Atkin was the clear winner for me, beautifully balanced tone coupled with an understated vintage look. Shame you didnt include the Eastman e20 SS though as it is wonderful, great value instrument that can certainly hold its own against some pretty exotic and expensive dreads! Great show!!
Great video! For me, the Bourgeois, then Collings, then Atkins, then Martin, then Furch. I had a Martin D18 back in the '70's. Sounded better in some ways than the Atkins... which itself sounds very good. The Collings is hard to beat. Thought that Collings would be my number one- until I heard the Bourgeois. The first and only Collings I was able to try out was in a boutique store in Tempe, Arizona that had a D45. To my surprise the Collings had an even better sound -and far better neck. You could have put a D41, D42 in lieu of the D28 and the Martin would have come in higher, maybe #3. .
I guess some would include Gibson J45? Especially as currently the Gibson line-up seems so good in quality again. For me the Atkin and the D28 were tops here, great video!
Very true! If you watched our 'best sold guitars of 2024' you'd see that the J45 was actually the most popular one as far as sales numbers go. But since it already got some love in that video and because we thought there a lot of other great brands as well, we gave the slot to the Atkin ;)
Fantastic episode, gents ! This made my day. For me the Atkin was my favorite close before the D28. Fantastic demoing, Milo. I only missed my own dreadnought, the Eastman E8D Thermo cured. Maybe you could demoing this once again especially for me, Milo?😁
Collings and the D28. The D28 is an amazing Dreadnought for the reason that is easier to be controlled, reason being its stiffer bracing. Can imagine that in the shop the scalloped guitars come across better. But in the long run the D28 will start to shine and may be the more versatile guitar.
@ I just watched that video. My EOM was possibly the best guitar I’ve ever owned, I just didn’t know it. I’m a dread guy and it sounded like a dread. I sold it to a friend who fell in love with it because it sounded like a dread. Luckily, I still get to play it. I played the same Martin for 30 years and never really found anything that was much better. I went to a store last year and played about 14 Collings. I had settled on one that was previously owned by Jake Workman. I didn’t get it because I had one more shop to visit. That’s where I played my first Atkin. I strummed one chord and took it straight to the counter. It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played. I bought 4 Atkin last year. They are insanely good. I just got a custom candy apple green LG47 that is completely out of my wheelhouse. It was going to be my couch guitar and I didn’t have any expectations for it to sound familiar. Somehow that guitar sounds like a dreadnought and has nearly the same volume. I’m convinced Alister is practicing witchcraft. These guitars are unbelievable.
A comparison of Rosewood or Mahogany brands would've been better. For Rosewood, it's Collings - for Mahogany, it's the Atkin. Non-Custom shop Martin's are a bit hit n miss, tbh
Disappointed in the the D28 on the list. The Authentic D28 and Authentic D18 beat the pants off this guitar. Unfair to compare boutique makers with this middle-of-the-road Martin.
The D28 is non scalloped bracing
Hey, thanks for your comment! We misspoke at 5:10 . The Martin D28 has non-scalloped x-bracing. 😄
And forward shifted as well.
Atkin was the clear winner for me, beautifully balanced tone coupled with an understated vintage look. Shame you didnt include the Eastman e20 SS though as it is wonderful, great value instrument that can certainly hold its own against some pretty exotic and expensive dreads! Great show!!
The E20SS is great choice as well! But we only had the opportunity to pick five, so choices had to be made!
Great video! For me, the Bourgeois, then Collings, then Atkins, then Martin, then Furch.
I had a Martin D18 back in the '70's. Sounded better in some ways than the Atkins... which itself sounds very good.
The Collings is hard to beat. Thought that Collings would be my number one- until I heard the Bourgeois.
The first and only Collings I was able to try out was in a boutique store in Tempe, Arizona that had a D45. To my surprise the Collings had an even better sound -and far better neck.
You could have put a D41, D42 in lieu of the D28 and the Martin would have come in higher, maybe #3.
.
Atkin 😊
Great choice!
Thanks Paul!
@@thefellowshipofacoustics np, this video was a treat to be sure!
I guess some would include Gibson J45? Especially as currently the Gibson line-up seems so good in quality again.
