ATK to MusicMan pickups?

isher1992 · #1 11-27-2008, 09:56 AM

I've seriously been thinking about putting a MusicMan style Pickup into my Ibanez ATK 305.

The only problem is, I'm not sure if it's as simple as 1-2-3 like on passive basses, considering this is my first ever active electronics bass.

I am also unsure as to if the pickup would fit right into where the triple-coil pickup is. I've always though StingRay/Sterling pickups had a really distinctive tone, but I never had the money to afford one, even from OLP. So I had this idea.

Can anyone that may have already tried this tell me any problems/solutions, or answer my questions?

Thank you,
Chris.

Ach · #2 11-27-2008, 09:09 PM

Stingray tone is mostly in pickups position and a preamp. I believe you can nail Ray tone with a aftermarket preamp (for example this: http://bestbassgear.com/east-musicman-preamp.htm )

SwamiRob · #3 11-28-2008, 10:23 AM

Posted this in the ATK threads too:

Check out www.Bassculture.de, they make a Stingray style pickup, I much prefer the sound of my ATK now I have mine, less clicky high end and thicker mids. The unplugged sound of the ATK still comes through so it still has an individual sound, but it has more of the growl you might be looking for if you want it to sound MM-like.

They don't cost that much either, and are all lovingly handmade by a very nice German guy that designed them, best customer service I've ever had from anyone too, and that includes from Dave Funk and Jim Bergantino, and their customer service is more then you could ask for.

Also there's a massive selection of pickup covers he offers, mines a really nice hand polished Ebony one, looks really classy, does all kinds of crazy stuff like Zebra-wood if you feel adventurous AND you can get it lacquered if you want.

It won't sound like a Stingray exactly, but it'll have a similar vibe, I personally prefer the sound of my ATK over a Stingray after I got that pickup. I run it passive instead of the ATKs pre too now and that's made it sound awesome too, I doubt the ATK's is very good pre to be honest, I'll probably end up getting a decent pre for it at some point, but I have a Jazz pickup to put in the neck position first.

Also try stringing through the body (That's how Stingrays are strung right?), gives a much deeper full sound. Also gives you more sustain then you'll probably ever need.

DanGouge · #4 11-28-2008, 07:43 PM

Part of the appeal of the ATK is that really unique pickup that it has. You can get the drop-in bassculture replacement, but I think you'd need to do some cutting to fit in a standard MM-style pup.

isher1992 · #5 11-28-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanGouge

Part of the appeal of the ATK is that really unique pickup that it has. You can get the drop-in bassculture replacement, but I think you'd need to do some cutting to fit in a standard MM-style pup.

I read somewhere that the middle coil was a dummy.

SwamiRob · #6 12-01-2008, 07:17 AM

Yeah it's noise cancelling for the 2 single coil modes.

Have to admit that the pickup is a big part of the appeal for most people, but I think there's still a hell of alot of character in it's construction, the massive tele-style bridge gives it a huge resonance, I've very rarely come across basses that are louder then mine unplugged. Personally I can still hear the ATKs sound coming through even with my Bassculture pickup, and anyone that loves their ATK but wants a deeper growl with less of the clicky highs you get from the stock pickup should try one before getting rid of the bass. I was starting to really dislike mine until I got the new pickup for it.

jimmy9 · #7 02-10-2009, 12:26 AM

Where? And how do I come acros one of these pickups please help

SwamiRob · #8 02-10-2009, 08:13 AM

Bassculture? Go to www.Bassculture.de and give the guy an email, he hand makes every one individually, and you have a choice of either ceramic of neodymium magnets (he says the neo ones have a slightly clearer low midrange) with either exposed or concealed pole pieces. He also offers an insane amount of woods for the pickup cover, there must be at least 20 he offers.

Here's my Ebony one (with rather alot of my hair);

and here's the maple one Chris has on his site;

oh yeah and he makes 5 string models as well as 4 if you need.

isher1992 · #9 02-10-2009, 04:55 PM

Hey Rob, which do you think is better?

Ceramic or Neo?

SwamiRob · #10 02-11-2009, 06:26 AM

Absolutely no idea, Chris said "most of my pickups are neodym-powered. that means no loss of anything but enhanced low mids, that´s what matters" in one of his mails when I was ordering it and as a guy that makes pickups and basses for a living, and me liking plenty of low mid depth, I felt inclined to go with him on the neo option. It's a very powerful pickup even ran passive so I'm glad I did.

