Talking Djo, Sting and Justin Hawkins with Atkin Guitars

Hanging out with the guys from Atkin Guitars at The Guitar Show 2026, we discussed their 30-year journey making guitars in the UK and how they got connected with Justin Hawkins.

The Justin story started when he picked up one of their acoustics at Forsyth's in Manchester - they first found out when someone sent them a link to his YouTube channel during lockdown. He's now got seven or eight of their electrics and is working on a third signature model. Justin wanted a Super Strat body with a Gibson-style neck and the toggle switch up top instead of down by the controls - he found the standard Strat position "blinking annoying." They're working on something special for his Darkness stadium tour at the end of the year.

Joe Keery from Stranger Things used one of their Mind Horn models for his entire last tour - the biggest song of the year so far apparently. The whole reason they make both acoustics and electrics is because they're all geeks. There's always blokes in the workshop saying "can we make this?" and the philosophy is you have to just let people enjoy themselves.

We talked neck radius - their standard electric is 10 inches, a happy medium between vintage 7.25 Fender (high-end choking) and flat 12-inch radius (bar chords get troublesome). I mentioned how I got a Strat 10 years ago after always playing Les Paul and suddenly bar chords were loads easier - you don't think about that until you start playing them.

They've just finished their 4,000th guitar. First year was maybe three guitars, now making around 700 a year. Dealers worldwide - North America, Australia, big in South Korea, all over Europe. The span of genres is incredible from Scottish folk players to Joe Keery. None of it was a money spinner - always about making something they love.