"We're passionate about the history and evolution of the acoustic guitar, the classic models and great innovations that have influenced the players and the music that we love. We want to tell that story with our guitars."
~ Alister Atkin
Founded by Alister Atkin in Canterbury, England in 1995, Atkin Guitars has spent three decades refining a single idea: that a new guitar should feel alive. The approach is built around scalloped bracing, aged nitro lacquers, and tops voiced to move freely - which is why most Atkin guitars weigh under 5 lbs and respond with a harmonic richness and low-end depth that players more often associate with instruments decades old. The necks reinforce that ease: tall frets, a subtle modern radius, and a C-shape that feels immediately familiar without being a period-correct copy.
Our selection spans the full range - the L36 and L36 12-Fret (including the Kingfisher and Tuxedo Custom variants), the J43 Slope Dreadnought, the ADJ38, OM37, Essential OM, Essential D, Essential 000S 12-Fret, and the White Rice Dreadnought, across 00, 000, OM, Dreadnought, and Slope Dreadnought body sizes. Reserve models step up to torrefied Adirondack Spruce tops and premium tonewoods for players who want more presence and tonal complexity. Visit us in Lexington or reach out - we know this catalog well.
Vintage-inspired vibe with modern refinement
Atkin guitars capture the feel and tonal character of classic, aged instruments - built with scalloped bracing, aged nitro lacquers, and vintage voicing - yet play with the immediacy and clarity of contemporary guitars.
Expertly shaped necks
Atkin’s necks strike the perfect balance - not too slim or fat - with tall frets, subtle modern-radius comfort, making them immediately familiar and easy to play.
Lightweight feel, rich sound
Many customers comment on how light these guitars feel - often under 5 lbs - yet they ring with deep low end and harmonic richness. It’s a rare balance of ease and emotion.
Atkin Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Atkin acoustic guitars - the builder, the craft, and where to try one near Boston.
Where can I try an Atkin guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Atkin Guitars dealer and keeps one of the deeper in-stock selections of Atkin instruments in New England. Our showroom is about 20 minutes from downtown Boston, and players travel from across the region to play these side by side. We are open Monday through Friday 11am–5pm and Saturday 10am–5pm.
Who is Alister Atkin and what is Atkin Guitars?
Alister Atkin founded Atkin Guitars in Canterbury, England in 1995, building the company over three decades into one of the UK's most respected acoustic guitar brands. The philosophy is deliberate: less about making showpiece instruments and more about building guitars that inspire the musicians who pick them up - instruments with genuine feel, personality, and spark rather than merely flawless cosmetics.
What makes Atkin guitars different from other vintage-inspired acoustics?
Atkin uses scalloped bracing and aged nitro lacquers to capture the tonal character and feel of classic, broken-in instruments - but builds them with the consistency and playability of a contemporary guitar. The necks are a particular strength: tall frets with a subtle modern radius that feels immediately familiar without being a period-correct copy. The result plays with the ease of a new guitar and sounds like something that has been played for years.
Why do Atkin guitars feel so light?
Many Atkin guitars weigh under 5 lbs - noticeably lighter than many production acoustics at the same price point. That low mass is a byproduct of how they are built: lighter tops that are voiced to move freely, which also contributes directly to their harmonic richness and deep low end. It is a rare combination that players consistently remark on.
What Atkin models does The Music Emporium carry?
We carry a broad cross-section of the Atkin lineup: the L36 and L36 12-Fret (including the Kingfisher and Tuxedo Custom variants), the J43 Slope Dreadnought, the ADJ38, OM37, Essential OM, Essential D, Essential 000S 12-Fret, and the White Rice Dreadnought, spanning 00, 000, OM, Dreadnought, and Slope Dreadnought body sizes. Inventory is among the deepest Atkin selections in New England - visit the page or come in to see what is currently in stock.