Atkin The White Rice Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, (Used)

The Atkin The White Rice is a premium UK-built dreadnought acoustic guitar inspired by one of the most famous flatpicking guitars of all time: the legendary D-28 associated with Clarence White and Tony Rice. Built as part of Atkin’s Historic Series, The White Rice captures the look, feel and voice of a powerful pre-war-style rosewood dreadnought, complete with its enlarged soundhole, overhanging fretboard and vintage-inspired appointments.

This pre-owned Atkin The White Rice is listed in Very Good condition, meaning it shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful ownership but remains fully functional and ready to play. It has been fitted with a K&K Pure Mini pickup, giving it a natural-sounding passive pickup system for live performance and recording use. It weighs 4.5 lbs and comes with a hardcase.

For players looking for a serious dreadnought acoustic with boutique UK craftsmanship, powerful projection and stage-ready pickup functionality, this Atkin The White Rice is a superb choice. Its torrified Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard and pre-war scalloped bracing give it the depth, clarity and authority expected from a high-end rosewood dreadnought. Atkin lists The White Rice with a torrified Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, herringbone purfling, pre-war scalloped bracing and nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This Atkin The White Rice is in Very Good condition. This means it shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful ownership, but remains fully functional and ready to play.

Very Good condition is ideal for players who want a well-looked-after pre-owned acoustic guitar that has been used carefully and remains in strong playing condition.

What’s Included?

✔ Atkin The White Rice Acoustic Guitar
✔ Added K&K Pure Mini Pickup
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This guitar is listed in Very Good condition, so it shows light signs of previous use such as small marks, light surface scratches or minor handling wear.

The guitar has been fitted with a K&K Pure Mini pickup. This is an added pickup system and gives the guitar practical amplified performance capability while keeping the instrument visually clean.

The guitar weighs 4.5 lbs.

No faults or repairs have been supplied for this listing.

Fair Deal Inspection & Assessment

This pre-owned Atkin The White Rice has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before being offered for sale.

Our checks include:

• K&K Pure Mini pickup tested
• Output jack tested
• Frets inspected
• Tuners checked
• Neck relief assessed
• Bridge and saddle inspected
• Nut checked
• Body checked for structural condition
• General playability assessed
• Weight noted at 4.5 lbs
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

This Atkin acoustic has been assessed for playability, with the following checked:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Tuning stability checked
• Pickup output tested
• Bridge and saddle checked
• Hardware checked

Please note that guitar setup can sometimes shift slightly during delivery due to changes in temperature and humidity. We take this into account during our checks, but wood can naturally move in transit, particularly with high-quality solid wood acoustic guitars.

Why Choose The Atkin The White Rice?

Boutique UK-Built Dreadnought Craftsmanship

Atkin guitars are built in the UK and have earned a strong reputation for vintage-inspired acoustic instruments with exceptional attention to detail. The White Rice sits within Atkin’s Historic Series and is built for players who want the sound, response and visual character of a golden-era dreadnought in a modern hand-built instrument.

Inspired By A Legendary D-28

The White Rice is Atkin’s tribute to the famous D-28 previously owned by Clarence White and later associated with Tony Rice. Atkin describes the model as a loving recreation of that instrument, featuring the instantly recognisable enlarged soundhole and overhanging fretboard.

This gives the guitar a very specific personality: powerful, open, direct and built with flatpicking heritage in mind.

Torrified Sitka Spruce And East Indian Rosewood

The combination of torrified Sitka spruce and East Indian rosewood gives The White Rice a strong dreadnought voice with depth, power and clarity. The torrified top adds a played-in response, while rosewood back and sides provide rich lows, clear highs and a wide tonal range.

Pre-War Scalloped Bracing

Atkin lists The White Rice with pre-war scalloped bracing, helping the top respond with greater movement, volume and dynamic range. For players who flatpick, strum with energy or need an acoustic that projects strongly, this is a key part of the guitar’s appeal.

