Switch on Ibanez ATK 300/305?

[Tbirdbassist]

Is it a coil switch, series parallel?

I played a 305 in Guitar Center on Tuesday and it confused me. In playing position, all the way to the right, there was a MASSIVE volume drop. The middle and left positions were exactly the same.

The volume knob was static-y so it could be a wiring problem too.

EDIT:

I searched some old Ibanez Catagalog and it's called a 3 coil character switch. However, I don't exactly (nor does it say) what exactly it's supposed to do. I assume maybe it's like a MM Sterling 3 way... I dunno.

Can any one shed some light? I wanna pick this thing up befoe its too late.

[Luis Fabara]

As far as I have seen it , and test it. It is as it says.. a character switch. It does affect the pickup coils but it is not wired directly to it.

It really goes into the circuit board.

When switch to the right, both coils are working, possibly in parallel. There is actually not much volume difference between modes.

To the left, only the neck coil is working.
Center, only the neck coil is working but there is a more open sound, as it sound like a single coil , has a different character on the highs and seems to have a more extended high range.

Edit: If the one you tested drops volume massively, then it does have a soldering problem around the pickup leads , or the caps on the switch.

[tim1002]

i believe it's a series/single/parallel switch. anyway if it isn't, you can get it wired that way because the pickups are 4 conductor. my ATK100 was rewired that way because the previous owner somehow burnt his pots... you get a nice diverse range of sounds with it done series/single/parallel.

it doesn't really answer your question but the point is that you should buy the atk300. the wiring is just a small matter.

[Luis Fabara]

The switch has some caps and resistances on its path, so it is not a simple Series/parallel/single switch.

And the 300 is a Triple coil . I think I remember the 100 being a dual.

[Tbirdbassist]

But the ATK 300/305 has a triple coil pickup... what about the center coil? Are you sure your not thinking about the ATK100?

If I get it I'll take it to my tech dude and let him sniff out and possibly rewire it to a 5 way or something.

1. Middle + neck
2. Middle + bridge
3. All coils
4. neck + bridge
5. bridge hum-canceling

Or something to that effect.

[Tbirdbassist]

That response is to Luis Fabara, btw.

[Luis Fabara]

It is a triple coil. BUT, 2 Real coils, 1 Dummy Coil to avoid noise.

Fact fact? Only Ibanez knows. But my tests have been hitting the pickup with metal objects, seeing the electronics signal paths, etc.

The best about the ATK, at least to me, its the stock wiring. Some people have put other pickups in there, but I dont know about those. I just love my USATK the way it is.

[Kenny Allyn]

Yeah USATKs do rule ... with the mini toggle towards the neck and the mids pushed up a little with the bass just past the center point and the highs seasoned to taste ... it will get a nice P-bass vibe. If you roll on a little more bass and go to the center position it's in MM zone. Scoop the mids some and flip the switch to the bridge it's slap city!


... They are so versatile it replaced my StingRay ... what can I say I like it better.

[Luis Fabara]

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

Yeah USATKs do rule ... with the mini toggle towards the neck and the mids pushed up a little with the bass just past the center point and the highs seasoned to taste ... it will get a nice P-bass vibe. If you roll on a little more bass and go to the center position it's in MM zone. Scoop the mids some and flip the switch to the bridge it's slap city!


... They are so versatile it replaced my StingRay ... what can I say I like it better.

You are not alone my friend. The USATK feels and sounds better than the stingrays I tried at GC last time.

[tim1002]

mine is quite a unique atk100. the serial number puts it as a made in japan. it has an ash body as opposed to basswood according to my tech (i feel it too cos it weighs a ton and then some) and it came with a triple coil. i've compared it to another mik atk300 and the pickups were essentially identical.

anyway have you gotten the bass alread? haha
just email ibanez for the wiring schemetics. they should send them over.

[Tbirdbassist]

Nah I didn't get the bass, and I don't think I will be. I've got to control my gas, I need a Markbass LMII and Aguilar GS112 more than I need a new bass right now. I wish my paycheck was fatter.... cause I want both. And I know that ATk won't stay.... oh well... good thing there's ebay.

[nounouk]

My atk305 switch is not series/split/parallel.
close to the bridge: parallel
center & neck: split.
One of the positions has a filter that modify a bit the tone (brighter, less headroom), but the character is the same.

[Luis Fabara]

Correct nonouk!