I took my forum III in to a luthier today for a bone nut, and to play a guitar I have been eyeing up online for a bit. I am kind of looking for a second guitar for when finances improve, so it is kind of long term shopping for a reason rather than GAS, but the guitar completely blew me away. I mean completely!!
It was an Atkin OO. The link is here http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_4_25&products_id=2032
the volume and articulate tone were just spectacular, and for a totally hand made instrument it is very nicely priced. The other guitar I had my eye on was a Lowden S32, but the Atkin left it for dust in every respect, at half the price!!
My decision is now made. I just need cash now, lol!
Gotta love GAS, eh Ben?
That does look like a sweet little guitar...short scale 00, sitka and EIR...very nice. Is the price on that link what you saw in the shop or is that MSRP?
That is the price, very reasonable. That is the stores website. The Lowden was 25% off at almost double that. The Atkin made it play and sound like an Esteban, seriously, the Atkin was that good. I felt like a school kid in a Ferarri today. Can't get it out my head.
Quote from: BenF on January 12, 2010, 10:59:37 AM
That is the price, very reasonable. The Lowden was 25% off at almost double that. The Atkin made it play and sound like an Esteban, seriously, the Atkin was that good. I felt like a school kid in a Ferarri today. Can't get it out my head.
Hey Ben!
:nice guitar:
Also, the Lowdens' quality and tone are legendary, so are McIlroy and Avalon - all handmade Irish beauties.. :drool:
Hmmmm, the Atkin has a nice short scale too and the Fylde looks rather nice - did you play that one too? (I love the response of Cedar tops)
Ben do yourself a favor and play this one too when you have the chance - great value for money those are! - in fact for that price you should take it right away!!!
http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_4_25&products_id=2148
Played the Fylde before, it is also nice. I expected the Atkin to be nice, and have wanted to try one for some time, but it really took me by surprise. Very different from my Larrivee too. Very delecate tone, if that makes sense. Anything just came out with this beitiful soft melodic character that defied it's size. I seriously think I have fallen in love. It ha a bear claw top that I don't much like, but everything else was 11 out of 10. it will sell quick, but the store owner explained that he can order to my specs with around a 5 month wait, which is good. I think I would go for the same Sitka/rw combo. The OM they had in stock was nicer looking altogether, but STD scale and 14 frets to body, nice, but not in the same league as the OO.
Ben,
If you'll remember, I bought Larry's (LW216316) Huss and Dalton 00-sp. I've barely played my other 2 since I got it in October. If the Atkin is anywhere near what I know a 00 to be capable of you will not regret it!!!
Now we just gotta kick this economy in the arse.
f
Here is an interesting quote from the Atkin Guitars History page.
"In 1998 whilst visiting Shamus Brady at the Acoustic Centre in Wapping, Alister came across his first Collings Guitar. " At that point I saw a build quality I thought wasn't possible. I had to go home and rethink the direction I was heading in."
If he makes them as well as Collings, you are getting it at an incredible price.
It was larry's H&D that first caught my eye, but I was keen on an all hog version they do. However, I love RW/spruce guitars, and really, maybe the grass isn't always greener with something else. The Atkin is probably the closest to that H&D that there is in terms of spec and finish/materials, but again around two thirds of the price. I haven't played an H&D, but something tells me that the Atkin is the right guitar for me, to compliment my Larrivee.
Yeah, the economy stinks, but the Beauty of it is the middle ground between a 1 man band and a factory build means that the 5 month build time means I can get one when finances permit, and know it will be the same quality.
Danny, the finish is obviously nitro, which I suppose cheapens it a bit over the top end stuff from Collings and Santa Cruz, but the craftsmanship was, to my eye, on a par with the Lowdens in store, and also a SCGC that I saw recently. It is a very light build, I see it as my long term home guitar, not something to take out a lot. Sunday best guitar if you like, whereas, with no disrespect intended, my Larrivee is an alotogether more robust and versatile instrument.
Collings offers a total nitro finish at an upcharge. They use blend of nitro and poly I believe as standard.
I think this is correct. Also nitro takes longer to apply and longer to cure out. Even when you receive it it will still be a little soft for a year or so.
I like the look of nitro myself. And the way it doesn't restrict vibration as much as the thicker poly finishes.
That makes the price all the more attractive then. Certainly the one played just came alive when played even very gently. Maybe the finish was part of that. It really was a very different beast to anything else I have ever played. Not for the wild strummer, but the forum III does that to order when the mood (rarely) takes me.
