Pickup replacement for IBANEZ ATK Humbucker !?!

j3b3r · #1 02-26-2007, 09:21 PM

I want to replace the humbucker in my ibanez ATK 400 and 405. They sound to dull and weak.

I'm thingking in buying Basslines MM for both the 4 and 5 string ATK's.

Will they fit directly ???
thx

PilbaraBass · #2 02-27-2007, 04:24 AM

HUH????

Pickup sounds dull and weak???

ok...if you say so...do you want a strong, but undefined sound? if so

Rio Grande Powerbuckers may be for you...

j3b3r · #3 02-27-2007, 10:27 PM

Rio Grande powerbuckers have the same dimension with the ATK's humbucker ?

I need something that doesn't need any modification to the body.

Tbirdbassist · #4 02-27-2007, 10:35 PM

I don't think you'll find that. There are no direct replacements for the ATK. I can only suggest, that if there's a way to take the cover off the ATK's pickup, you can use anything you want, except Bartolini's, just take the cover off.

PilbaraBass · #5 02-28-2007, 12:20 AM

+126.23 no direct fits for ATK pickups...suggest making a ring from black pickguard material...

Jazz Ad · #6 02-28-2007, 12:34 AM

www.Bassculture.de make direct replacement pickups for ATKs. They do custom jobs too.
If nothing else, they look cool.

Human Bass · #7 02-28-2007, 06:31 AM

Villex also makes pups in all kinda of shapes...but they require special circuits too.

Modern Growl · #8 02-28-2007, 07:50 AM

those pickups are not dull and week. They are hot and bright in my book. That's probably my one and only Ibanez that I could care for.

they have an inherent tone that makes up those basses. you change the pickups, your going to change the bass all together and possibly may not be happy with the results

take a Stingray for example. most people who change the stock pickups in their Ray's say they lost the "classic" tone of the Ray.

If your itching for a change, try new strings or something, or get a new bass. Leave that ATK stock man!

PilbaraBass · #9 02-28-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

those pickups are not dull and week. They are hot and bright in my book. That's probably my one and only Ibanez that I could care for.

they have an inherent tone that makes up those basses. you change the pickups, your going to change the bass all together and possibly may not be happy with the results

take a Stingray for example. most people who change the stock pickups in their Ray's say they lost the "classic" tone of the Ray.

If your itching for a change, try new strings or something, or get a new bass. Leave that ATK stock man!

+1 ... I questioned the validity of the ATK pickups being "dull and weak" straight up...I would assume that someone would at least look into new strings, first, before looking at electronics.

It is amazing what a fresh, new set of strings can do to a bass...much more, IMO, than many pickup swapouts...

If you want an agressive sound, why not try D'Addario Stainless Steels?...for a great all-around sound, I use D'Addario Nickel roundwounds.

It's amazing what a set of strings @ $20 can do...

Kenny Allyn · #10 02-28-2007, 04:23 PM

I have seen standard MM style pickups shoehorned into an ATK ... BUT WHY?

... A great design and triple coil versatility ... the pickup is not your problem.

j3b3r · #11 02-28-2007, 07:46 PM

I play alot of slaps and pops, the stock pickups are pretty good, but they don't give the sounds that I need. I need more bright and percussive pickups which I believe Basslines MM ceramic pickups can provide. (I tried a custom bass with dark sounding woods (mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard) and using basslines ceramic version MM, and they sound pretty bright to me)

And for your information, I am using D'addario prosteel over the past 2 years now since they were available in musicshop nearby. Both my Atk's are strung with them. and yes, they are new, bought them 1 month ago (the atk's and the strings)

PilbaraBass: making a ring sounds good to me. as long as I can leave the body with no modification.

Kenny Allyn · #12 02-28-2007, 08:35 PM

Well perhaps your right ... I would have to try a pedal like the Aphex Aural Exciter before changing that pickup ... or just getting a bass with a MM style pickup in it.

... But I say do what you want ... My stock 76 Jazz is being Dark Stared to get the sound I want.

