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Post by fresh1985 on Jul 22, 2020 20:48:50 GMT
Ok I want one, and to show how serious I am I have even listed my Martin to part fund!
In particular the gibson styled line looks and sounds incredible. I am torn though between the J43 and the L36.
The truth is Im not really sure I need a dread size guitar and prefer the ergonomics of a small body, hence why the consideration of the L36.
I play probably 50% with a pick (carter style and hybrid picking) and 50% fingerstyle. I have a light touch with a pick but dig in a bit more with fingers.
Anyone compared these two and can add any insight as to their suitability for the applications mentions?
Would the J43 be the safer bet? I will of course try to get my hands on one to test drive but no delears near me currently.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by malcolm on Jul 23, 2020 9:48:29 GMT
I can't remember the model numbers, but I have played several Atkins over the years. My observations would be that they are very fine guitars for the money, but they do have very thin necks which I don't like.
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 23, 2020 10:17:37 GMT
Ooh, I fully understand. A couple of years ago I was alone and footloose in London for a couple of days, so what do you do? Of course I went to all the guitar shops and they had a L36 in Ivor Mairants. I went in there 3 times over the two days to try the damn thing. I was so close to buying it, and in the end I went home early to remove the temptation. There were two reasons I didn't buy one. The first was the crackly finish. It's well done, but doesn't really look old (too shiny), so why bother? The other was that I reasoned (rationalised is more correct) that I could probably get a real L1 for the price. I know, I know. That doesn't make sense - you buy the guitar that speaks to you not one that's the same shape.
I haven't played a J43 (daren't, just in case it takes me as the L36 did), but that Atkins L36 was the best Atkins I've ever played. The few that I tried before that day I found a bit lacklustre.
About whether the smaller body will allow hard playing, well the one I tried took everything with a sweetness and finesse that was barely credible.
You really do need to try them. Have a holiday somewhere near where they've got one if necessary.
Good luck!
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 23, 2020 10:56:02 GMT
Atkin are producing lovely guitars just now.
I owned a D37 Aged for a short while - a very nice take on a 1937 D-28 with tasteful relic'ing.
I tried a Forty-Three in GuitarGuitar - very nice and incredibly lightweight guitar, but didn't really grab me.
The guitar they had which DID really excite me was the Essential D Relic - standard mahogany dreadnought, a bit cheaper than the others, but what a sound.
Haven't played the L36, but I would assume it's a similar very high quality.
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 24, 2020 7:42:37 GMT
I think the quality of Atkin guitars has come on leaps and bounds in the last five years or so. I've played a couple of J43s recently and they have been great guitars. I do echo the comments about the thick net though — maybe they have an eye on electric players.
My main focus would be on ergonomics. If you are comfortable playing smaller guitars I'd seriously consider staying there especially as ergonomics get more important as you get older.
My mian guitar is a small jumbo but it has a Manzer wedge which makes it comfortable. I have a jumbo Martin J40 which is a nive guitar but I play it rarely because of comfort.
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Post by jackorion on Aug 1, 2020 9:24:05 GMT
Coda Music have a used L36 aged and a used J43 aged in stock on their website...
I've only ever played a D37 from Atkin - the one I reviewed for acoustic review here: -
I really liked it, thought it was a great guitar and it gave me some serious GAS for a few weeks (I'd love to get hold of an essential 000 or 0 at some point in the future, when I actually can earn money again!)
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Post by andyhowell on Aug 1, 2020 10:00:11 GMT
jackorion Oddly enough I've been able top play both of these guitars at Ivor Mairants before it closed. I might have said this before so forgive me! The J43 seemed to me to be a big improvement on the previous Atkin J45s that I have played — I'm talking tone rather than playability. The L36 just knocked me out. It was very good — at least to my ears! Previously I really couldn't see what all the fuss was about. They were nice guitars but didn't do much for me. Ivor's used to do that to me. They often stocked Elysian guitars (?) which did nothing for me — I always thought the Brooks better value. But the Atkins I have played over the last couple of years have really caught my attention.
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Post by fresh1985 on Aug 14, 2020 11:03:39 GMT
So in the end I part exd my 00-28vs for an atkin essential 000 from coda music in stevenage.
Im so impressed with this guitar, it just seems to have everything, tone, playability and it looks amazing.
For only a few hundred pounds more than a martin 000-18 you get so much more. For the warranty alone its worth it.
I would highly recommend this guitar.
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