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Built under the direction of founder Alister Atkin, Atkin Guitars has established itself as one of the most respected modern builders of vintage-inspired acoustic instruments. The Forty Three J43 continues that legacy, drawing inspiration from classic pre-war dreadnought design while refining it through meticulous hand craftsmanship, premium materials, and a deep understanding of how traditional tonewoods behave when voiced with care and intention.
This Dark Sunburst J43 pairs a thermally aged Baked Sitka Spruce top with solid Mahogany back and sides, producing a tonal character that is warm, direct, and beautifully balanced. The torrefied spruce top adds an immediate sense of openness and maturity, while the mahogany body delivers a dry, woody midrange, focused fundamental response, and a fast, punchy attack that sits perfectly in a mix. Together, these woods create a dreadnought voice that is articulate and expressive, with less overt overhang than rosewood but a compelling clarity and musical honesty all its own.
Atkin’s pre-war scalloped bracing supports a responsive and dynamic top, allowing the guitar to react effortlessly to both light fingerstyle playing and more aggressive flatpicking. The mahogany neck feels familiar and stable, paired with a smooth Santos Rosewood fingerboard and matching bridge that contribute to tonal warmth and a cohesive overall response. A two-way adjustable truss rod, accessed through the soundhole, ensures modern reliability and easy setup adjustments without compromising vintage-inspired construction.
Visually, the Dark Sunburst finish is a standout feature, with Atkin’s Age Toned Relic Gloss Nitrocellulose lacquer giving the instrument a convincingly aged aesthetic while enhancing resonance. The black-top sunburst is rich and deep, fading beautifully into the natural mahogany sides and back, creating a classic, understated stage presence. Cream binding frames the body with subtle contrast, while a simple cream rosette keeps the design elegant and restrained. The walnut headstock overlay, adorned with the Atkin decal and banner, adds a refined finishing touch, complementing the instrument’s vintage-inspired aesthetic.
Hardware and appointments are chosen with equal care, including nickel Gotoh tuners for stable and precise tuning, bone nut and saddle components for enhanced sustain and clarity, and mother-of-pearl dot inlays paired with cream side markers for a clean, traditional look. The 24 7/8-inch scale length and 1.77-inch (45mm) nut width provide a comfortable and versatile playing feel, supported by a 16-inch fingerboard radius and 2 1/4-inch bridge spacing that accommodates both fingerstyle precision and flatpicking control.
With a body length of 21 1/8 inches, a 16-inch lower bout, and a 4 7/8-inch depth, the J43 offers the full-bodied presence expected of a dreadnought while remaining surprisingly comfortable in hand. Weighing just 4 pounds, 5 ounces, it is exceptionally lightweight, contributing to its lively, resonant character and immediate responsiveness.
Housed in an Atkin Black hardshell case, the Atkin The Forty Three J43 Dark Sunburst stands as a powerful example of understated craftsmanship and tonal purpose, offering a classic mahogany dreadnought voice with the refined touch and vintage spirit that define Atkin’s modern legacy.
Other specifications of The Forty Three include:
- Top: Baked Sitka Spruce
- Back & Sides: Mahogany
- Backstrip: None
- Neck: Mahogany
- Truss Rod: Two-Way (Soundhole Adjust)
- Headstock Overlay: Walnut
- Logo: Atkin Decal with Banner
- Fretboard: Santos Rosewood
- Bridge: Santos Rosewood
- Rosette: Cream
- Purfling: None
- Binding: Cream
- Bracing: Pre-war scalloped
- Lacquer Finish: Age Toned Relic Gloss Nitrocellulose - Black Top
- Nut & Saddle: Bone
- Tuners: Nickel Gotoh
- Side Dot Fretboard Markers: Cream
- Fret Markers: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Case: Atkin Black
- Body Length: 21 1/8"
- Body Depth: 4 7/8"
- Lower Bout Width: 16"
- Total Length: 41"
- Scale Length: 24 7/8"
- Fingerboard Radius: 16"
- Nut Width: 1.77" (45mm)
- Weight: 4 lb 5 oz
- Serial Number: 4327
For more information about the Atkin The Forty Three, please contact us.
- Manufacturer
- Atkin
- Actual Weight
- 4.5
- Model
- The Forty Three
- Body Style
- Slope D
- Condition
- Brand New
- Series
- Slope Shoulder
- Strings
- 6
- Pickup
- No
- Color
- Dark Sunburst
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Atkin The Forty Three - J43 - Baked Sitka & Mahogany - Dark Sunburst #4327
- Condition:
- New
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Description
Built under the direction of founder Alister Atkin, Atkin Guitars has established itself as one of the most respected modern builders of vintage-inspired acoustic instruments. The Forty Three J43 continues that legacy, drawing inspiration from classic pre-war dreadnought design while refining it through meticulous hand craftsmanship, premium materials, and a deep understanding of how traditional tonewoods behave when voiced with care and intention.
