Comments

• kevorkazito Winnipeg Manitoba Canada✭✭

  March 2015 Posts: 178

  Luv my Altamira M01. Such a great beginner guitar for the price. Stays in tune, plays very well, and sounds great.

  
• bopster St. Louis, MOProdigy Wide Sky PL-1, 1940? French mystery guitar, ‘37 L-4

  March 2015 Posts: 513

  My Altamira M30 is my main gigging guitar. I've had it for a few years and it keeps getting better and better sounding.
  
  The Cook Trio was using Altamiras as well. Don't know if they still do.

  
• BluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso

  March 2015 Posts: 1,379

  Get over it and buy a used Nomade... The other guitars in your list are not even in the same league.
  Altamiras and Gitanes are good but a Dupont is the real deal
• Buco NOVA, DCDeity Ivanovski maple/spruce

  March 2015 Posts: 5,392

  There's a $750 difference between M30 Antique and Nomade and $950 difference in case of M30 regular, so they're not exactly in the same price spot.

  Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
• BluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso

  March 2015 Posts: 1,379

  Buco wrote: »

  There's a $750 difference between M30 Antique and Nomade and $950 difference in case of M30 regular, so they're not exactly in the same price spot.

  Right... But a used Nomade would be less, there's one right now here, priced to sell:
  http://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/13967/almost-new-dupont-nomad-for-sale#latest
  It makes little sense to buy a new Altamira if you can get a used Dupont for around the same price
  
• Buco NOVA, DCDeity Ivanovski maple/spruce

  March 2015 Posts: 5,392

  Wow! Now that's an insight. Grass is greener sometimes in $, depending on which side you're at.

  stuart wrote: »

  That depends where you are in the world @buco. In the UK, a regular M30 is £1300 and a Nomade is £900.

  
  

  Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
• Kevin Furniss France✭✭ AJL 503 XO

  March 2015 Posts: 85

  I have seen several Nomades for sale @ around the 750€ mark here in france.
• anthon_74 Marin county, CA✭✭✭✭ Alta Mira M 01

  March 2015 Posts: 562

  I've been playing an alta mira M01 for 5 years now(I believe it is a circa early 2000 model), and to my ears (and to others who have commented) it sounds as good or better than than a few Duponts I've played, and light years better than any ciganos or gitanes (except for the DG370, which sounds great). I also own a DG 300 john jorgenson model, and I can tell you from side by side comparisons, the Alta Mira sounds and plays far better, even with relatively low action. It's loud as can be, and has a nice nasally mids with a clear strong high end.
  For the record, I also had Schaller gold tuners put on because the stock tuners were cheep garbage.
  
  That said, I have NO idea what the current models sound like.
  
  ALSO - If you can find a USED guitar, I recommend that as well because these guitars sound better with a little seasoning.
  Anthony
  

  
• Buco NOVA, DCDeity Ivanovski maple/spruce

  March 2015 edited March 2015 Posts: 5,392

  BluesBop Harry wrote: »

  It makes little sense to buy a new Altamira if you can get a used Dupont for around the same price

  
  Whatever the reason there are people who prefer to buy new. Even in this used/new comparison while I don't have the experience with either I just don't think if you can make it a black and white, clear cut issue that Nomad beats Altamira every time as most people seem to be happy with both brands. And it's the people who's opinion I trust in both camps.
  I'm not sure how good analogy this is but I would rather buy a fully loaded top of the line VW Jetta than basic model 3 series BMW. But yes, for resale value it'll always be BMW>VW and Dupont>Altamira.

  Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
• britank Chicagoland (NW)✭ Seagull S6, Ibanez AF155, Altamira M30D

  March 2015 Posts: 3

  I appreciate everyone's insights. I knew this would not be an easy decision. And I get the Dupont vs. anything Asian argument. I'm just not in that market. rgrice, BluesBop Harry, Buco -- thanks.
  
  If I go in the lower range, It's near consensus that the Altamira M10D wins over the Gitane DG-320. rimm,, stuart, DragonPL -- I still hear you, though.
  
  But if I go with the higher end it seems a toss-up between the M30D (antique) and the DG-370.
  
  It's seems that whatever my decision - it will likely be a good decision. What I don't understand is that delivered quality is inconsistent. I have an Ibanez AF155 (Asian made) that plays like a dream and is perfectly finished from headstock to strap pin. And was delivered without a setup. I guess I was just lucky.
  
  This time 'round, "lucky" would be that when I finally settle on a brand and model, Michael still has one in stock. ;-)
  
  Thanks, again, to everyone that shared their experience and opinion.