Official ATK Club (Part 4) - Page 9

Benjamin Strange · #**161** 12-04-2012, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilman666

So on the lower wheel truss rods no way to remove the rod? I ask cause my new ATK 805e neck is very straight and even with truss rod loose and string tension . Not to the point that the action is too high but I would like more bow in the neck.

Generally you don't need much relief in the neck - just enough to allow clearance for string oscillation. True, you can add more relief, but you risk having uneven action up and down the neck.

If your neck is completely loose, and doesn't have enough relief for your tastes, it's going to need some work. A heat press can be of some help, or perhaps some relief can be introduced during a fret level/refret.

sixway · #**162** 12-04-2012, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilman666

So on the lower wheel truss rods no way to remove the rod? I ask cause my new ATK 805e neck is very straight and even with truss rod loose and string tension . Not to the point that the action is too high but I would like more bow in the neck.

Yes, no way to remove the truss rod. Keep in mind, with no tension on the truss rod, your neck is going to "bow, or raise up" from the natural tension of the string. By putting pressure on the truss rod with the adjusting wheel, the neck will resist the strings tension to "bow" it. Also, you may have to give your neck time to "relax", and get more bow in it.

If you feel your action is too low, then you're going to have to compensate by raising your bridge pieces. sounds like it's going to take time for your neck to settle... find a compromise for now, or, if you can't wait, take it to a trusted guitar tech, and see what he says. good luck!

sixway · #**163** 12-04-2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Generally you don't need much relief in the neck - just enough to allow clearance for string oscillation. True, you can add more relief, but you risk having uneven action up and down the neck.

If your neck is completely loose, and doesn't have enough relief for your tastes, it's going to need some work. A heat press can be of some help, or perhaps some relief can be introduced during a fret level/refret.

Also, considering this is a new bass, it could be warped from the factory (slim chance), and this is where a trusted guitar tech could look at it and let you know whether he can fix it, or it's a factory build issue, in which case it would be better to contact your seller, and swap it for another bass. I hope this is not the case!

devilman666 · #**164** 12-04-2012, 07:13 AM

Basiclly at this point if you loosen the truss rod and string it up the neck is straight. This is with 145-105-85-65-45 tunes aeadg. So basiclly factory tension for strings with the drop tuning. Again it's not unplayable or even very high I just like low action so a little more bow in the neck would be better. I'm gonna loosen the rod and tune up a half step and leave it for a week then snug up truss rod and recheck . thanks for the info

sixway · #**165** 12-04-2012, 07:27 AM

At this point I'm assuming you know how to intonate your bass, set the action, and adjust your truss rod... if you have any doubts, I again recommend you spend the $40 or so, and have a trusted guitar tech check your bass for you, just to make sure that it is going to have the adjustability in the neck that you're going to want over time.

In the meantime, go ahead and adjust everything as close as you can to the way you want it, (don't tune up a 1/2 step!) and give it time to break in. I live in Hawaii and I've had basses that took at least 6 months to a year to "break in" and settle into the humidity and climate here.... adjust your action just a bit high for now, and give it time to settle in.... that's all the info I've got for ya for now!

Benjamin Strange · #**166** 12-04-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixway

Also, considering this is a new bass, it could be warped from the factory (slim chance), and this is where a trusted guitar tech could look at it and let you know whether he can fix it, or it's a factory build issue, in which case it would be better to contact your seller, and swap it for another bass. I hope this is not the case!

Actually this isn't that rare at all. Wood does what it wants, and it's not necessarily the builder's fault. A good tech should be able to correct this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilman666

Basiclly at this point if you loosen the truss rod and string it up the neck is straight. This is with 145-105-85-65-45 tunes aeadg. So basiclly factory tension for strings with the drop tuning. Again it's not unplayable or even very high I just like low action so a little more bow in the neck would be better. I'm gonna loosen the rod and tune up a half step and leave it for a week then snug up truss rod and recheck . thanks for the info

If you want low action, you want a straighter neck, not a neck with more relief.

Every part of your setup works together, and no adjustment should be done without at least checking all the others. There is a method to setting up an instrument, and you don't just start adjusting things without going through each step in it's proper order.

It seems like you're having a problem with the setup. What exactly is the issue? Is your bass buzzing when you lower your action? If this is the case, the amount of relief most likely isn't the problem - it's the frets. Uneven frets are quite common (about 99% of every instrument, regardless have price, suffers this malady), but can be easily fixed by a qualified tech.

Benjamin Strange · #**167** 12-04-2012, 10:17 AM

In other news, I just unhooked the preamp in my USATK and ran the switching network straight to the jack. The volume dropped considerably, but once I raised the pickup a little bit the improvement was readily apparent. Active, the bass sounds a bit too compressed, and there's not that much difference in tone between the neck and middle positions. Now, with it wired passive, it's much more organic, and each position of the switch is much more of a drastic change in tone. Awesome!

