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 in Canterbury, England since 1995, Atkin Guitars has quietly become one of the most respected boutique acoustic builders in the world. Founded by luthier Alister Atkin, the company produces only a few hundred guitars each year with a small team of craftspeople dedicated to traditional acoustic guitar building.
Atkin’s philosophy is simple: capture the tone and feel of the greatest pre-war American guitars while improving reliability, playability, and consistency for modern players.
Their instruments draw heavy inspiration from legendary vintage designs produced by Martin and Gibson during the 1930s through 1950s. But rather than exact replicas, Atkin guitars are thoughtful reinterpretations—featuring torrefied (baked) spruce tops, carefully voiced bracing, and lightly aged nitrocellulose finishes that help deliver a broken-in tone straight out of the case.
At Chicago Music Exchange, we’re proud to offer one of the largest selections of Atkin guitars in the United States. Our inventory regularly includes a curated mix of new, used, and occasionally limited-run instruments across the full lineup, including:
- Dreadnought models like the D37 and White Rice
- Slope-shoulder guitars like the J43 / Forty Three
- Balanced orchestra models such as the OM37
- Responsive 000-size guitars including the 00037 Deluxe
- Compact LG and parlor-style instruments like the LG47 and L36
- All-mahogany Dust Bowl models
- Essential Series workhorse acoustics
Many Atkin guitars feature torrefied Sitka spruce tops paired with mahogany or rosewood backs and sides, along with scalloped bracing and aged nitro finishes designed to replicate the feel of a decades-old instrument.
The result is a guitar that delivers vintage warmth, openness, and responsiveness—but with the structural stability of a modern boutique build.
Players across genres have gravitated toward Atkin’s approach, including artists like Brad Paisley, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Elvis Costello, and Albert Lee.
Whether you’re searching for a boutique dreadnought inspired by a vintage D-28, a slope-shoulder workhorse reminiscent of a J-45, or a small-body guitar perfect for songwriting and recording, Atkin guitars offer a compelling blend of heritage tone and modern craftsmanship.
FAQ – Atkin Guitars
Q: Are Atkin guitars handmade?
A: Every Atkin guitar is hand-built in Canterbury, England, by a small, elite team of luthiers. While they utilize selective modern technology for precision, the core of their process remains traditional. From hand-shaving braces to the meticulous application of their signature "Aged" nitrocellulose finishes, each instrument receives the individual attention to detail that only a small-bench workshop can provide for discerning acoustic players.
Q: What are Atkin guitars inspired by?
A: Alister Atkin and his team specialize in recreating the "Golden Era" magic of pre-war American acoustics. Their catalog is primarily inspired by iconic 1930s and 1940s designs from Martin and Gibson. Whether it is a powerful "Bone-Crusher" dreadnought or a refined, balanced Orchestra Model, Atkin captures the dry, woody resonance and vintage aesthetics that define the most recorded acoustic guitars in history.
Q: Most popular Atkin Guitar Model?
A: The Forty Three (a tribute to the legendary J-45) and the D37 dreadnought are consistent favorites for their massive projection and classic "thump." However, the OM37 is highly sought after by fingerstyle players for its comfortable body and balanced EQ. Additionally, the "White Rice" model—a tribute to Tony Rice’s legendary D-28—has become a cult classic among bluegrass flatpickers worldwide.
Q: What makes Atkin guitars sound “vintage”?
A: Atkin uses a proprietary torrefaction process (heat-treating) on their spruce tops to mimic the cellular structure of aged wood. When combined with their ultra-thin, "relic" nitrocellulose lacquer and scalloped pre-war bracing patterns, the result is an instrument that feels "broken-in" from day one. These guitars possess the immediate resonance, dry bass, and sparkling trebles usually only found in well-played vintage instruments.
Q: Does Chicago Music Exchange carry used Atkin guitars?
A: Yes, we frequently see pre-owned Atkin guitars move through our shop. Given their reputation for incredible build quality and "lifetime" playability, used Atkin models are highly desirable and often sell quickly. We thoroughly inspect and setup every used instrument to ensure it meets our rigorous standards, providing a great opportunity to own one of England’s finest boutique acoustics at a unique price point.
Q: What is the Atkin "Essential" Series?
A: The Essential Series is designed to offer world-class boutique tone without the high-end cosmetic appointments. By focusing on the fundamentals—North American Sitka spruce tops, mahogany back and sides, and a clean "aged" finish—Atkin delivers the same legendary resonance and playability as their flagship models. These are the perfect "player’s guitars" for those who prioritize raw tonal performance and vintage feel over ornate inlays.
Q: What kind of finishes does Atkin use?
A: Atkin is famous for their "Aged" nitrocellulose finish, which is applied much thinner than standard modern lacquers. This allows the tonewoods to vibrate more freely, enhancing the guitar's natural sustain and volume. The finish features authentic-looking lacquer checking and subtle wear, giving the guitar the soulful appearance of a well-loved heirloom without the structural compromises often found in genuine century-old instruments.
Q: Do Atkin guitars feature solid wood construction?
A: Absolutely. Every Atkin guitar is constructed using premium, solid tonewoods sourced from around the globe. They utilize high-grade Sitka or Adirondack spruce for the tops, paired with select Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, or Maple for the backs and sides. This commitment to all-solid construction ensures that your Atkin will only sound better as the wood continues to age and "open up" over years of playing.
Q: Can I order a custom Atkin through Chicago Music Exchange?
A: As a premier Atkin dealer, we can help facilitate custom orders for players looking for specific nut widths, unique tonewood combinations, or custom neck profiles. Our team works directly with the workshop in England to ensure every detail of your build is realized. Whether you want a highly figured Koa back or a specific vintage sunburst, we can help you spec out your dream Atkin.
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The Atkin 37 Series
The 37 Series represents Atkin’s interpretation of pre-war rosewood acoustics. Models like the D37, OM37, and 00037 pair torrefied Sitka spruce tops with Indian rosewood backs and sides, herringbone trim, and traditional styling reminiscent of golden-era dreadnoughts and orchestra models.
These guitars deliver strong projection, complex overtones, and excellent headroom for flatpicking and strumming.
Dust Bowl Series
Inspired by Depression-era instruments of the 1930s, the Dust Bowl Series features all-mahogany construction and smaller body sizes such as O, OO, and OOO.
These guitars produce a dry, woody tone that works beautifully for blues, folk, Americana, and fingerstyle playing.
J43 / The Forty Three
The J43—also known as The Forty Three—is Atkin’s flagship slope-shoulder dreadnought. Built with torrefied spruce and mahogany, it delivers warm mids, strong bass, and a slightly compressed response that sits beautifully under vocals.
For many players, this is the ultimate Atkin “one guitar” solution.
Jumbo & Specialty Models
Atkin’s jumbo models—such as the ASJ and AJ—deliver powerful low end and impressive projection. The company also produces visually distinctive models like the Black Pearl series, as well as occasional limited editions and signature instruments.
Why Buy Atkin Guitars at Chicago Music Exchange
Chicago Music Exchange is proud to be one of the leading Atkin dealers in the United States.
Our selection regularly includes D37, OM37, 00037 Deluxe, J43 / Forty Three, LG47, L36, Essential Series, and Dust Bowl models, along with occasional limited runs and used pieces.
Every guitar is professionally inspected, photographed individually, and set up by our expert technicians before shipping.
For players seeking boutique acoustic guitars inspired by the golden era of American instrument design, Atkin represents one of the most compelling modern builders available today.
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.
