NGD (with apologies!)

andymo · November 2021

Hi folks,

Huge apologies. I posted this yesterday and tried to edit it on my phone after someone, quite rightly, suggested I may be dissing another maker but then made a total hash of the edit and the post seems to have been removed.

I'll try again on the laptop!

Atkin D37 aged...and it's just lovely. Loud and full of character and I'm so pleased with it.

What I should have said yesterday was that, for me, it blew several Martins I'd tried away, including D28 Reimagined and even a HD28 which it's probably directly comparable to. I guess the Atkin played in vibe and looks got me as well as the sound which is definitely not that of a "new" guitar.

Anyway, apologies again and I'm off to play it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1jGyMoP1MuCSoDGV9

stickyfiddle · November 2021

Ahh, that's lovely. I've had an HD28 for a few years but my recent Atkin 47 purchase has me wondering if an Atkin would be even better..

Lewy · November 2021

That looks great. I really like what Atkin is doing.

Mellish · November 2021

@andymo no problem. I have an HD28 Reimagined which that Atkin looks a lot like. I'm sure it's a great guitar, and I trust you'll enjoy it

andymo · November 2021

Mellish said:

@andymo no problem. I have an HD28 Reimagined which that Atkin looks a lot like. I'm sure it's a great guitar, and I trust you'll enjoy it

If it was you who left the comment I tried to remedy yesterday, extra apologies! I should also add that my Martin 0-18 is a thing of beauty and one of my fave guitars

Mellish · November 2021

It wasn't me. I did reply to your post yesterday but only to point out how similar to an HD28 Reimagined the Atkin looks

earwighoney · November 2021

It's a beautiful guitar. Congrats on your NGD.

koss59 · November 2021

Very nice! I recently got an Atkin Essential D and it has way more character than any modern Martin I’ve played and the Collings D2H I owned.
It genuinely reminds me of the few old Martins I’ve played.

Ricjo · November 2021

Congrats! I had the exact same NGD a couple of months ago. And like you, I tried the D37 against the Martin HD28 and HD35 and it just had no comparison. I sold my Martin D35 for the Atkin and have not looked back. Bear in mind I love Martin and have 4 other Martin guitars. However, to compare Atkin and Martin like-for-like, it would have to be with their Authentic series, which is a lot more expensive than their Standard series and than the Atkin, for that matter.
I just wish the nut width was 1.3/4” rather than 1.1/16”. Other than that, she’s perfect!

Mellish · November 2021

I've never played an Atkin (never seen one for real), so I can't compare. But in my Martin HD28 Reimagined I've found what for me is all I'll ever need from an acoustic. I've found the perfect strings for it and, most weekends, you'll find us gigging. It's all about that special guitar that, for you, is a cut above. Different people will make different choices

Lewy · November 2021

Ricjo said:

However, to compare Atkin and Martin like-for-like, it would have to be with their Authentic series, which is a lot more expensive than their Standard series and than the Atkin, for that matter.

Martin used to have the HD-28V that would have been close to this Atkin in spec and priced fairly similarly. Not sure why they discontinued it as there’s clearly an appetite. Good on Atkin for spotting the gap in the market.

andymo · November 2021

Ricjo said:

Congrats! I had the exact same NGD a couple of months ago. And like you, I tried the D37 against the Martin HD28 and HD35 and it just had no comparison. I sold my Martin D35 for the Atkin and have not looked back. Bear in mind I love Martin and have 4 other Martin guitars. However, to compare Atkin and Martin like-for-like, it would have to be with their Authentic series, which is a lot more expensive than their Standard series and than the Atkin, for that matter.
I just wish the nut width was 1.3/4” rather than 1.1/16”. Other than that, she’s perfect!

I did wonder about the 11/16" nut but it's not an issue, especially for what it's going to be used for...i.e. strumming and flatpicking. I have fingerstyle covered on smaller guitars with 3/4" guitars

Was glad to find the D37 has a slim neck unlike the 00037 from Atkin that I'd tried a while back. That thing had a full-on chunky neck that just wasn't right for me despite having large hands.

Ricjo · November 2021

Mellish said:

It's all about that special guitar that, for you, is a cut above. Different people will make different choices

That's the absolute truth! And that's what makes it all so interesting

Lewy said:

Ricjo said:

However, to compare Atkin and Martin like-for-like, it would have to be with their Authentic series, which is a lot more expensive than their Standard series and than the Atkin, for that matter.

Martin used to have the HD-28V that would have been close to this Atkin in spec and priced fairly similarly. Not sure why they discontinued it as there’s clearly an appetite. Good on Atkin for spotting the gap in the market.

Yes, the HD-28V (which unfortunately I've never had the chance to play, but have read really good things about) and the Marquis D-28, which they've also discontinued. You now have to pay more for that level-type Martin. I played a Marquis D-28 when purchasing my Atkin D37 and would have gone for it, were it not £1300 more expensive and I'm also not a big fan of the mod-v neck (which is the same on my CEO-7). But it sounded fantastic and on par with the Atkin.

andymo said:

Ricjo said:

Congrats! I had the exact same NGD a couple of months ago. And like you, I tried the D37 against the Martin HD28 and HD35 and it just had no comparison. I sold my Martin D35 for the Atkin and have not looked back. Bear in mind I love Martin and have 4 other Martin guitars. However, to compare Atkin and Martin like-for-like, it would have to be with their Authentic series, which is a lot more expensive than their Standard series and than the Atkin, for that matter.
I just wish the nut width was 1.3/4” rather than 1.1/16”. Other than that, she’s perfect!

I did wonder about the 11/16" nut but it's not an issue, especially for what it's going to be used for...i.e. strumming and flatpicking. I have fingerstyle covered on smaller guitars with 3/4" guitars

Was glad to find the D37 has a slim neck unlike the 00037 from Atkin that I'd tried a while back. That thing had a full-on chunky neck that just wasn't right for me despite having large hands.

Yeah, I use mine for rhythm guitar only and it's fine with 11/16", though am so used to the 3/4" now that I've gotten used to the size. I thought all Atkins had slim necks - had no idea that wasn't the case! However, I don't want to try any more models of theirs, as I'd be worried I'd either want another or it would spoil my other guitars for me ;p

ESBlonde · December 2021

koss59 said:

Very nice! I recently got an Atkin Essential D and it has way more character than any modern Martin I’ve played and the Collings D2H I owned.
It genuinely reminds me of the few old Martins I’ve played.

Nearly 2 years in for me and my Essential D, I’m finding more excuses to play it in every band I perform with because it sounds so good and makes a change from electrics for everything.

Jimbro66 · December 2021

Lewy said:
Martin used to have the HD-28V that would have been close to this Atkin in spec and priced fairly similarly. Not sure why they discontinued it as there’s clearly an appetite. Good on Atkin for spotting the gap in the market.

I'd forgotten about the HD28V. Ten years ago I'd sold the Santa Cruz acoustic that I liked but never loved and was looking for a new acoustic. I tried several makes and styles and almost settled on a HD28V which was very nice indeed. I decided to sleep on it before returning to the shop the next day. I then remembered a friend raving about Atkin guitars. The following day I drove to Alister Atkin's workshop which is not far from me. Alister was happy to leave me for two or three hours picking guitars off his wall to try them and compare. I was blown away by them, drove away with one and never did see the Martin again.

wellsyboy · December 2021

I prefer the 1 11/16 nut width which is why I got an Atkin (LG47 aged) - so pleased with it but if I won the lottery this weekend I would have a serious look at the Atkin D37 pre war

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