Atkin Acoustic Guitars

JCA2550 · June 2016

I'm off to Kent tomorrow morning (near Canterbury) to have a look at Alister Atkin's workshop and some of his instruments. If I like what I see and hear, I may consider ordering one. I'll let you know how I get on

Anyone on here have, or has put one through it's paces?

BahHumbug · June 2016

I have a friend who had an Atkin 000, it was just like a 000. I haven't looked at them for a while when I last looked they were basically handmade Martin and Gibson clones, so there shouldn't be many surprises. Notable users are Graham Coxon and Richard Hawley.

Jimbro66 · June 2016

I've owned an Atkin Retrospective Series OM 28H for about four years. I use it a lot and it is just wonderful. You won't be sorry if you buy an Atkin and Alister is a great guy (he also has a really good band and writes some great songs).

Cabicular · June 2016

I have 3

A super Jumbo and older Dread and an OM

They are all amazing

TheBigDipper · June 2016

I was in Oasis (Ringwood) yesterday and tried a few Atkins. They were all really nice guitars.

L01 - Gibson-shaped parlour-sized guitar. Lovely to play, nicer than my Martin 0-16NY but with a similar tone.

SJ - small jumbo. Liked it as a strummer, not so much as a picker. Prefer my Larrivee L-01.

OM - I've never like the sound of Martin OMs, but find the body size suits me. I fell in love. Played well and sounds very balanced and lively. Thinking about where to find the dosh, TBH.

Then they suggested I tried their Huss & Dalton OM. Even better. And another £1500...

B***rds!

JCA2550 · June 2016

Really nice guy Alister, lovely instruments with a nice mix of traditional influences (recognisable body shapes, traditional tone woods, Schaller hardware...) and very forward thinking tweaks of his own , two-way truss-rod, neck attached with 2 invisible hex bolts etc. I particularly liked the small jumbo and AA body shapes (Alister's take on a Martin "OM" style, which he also makes), both smallish and comfortable to play but with decent volume and room-filling warmth and suit my Frankenstein pick and fingers playing style.

Tempted? Yes, very!

Pricey? it depends. The attention to detail and quality control of a handmade quality instrument built in the UK, versus a quality factory built original, these are ultimately good value.

I almost walked out with this AA "Blackwood" model but might just have to save up for and commision him to build a cutaway version with K&K pure mini built in?

http://atkinguitars.com/shop-item/896/

crunchman · June 2016

Guitar Classics has a couple of Atkins second hand (assuming the website is up to date).

http://www.guitar-classics.co.uk/pages/acoustics01.html

The all mahogany one is stunning - one of the best acoustics I've ever played.

(Alternatively, go in there and buy my Furch - which isn't on the website).

JCA2550 · June 2016

Thanks for the heads up I need to rapidly raise GAS funds

Anyone need to buy a 1988 Les Paul Gold top?

Bluesman1989 · June 2016

Paul Minter from Tener Duende plays one and it seems to sound pretty good! Might be mostly Paul though ...

JCA2550 · July 2016

Okay I put a deposit down on an AA rosewood standard with cutaway build time 6 months. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Jimbro66 · July 2016

Good choice. Happy Christmas

BigLicks67 · August 2016

Anyone tried the 028 or 0028 retrospective guitars? I was looking at these online and they look tremendous.

JCA2550 · September 2016

BigLicks67 said:

Anyone tried the 028 or 0028 retrospective guitars? I was looking at these online and they look tremendous.

Sorry only just saw this. Yes if you can get down to Alister Atkins workshop in Hersden near Canterbury, you can try most of the models, including some O, OO, OOO and OM models. There were also some rather fetching reliced finishes, models painted by a local artist and a J45 or 2. I nearly walked out there and then with a AA with a stone inlaid rosette, but I really need a cutaway.

musicman100 · September 2016

Alistair is one of the nicest guys I've spoken in the guitar world.
there's no bull shit or hard sell.
I was going to buy a retrospective 28 but in the end I got a Collings om2h

CountryDave · October 2016

Owned an OM for a while. Superb guitar. The fit and finish was up there with the best. Also bought his CD. Real nice music too.

JCA2550 · March 2017

CountryDave · March 2017

That is gorgeous. Makes me miss mine even more.

TimmyO · March 2017

Very nice

TimmyO · March 2017

How does that body style differ in sound from the OM (if you can recall) ?

JCA2550 · March 2017

The bass response seems slightly warmer and the treble response a touch less bright. It does need a few weeks regular playing to really wake it up though. Initially I'm very impressed.

Lozboy · March 2017

I own the actual guitar in this demo video.Not had it out since the summer..........shame on me.

if your near your welcome to try it.

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Atkin Acoustic Guitars

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