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NBD - Ibanez ATK300 Wow.

It looks great and it is really in mint condition :) Nice score.

I have a 310 and while I love how it sounds solo, I always had problems with setting it up in a band context. But it seems that it's just me - no one else in the whole internet has this problem ;) Everyone rave about ATKs, but there is not that much full band recordings with them.

I recorded some stuff with it a couple of years ago. My ATK definitelly has a notch in low mids, so I went with the scooped sound and the result is ok, but now when I discovered Jazz Basses, I would record it totally differently.





Let us know how it sounded at the rehearsal :) What genre do you play?
 
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The 90s pickups I believe are all the same three coil, with the exception of the passive ATK100, which is a dual coil.
The ATK 100, considered a lesser model, is lighter, made from basswood, with a rosewood board.
The ATK100 is actually my favorite, (the 'highest model I've owned or played is the ATK700)
I know less about the later 2000s model pickups or circuit, but I've heard they sound less snarly, more "boutiquey"
I would like to hear an opinion from someone who owns actives from both era.
 
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The 90s pickups I believe are all the same three coil, with the exception of the passive ATK100, which is a dual coil.
The ATK 100, considered a lesser model, is lighter, made from basswood, with a rosewood board.
The ATK100 is actually my favorite, (the 'highest model I've owned or played is the ATK700)
I know less about the later 2000s model pickups or circuit, but I've heard they sound less snarly, more "boutiquey"
I would like to hear an opinion from someone who owns actives from both era.
I had the 300 in natural finish and the 200 in tobacco burst.
The 300 is in its own league but the 200 had a nice thick punchy sound as well..
If I remember correctly the body of the 300 felt thinner but larger. The 200s body felt a bit more compact.
 
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I had the 300 in natural finish and the 200 in tobacco burst.
The 300 is in its own league but the 200 had a nice thick punchy sound as well..
If I remember correctly the body of the 300 felt thinner but larger. The 200s body felt a bit more compact.
Was the newer200 and older300 considered comparable by Ibanez?
There was a 200 and 300 in the 2000s right? I wonder what the difference was there? Ibanez is worse at archiving their newer catalogs than they are the old ones. This is from the first ATK year I think.
1996usa_17.jpg
 
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In 2000's the production was moved to Indonesia. The pickups had still 3 coils and as far as I know, they are the same like in 90's. The preamp was produced on a smaller board. Names of the base models were the same as in the 90's: ATK300 (maple fingerboard), ATK310 at the end of production (rosewood fingerboard) and a couple of higher models.

Around 2010 or 2012 the 300's were replaced with ATK200 (with a 4 coil double humbucker instead of the tripple coil) and ATK800 (with additional neck J pickup and the brown finish), which was replaced by ATK810 (natural).

I have all the catalogs somewhere, I'll upload them in an hour.
 
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Awesome find! I had an ATK300FL... fretless version with lines in the late 90's. Selling that bass on eBay was the biggest mistake I've ever made with musical instruments. Wish I still had that one. I have an ATK305 pictured in profile pic... 2006 model, bought new in '07.
 
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I would break my no more basses rule for a MIK 300 or preferably 305. I liked the MII ones too but they lacked a little "substance" for me.
What do you mean by the substance? Is it maybe the low mids, that I have the problem with in my MII? ;) I wonder how much it's the nostalgy of the "old better times" and comparing the countries of production, and how much the actual sound. I read somewhere in the net, that the MII 300's are more comfortable and sound the same like the old ones, but I didn't compare them. The MIKs are rather not available in my area and when they are, they cost a lot.
 
I have a late 90's Korean made ATK300L. It was the first "real" bass I owned, purchased new from Bass Northwest. I don't play it much but it occupies a special spot on my rack.

IMG_20210126_100102.jpg


It has flats on it now and I play it once or twice a month. I do like the tone, but I'm surprised to see so many highly positive comments. I don't really think it's all that versatile (even with the three way switch). I wish it was a little thicker instead of being so middy. Ultimately I think the looks are better than the sound. Some day I will make a new pickup and a new EQ and set the originals aside for safe keeping.
 
It has flats on it now and I play it once or twice a month. I do like the tone, but I'm surprised to see so many highly positive comments. I don't really think it's all that versatile (even with the three way switch). I wish it was a little thicker instead of being so middy. Ultimately I think the looks are better than the sound. Some day I will make a new pickup and a new EQ and set the originals aside for safe keeping.
I agree. IMO the ATK is great as a special bass with an unique sound for special applications, but I don't see it being the only bass.

I also tried flats on it (Fenders). The sound seemed to be more polite and the high end was tamed a little bit (ATKs have LOTS of high end). Unfortunately in the rock band setting it was boomy and not defined (IMO, with my amp and in my band).

On the bright side: I noticed, that when it is plugged directly to the interface it sounds best, like it would be already processed somehow. When in the chain an additional preamp is added, it is possible, that something will go wrong and the hi mids will loose aggresiveness.
 
Hey there! Snagged this beauty today, owner bought it new in around 2006 and has barely touched it. It's showroom new all around and sounds fantastic. To get a good idea of the sounds, check out @LowEndLobster YouTube vid on the higher end version of this bass, same pickup. It's heavy but not t40 level, it also balances great with no neck dive. I love how it feels and looks, I can't wait to play it with my band at rehearsal this week. Here are some pics!
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beauty thanks for sharing congrats :)
 
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