For me the Atkin and the D28 were tops here, great video!
Very true! If you watched our 'best sold guitars of 2024' you'd see that the J45 was actually the most popular one as far as sales numbers go. But since it already got some love in that video and because we thought there a lot of other great brands as well, we gave the slot to the Atkin ;)
Fantastic episode, gents ! This made my day. For me the Atkin was my favorite close before the D28.
Fantastic demoing, Milo.
I only missed my own dreadnought, the Eastman E8D Thermo cured. Maybe you could demoing this once again especially for me, Milo?😁
Thanks you Arjan! Maybe we'll feature that guitar soon... 👀
Atkin and Furch for me!
Great choices!
Great video guys. What pick are you using and next time give the list price. Thanks
We use whatever we have lying around mostly! 😉
I like a Furch but in this test the Collings came out on top
It's a tough battle 😉
like your playing
Thank you!
The Atkin was 💥💥💥
It really was!
Zoomed in on the price ticket of the Collings 😮
1. Atkin (by far) - 2. Collings - 3. Furch - 4. Martin - 5. Bougeois (esthetically most beautiful one).
Thanks! Great choices!
Collings and the D28. The D28 is an amazing Dreadnought for the reason that is easier to be controlled, reason being its stiffer bracing. Can imagine that in the shop the scalloped guitars come across better. But in the long run the D28 will start to shine and may be the more versatile guitar.
Thank you Michael, there is a reason the D28 has been such a succes for all those years! 😉
Atkin for me , closely followed by the Bourgeois and Collings, then Furch and last for me was the Martin.
The Atkin was top of the list for a lot of people!
Interesting headline..Gibson??
My Rating. #1 Martin D28, #2 Collings, #3 Bourgeois, #4 Furch, #5 Atkin.
Very sharp eye! Great rating
I know it’s personal preference but which one played the nicest in your opinion?
Collings, by a mile✌️
Incredible guitar! 😍
Preferred the Collings by a lot.
I agree. The standout is the Collings.
Collings always deliver with their Dreadnoughts!
Eastman!
Great guitars!
A bit apples and oranges. All nice guitars thought.
Thank you John
you can have one great Furch OM plus one great Furch dreadnougth at cost of one D28
You sure can! 😉
The Atkin has been disqualified for testing positive for steroids. Holy smokes it sounds good. I need to add an Essential D to my arsenal.
Right! The Atkin OM also really shined in our Top 5 OM video.
@ I just watched that video. My EOM was possibly the best guitar I’ve ever owned, I just didn’t know it. I’m a dread guy and it sounded like a dread. I sold it to a friend who fell in love with it because it sounded like a dread. Luckily, I still get to play it. I played the same Martin for 30 years and never really found anything that was much better. I went to a store last year and played about 14 Collings. I had settled on one that was previously owned by Jake Workman. I didn’t get it because I had one more shop to visit. That’s where I played my first Atkin. I strummed one chord and took it straight to the counter. It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played. I bought 4 Atkin last year. They are insanely good. I just got a custom candy apple green LG47 that is completely out of my wheelhouse. It was going to be my couch guitar and I didn’t have any expectations for it to sound familiar. Somehow that guitar sounds like a dreadnought and has nearly the same volume. I’m convinced Alister is practicing witchcraft. These guitars are unbelievable.
A comparison of Rosewood or Mahogany brands would've been better. For Rosewood, it's Collings - for Mahogany, it's the Atkin. Non-Custom shop Martin's are a bit hit n miss, tbh
Thanks for your comment!
Maybe “modern” is what you’re trying to describe? (Vs more vintage tone of a Martin)
Thanks Jeff, that would be a good description!
A bit apples and oranges. Nice guitars though.
Once again, thank you John
No D-18 or D-41,42,45??
We could have filled an entire video with all Martin dreadnoughts! The D28 is the classic one in our opinion though 😉
Disappointed in the the D28 on the list. The Authentic D28 and Authentic D18 beat the pants off this guitar. Unfair to compare boutique makers with this middle-of-the-road Martin.
We tried to put as many different types of dreadnoughts in. Also varying in budget.
What’s a fuu, lol
Do you mean Furch? 😉