I have to have one of these. If it takes me years, I will get one.
So this isn't GAS. I said before I don't get GAS now. This is the finding of the holy grail for me. I don't want to buy it, I know I can't. I can just stop wondering about what my second guitar will be now. I know for certain.
$2700.00 is not bad at all for what it appears to be and how you describe it. How much is a Larrivée 00-60? A 000-60 is $4200.00.
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=29303.0;topicseen
If anyone other than me is actually interested in these guitars, here is a link to a youtube clip of Tim Edey playing their small jumbo. The sound quality is pretty good, and it gives an impression of the sweet sound these guitars make. There is another clip of an OO similar to the one I played, but the sound and playing quality doesn't do it justice. This is a better example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLVOsKKfWc
I emailed Atkin to inquire about their string spacing. The one I played felt very roomy on the fingerboard, but I see from the specs that it has a 1 11/16ths nut, which I have found restrictive in the past. I also asked if they do a wider neck as an option. I am pretty committed to saving and getting one of these beauties now, so I want to make sure it is right.
WOW! What an amazing guitar. You better start saving your pennies. :cheers
Ben, I've played several Atkin guitars and all have been outstanding. The workmanship is immaculate, they play like butter and sound fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about them.
A friend in my town has a Small Jumbo which he swears is the best acoustic he has ever played - and he's played a few, I can tell you.
My friends The Mercurials from Folkestone also play Atkin guitars - a J45 copy and an OM type model.
I met Alister Atkin a few years ago when he came to a John Smith gig I organised. He brought along two guitars for John to try and I also had a go on them. One of them was an 00 and was just my kind of guitar (and I once played another one in a Brighton guitar shop - the sound was perfectly balanced). Alister is a really nice guy as well.
I reckon if you buy an Atkin you will be getting an instrument that is the same quality as a Collings, SCGC, Huss & Dalton, etc. etc., but at half the cost here in the UK. I'm currently waiting for a luthier friend to finish a 00-28VS for me (unfortunately family illnesses have delayed it), but if I weren't, I'd be on my way over to see Alister to sort out one of his fine instruments.
Thanks PP, I was hoping to get an endorsement from someone who had played some. I have almost no doubt in my mind at all now. I just need to sort out the economics. I might be 2-3 years off, but I know what I am aiming at now.
I sent Alistair a quick email, because the narrower neck in the specs worried me a little. It felt fine, but I only had it for 10 minutes, and was too blown away to notice anything wrong! I asked if (a) they do a wider neck as an option, and (b) what the string spacing is, because like you say, it played effortlessly. I guess it is how it feels more than what the numbers say at the end of the day.
What is worrying me a little is that I can't wait for the luthier to finish my forum III work, not so I can get it back, but so I can go and play the Atkin again!!!
Thanks for the comments.
Ben, let us know what your luthier thinks of the F-III.
Ben
I tested the water on this forum about 10 months ago for a "Forum iv" based on the Huss & Dalton 00-SP and the Santa Cruz H-13, but with a short scale. The focus for me and a couple of members was on light build, responsiveness, playability and a fair measure of aesthetics. Admittedly it was rather naive for me to expect forum members to join in on what would be a substantially more than "Forum price" but yet an "oh-so-special" custom made guitar.
It seems you have found your treasure, and it also seems pretty close to what I had in mind then. :+1:
I sincerely hope you'll get it when the time is right, and perhaps you could persuade a couple of us to join in in due time!!
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm mate.
After thought:
I have to say that I quite fancy the current LTD 00-03 which is very affordable, but the long scale puts me off for that specific (finger style) guitar.
:smile:
Quote from: BenF on January 13, 2010, 06:24:55 AM
This is a better example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLVOsKKfWc
What the heck is he saying at the beginning of the video? :winkin: (Sorry, obnoxious American joke about accents...which I actually adore).
Go with your heart Ben and consider yourself lucky to be in love!!!! :nana_guitar
Quote from: pennerblue on January 15, 2010, 01:56:00 AM
What the heck is he saying at the beginning of the video? :winkin: (Sorry, obnoxious American joke about accents...which I actually adore).
Go with your heart Ben and consider yourself lucky to be in love!!!! :nana_guitar
no idea, he's from Englandshire, it's double Dutch to me too :humour:
thanks Penner and Zohn
Bloody colonials!! :humour: :humour: :humour:
I got a reply today from Alister Atkin, confirming that they do a wider neck to order at no additional charge (currently). I had asked if they do 1 3/4 or 1 13/16ths, so I assume from his respnse they will do whatever is ordered.
