b76
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Post by b76 on Mar 19, 2020 22:43:52 GMT
Hi Everybody,
I have just joined the forum after someone recommended it to me!
I have been looking at the Atkin 0037s aged finish. I could buy online but no chance to try it first.
How do these guitars compare to Martin? I am interested in build/materials quality. Also, I don't seem to find what the string spacing is at the bridge or neck profile/shape?
Anybody willing to help?
Thanks
B76
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 19, 2020 22:56:38 GMT
Hello b76 and a warm welcome to you. Hope you'll have fun here. Can't answer your questions directly, but I'm sure Alister Atkin can - why not email or phone him? I wouldn't be too keen on buying online with no idea of how it sounds when you play it, or what it feels like to play. A reputable online dealer may well be able to offer you a no obligation trial period that would only cost you the carriage costs if you found the guitar wasn't for you - in which case you might feel the risk worthwhile. I have only ever played one Atkin, some years ago and so it wouldn't necessarily be representative of Alister's current builds and so comment probably irrelevant. Hopefully someone else here might be able to talk more sense for you! But, out of interest, what attracted you to this particular guitar? - certainly looks nice on the website. Keith
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 20, 2020 8:52:24 GMT
b76 This is a very tricky one. Personally I would never buy blind but Iknow plenty of people who do, although they tend to be people who buy and sell guitars a lot (there's nothing wrong with that but it doesn't work for me). Atkin are an interesting company. They are a boutique produce, a UK version of Santa Cruzof Bourgous, but witha bit more of a modern edge — for example the artifical wear and aging on some of their models. They also go our seriously to get endorsements from UK musicians. A lot of good musicians use them: Boo Hewardine and Kris Dreever come to mind, I've played more than a few of these now. The build quality and finish is generally very good and up there with those of a good standard. Their classic reporductions are good, proper string width, good action and so on. Atkin is a company that takes making guitars seriously; they make guitars foir players rather than just push out a cheap product for sale. I have always found them very playable and comfortable. It is the sound quality that If sometimes ind a bit problematical but that is only my taste. I have played some Martin-style OM/000 models that have left me feeling underwhelemed, but bear in mind I have a Santa Cruz OM which sounds wonderful. What I might have been hearing was just a tight and new guitar that hasn't opened up yet. What would hold me back would be the cost. There is competition in this price range and I'd want to focus a bit on other alternatives, say, from companies like Larrivee. On the other hand, you might be buying a guitar at a veyr decent price! On a more positive note I recently played (at the late Ivor Mairants) a J45 replica from Atkin that I thought was simply stunning. It had all of that Gibson mojo. A couple of years ago I was knocking around Manchester with leoroberts — a man obsessed with the Gibson J45. We both had the chance to play originals and Atkin versions then and that Atkin didn't move us. But the more recent one did! All this shows is how difficult it is to make a decision like that. Be aware that you are taking a punt. You might strike gold (really you might). But you might want to move it on quickly and whether that would be easy with an Atkin I don't know. Riverman is a bit of a wheeler dealer and might have some sensible advice here. Price wise Atkin are in the same bracket as Brook. They are stocked by some very good dealers who would only stock them if they thought they were good guitars. I probably haven't helped! But I tried to give some feedback!
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Mar 20, 2020 23:00:08 GMT
I haven’t played the more recent Atkins, so take this with a pinch of salt. When I played a couple a few years ago, they left me fairly cold at first when I played some fingerstyle tunes. I was about to move on, but just out of interest tried one with a plectrum and it absolutely came to life - really responsive, punch and lively. After playing them, it made sense to me that the professional musicians I’ve seen using them have tended to be flatpickers rather than fingerpickers - they definitely struck me as flatpickers’ guitars. If that’s you want, you could get a really nice guitar. If you’re after more of a fingerstyle instrument, my advice would be to try before you buy as an Atkin might not suit.
As I said though, this is an impression from a few years ago, so they may be building differently now.
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Post by malcolm on Mar 21, 2020 4:02:26 GMT
I played a 0037 in Ivor Mairants a few years ago and it sounded wonderful, much better than his earlier work. My only difficulty with them is they tend to have very thin necks, which I don't like. It really is important to try before you buy as everyone's taste is different.
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 21, 2020 10:13:34 GMT
These sound like my experiences / I never used a pick with them. They do seem to have got better, looser somehow.
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Mar 21, 2020 12:05:23 GMT
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b76
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Post by b76 on Mar 28, 2020 15:30:49 GMT
Thanks every one for your comments. I have decided to continue to look for the right guitar. It is a lot of money to buy without trying. I'm sure it is a wonderful guitar, but I have concerns about the neck shape/profile. Also, I'm a big lover of dovetail joint necks!
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b76
Sore Fingers
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Post by b76 on Mar 28, 2020 15:33:02 GMT
ocarolan w What really attracted me to this guitar was trying to find and alternative to a Martin 0028vs. They are out of production and can't find a 2nd hand one!
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 28, 2020 16:41:43 GMT
Hi there, I had an Atkin D37A until recently - got it from a friend, and it really is a superb instrument.
Lovely quality build, great feel and very nice tone. It was modelled on a Martin D28 1937 guitar, and I thought the aging was done very tastefully.
I just sold it a couple of weeks ago to Alistair Russell (fellow forum member), but I would have happily held onto it if I could have.
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Post by curmudgeon on Mar 28, 2020 17:03:07 GMT
As ocarolan says, He's building them with 1 & 3/4" nut widths which to me is a rhythm fretboard, not as appropriate for a Martin style00 (for me) . My Collings make 12 fretters with 1 &13/16" which is ideal for me, and the Martin 0028VS would be a 1 & 7/8" (I do believe!)
Of course this is all a matter of personal preference, but many/most who opt for the 12 fret designs do so for the fretboard width.
Let us know how you get on.
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 29, 2020 12:11:26 GMT
Thanks every one for your comments. I have decided to continue to look for the right guitar. It is a lot of money to buy without trying. I'm sure it is a wonderful guitar, but I have concerns about the neck shape/profile. Also, I'm a big lover of dovetail joint necks! Good call I think.
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Post by Vinny on Mar 29, 2020 13:02:58 GMT
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Post by andy3sheds on Mar 30, 2020 16:12:59 GMT
Vinny I followed your link and had a lazy browse through the list of the guitars being offered. I noticed quite a few guitars being described as reimagined, I can't imagine what this means ! Can anyone shed some light
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Post by Vinny on Mar 30, 2020 17:09:54 GMT
Vinny I followed your link and had a lazy browse through the list of the guitars being offered. I noticed quite a few guitars being described as reimagined, I can't imagine what this means ! Can anyone shed some light Martin claim it’s a “re-imagining” of their standard range, faithful to their history of iconic guitar design, with modern flourishes. In other words, marketing gibberish. Not saying that they might not be great guitars, but jargon is confusing.
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