School me on Atkin

jellyroll · July 2022

My personal view is that their Martin-alikes are better than their Gibson-alikes. Some of their Martin based models that I’ve played have been really good in a tight, bright, loud way. But I haven’t played a Gibson based Atkin which impressed me.

guitarjack66 · July 2022

Why are Martin guitars more highly rated than Taylor guitars? Is it simply longevity?

Cryptid · July 2022

My old D37 was easily the best D28 type I've tried. Wasn't suitable for the material I was playing at the time so moved it on... which I now regret.

Tried two examples of 'The Forty Three' and an Essential D, none of which inspired me.

Had an invite to try a Jumbo down at their workshop in Kent as there was no stock anywhere, but then no further response to my messages. Ended up happy with a bargain J-200 Studio from eBay for a third of the price.

guitarjack66 · July 2022

Why are Martin guitars more highly rated than Taylor guitars? Is it simply longevity?

DB1 · July 2022

I had an Atkin Forty-Three. It was OK, but didn't last long. A caveat here: I didn't really take the time to get it set up the way I like. I like it set low almost like an electric set up.

I sold three Gibsons fairly recently - an LG2, an L-00 and a J45, all perfectly nice guitars. The LG2 popped up for sale again at the place that I sold it to, and I went along with the purpose of buying it back.

There was an Atkin Small Jumbo Black Pearl Edition which absolutely knocked the socks off the LG2. I say that with reluctance because a) I'm a Gibson fanboy - OK, fanoldgit - and b) the LG2 was about £800 cheaper, both used.

It was lively and vibrant and made the LG2 - which I really liked - sound a bit lifeless and dull. I didn't want the Atkin to be better, tbh.

I bought it. Anyway, a little later I went to sell it because I'm not really an acoustic player and wasn't doing it justice, so I ordered a used Martin 000-15M to fill its boots. Anyway, the Martin arrived and it was very nice, but unsurprisingly given the price difference, the Atkin was just better. I had to withdraw it from sale, at least until I find something that's as good.

I bought another L-00 this week at a very decent price, thinking that this might do it - my other L-00 was really nice and I missed that. It turned up a couple of days ago, I did a quick comparison, and sold the L-00 again today.

The neck on the Atkin is probably a little slim for me, truth be told- perhaps it's just the Small Jumbo spec, because every other Atkin that I've tried has been reasonably chunky. It feels like quite a shallow D and the string spacing feels a touch narrower than I'm used to, but it's so light, resonant and lively, that it's a joy to play. I've got the action lower than a snake's belly, which isn't to everyone's taste, but I like it.

It sounds fabulous and feels like a top quality guitar - most acoustics feel 'unfriendly' to me (action too high and string tension too great) but this one's a joy.

If I'm to be a bit critical, I'd say that the 'ageing' on the two that I've had hasn't impressed me that much. It's certainly nothing like the effect that age has had on my properly old guitars. The crazing looks a little 'chemical' if that makes any sense, and I could live without a 'reliced' model in that respect.

crunchman · July 2022

guitarjack66 said:

Why are Martin guitars more highly rated than Taylor guitars? Is it simply longevity?

They sound better

guitarjack66 · July 2022

crunchman said:

guitarjack66 said:

Why are Martin guitars more highly rated than Taylor guitars? Is it simply longevity?

They sound better

Surely that is in the ear of the listener?

artiebear · July 2022

guitarjack66 said:

crunchman said:

guitarjack66 said:

Why are Martin guitars more highly rated than Taylor guitars? Is it simply longevity?

They sound better

Surely that is in the ear of the listener?

