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Date: Wed, 13 May 2026 14:51:20 +0100
From: hello@expressmusic.co.uk
To: Joseph Eveson <evesonjj@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Atkin custom order
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Hi

Sounds like the scale length @24.75 works for you, the Atkin would be 
fine with 13s at standard tuning so down tuning would only bring the 
pressure down to something nearer 12s with standard tuning. Me & Alistar 
have chatted about how they should ship dreadnoughts with 13s as 
standard (but might put some players off)....

Boring Answers....
1. lifetime warranty with Atkin against defect with first owner
2. no known issues, in fact we have never returned an Atkin after a 
customer had purchased from us. No binding issues that we have seen.
3. We can schedule in a build slot for any month during the year(our 
next free slot is october at present). I normally discuss this with them 
in January each year to help us & them plan for the year ahead. We 
always leave some blank build slots for customers / our stock custom 
builds. Atkin do normally issue a new price list in April so there is a 
chance the prices might change a little in the next 12 months.

Fun stuff...
1,2,3 & 5 I have emailed Atkin to check
4. Any finish on the Atkin website or Instagram would be available to 
you.

Speak soon
Phil
:)

> Not to worry at all. I've currently got a Martin 00028MD and have it
> with .13s tuned down a step. I like the scale length so would prefer a
> 24.75 anyway, but I just wanted to know the options. I'd want the
> Atkin to be set up for DADGAD with .13s and then tune it down into
> various other tunings like drop c/open d/open g etc, so as long as it
> could do that without damaging the guitar over time then I would be
> happy!
> 
> Final few questions about the build - sorry I'm drip feeding them it's
> just as they come to me.
> 
> Fun questions:
> 1. Could I have a 12 fret option?
> 2. Are there any options in terms of tuning machine heads?
> 3. Is there a slotted headstock option?
> 4. Is there a selection of finishes to choose from? Or would it be
> better to give photos of guitars I like and then Atkin go for a best
> fit?
> 5. Is there an option to have a Baggs Anthem installed?
> 
> Boring questions:
> 1. What is the warranty for Atkin?
> 2. Are there any QC issues with them? I'm thinking along the lines of
> the plastic binding issue with Martin.
> 
> I think that's it! The final question would be about timings - I'd
> want to have the guitar ready at the start of September 2027, so when
> should I order it? I don't want to order it too soon and have it
> arrive early because, despite my advanced age, I have no willpower at
> all and won't be able to resist it until my birthday haha.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Joe
> 
> On Tue, 12 May 2026 at 16:06, <hello@expressmusic.co.uk> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Joe
>> Changing the scale on a J43 isn't a option as they would need to
>> redesign a whole load of other stuff on the guitar for it all to
>> work,
>> but an alternative would be to go for a J38 but with mahogany back &
>> 
>> sides instead of rosewood (base model @£3695 no extra charge for
>> change
>> of material).
>> https://atkinguitars.com/guitar/the-thirty-eight/
>> Out of interest what acoustic (scale length) do you play currently ?
>> 
>> Assuming you have it set up 13s & tuned down, does the scale length
>> suit
>> you ?
>> Phil :)
>> 
>> On 2026-05-12 14:50, Joseph Eveson wrote:
>>> Hi Phil,
>>> 
>>> That's great thank you - significantly less than the custom lowden
>> I'm
>>> looking at!
>>> 
>>> I forgot to ask - in terms of fret and scale length, which of
>> these
>>> would be better for drop tunings and fingerstyle:
>>> 
>>> 12 fret Vs 14 fret
>>> 
>>> 24.75 scale length Vs 25.5
>>> 
>>> Ideally I'd like a 12 fret 24.75, but I'm not sure if that would
>> be
>>> worse for what I'm intending to use it for.
>>> 
>>> If 24.75 and 12 fret would work - could I add that to the spec and
>>> would it change the price?
>>> 
>>> Thanks again,
>>> 
>>> Joe
>>> 
>>> On Tue, 12 May 2026, 14:45 , <hello@expressmusic.co.uk> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi Jospeh
>>>> 
>>>> Just heard back from Atkin
>>>> 
>>>> Base price for a standard J43 will be £3499 (at current
>> pricelist)
>>>> 
>>>> -45mm nut is no extra charge
>>>> 
>>>> -Ebony Board & Bridge @£200
>>>> 
>>>> -Whiskey sunset isn't an 'official' finish but can be special
>>>> ordered,
>>>> if you find an example just forward the image and the factory
>> will
>>>> do
>>>> their best to match, at no extra charge.
>>>> 
>>>> -Set up w/ 13s no extra charge (let us know your most popular
>> tuning
>>>> for
>>>> this)
>>>> 
>>>> Total w/ 45mm nut & ebony board/bridge £3699
>>>> 
>>>> -I have double checked and Adirondack tops are available as an
>>>> upgrade
