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In 1984, Simon Marty was given an Australian Government grant to use advanced research methods (laser holography and computer finite-element analysis) to explore and further develop his design innovations. Simon began building guitars in 1982 because as a player he became interested in exploring new approachs to guitar design that could produce performance improvements. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering and science majors in physics and mathematics.
Commencing a detailed investigation of the physics and construction of stringed instruments in general, he applied his ideas to the construction of non-traditional (i.e Torres based) designs. The fruits of these endeavours were loud, responsive, well-balanced instruments.
In 1991 Simon left his career as a research scientist to build guitars full-time and continue their evolution. While Simon is not interested in building fully traditional instruments, the aesthetics and fundamental Mediterranean quality that attracted him to the guitar in the first place remain the guiding principle of his work.
Steven den Toom
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My name is Steven den Toom. I started building guitars at age 15 out of curiosity. I enjoyed it so much that I started an intense classical guitar building course a year later. Since then I have been improving my skills as a craftsman by meeting other artists and doing a lot of research and experimentation. My dream is to create guitars that have a wide range of tonal colour with a great dynamic range for endless ways to express oneself.
To achieve this dream I make my guitars lightweight with an original bracing pattern. This creates a very active and responsive guitar. I build my guitars in a way that combines the best of the spanish tradition while adding some new elements to satisfy modern day desires for volume and projection.
Hanson Yao
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Yao Xin (Hanson Yao) is a highly respectful and popular classical guitar luthier amongst the guitar circle nowadays in China. His early training in woodcraft at the China Art Academy has formed a solid foundation towards his guitar making in later years. He went to Spain studied classical guitar making in year 2004. Through these number of years, he founded the Altamira Guitar brand and the Altamira Guitar Art Foundation. He is now the regular lecturer in guitar making in Xing Hai Conservatory of Music. He has achieved outstanding success and obtained good reputation in the world of guitar in China. The guitars made by Hanson were regularly used and highly praised by international performers. His instruments were all made with great consideration and according to specific requirement on personnel performing style,technique and tone colors to suit individual performer towards their own needs. With Hanson's love, knowledge and the great passion towards the classical guitar, increasing numbers of world class performers started to use his instruments in concert performance all over the world. Being the founder of The Altamira Guitar Art Foundation, he has been sponsoring numerous Guitar Festivals and Guitar Symposiums in China, Germany and Hong Kong. Nowadays Hansons, his Altamira brand and the Altamira Guitar Art Foundation undoubtedly become world famous in promoting the Art of Classical Guitar with enormously success in this field.
Altamira is the leading brand of handcrafted traditional guitars, specialising in classical nylon string, historical, and gypsy jazz guitars. All Altamira guitars are solid top guitars, hand crafted using traditional Spanish construction techniques with premium woods to produce instruments of the highest quality.
EXPLORE OUR RANGE
Handcrafted Traditional Guitars
Altamira is the leading brand of handcrafted traditional guitars, specialising in classical nylon string, historical, and gypsy jazz guitars. Altamira is the leading brand of handcrafted traditional guitars, specialising in classical nylon string, historical, and gypsy jazz guitars. All Altamira guitars are solid top guitars, hand crafted using traditional Spanish construction techniques with premium woods to produce instruments of the highest quality.
EXPLORE OUR RANGE
Altamira Artists
David Russel
Pavel Steidl
Irina Kulikova
Rene Izquierdo
Adam Del Monte
Ken Murray
Doug de Vries
David Russel
Pavel Steidl
Irina Kulikova
Rene Izquierdo
Adam Del Monte
Ken Murray
Doug de Vries
“
The beauty of the guitar has been brought to a high level by Hanson and Altamira Guitars