Atkin J43 Forty Three 'Argentine Grey' Acoustic Guitar

The Atkin J43 - The Forty Three - is a powerful and deeply considered homage to the iconic Gibson J-45, built by hand in Canterbury, Kent, and finished here in the extraordinarily rare and historically significant Argentine Grey colourway. Argentine Grey is one of the most storied and sought-after finishes in the history of American guitar making - first appearing on Gibson's acoustic flat-tops around 1929-1931, including the L-2 and Nick Lucas Special, before reappearing as an ultra-scarce special-order non-catalogue option on a handful of ES-335, ES-345, ES-330, and ES-295 electrics in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Its pale amber centre gradients into dark charcoal edges with a characteristic shimmering quality that shifts between green, amber, and grey depending on the light - one of the most visually captivating and historically meaningful finishes ever applied to a guitar, and a perfect complement to the pre-war vintage character that the J43 was built to evoke.

The Forty Three's baked Sitka spruce top produces the warmth, openness, and played-in tonal depth of a well-loved vintage instrument from day one, paired with solid mahogany back and sides, pre-war scalloped bracing, and a round-shoulder body shape that recalls the earliest J-45 configurations of the 1940s. The high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer allows the tonewoods to resonate freely and showcases the Argentine Grey finish with the depth and luminosity that only a properly applied nitro lacquer can deliver. Walnut headstock overlay with Atkin and Banner decal, grained ivoroid binding, bone nut and saddle, nickel Kluson tuners, tortoise-style pickguard, and MOP dot fingerboard inlays complete a vintage specification of remarkable coherence and authenticity. Ideal for singer-songwriters, blues, folk, and country players who want a genuinely world-class vintage-inspired round-shoulder dreadnought in one of the rarest and most historically significant finishes in acoustic guitar history.

Features

• Baked Sitka spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides and pre-war scalloped bracing delivers a warm, rich, and naturally projecting round-shoulder dreadnought voice with the extra tonal depth and played-in sweetness that torrefaction provides from day one.
• Argentine Grey finish - one of the rarest and most historically significant guitar colourways in American lutherie history, first appearing on Gibson flat-tops around 1929-1931 and revived as an ultra-scarce special-order option in the late 1950s - delivers a shimmering pale amber-to-charcoal gradient that shifts with the light in a way no other finish can replicate.
• High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer applied over the Argentine Grey finish provides the tonal freedom, visual depth, and luminosity that only a properly thin nitro coat delivers, allowing the tonewoods to resonate freely and age beautifully over time.
• Round-shoulder dreadnought body shape with 24-7/8" scale length, pre-war scalloped bracing, and Atkin and Banner decal headstock overlay faithfully evoke the earliest Gibson J-45 configurations of the 1940s with modern Canterbury precision.
• Walnut headstock overlay, grained ivoroid binding, bone nut and saddle, nickel Kluson tuners, and MOP dot fingerboard inlays reflect the complete vintage-correct appointment package that makes the J43 as historically authentic as it is tonally exceptional.

• Body: Round shoulder dreadnought
• Body length: 20-1/8"
• Body depth: 4-7/8"
• Lower bout width: 16"
• Total length: 41"
• Top: Baked Sitka spruce
• Back & sides: Solid mahogany
• Bracing: Pre-war scalloped
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Indian rosewood, 16" radius
• Bridge: Indian rosewood
• Rosette: Black/white/black
• Binding: Grained ivoroid
• Headstock overlay: Walnut
• Logo: Atkin and Banner decal
• Fingerboard inlays: Mother of pearl dots
• Side dots: White celluloid
• Nut: Bone, 1-11/16"
• Saddle: Bone
• Scale length: 24-7/8"
• Truss rod: Two-way, soundhole adjust
• Tuners: Nickel Kluson
• Pickguard: Tortoise-style
• Finish: High gloss nitrocellulose, Argentine Grey
• Includes: Atkin hardshell case
• Made in: UK (Canterbury, Kent)