Hello from LA

Trovador98 · May 29

Hi All,

Brian here from Los Angeles. I've been playing guitar since my early teens, starting to play on my dad's classical backwards. My first guitar came from Norman's Rare Guitars where Norm tried very hard to convince me to play right-handed. It was already too late, and I started on a late 70's steel string acoustic Ovation that I still cherish to this day. I have had a few stints over the years where I was fascinated with Django and gypsy jazz music, but the recent Rick Beato interviews with Antoine Boyer and Joscho Stephan really got me hooked.

I just got my hands on an Altamira Lefty (M01F F-hole version) and I'm quite pleased with the fit, finish and tone. I wasn't sure how the 670mm scale was going to feel in my hands, but I don't have any issue at all. I have a few 25.5" Martin acoustics with a 1 11/16 nut and transitioning between guitars has been relatively seamless.

I'm also finding the guitar to be more versatile than I expected. It sounds good with my regular 1mm picks, my typical acoustic repertoire, and even finger picking stuff. I ordered a couple of lefty Wegen picks from Michael @Djangobooks and they take a little getting used to. They make the guitar sound bright and punchy for sure.

I was travelling this week and managed to catch the Joscho Stephan Trio in Santa Fe that the dude blew me away. He really has it all...insane speed, precision, dynamics, extended technique, vocabulary, even humorous melodic nods to well-known songs. Being 1/2 Argentine, I appreciated the Gypsy style cover of an Astor Piazzola tune. Amazing stuff. I'm inspired to play now.

Ciao,

Brian