style bridges. Don't recall price or whether they are still offered.

Jesse's mando with Engelmann/Red spruce top is replicating a batch that Bob made in 2007 with the mixed top woods. Bob told me he couldn't tell much difference between the combo and just a total Engelmann top.

In any event, I've got one of those 2007 models and just love the complex sound. Jesse played mine several months ago and really liked it, so I guess that was the basis of starting with the combo woods and then adding the Loar revoicing specs to that. It should be a GREAT mando. Can't wait to see and hear it.

[Kevin K]

Interesting, someone take some pictures and post em please.....

[Philphool]

Apparently this thread is the best we've got so far. See post #14.

[Andrew B. Carlson]

Mike likes em.

[Mike Bunting]

Quit talkin' about them you guys, you're driving the prices up!

[Jim Roberts]

There's a picture of one of his "wheeless" adjustable bridges on page 15 in the latest issue of Mandolin Magazine...

Cheers.

[Altmanmandolins]

Here is a pic of Jason Woods Left handed mandolin.
It has one of our wheelless bridges!

[AlanN]

Thanks, Bob. How is the height adjusted? And is it available for purchase?

[djweiss]

The picture looks like a hex-key through the holes atop the bridge would adjust it...

[Markus]

That's a really lovely bridge itself, pretty awesome that it's innovative technically too.

I hope to play one of these lovely instrument some day.

[Philphool]

I don't know how much the bridge has to do with it, but I can testify that Jason's mando is an amazing instrument. Full of tone and volume!

[Altmanmandolins]

Thanks, Bob. How is the height adjusted? And is it available for purchase?

The heights is adjusted with a 1/16" allen wrench through the top of the bridge. We currently are only making these bridges for our mandolins, but they may be available in the near future.