Well it would be true, if only they all did

Tannin · July 2022

bertie said:

malcolmkindness said:

They tend to have very narrow necks and string spacing which doesn't suit me.

very narrow ? really ? most are 43 / 44 which is pretty much "standard"

43mm is narrow. 42mm is "very narrow". 44mm and 44.5mm are standard. I like 46mm much better but only the Europeans seem to do that other than by custom order.

bertie · July 2022

Tannin said:

bertie said:

malcolmkindness said:

They tend to have very narrow necks and string spacing which doesn't suit me.

very narrow ? really ? most are 43 / 44 which is pretty much "standard"

43mm is narrow. 42mm is "very narrow". 44mm and 44.5mm are standard. I like 46mm much better but only the Europeans seem to do that other than by custom order.

wrong

Tannin · July 2022

If we are talking longevity @guitarjack66 a Taylor guitar is a better better bet than a Martin. Taylor use a much superior neck attachment method which is easier to get right in the first place, and far easier to adjust if it ever needs it. Martin have been making guitars for much much longer and have become captive to some of their own history. Taylor is a young company with fresh idea, many of them good ones.

Having said all that, Martin still make an excellent guitar and I'd be happy to own the right one when I meet it. (I have very nearly bought two or three and regret not getting a particular HD-28 while I had the chance.) I may well buy a Taylor one of these days too.

The big difference though is the house sound. Most Martin guitars have a warm, balanced sound overall but with a big, muffled bass. It is a very, very popular sound and nobody does it better than Martin. Taylors usually have a bright, chime-like sound with a zinging treble. Some people describe it as a "more modern" sound. I don't agree with that, it's just the Taylor sound. Neither one is "better" they are just different. I think they are both great sounds and I'd be happy to own one of each.

As for Atkin, you don't see them at all in my part of the world, so I've been reading the experienced comments of several posters above with interest. One of these days I'd like to buy a UK-made guitar and it will probably need to be completely sight unseen (no-one imports or sells them here in Oz) so the more I can learn the better.

artiebear · July 2022

bertie said:

Tannin said:

bertie said:

malcolmkindness said:

They tend to have very narrow necks and string spacing which doesn't suit me.

very narrow ? really ? most are 43 / 44 which is pretty much "standard"

43mm is narrow. 42mm is "very narrow". 44mm and 44.5mm are standard. I like 46mm much better but only the Europeans seem to do that other than by custom order.

wrong

Why is that wrong ? @Tannin got that pretty much spot on for most acoustic players

Tannin · July 2022

^ Woops. I misread Artiebear's comment, laughed, clicked LOL, read it properly, and realised I'd been laughing at a joke that existed only in my head. Now I can't get hold of my therapist 'coz it's Sunday, and I can't un-click the LOL!

Mellish · July 2022

@Tannin ; - you can remove the LOL by doing a refresh and clicking the LOL one more time

Tannin · July 2022

One LOL removed, one Wiz added.

slowth84 · July 2022

Wow such great input!

yes i refer to cross the pond as I browse mostly us retail and forums but it’s true I’m really based Far East.

Almost any custom shop, small builder is sight unseen.

I know how some builders in the Martin-esque sound like bourgeois, H&D etc.

i think I hope the essentials lean closer to the Martins than even these builders.

If I didn’t already have a Boucher Sg-51, I would consider om37. But I’m just zero-Ing on mahogany now.

And I’m really lusting after Martin custom
sinkers.

Mellish · July 2022

@slowth84 ; - you always *will* get a varied response mate bacause people are different.

It's true of *any* forum.

I tried the Atkin Essential D and the D37. They weren't for me but may be right for you.

If on the other hand you want a Martin, you have a dealer in Singapore: City Music

crunchman · July 2022

The Essential D is superb.

Gandalph · July 2022

@slowth84, have you had a look at or had a chance to play a Waterloo?

They do a similar thing to Atkin, only better imo.

edited...initial comment read back a little harsh I think.

slowth84 · July 2022

Mellish said:

@slowth84 ; - you always *will* get a varied response mate bacause people are different.

It's true of *any* forum.

I tried the Atkin Essential D and the D37. They weren't for me but may be right for you.

If on the other hand you want a Martin, you have a dealer in Singapore: City Music

Ha thanks for the homework!

Im familiar with city music. Our small city state however doesn’t get the real goodies the big markets receive. Standard line, a modern deluxe here and there.

Waterloo have had inflated prices the last years I believe. And none here as well.

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School me on Atkin

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