Atkin guitars - my holy grail

[BenF]

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!

[Denis]

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?

[BenF]

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.

[Zohn]

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!

Also, the Lowdens' quality and tone are legendary, so are McIlroy and Avalon - all handmade Irish beauties..

[Zohn]

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

[BenF]

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.

[ffinke]

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

[Danny]

   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.

[BenF]

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.

[BenF]

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.

[Danny]

  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.

[BenF]

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. 

[ducktrapper]

$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

[BenF]

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.

[lyric_girl]

WOW! What an amazing guitar. You better start saving your pennies.

[Parlor Picker]

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.

[BenF]

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.

[Mr_LV19E]

Ben, let us know what your luthier thinks of the F-III.

[Zohn]

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.  
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.

[pennerblue]

  This is a better example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLVOsKKfWc

What the heck is he saying at the beginning of the video? (Sorry, obnoxious American joke about accents...which I actually adore).

Go with your heart Ben and consider yourself lucky to be in love!!!!