PilbaraBass · #13 02-28-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j3b3r

I play alot of slaps and pops, the stock pickups are pretty good, but they don't give the sounds that I need. I need more bright and percussive pickups which I believe Basslines MM ceramic pickups can provide. (I tried a custom bass with dark sounding woods (mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard) and using basslines ceramic version MM, and they sound pretty bright to me)

And for your information, I am using D'addario prosteel over the past 2 years now since they were available in musicshop nearby. Both my Atk's are strung with them. and yes, they are new, bought them 1 month ago (the atk's and the strings)

PilbaraBass: making a ring sounds good to me. as long as I can leave the body with no modification.

take the dimensions down...make some inquiries to folks like Nordstrand Pickups or Kent Armstrong...

wyleeboxer · #14 03-01-2007, 04:48 PM

I was just A/Bing my two 5 string basses yesterday, a Lakland 55-01 I set up as passive only with the Barts and my stock ATK 305. My ATK is my back up bass for shows, but after playing it I started really liking it better for certain songs, the pups seem pretty hot to me, not like my G&L asat, but hot for slapp'in and pop'in with a punchy sound, the bass to me has kind of a hot P-bass tone about it?? if that makes sense. But either way there great sounding basses, not sure if a new pup would do much of an improvement... is yours the Korean modal, if so it might be a preamp issue if its sounding too weak?

PilbaraBass · #15 03-01-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyleeboxer

I was just A/Bing my two 5 string basses yesterday, a Lakland 55-01 I set up as passive only with the Barts and my stock ATK 305. My ATK is my back up bass for shows, but after playing it I started really liking it better for certain songs, the pups seem pretty hot to me, not like my G&L asat, but hot for slapp'in and pop'in with a punchy sound, the bass to me has kind of a hot P-bass tone about it?? if that makes sense. But either way there great sounding basses, not sure if a new pup would do much of an improvement... is yours the Korean modal, if so it might be a preamp issue if its sounding too weak?

John East makes a preamp designed for replacing pre's on newer stingrays, emulating the stingrays of old...one of these may be just the ticket as a replacement pre for an ATK...

I'll have to checkout the dudepit and see if it's been done.

j3b3r · #16 03-01-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyleeboxer

I was just A/Bing my two 5 string basses yesterday, a Lakland 55-01 I set up as passive only with the Barts and my stock ATK 305. My ATK is my back up bass for shows, but after playing it I started really liking it better for certain songs, the pups seem pretty hot to me, not like my G&L asat, but hot for slapp'in and pop'in with a punchy sound, the bass to me has kind of a hot P-bass tone about it?? if that makes sense. But either way there great sounding basses, not sure if a new pup would do much of an improvement... is yours the Korean modal, if so it might be a preamp issue if its sounding too weak?

I dont really like to mess around with the preamp, I do alot slap and finger playing switch, so I mostly just leave the preamp flat.

You remind me with the P-bass tone like, Yes it's juz like a P but with a bit hollow high and mid midrange. But boosting the midrange on the preamp just to make the sound more far than my expectation. It gets fatter rather than presence.

Maybe with a better preamp, I can get the sound I need. I saw EMG BQC system in musicshop yesterday, anyone has any experience with this preamp ??

j3b3r · #17 03-01-2007, 08:06 PM

I've juz seen this picture on bassculture.de as jazz ad suggested and give me another idea.

I'll just ask a wood expert to make a pickup cover for me and put the coil inside, is it possible ??

I'll have to check the coil of basslines MM can be removed from the cover or not.

PilbaraBass · #18 03-04-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

John East makes a preamp designed for replacing pre's on newer stingrays, emulating the stingrays of old...one of these may be just the ticket as a replacement pre for an ATK...

I'll have to checkout the dudepit and see if it's been done.

hasn't been done, yet...

who will be the first?

saxofunk · #19 03-04-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j3b3r

I'll just ask a wood expert to make a pickup cover for me and put the coil inside, is it possible ??

Yes, and the pickup in the image is sweet (I'm a sucker for exposed poles!). IMHO the wood should be stained to match the body or made of ebony, that light wood will look dingy in no time if it isn't sealed well. As far as your tone issue; before you go swapping the electronics try running the pickup wires directly to the output jack, that will give you an idea of whether the issue lies in the pickups or in the preamp.

Kent Armstrong's site appears to be having problems loading, but check it out if you can. He does some cool things with guitar pickups, like P-90's in humbucker housing, he just may have something for you, too. (but I really like the wood)