ATK305 second pickup options?

[sixway]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Wow. This whole project was pretty much born out of boredom, but I actually found myself really enjoying blending the two pickups this morning. Bigger tones with more fundamental, but with lots of ATK growl and zing still available on demand.

I guess this is what people get from the H/H config on Music Man basses...

Steve, thanks for a very interesting thread/project ATK upgrade! Besides looking Way Cool, and stock, as if it was an Ibanez option, I'm glad to hear sonically it sounds great! Will have to consider that as a project for my 5-string... although, being a lefty, I have to make a body first! Bought a Black Sparkle (right handed) awhile back, with the idea to convert it to a lefty if I can't find an original lefty 305. And guess what? Haven't found one in two years of searching! They're like finding hen's teeth.....

So, if I'm going to go to the trouble of making a left hand body for the conversion, I will definitely consider this mod... one last suggestion - the extra toggle switch can be used for a battery shut-off switch. As you all know, nothing drains the battery faster than forgetting to unplug the cable between sets, or after playing. Been meaning to do that on my '95 ATK300L 4-string....

Thanks again for a well thought out, and executed mod for one of the most under-rated basses out there....

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by sixway

Steve, thanks for a very interesting thread/project ATK upgrade! Besides looking Way Cool, and stock, as if it was an Ibanez option, I'm glad to hear sonically it sounds great!

...Thanks again for a well thought out, and executed mod for one of the most under-rated basses out there....

Totally agree with you about these basses being under-rated.

I had to smile, though, at your comment about looking like it was stock.

It took artful camera placement to come up with that photo, because something happened to me during this mod, that has never happened before in over 40 years of tinkering:

I had a drill bit problem while boring the hole for the extra pickup wire, and my ATK now sports a hole in the top, right beside the corner of the bridge plate!

[fretlessman71]

LOVE TB! This thread was exactly what I was looking for, as I want to install a 2nd triplebucker pickup and an Audere preamp in my '02 sunburst ATK305.

I have questions... lots of them. First, JUSTIN: Did you get your preamp installed? Did you have any issues with installation (maybe with the extra mini toggle)? How did you deal with the pickup switching?

Now, STEVE: Are you happy with the tone of the location of the neck pickup? What would you do different if you had a 2nd crack at it?

[sixway]

Originally Posted by sixway

Bought a Black Sparkle (right handed) awhile back, with the idea to convert it to a lefty if I can't find an original lefty 305. And guess what? Haven't found one in two years of searching! They're like finding hen's teeth.....

Not long after I posted this, I finally bought an ATK305L! It came by way of an eBay auction from Germany. And arrived on April 20th. Finally! It's become my favorite bass to play now...

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

LOVE TB! This thread was exactly what I was looking for, as I want to install a 2nd triplebucker pickup and an Audere preamp in my '02 sunburst ATK305.

...STEVE: Are you happy with the tone of the location of the neck pickup? What would you do different if you had a 2nd crack at it?

Well, I'd drill the hole for the second pickup wire on my drill press rather than freehand, so I didn't muck up the top...

That's it, really. I'd solo the neck pickup more often if it were closer to the bridge (maybe in the $$ position, right up against the stock pickup), but that would require modding the bridge plate, and the cutout for the pickup would cross the edge of the pick guard in an inelegant way.

[fretlessman71]

What don't you like about the soloed neck tone?

[fretlessman71]

After doing some research and measurements, I've chosen to line up my 2nd pickup so that the bridge coil is in the same place as a neck pickup on a Jazz Bass. It's gonna make it a little closer to the bridge than the one pictured in this thread...

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

What don't you like about the soloed neck tone?

It's got that big, woofy "Mudbucker" thing going.

Love it blended in with the bridge pickup, but for me, it's too much of a good thing, solo'd. I want more growl than that.

Of course, that's just me...

[fretlessman71]

So how easy would it be to re-do what the 3 way switch does? Could it be made to go neck coil/humbucker/bridge coil? Is that a big deal?

[fretlessman71]

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