NBD - 1995 Ibanez ATK300

[Riff Ranger]

I wonder why these never really caught on.

I just asked my cousin who has worked in musical instrument sales forever a related question: why has the Talman series remained in production when the ATK series hasn’t? I imagine it comes down to profit of course, but everyone seems to love ATKs and I just don’t see Talmans in use or even talked about much. The best guess I heard, and I wish I could remember where I heard it, is that the ATK has electronics and hardware not used on any other instruments; so while ATKs probably sold just fine, Ibanez might not have made enough profit off them to justify keeping such a unique instrument in production. The Talman series uses the same parts as A LOT of instruments.

 

[dustinymichaels]

I just asked my cousin who has worked in musical instrument sales forever a related question: why has the Talman series remained in production when the ATK series hasn’t? I imagine it comes down to profit of course, but everyone seems to love ATKs and I just don’t see Talmans in use or even talked about much. The best guess I heard, and I wish I could remember where I heard it, is that the ATK has electronics and hardware not used on any other instruments; so while ATKs probably sold just fine, Ibanez might not have made enough profit off them to justify keeping such a unique instrument in production. The Talman series uses the same parts as A LOT of instruments.

Good info. Thanks!
On top of everything else... I just like the way they look!

 

[Riff Ranger]

I didn't know they made these all the way back in '95! Learn something new every day

Only had experience with the 2000's era ones, but remember them being rather on the hefty side. I love Ibby stuff, but I usually like how light the SR bodies are and gravitate to them. Looks like this will be a pretty rad axe though, enjoy!!

They hit at exactly the right time for me

The SRs and ATKs are both solidbody electric basses made by Ibanez, and the resemblances pretty much end there

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Just pulled out my Indonesian ATK. Tweaked the truss rod and was reminded why I've held on to it!

Pros:
The tonal palette is pretty cool.
It does have great action. The neck is a little early 50's P-bass-ish but I like those.
The design aesthetic is very good. These caught my eye when they first came out but I lacked the self-confidence to play anything not Fender/Ric/Gibson.
Cool matching sunburst headstock! YMMV.
Fit and finish is 1st class.
Best bass to have in a bar fight (unless you have a T40, and it still might be an even match!).
Which reminds me - I wonder if this was as much or more T40 than Stingray inspired...

Cons: It IS a bit... husky, shall we say? Mine's 9.35 lbs. But my Paranormal Jazz is, too.

BBB

 

[Riff Ranger]

Just pulled out my Indonesian ATK. Tweaked the truss rod and was reminded why I've held on to it!

Pros:
The tonal palette is pretty cool.
It does have great action. The neck is a little early 50's P-bass-ish but I like those.
The design aesthetic is very good. These caught my eye when they first came out but I lacked the self-confidence to play anything not Fender/Ric/Gibson.
Cool matching sunburst headstock! YMMV.
Fit and finish is 1st class.
Best bass to have in a bar fight (unless you have a T40, and it still might be an even match!).
Which reminds me - I wonder if this was as much or more T40 than Stingray inspired...

Cons: It IS a bit... husky, shall we say? Mine's 9.35 lbs. But my Paranormal Jazz is, too.

BBB

I also have a T-40 feels like wearing both my ATKs at the same time! ️

 

[ravelax]

Beatiful bass! I really like that finish.

I briefly owned an ATK 600 (MIJ, Fujigen) in 2006. It was an impulse purchase on my part, it had sat for quite a while in a store and was heavily discounted. Not sure if it was NOS or a trade in, the shop was not known for selling used gear. The serial number indicated 1996 as year of manufacture. Anyway, I thought it looked cool with the flame maple top and back, pearloid pickguard and that big slab of chrome for a bridge. It also had a pretty rosewood veneer on the headstock. Back then it was pretty much impossible to find out any info about this model, the model number and picks of one other example in a brownish red finish was all I could find (about a year or so later Ibanez reissued the ATK, but not with the same specs as mine). Eventually I felt it was a little too big and heavy for the feable 16 year old me, I also prefered the tone of my Jazz Bass (I've never really warmed to active basses). I ended up trading it for another Ibanez (a 1987 RB630), but I remember it fondly and I occasionally regret not keeping it, especially lately when my sonic preferences seem to have turned more towards a clankier, bridge pickup type tone.

