Workshop Diary: Exploring the White Rice with Alister Atkin

After leaving the London School of Furniture in 1995 Alister Atkin headed back to Canterbury to start building acoustic guitars full time.  In 1998 whilst visiting Shamus Brady at the Acoustic Centre in Wapping, Alister came across his first Collings Guitar. " At that point I saw a build quality I thought wasn't possible. I had to go home and rethink the direction I was heading in."   After a period of re-design, research and development, Alister launched a range of six acoustic guitars, influenced by classic vintage styles and incorporating contemporary construction techniques.  In 2005 the 'Lakesview' workshop was purchased, and by late 2006 Atkin Guitars had moved into the new 2000 square foot facility   Now Atkin Guitars are available from Forsyth Brothers Ltd. The range of eight guitars are available in Standard and Deluxe models, offering players a good opportunity to find an instrument that suits them.