ATK 805E testimony requested

[PhatRon]

first of all I am a 4 string Jazz bass player. a build with chunky maple on maple neck, alder body, Lindy Fralin pups, fender flats light gauge. I love it. It's become me and vice versa.
On the hunt for part time fiver. Played an ATK 805E at my local GC today. Though I am not totally sold on the look, I was actually quite impressed with the feel and the sounds of this bass. Most fivers just feel "wrong" to me. I didn't notice that so much. The bass is on clearance too. Seemed fairly versatile with tones (solo'd anyway).

Anyway, can anyone provide input or testimony regarding these basses. How do they do "in the mix"? Hold up well? resale?
thanks, I'm confident there will be some posts.

 

[PhatRon]

also for the record, I'm not looking for 5 string version of my 4.

 

[songwriter21]

Soundroom: Ibanez ATK805E Premium | Bassplayer

 

[Dave W]

I really dig ATK's and the new ones are great. I messed around with one of the 800e's for a good hour through an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro and 810 at GC a few months back. The tone I was getting was simply killer. Had it been a 5er I probably would have taken it home.

 

[PhatRon]

very informative review. thanks sw21

Soundroom: Ibanez ATK805E Premium | Bassplayer

 

[songwriter21]

If you can, try to find deals on the ATK1205 Prestige. That's the top-of-the-line Japanese model that's been discontinued. It's a little more in price, but the little attention-to-craftsmanship details are phenomenal.

 

[PhatRon]

couldn't help myself. purchased the fiver. out the door tax incl. under $600. plugged into my bassman 100T today and sounded wonderful. Though I am not crazy about the stock strings. I am guessing they are Ernie Balls maybe? too slinky for my style and the top end overpowers the bottom. So looking for suggestions as to what works well with this bass. I run Fender flats on my jazz and I love em but I'm thinking this bass needs a rounder/fuller/deeper sounding strings. Top end smooth, not super zingy or clanky metallic
super subjective I know but I welcome all offerings.
thanks.

 

[songwriter21]

Stock strings are probably Elixir, like all Ibanezes tend to be.

 

[vlad335]

Bought a ATK805E that was delivered yesterday. I need a 5 string for some new material that my band is doing. Slap stuff and all the reviews pointed to this bass. Have to say I never liked the look of these but sound and playability are more important.

Ibanez Marketing touts this bass with premium fretwork. Not even close with this one. The fret ends are beautifully shaped and polished however the fret spout is horrendous. Worst I have ever experienced and the bass is for all intents and purposes is almost unplayable. Very uncomfortable to move around the neck. Setup was very bad as well with the neck being backbowed and intonation way off. (those issues I don't have much problem with as I never received a bass that didn't need setup.)

Ran it over to my tech this morning who said the wood is bone dry. Said the initial backbow is a symptom of this. He gave me some things I could do to rehydrate but said that I am probably looking at getting the frets filed. I have since read another review that mentioned this same issue so I am wondering if I exchange it that I wont run into the very same thing. This bass has a low serial number (0291) so perhaps it was one of the first production models and sat in the box a long time?

Not sure how to proceed from here.

 

[vlad335]

Well, as a follow up to my previous post I have since returned this bass to AMS and received a replacement. Completely night and day between these two guitars! The fret and nut work is impeccable, the setup was great and all I did was lower the saddles slightly and the action is a nice medium low. As a bonus, the new ATK is 8.9lbs while the previous was 10lbs.

I don't think American Musical Supply slipped my a bad bass as these instruments packaging come sealed with some blue Ibanez tape. They certainly took care of business and shipped the replacement out Next Day Air because of the problems I was having. Awesome company to buy from.

The tone from this bass is amazing and the electronics are incredibly versatile. More so than any bass I have ever owned. Output is very even across the fretboard and the stock B string was also very good. Swapped it out with a new set of D'Adarrios ( EX165-5 .135 B) and it is now killer. Very happy and cannot wait to gig with it.