 

[78abyrne]

Congrats on the bass!
I have a 2007 ATK (and an 805, but it's very different). Mine is strung BEAD and I think it works really well on that bass. My favourite thing about it is probably the sound with the pickup switch flipped toward the neck, or in the middle. These sounds are more unique to the ATK and sit in a mix with a different personality than other basses. The switch flipped to the right is closer to MM Stingray territory. I'm not sure if I have a least favourite thing about it, other than preferring passive basses or wishing it had an active/passive option. Regardless, I've used my ATK for a lot of gigs and recordings, they rock.

Great to hear that you enjoy it in BEAD, as I think I’d like to string it up that way too. I’ve heard putting a different capacitor on it for the “traditional” setting can really help improve the traditional sound so I ordered a new capacitor to attempt this mod. I’d agree though, all the tone settings are great, just wish the middle and neck position had a more noticeable difference, hence the mod I’m going to try!

 

[78abyrne]

Yours even still has the thingy around the knobs! You scored BIG with this one.

@gregmon79 and I will always make our appearances shortly after any ATK makes an appearance around here. Hey, man


Fortunately for me, I acquired my first ATK (a 305 which I still play regularly) when they had just come out. I had convinced my teenage self that appearances didn’t matter at all, man, so I didn’t let my initial ambivalence toward the look bother me, and it certainly grew on me quickly. I can think of a number of subjective reasons a player wouldn’t take to an ATK, but objectively speaking:

•They’re frequently heavy, and never light.
•The single-pickup models don’t have any great place to anchor one’s thumb on the plucking hand. I make do with the side of the pickup and have gotten used to it over time, but still.
•They’re active-only. @Drzejzi added an active/passive switch to an ATK and can speak to that better than I can, but as I understand it, that pickup sounds fairly mellow without that preamp.

If a player can live with those three things and it suits their subjective requirements, they really should take an ATK for a spin. Once again, I will paraphrase @Dr. Cheese ‘s perfect assessment of the ATK: not a Stingray clone, but a Stingray alternative.

View attachment 7082753

I’ve noticed the thumb rest issue as well, but I agree I think I can get used to it over time as you have. I switch a lot between pick and finger style during shows, so it’s not like it’s a huge deal breaker for me. Excited to put this work horse into action at a gig!

 

[Snert]

Here's my ATK305

 

[DanAdams]

I can not tell a lie. I’m an ATK fan.

 

[78abyrne]

I can not tell a lie. I’m an ATK fan.
View attachment 7082920

I like the look of the white and maple!

 

[DanAdams]

I like the look of the white and maple!

YES! I'm glad that you agree. It was my gas ATK that I needed in addition to my others.
It still needs a bit of work, but when I saw a broken white ATK on eBay for cheap I could not say no. I've wanted a white one for 20 years.

The one on the left is an ATK100. All of you who think an ATK is too heavy should seek the rare ATK100. The body is a lot lighter.

The center one has a Bunker neck. heavy, but impressively stable.

 

[DanAdams]

•They’re active-only.

The ATK100 (1996) is passive, and has a dual coil pickup instead of the three coil.
At one point many years ago I had both a stock ATK100 and a stock ATK300 from the same era. I needed to sell one, and after A-B testing them, I decided to Keep the ATK100 because I personally didn't believe that the ATK300 offered me anything more... and the lighter weight does feel nice.

 

[poochiecheeks]

Yours even still has the thingy around the knobs! You scored BIG with this one.