Just gotta raise some money now!!
Here's my wishing for you to get there pretty soon, Ben :thumb
Quote from: BenF on January 12, 2010, 10:59:37 AM
That is the price, very reasonable. That is the stores website. The Lowden was 25% off at almost double that. The Atkin made it play and sound like an Esteban, seriously, the Atkin was that good. I felt like a school kid in a Ferarri today. Can't get it out my head.
Ben--
You might want to rephrase the Lowden/Esteban comparison. Afterall, Northern Ireland can't be all that far from Scotland, and George could easily identify you from all the Youtube videos. :roll
DAVE
Ha ha, maybe - I have been known to exagerate from time to time. The Lowdens were all very nice, they just didn't grab me. The look and feel terrific, and the O is certainly a unique sounding guitar. I kind of don't get the appeal of the smaller bodies now though, having played other more traditionally shaped small guitars alongside them. Maybe they were set up badly (certainly the O was horribly set up), but they didn't do anything for me.
If I ever wanted a big guitar, an O would be right up there on my list.
Hi Ben,
Good to see you've discovered how good value some of the handmade British guitars are! I was in the market for a new guitar about a year ago and looked at Atkin along with some offerings from Moon and Brook. All were great guitars at a great price and I found they were the same price (and in many cases cheaper) than factory/machine built imported guitars from the US. I settled on a Rosewood Brook Taw in the end which I've been absolutely delighted with. You can now hear samples of them on the TAMCO website. (though to be honest I'm guessing most of them are played by Michael Watts at that shop who can make a cardboard box with elastic bands sound like a great guitar!).
I spent a very pleasant day at TAMCO playing loads of guitars but they didn't quite have what I was looking for so I ended up getting my Brook direct from the guys in Devon - another very pleasant day trying out their guitars and a tour round the workshop all included.
Good luck - it sounds like you've pretty much bought the Atkin already :wink:
Paul
Brooks are lovely guitars too, and the dealer in Stonehaven who has the Atkins I tried has ordered three Brooks for his shop. I hope to play them too in due course. It is funny that I have never tried a Moon, even though they are made in Scotland. I guess I assume they are brighter, more Taylor sounding like than I am looking for, just because that is what Dougie MacLean sounds like, but that is pretty naive, given that the strings, technique and recording medium will influence what it sounds like. Maybe I will check them out too.
What drew me to the Atkin was my search for a traditional OO sized guitar. Moon don't do anything smaller than an OM. I will have a better look at the Brooks when they arrive in the shop though. I love the way they sound.
Yeah right, shame on you Ben - for not considering Moon :wink:
I plan on getting me one so PaulR, if you read this, I'd be very interested in reading your thoughts (you can PM me not to derail Ben's thread).
I guess they're bright, but less than the Taylors (which to me sound rather tin-canny, sorry...)
That said, I'm going to see Dougie tomorrow night :nanadance
Derail away. Although I started this as a reaction to Atkin, it has been good to get views on other UK luthiers. Brook really appeal to me too, and a Moon OM would be sweet, but my priority is an OO. Happy for everyone to chime in with other builders. What about Ralph Bown, Nick Benjamin or Patrick Eggle. Anyone got any thoughts?
Just to keep stirring things up:
My cousin (check him out at billprince.co.uk) just bought a Patrick James Eggle 000 and it's a fantastic guitar. I'd previously seen some Eggles in a shop on the south coast and not been impressed, but this one seems to indicate that standards have risen dramatically.
Nick Benjamin is in the same county as me, his guitars are stunning but very expensive. I once heard a player called Terry Lees at a local folk club playing a new Brazilian Benjamin and it rang out as well as or better than any acoustic guitar I have heard in my life.
Ralph Bown in my home county of Yorkshire makes outstanding instruments - again, he's a bit pricey and there's quite a wait. My good friends the Hokum Hotshots in Newcastle play Bowns, as do some other musicians I know.
I've tried one Brook and been very impressed. Apparently they are (like Larrivées) quite sturdily constructed and take a few years to play in.
Thanks PP, this is even more encouraging. None of these descriptions hold the same appeal to me. I am interested that you think the Brooks are a heavier build. The lightness of build is top of my wish list, and is what grabbed me most re. the Atkin. I also saw Nick Benjamin as a custom builder rather than a producer of standard models. Some of his innovations are fantastic though. The industry needs someone to push the boundaries.
