Collection: Atkin
Founded in Canterbury, England, in 1995, Atkin Guitars uses a combination of traditional techniques and a little modern technology to handcraft around 350 guitars a year, imbued with the indefinable qualities that delight, surprise, and inspire us even after decades as players.
Read our Atkin Blog Post to learn more about the brand!
Atkin Guitars
Hand-built UK acoustics inspired by the greatest golden-era guitars. Founded in Canterbury, England, in 1995, Atkin Guitars has grown from a one-man shop into one of the UK’s leading builders, producing a few hundred hand-built instruments each year. These guitars are vintage-inspired, pre-war-style designs with modern stability, playability, and consistency.
At Chicago Music Exchange, we’re proud to offer one of the largest collections of Atkin guitars in the U.S., featuring new, used, and occasional custom or limited models across dreadnought, OM, 000, LG, parlor, jumbo, and slope-shoulder styles. If you’re searching for Atkin guitars for sale—including J43, D37, White Rice, or OM37—this is the collection built to earn those clicks.
Why Players Love Atkin Guitars
Atkin’s philosophy is simple: golden-era acoustic tone, without golden-era headaches. Their instruments commonly feature baked Sitka spruce tops, carefully voiced scalloped bracing, aged nitro finishes, and body shapes inspired by iconic pre-war designs. Players get the character of a decades-old acoustic straight out of the case, but with modern reliability.
- Baked (torrefied) Sitka spruce tops for a broken-in response
- Scalloped, hand-voiced bracing for volume and nuance
- Aged nitro finishes for vintage resonance and feel
- Classic body shapes inspired by historic D-28s, J-45s, LGs, parlors, and more
- Authentic, tastefully executed “played-in” relic aesthetics
Key Atkin Series & Models You’ll See at CME
1. 37 Series – Rosewood “Pre-War” Vibe
The 37 Series—D37, OM37, 00037, and the “White Rice”—pairs baked Sitka spruce with Indian rosewood, herringbone trim, and classic pre-war styling. These models deliver rich bass, clear mids, and that unmistakable vintage response.
- D37 / D37 Pre-War – Big dreadnought volume that cuts through a mix
- OM37 / OM37 Pre-War / OM37 Deluxe – Balanced, responsive orchestra models
- 00037 / 00037 Deluxe – Compact, articulate, ideal for fingerstyle
- The White Rice – A tribute to Tony Rice’s legendary D-28, enlarged soundhole included
2. Essential Series – Workhorse Sitka/Mahogany
The Essential Series features baked Sitka tops, mahogany back and sides, and clean appointments. These guitars offer incredible value and dependable performance.
- Essential D – A classic, versatile dreadnought
- Essential 000 / 000S – Great for songwriting, fingerstyle, and studio work
3. Dust Bowl Series – All-Mahogany, Depression-Era Tones
The Dust Bowl Series brings woody, rootsy, mid-forward tones in O, OO, OOO, and parlor sizes—all built with all-mahogany bodies and necks. Perfect for blues, folk, and Americana.
4. Slope-Shoulder / J-Style – J43 & The Forty Three
Atkin’s flagship slope-shoulder dread delivers a big, warm low end, clear highs, and that unmistakable short-scale punch. Available in aged, deluxe, and anniversary editions.
- Huge low-end presence and warm mids
- Excellent for singer-songwriters and flatpickers
- Often considered Atkin’s ultimate all-rounder
5. Small-Body LG & L-Style – LG47 & L36
For compact comfort and vintage flavor, Atkin offers small-body models ideal for couch playing, travel, and recording.
- LG47 – Punchy, mid-focused, Gibson LG-inspired
- L36 / L36 DLX – Parlor-size clarity and old-time charm
6. Jumbo & Specialty Models
Atkin’s jumbo guitars deliver huge projection and presence, alongside special models like the Black Pearl, Kingfisher, Glitter Trim, and a growing electric lineup including the Boosh, Fifty-Two, Fifty-Four, Fifty-Nine, and others.
Artists Who Play Atkin
Atkin has become a boutique favorite for world-class artists, with players including Brad Paisley, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Albert Lee, Elvis Costello, Graham Coxon, and more. These associations continue to drive searches for “Brad Paisley Atkin,” “Paul McCartney acoustic,” and “best boutique vintage-style acoustics.”
Why Buy Atkin from Chicago Music Exchange?
- One of the largest Atkin inventories in the U.S.
- Authorized dealer for both acoustics and electrics
- Regular stock of D37, OM37, 00037, J43 / Forty Three, LG47, L36, Dust Bowl, Essential, and specialty models
- Every guitar photographed, inspected, and professionally set up before shipping
- A staff deeply experienced with vintage-style acoustics and modern boutique builders
If someone searches “Atkin guitars USA,” “Atkin dealer,” “best Atkin J43,” or “Atkin D37 vs Martin D-28,” our goal is for CME to be the most complete answer.
Atkin Guitars FAQ
Q: Are Atkin guitars handmade?
A: Yes. Each instrument is hand-built in Canterbury, England, by a small team of luthiers producing a few hundred guitars per year.
Q: What are Atkin guitars inspired by?
A: Atkin acoustics are primarily based on pre-war Martin and Gibson designs, reimagined with modern playability and long-term reliability.
Q: Which Atkin models are most popular?
A: Frequently requested models include The Forty Three (J43), D37, OM37, Essential D, and Essential OOO.
Q: How do Atkin guitars compare to vintage acoustics?
A: They deliver vintage tone, responsiveness, and aesthetics—with baked tops, aged nitro, and period specs—while avoiding common vintage structural issues.
Q: Does Chicago Music Exchange sell used Atkin guitars?
A: Yes. CME regularly stocks used and occasionally vintage/early-period Atkin builds, often in D37, J43, OM37, 00037, LG47, and L36 variations.
Atkin Guitars
Founded in Canterbury, England back in 1995, Atkin Guitars has grown from a one-man workshop into one of the UK’s premier builders of handmade acoustic and electric guitars. But don’t mistake growth for compromise—every instrument is still built by hand, with the kind of obsessive attention to construction that makes guitar nerds swoon and inspires glowing reviews from players around the world. Atkin’s philosophy is simple: forget sterile perfection, build guitars with soul. While other brands chase flawlessness, Atkin chases tone, character, and a touch of unpredictability—the kind of spark that makes you pick up a guitar and not want to put it down. That ethos carries across the entire lineup of models, from acoustics inspired by golden-era Martins and Gibsons to electrics that pay homage to the instruments that rewrote music history in the ’70s and ’80s. The sound is where Atkin truly shines: rich, resonant, and alive in a way that only comes from instruments born of equal parts tradition and innovation. Tried-and-true hand techniques—like nitrocellulose finishes and fretwork fitted the old-fashioned way—combine seamlessly with modern precision tools like Plek machines and CNC routing, ensuring every guitar meets the highest specifications without losing its humanity.