Added K&K Pure Mini Pickup

This guitar has been fitted with a K&K Pure Mini pickup, giving it a natural passive amplified sound for live and studio use. K&K describes the Pure Pickup as a bridge-plate-mounted passive pickup designed to deliver a rich, natural acoustic sound without needing a preamp.

For players who want boutique acoustic tone with practical stage use, this is a valuable addition.

4.5 lbs Weight

At 4.5 lbs, this guitar has a comfortable and reassuring acoustic weight. It feels substantial enough for a powerful dreadnought, while still remaining practical for seated playing, live use and longer sessions.

Hardcase Included

This guitar comes with a hardcase, giving it proper protection for transport, storage and gigging. For a premium acoustic guitar, a hardcase is an important part of keeping the instrument safe and stable between uses.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Atkin The White Rice vs Martin D-28

The Martin D-28 is the obvious reference point for any rosewood dreadnought. The Atkin The White Rice offers a boutique UK-built interpretation with specific Tony Rice / Clarence White-inspired features, including the enlarged soundhole and overhanging fretboard. Choose the Atkin if you want a high-end dreadnought with a more individual build story and vintage-inspired boutique character.

Atkin The White Rice vs Martin HD-28

The Martin HD-28 adds herringbone styling and scalloped bracing to the D-28 formula. The Atkin The White Rice shares the vintage-inspired dreadnought direction but goes further into the White/Rice visual and tonal concept. It is especially appealing to players who want a dreadnought built around flatpicking power, projection and boutique craftsmanship.

Atkin The White Rice vs Collings D2H

A Collings D2H is known for precision, clarity and high-end American dreadnought build quality. The Atkin The White Rice offers a more aged, vintage-inspired feel with a UK-built identity and direct connection to one of the most recognisable bluegrass dreadnought designs. Choose the Collings for pristine modern refinement; choose the Atkin for a more historic, characterful dreadnought voice.

Atkin The White Rice vs Atkin D37

The Atkin D37 is a high-quality dreadnought in its own right, while The White Rice has a more specific Historic Series identity. The enlarged soundhole, overhanging fretboard and Tony Rice-inspired concept make The White Rice the stronger choice for players who specifically want that famous flatpicking dreadnought character.

Who Is It For?

Beginner Players

This is a premium acoustic guitar and is more than most beginners need as a first instrument. However, a committed beginner who wants a lifetime-quality acoustic could grow into it and enjoy a guitar that rewards developing technique.

Intermediate Players

Intermediate players will appreciate the response, projection and tonal complexity of The White Rice. It is a serious upgrade from standard production acoustics and gives players a more inspiring instrument for flatpicking, strumming and acoustic performance.

Professional Players

Professional players will get the most from this guitar. The White Rice is suitable for stage, studio and high-level acoustic performance, especially for players who need projection, clarity, dynamic response and natural amplified tone through the added K&K pickup.

Suitable Genres And Uses

This Atkin The White Rice is well suited to:

• Bluegrass
• Flatpicking
• Folk
• Americana
• Country
• Acoustic rock
• Singer-songwriter performance
• Studio recording
• Live acoustic sets
• Worship music
• Professional acoustic performance
• Players wanting a boutique rosewood dreadnought

Why Choose A Rosewood Dreadnought Acoustic?

A rosewood dreadnought is one of the most powerful and versatile acoustic guitar formats available. The dreadnought body gives the guitar volume, projection and low-end authority, while rosewood back and sides add richness, depth and sparkle.

This combination works especially well for flatpicking, strong rhythm playing and solo acoustic performance. It can fill space, support vocals and cut through in an acoustic ensemble. For bluegrass and traditional acoustic styles, the rosewood dreadnought remains one of the benchmark choices.

The Atkin The White Rice takes that classic format and adds boutique craftsmanship, pre-war-inspired construction and the distinctive enlarged soundhole associated with one of the most famous acoustic guitars in history. The added K&K Pure Mini pickup makes it even more practical for live use without taking away from the guitar’s clean acoustic identity.