@gregmon79 and I will always make our appearances shortly after any ATK makes an appearance around here. Hey, man


Fortunately for me, I acquired my first ATK (a 305 which I still play regularly) when they had just come out. I had convinced my teenage self that appearances didn’t matter at all, man, so I didn’t let my initial ambivalence toward the look bother me, and it certainly grew on me quickly. I can think of a number of subjective reasons a player wouldn’t take to an ATK, but objectively speaking:

•They’re frequently heavy, and never light.
•The single-pickup models don’t have any great place to anchor one’s thumb on the plucking hand. I make do with the side of the pickup and have gotten used to it over time, but still.
•They’re active-only. @Drzejzi added an active/passive switch to an ATK and can speak to that better than I can, but as I understand it, that pickup sounds fairly mellow without that preamp.

If a player can live with those three things and it suits their subjective requirements, they really should take an ATK for a spin. Once again, I will paraphrase @Dr. Cheese ‘s perfect assessment of the ATK: not a Stingray clone, but a Stingray alternative.

View attachment 7082753

I would love to find a black 4 string like that. Gorgeous. My first one was essentially that 5 string, bought it for $600 used but the string spacing was a bit tight. I found a cream colored 4 string some time later but ended up selling it on consignment.

 

[Riff Ranger]

The ATK100 (1996) is passive, and has a dual coil pickup instead of the three coil.
At one point many years ago I had both a stock ATK100 and a stock ATK300 from the same era. I needed to sell one, and after A-B testing them, I decided to Keep the ATK100 because I personally didn't believe that the ATK300 offered me anything more... and the lighter weight does feel nice.

Ah, yes, there was the 100. The majority of ATKs are active-only, then. I’d like to try a 100.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I would like to own an ATK someday. I think Ibanez did a great job with them and I reckon there could be a market for a reissue someday.

Congrats!

 

[gregmon79]

I think I paid like $280 uses in a sam ash back in probably 1998/99. I really should’ve scooped another up along the way. But years ago. Even if Ibanez made new ones, I don’t think they’d have the magic the early ones have. Maybe I’m wrong.

On a side note, those newer epiphone grabbers sure sound pretty awesome. Very MM/ATK like. Still wanna play one. Always loved how they looked too. And the fact the new ones are bolt on necks, added bonus. I’ve never been a big fan of neck throughs. May not have played the right kind of bass. But so far, nah.

 

[dabbler]

Just pulled out my Indonesian ATK. Tweaked the truss rod and was reminded why I've held on to it!

Pros:
The tonal palette is pretty cool.
It does have great action. The neck is a little early 50's P-bass-ish but I like those.
The design aesthetic is very good. These caught my eye when they first came out but I lacked the self-confidence to play anything not Fender/Ric/Gibson.
Cool matching sunburst headstock! YMMV.
Fit and finish is 1st class.
Best bass to have in a bar fight (unless you have a T40, and it still might be an even match!).
Which reminds me - I wonder if this was as much or more T40 than Stingray inspired...

Cons: It IS a bit... husky, shall we say? Mine's 9.35 lbs. But my Paranormal Jazz is, too.

BBB

I know what you mean:

 

[thorstiborsti]

I have one that looks exactly like yours. Not sure what year mine is but given that I had it for around 25 years (it’s the longest tenured bass in my collection), I’d say it’s mid to late nineties. I haven’t played it regularly in a while but I remember that the last time I picked it up, the neck felt wide to me (playing J’s and p’s exclusively may have something to do with that). I need to give it some love i.e. a good cleaning, new strings and setup and who knows, maybe it’ll become my main player again.

 

[thorstiborsti]

I have one that looks exactly like yours. Not sure what year mine is but given that I had it for around 25 years (it’s the longest tenured bass in my collection), I’d say it’s mid to late nineties. I haven’t played it regularly in a while but I remember that the last time I picked it up, the neck felt wide to me (playing J’s and p’s exclusively may have something to do with that). I need to give it some love i.e. a good cleaning, new strings and setup and who knows, maybe it’ll become my main player again.

Here is an older pic of it.