I'm going to keep fiddling with this bass over the coming weeks, and if I decide to keep it I'm going to give it the full monty.

MuthaFunk · #**168** 12-04-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

In other news, I just unhooked the preamp in my USATK and ran the switching network straight to the jack. The volume dropped considerably, but once I raised the pickup a little bit the improvement was readily apparent. Active, the bass sounds a bit too compressed, and there's not that much difference in tone between the neck and middle positions. Now, with it wired passive, it's much more organic, and each position of the switch is much more of a drastic change in tone. Awesome!

I'm going to keep fiddling with this bass over the coming weeks, and if I decide to keep it I'm going to give it the full monty.

I dont know if you'd like a Musicman type sound out of it but there is a thread here by user Unclefluffy who just got in a fresh batch of EBMM original 2 band Pre-amp boards and is letting them go for a song. I put one in my ATK 305 and added a passive tone pot for more control and to fill the extra hole. Its a serious gigging machine now! I too wasn't impressed with the stock Pre-amp. It was very good for the budget price of the bass but since the upgrade, I have been very impressed with the sound of the new EBMM Pre.

Benjamin Strange · #**169** 12-05-2012, 06:54 AM

I, as a general rule, hate active basses. They don't react very well with my main rig, and they sound overly compressed to me. I have never liked the EBMM sound, as it's just too clanky for my tastes. This ATK is much more musical to my ears, especially passive.

The 3-way switch on this bass does have some passive elements that are contributing to the sound in some way, but I'm not sure exactly what it's doing at present.

Itzayana · #**170** 12-07-2012, 07:29 AM

About six months ago I bought a Korean ATK100. I bought it mainly because I wanted a bass to take to questionable bar gigs and also wouldn't worry about leaving in the car.
I ended up taking it to almost every gig and have grown so comfortable with it that I pretty much played it exclusively.I just found another ATK. A Korean ATK300.
They are both in close to mint condition and I got them both for only $200 each.
How amazing. After 40 years of playing bass and progressively buying more and more expensive instruments I stumbled upon these. Now I am playing instruments that cost no more than my very first bass and I am totally happy with them.

MuthaFunk · #**171** 12-07-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itzayana

About six months ago I bought a Korean ATK100. I bought it mainly because I wanted a bass to take to questionable bar gigs and also wouldn't worry about leaving in the car.
I ended up taking it to almost every gig and have grown so comfortable with it that I pretty much played it exclusively.I just found another ATK. A Korean ATK300.
They are both in close to mint condition and I got them both for only $200 each.
How amazing. After 40 years of playing bass and progressively buying more and more expensive instruments I stumbled upon these. Now I am playing instruments that cost no more than my very first bass and I am totally happy with them.

Crazy huh? I leave my very rough looking and well gigged FBass BN5 at home nowadays and favor my ATK305. Both are very capable instruments for my gigs but I just like the ATK better for its sound in my rock/alt cover band.

sixway · #**172** 12-10-2012, 02:00 PM

Anyone looking for an ATK305 5-string, there's one on eBay at the moment...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-ATK-3...E:B:SS:US:1123

markbmbass · #**173** 12-22-2012, 07:08 AM

I would like to acquire an Ibanez ATK Bass. Preferrably Sunburst or Natural in color, 4 string.

If anyone has one they would like to sell, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mark

steve_rolfeca · #**174** 12-22-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixway

Anyone looking for an ATK305 5-string, there's one on eBay at the moment...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-ATK-3...E:B:SS:US:1123

Holy liftin', that one went cheap!!!

sixway · #**175** 12-23-2012, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbmbass

I would like to acquire an Ibanez ATK Bass. Preferrably Sunburst or Natural in color, 4 string.

If anyone has one they would like to sell, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mark

Here's one... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-ATK30...10988027186%26

sixway · #**176** 12-23-2012, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Holy liftin', that one went cheap!!!

That was a steal!

seang15 · #**177** 12-24-2012, 07:57 AM

It amazes me that the ATK hasn't earned the notoriety it deserves. Less than two bills for a great 5-banger is ridiculous.

nshutes · #**178** 12-24-2012, 08:37 AM

Picked up an ATK700 from GC in their used section. Don't know much about it, but it's a beast.

I am still catching up on part 3, are we still giving out numbers?

PluckyThump · #**179** 12-25-2012, 11:28 AM

There's a couple ATK's on ebay now:

Amber finish Korean 300:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Ibanez-ATK300...item3a7cd7d19b

Quilted Maple top 700:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Ibanez-ATK700...item2a274ebed8

ubnomnar · #**180** 12-25-2012, 06:03 PM

Thanks to "stingray69" I've got another ATK coming my way.

I've been without an ATK and without a 5-string bass for a few months.

Now I can check off both of those

ps: Guitar Center Used has a couple nice ATKs for under $200 if you're after a late X-Mas present for yourself