Jamie_Funk · #11 02-11-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

Absolutely no idea, Chris said "most of my pickups are neodym-powered. that means no loss of anything but enhanced low mids, that´s what matters" in one of his mails when I was ordering it and as a guy that makes pickups and basses for a living, and me liking plenty of low mid depth, I felt inclined to go with him on the neo option. It's a very powerful pickup even ran passive so I'm glad I did.

An EMG 40DC (or any 40 sized EMG) will fit - extra space though since the WIDTH is less (length is the same)

Sound? To ME, like a more powerful and articulate Stingray - more low mids IMO, but also more highs.

I run mine 18v (2 9v batteries) with only VOLUME - no preamp or other controls.

As mentioned above, the ONLY direct repalcement pickup I know of comes from BassCulture, and I have considered trying one myself, but dig the EMG so much I haven't bothered.

I WOULD try the tsock pickup with another preamp or NONE - the switch has a small circuit board, which in addition to changing coils and filtering highs in TRAD setting, MAY in fact scoop the ATK position's mids, a bit too much for me. Would love to try the stock pickup passive and/or into a different pre WITHOUT the character switch (I always left it in ATK mode anyways, which is parallel wired dual coils)

J

Diogenes · #12 02-12-2009, 07:49 AM

A MM style dual coil pickup (haven't tried the MM 3 coil) will fit into the ATK's cavity with no problems and hook up to the preamp however you'll most likely have to replace the ATK's character switch with an ON-ON-ON DPDT and wire the coil series/parallel/single... I have yet to map out the stock ATK coil and character switch which is an ON-OFF-ON DPDT so couldn't tell you how to wire the stock switch to an MM.

My experience working with neo magnets is that they have a broad magnetic range but their focus is more extreme the closer you get to their magnetic axis. They tend to lend punch and a quicker attack. Of course the coil winding itself has a lot to do with the pickup's character but when using neos, I can usually over-wind a coil more than I could using ceramic or Alnico magnets without making the pickup sound too muddy or fuzzy.

Just my 2¢ and HO.

i_got_a_mohawk · #13 02-12-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

Posted this in the ATK threads too:

Check out www.Bassculture.de, they make a Stingray style pickup, I much prefer the sound of my ATK now I have mine, less clicky high end and thicker mids. The unplugged sound of the ATK still comes through so it still has an individual sound, but it has more of the growl you might be looking for if you want it to sound MM-like.

Also try stringing through the body (That's how Stingrays are strung right?), gives a much deeper full sound. Also gives you more sustain then you'll probably ever need.

Hmm.

My ATK has a far less clicky high end than my stingray, so I dont see how taking it away would make it more stingray like?

However, they were pretty similar sounding (Stingray is just more "detailed" sounding with a larger high end and a bit more balanced accross the rest of the board as opposed to the ATK that has a bit of a mid, low-mid bump. They are still pretty similar sounding. Hence why the ATK is now through strung and strung with flatwounds, to get the sound a bit different

(Stingrays aren't through body generally, other than maybe some of the special models I think)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

A MM style dual coil pickup (haven't tried the MM 3 coil) will fit into the ATK's cavity with no problems and hook up to the preamp however you'll most likely have to replace the ATK's character switch with an ON-ON-ON DPDT and wire the coil series/parallel/single... I have yet to map out the stock ATK coil and character switch which is an ON-OFF-ON DPDT so couldn't tell you how to wire the stock switch to an MM.

Does it? I considered it before but when comparing was pretty sure the lugs on the MM pups wouldnt fit without modifying the ATK bridge? (Though I dont have both on hand at the mo to double check).

SwamiRob · #14 02-12-2009, 08:27 AM

Interesting, maybe Stringrays have sounded less clicky to me cos all the ones I've played have being string through (I thought that was the more common version, obviously not), if it effects the attack anything like it does with the ATK it must get rid of quite a bit. The Bassculture pickup is definitely more balanced and "organic" sounding if you will if you ask me, maybe the slight dip in attack that Jamie mentioned is why it sounds a little warmer too.

i_got_a_mohawk · #15 02-12-2009, 11:32 AM

Might have been down to the preamp settings?

If it was an older Stingray, I think they were strung through, and maybe some of the "Ball Family Reserve" ones too?