>>>> on standard models @£600
>>>> 
>>>> Total w/ 45mm Nut, Ebony board & bridge etc. + Adirondack top
>> £4299
>>>> 
>>>> Most Atkin tops are quite clean looking so there shouldn't be too
>>>> much
>>>> variety, less noticeable if burst as well (they dont have an
>> option
>>>> to
>>>> hand pick a tops due to the extra work/time)
>>>> 
>>>> Speak soon
>>>> Phil
>>>> Express Music
>>>> 
>>>> On 2026-05-12 11:02, Joseph Eveson wrote:
>>>>> Hi Phil,
>>>>> 
>>>>> That's great! Thanks for getting back to me and for following it
>>>> up.
>>>>> I've played a J43 before and really liked it so I'm set on the
>>>>> shape/size.
>>>>> 
>>>>> My other request was for it to be strung (and possibly braced?)
>>>> for
>>>>> .13s as I would mainly play it in alternate tunings. Things like
>>>>> CGDGAD etc. the issue I've had with guitars normally is that
>> they
>>>> are
>>>>> braced for .12s and then have the situation that .12s are too
>> thin
>>>> for
>>>>> drop tunings, but .13s create too much tension for the neck.
>> Would
>>>>> that be an option?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Also, do you know if I have any choice over soundboard? Would
>> they
>>>>> have a few different red spruce tops that I could choose from?
>> It
>>>>> isn't a deal breaker by any means but I like the idea that I'd
>>>> chosen
>>>>> the exact top!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Are there options for finish too? I particularly like the
>> whiskey
>>>>> sunset finish so would go for that - unless they have a
>> catalogue
>>>> or
>>>>> something which lists all of the choices?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks again,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Joe
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Tue, 12 May 2026, 10:54 , <hello@expressmusic.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Joseph
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thanks for the email.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> We do quite a few custom builds with Atkin as well as stock a
>>>> good
>>>>>> range
>>>>>> of standard models for customers to try.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I will email Atkin now to double check pricing for your spec
>> and
>>>>>> confirm
>>>>>> a exact price once I hear back from them.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Off the top of my head it should only add £200-300 to the
>> price
>>>> of
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> standard model.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Lead time is normally 3-6 months so we should have plenty of
>> time
>>>> to
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> it sorted.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 25% deposit to get the order on the system & then balance due
>> on
>>>>>> collection/shipping.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Let me know if theres anything you need from us and your more
>>>> than
>>>>>> welcome to pop by the shop to try a few Atkins and have a chat
>>>> about
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> options.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Speak soon
>>>>>> Phil
>>>>>> :)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 2026-05-11 17:07, Joseph Eveson wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I'm doing some forward planning for my 40th next year and
>>>>>> exploring
>>>>>>> some custom shop options - would you mind giving me some
>>>>>> information
>>>>>>> about how you guys do it? I haven't ordered a custom guitar
>>>> before
>>>>>> so
>>>>>>> I've got no clue. I contacted Atkin themselves first and they
>>>>>> directed
>>>>>>> me to you.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Essentially, I'd like a J43 - but I'd prefer an ebony
>>>> fingerboard
>>>>>>> rather than rosewood and I'd like it to be aged in the way
>> that
>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> do. I'd also prefer a wider nut (I'm a fingerstyle player).
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> If I were to go ahead with you guys, the could you tell me:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Would I have the option to choose the soundboard wood? Is
>> there
>>>> a
>>>>>> red
>>>>>>> spruce option?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> What would be the approx cost of the above guitar (I
>> appreciate
>>>> it
>>>>>>> would be approximate, but if could give a rough idea, then it
>>>>>> would
>>>>>>> help me plan)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> The deposit you'd need to get started
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> When you would need the balance to be paid
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> The lead time to have it made (again, approximate is fine)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Many thanks,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Joe