Ralph Bowns guitars appeal a lot, but the price and wait doesn't. I have a friend who has had 2 Eggles, and sold them on quite quickly.
Quote from: Mantula on January 15, 2010, 10:02:34 AM
Yeah right, shame on you Ben - for not considering Moon :wink:
I plan on getting me one so PaulR, if you read this, I'd be very interested in reading your thoughts (you can PM me not to derail Ben's thread).
I guess they're bright, but less than the Taylors (which to me sound rather tin-canny, sorry...)
That said, I'm going to see Dougie tomorrow night :nanadance
To be honest it was a year ago and I can't really remember too much about the pros & cons of each and I wasn't able to compare them all side by side. I do remember I wanted a rosewood guitar though as I already had some mahogony guitars. I think the moon I tried was mahogony. I do remember thinking I'd quite happily own any of them though!
Since then I've pruned my collection and I'm down to two - the Rosewood Brook Taw and the Mahogony Larrivee Parlour (P05). I've not looked at another guitar since.
Surprised by the comments that Brook are a heavy build. They seem (to me) quite light compared to the Larrivees I've tried and are very responsive. It's all subjective though.
What Traditional body shape is the Taw most like Paul?
>>Surprised by the comments that Brook are a heavy build. They seem (to me) quite light compared to the Larrivees I've tried and are very responsive. It's all subjective though.
To be fair, I only played one example quite briefly. That was the impression I gained and am quite open to the suggestion I might be wrong.
Everything still points to an Atkin, doesn't it Ben?
Interestingly, Alister Atkin is also good at the PR bit and if you check his website, Atkin guitars are played by a few big names in the UK.
Quote from: BenF on January 18, 2010, 04:24:53 AM
What Traditional body shape is the Taw most like Paul?
It's OM sized. The Brook Torridge would be closest to the Atkin 00 you looked at. The Brook Lyn is about the same size as the Torridge but normally made with a slot head and 12 fret join to the body.
Probably best to go and buy that Atkin since it's already in your head as your Holy Grail! - If you wait and someone else buys it you'll never find one quite the same again...
Ha ha, I wish. Finances don't permit I'm afraid. I didn't like the heavy bear claw on the one I played either, and would be ordering one from Alister to my own spec. No bear claw and a wider neck. I will be broke for a while yet, so will probably get to try a brook before I can take the plunge.
Hi Ben,
Since you are not in a hurry I suggest you take a look at the Steve Agnew guitar that will be coming in to Celtic Chords in February. I have a Parlour made by the Luthier who is based in Edinburgh and took it to Pete at Celtic Chords to let him see and he was straight on the phone with an order.
I'm just up the road from you in Stonehaven and would be happy to let you try mine if you wanted. I could also let you try my Moon 0003 with 1-3/4" Nut that I am about to put up for sale :bgrin: as I have tendonitis and need something smaller.
Quote from: stoneysteve on January 20, 2010, 03:22:38 PM
Hi Ben,
Since you are not in a hurry I suggest you take a look at the Steve Agnew guitar that will be coming in to Celtic Chords in February. I have a Parlour made by the Luthier who is based in Edinburgh and took it to Pete at Celtic Chords to let him see and he was straight on the phone with an order.
I'm just up the road from you in Stonehaven and would be happy to let you try mine if you wanted. I could also let you try my Moon 0003 with 1-3/4" Nut that I am about to put up for sale :bgrin: as I have tendonitis and need something smaller.
Hey Stoneysteve, that is really nice of you to suggest it. Maybe we can arrange something. I am guitarless at present, so perhaps we should meet up when I get my forum III back so you can try it out too. I never thought I'd come across another forum member so close to home on a primarily American/Canadian forum.
I assume that you have played the very Atkin that inspired this thread? I am therefore very intreagued that you are recommending something different, if you know what I mean. I'd love to try the Moon as well, although my financial limitations are not going to be resolved overnight. I am probably 2 years off another guitar purchase, and I also need some recording gear.
Fire me an email at ben.freeman4 at btinternet.com if you want to get together for a jam sometime. I work in Banchory, so am up your way quite a bit.
Cheers
Ben
Hi Ben
If you don't know already there is an itersting article on Atkins in the latest Acoustic mag :smile:
Quote from: lyric_girl on January 13, 2010, 09:20:45 PM
WOW! What an amazing guitar. You better start saving your pennies. :cheers
Forget saving pennies. Beg, borrow, steal and get THAT one. Same magic may not run thru them all.