Looking for advice on choosing the right rosewood dreadnought, boutique acoustic guitar or stage-ready acoustic setup? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: The White Rice

The Atkin The White Rice is directly inspired by the famous D-28 associated with Clarence White and Tony Rice. That original guitar is known for its altered enlarged soundhole and overhanging fretboard, details that became central to its look and sound. Atkin’s model recreates these visual and design cues as part of its Historic Series concept.

This is not a generic dreadnought. It is a guitar built around a very specific acoustic tradition: powerful flatpicked tone, vintage dreadnought projection and the unmistakable character of one of bluegrass and acoustic music’s most celebrated instruments.

For players who understand the significance of the White/Rice D-28, this Atkin offers a highly desirable modern interpretation with UK boutique craftsmanship and practical live functionality through the added K&K Pure Mini pickup.

Technical Specifications

Power Requirements

The added K&K Pure Mini is a passive acoustic pickup, so it does not require a battery or onboard power. It can be connected to an acoustic amplifier, PA system, DI box or preamp using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

A dedicated acoustic preamp is not required for the pickup to function, but many players use one for EQ control, volume control and live sound shaping.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

Fair Deal Music is a family-run independent music retailer founded in 1987 and is Birmingham’s largest independent music store. With over 6,000 Excellent Trustpilot reviews, we have built our reputation on honest advice, strong product knowledge and reliable service for musicians across the UK.

When buying a pre-owned premium acoustic guitar from Fair Deal Music, you benefit from a team that checks instruments before they leave the shop. Our staff are musicians themselves and can offer advice by phone, online or in-store, whether you are comparing high-end dreadnoughts, choosing a stage-ready acoustic, or looking for a boutique instrument with serious flatpicking character.

We offer fast UK delivery, secure online ordering and a large Birmingham showroom where you can browse new, used and vintage acoustic guitars, electric guitars, amps, pedals, keyboards, drums, PA equipment and accessories. We also buy, sell and trade pre-owned gear, helping musicians upgrade, part-exchange or sell used instruments with confidence.

FAQ

Is the Atkin The White Rice suitable for bluegrass and flatpicking?

Yes. The dreadnought body, rosewood back and sides, torrified Sitka spruce top, pre-war scalloped bracing and enlarged soundhole make it especially well suited to bluegrass, flatpicking and powerful acoustic rhythm work.

How does the K&K Pure Mini affect the guitar?

The K&K Pure Mini adds passive amplified capability while keeping the guitar visually clean. It captures the acoustic response from the bridge plate and is popular with players who want a natural plugged-in sound without onboard controls or batteries.

Does the K&K Pure Mini need a battery?

No. The K&K Pure Mini is passive and does not require a battery.

Is this guitar suitable for live performance?

Yes. The guitar has strong acoustic projection and the added K&K Pure Mini pickup makes it practical for plugging into an acoustic amp, PA system, DI box or preamp.

Is this a good studio guitar?

Yes. The White Rice has the depth, clarity and projection expected from a premium rosewood dreadnought, making it well suited to recording rhythm parts, flatpicked leads and full acoustic arrangements.

What makes The White Rice different from a standard dreadnought?

The enlarged soundhole, overhanging fretboard, Historic Series build concept and White/Rice D-28 inspiration give it a more specific flatpicking identity than a standard dreadnought.

Is a rosewood dreadnought good for singer-songwriters?

Yes. Rosewood dreadnoughts provide depth, power and harmonic richness that can support vocals well, especially for players who want a full acoustic sound.

Would this suit a lighter fingerstyle player?

Yes, though its strongest identity is as a powerful dreadnought for projection and flatpicking. Fingerstyle players who enjoy depth, sustain and a wider tonal range can still get excellent results from it.

Should I use an acoustic preamp with the K&K Pure Mini?

The pickup works without a preamp, but an acoustic preamp can be useful for EQ, feedback control and level matching in live settings.

Can I try this guitar in-store?

Fair Deal Music has a large Birmingham showroom, and our team can offer advice on Atkin guitars, boutique acoustics, rosewood dreadnoughts and pickup-equipped acoustic guitars.