This Dark Sunburst J43 pairs a thermally aged Baked Sitka Spruce top with solid Mahogany back and sides, producing a tonal character that is warm, direct, and beautifully balanced. The torrefied spruce top adds an immediate sense of openness and maturity, while the mahogany body delivers a dry, woody midrange, focused fundamental response, and a fast, punchy attack that sits perfectly in a mix. Together, these woods create a dreadnought voice that is articulate and expressive, with less overt overhang than rosewood but a compelling clarity and musical honesty all its own.
Atkin’s pre-war scalloped bracing supports a responsive and dynamic top, allowing the guitar to react effortlessly to both light fingerstyle playing and more aggressive flatpicking. The mahogany neck feels familiar and stable, paired with a smooth Santos Rosewood fingerboard and matching bridge that contribute to tonal warmth and a cohesive overall response. A two-way adjustable truss rod, accessed through the soundhole, ensures modern reliability and easy setup adjustments without compromising vintage-inspired construction.
Visually, the Dark Sunburst finish is a standout feature, with Atkin’s Age Toned Relic Gloss Nitrocellulose lacquer giving the instrument a convincingly aged aesthetic while enhancing resonance. The black-top sunburst is rich and deep, fading beautifully into the natural mahogany sides and back, creating a classic, understated stage presence. Cream binding frames the body with subtle contrast, while a simple cream rosette keeps the design elegant and restrained. The walnut headstock overlay, adorned with the Atkin decal and banner, adds a refined finishing touch, complementing the instrument’s vintage-inspired aesthetic.
Hardware and appointments are chosen with equal care, including nickel Gotoh tuners for stable and precise tuning, bone nut and saddle components for enhanced sustain and clarity, and mother-of-pearl dot inlays paired with cream side markers for a clean, traditional look. The 24 7/8-inch scale length and 1.77-inch (45mm) nut width provide a comfortable and versatile playing feel, supported by a 16-inch fingerboard radius and 2 1/4-inch bridge spacing that accommodates both fingerstyle precision and flatpicking control.
With a body length of 21 1/8 inches, a 16-inch lower bout, and a 4 7/8-inch depth, the J43 offers the full-bodied presence expected of a dreadnought while remaining surprisingly comfortable in hand. Weighing just 4 pounds, 5 ounces, it is exceptionally lightweight, contributing to its lively, resonant character and immediate responsiveness.
Housed in an Atkin Black hardshell case, the Atkin The Forty Three J43 Dark Sunburst stands as a powerful example of understated craftsmanship and tonal purpose, offering a classic mahogany dreadnought voice with the refined touch and vintage spirit that define Atkin’s modern legacy.
Other specifications of The Forty Three include:
- Top: Baked Sitka Spruce
- Back & Sides: Mahogany
- Backstrip: None
- Neck: Mahogany
- Truss Rod: Two-Way (Soundhole Adjust)
- Headstock Overlay: Walnut
- Logo: Atkin Decal with Banner
- Fretboard: Santos Rosewood
- Bridge: Santos Rosewood
- Rosette: Cream
- Purfling: None
- Binding: Cream
- Bracing: Pre-war scalloped
- Lacquer Finish: Age Toned Relic Gloss Nitrocellulose - Black Top
- Nut & Saddle: Bone
- Tuners: Nickel Gotoh
- Side Dot Fretboard Markers: Cream
- Fret Markers: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Case: Atkin Black
- Body Length: 21 1/8"
- Body Depth: 4 7/8"
- Lower Bout Width: 16"
- Total Length: 41"
- Scale Length: 24 7/8"
- Fingerboard Radius: 16"
- Nut Width: 1.77" (45mm)
- Weight: 4 lb 5 oz
- Serial Number: 4327
For more information about the Atkin The Forty Three, please contact us.
- Manufacturer
- Atkin
- Actual Weight
- 4.5
- Model
- The Forty Three
- Body Style
- Slope D
- Condition
- Brand New
- Series
- Slope Shoulder
- Strings
- 6
- Pickup
- No
- Color
- Dark Sunburst
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Downloads
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True Product Images
Yes, this is the actual guitar you’re looking at – not a generic stock photo! We take the time to individually photograph each and every guitar we sell so that you know exactly what you’re getting. From the grain of the wood to the unique finish and subtle character marks, what you see in the photo is the very guitar that will be shipped to your door. No surprises, no guesswork – just full transparency and confidence in your purchase.
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