NBD - Ibanez ATK300 Wow.

[Ender_rpm]

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.

I had that same bass and also follishly parted ways with it. Also had a red sparkle ATK, circa 2010 ish(?) that I liked, but never really bonded with in a band setting. I was playing roots rock/americana style stuff and that is NOT the genre for that bass. Still,open to trying another one, it was really well built and sounded nice on its own.

 

[BrentSimons]

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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Noice! Congratulations!
I wonder why Ibanez hasn't re-released these again. I would love to pick one up or a minty older one for that matter.
Best wishes and stay healthy,
Brent

 

[Rob1957]

Noice! Congratulations!
I wonder why Ibanez hasn't re-released these again. I would love to pick one up or a minty older one for that matter.
Best wishes and stay healthy,
Brent

My thoughts also
The ATK is one model I would definitely be interested in seeing Ibanez bring back

 

[Drzejzi]

I wonder if ATKs were really that much popular in the real world outside Talkbass. It would seem that Ibanez should make a profit with this line, as the construction is simpler than SRs and BTBs with exotic woods, yet it was discontinued twice.

 

[dwizum]

Cost to manufacture is probably more complicated than it seems at first glance. The ATK was almost entirely proprietary. It doesn't share pickups, bridge, preamp, neck pocket, or anything else with any other Ibanez bass (that I'm aware of, at least).

I bought mine at a significant discount off MSRP, and it had been in the shop's hands for a long time, but then again it's a lefty, so it's hard to draw any market-success conclusions from that.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

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 used that word to describe more of a feeling. It is the same with Ibanez products like the MIK SR505 i have. Mine is heavier, smoother, better in the hands than the equivalent MII 505. That's really the only way i can describe it.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

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.

I have a ATK300FL from 96. Rescued from someone's garage. Really great bass!

 

[SgtHulka]

Noice! Congratulations!
I wonder why Ibanez hasn't re-released these again. I would love to pick one up or a minty older one for that matter.
Best wishes and stay healthy,
Brent

They did and no body bought them.

So then they dropped the line again in 2017.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I've owned ATKs from the 90s, the 00s, and the latest from 2016 or so.

I actually prefer the latest ones, lighter and more versatile.

But the 90s ones are kind of magic in their own way.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, especially for the prices they usually go for!

 

[Drzejzi]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I reached to my old recordings made with an ATK, to remember myself how it sounded like. Aaand as there are not that many sound samples available of ATKs in a real life situations, I'll allow myself to share them







I had a period of time in which I recruited to a lot of bands. I always tried to record some cool stuff to one of their tracks, with multiple bass parts, to show ideas that I could come up with. I always had to lower the volume of the track to be hearable correctly. ATK did not sit in the mix - it was around the mix. It works well when I'm playing "against the track", not following the guitar, and when I'm in the front, being louder than other instruments. All bands were excited when I sent them the recordings, but then at the rehearsal I could not reproduce this.

(And I didn't remember my parts )

 

[Giacobe Otty]

Nice one! Had an atk just like this and I sold it for some stupid reason. I miss that bass everyday...

 

[KeithPas]

Had the five string version of this bass several years ago and I regret ever flipping it. Great sounding, playing and looking basses.

 

[Drzejzi]

Everybody loves ATKs, but everyone sold it

 

[ElectricBass72]

Everybody loves ATKs, but everyone sold it

I've sold many basses over the years... Spector, Fender, Squire, Dean, NS Design, Carvin, Steinberger, etc. The 90's Ibanez ATK is the only bass I regret selling and the only formerly owned bass I miss dearly.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I have a ATK300FL from 96. Rescued from someone's garage. Really great bass!

That could be the one I sold. Pretty sure it was a '96 model.

 

[SgtHulka]

Everybody loves ATKs, but everyone sold it

LOL, funny, but true.

It's kinda like that girlfriend you let get away...You loved her but you just couldn't keep your eyes away from the other shiny basses.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I got my 305 new in '95 or '96. I thought about selling it a few times while I shot for a new sound over the past couple years, but a wise friend—who was there when I first acquired it—talked me into keeping it. I'm so glad my old bass gets my new sound, too

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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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nice!

 

[DanAdams]

If anyone is looking for more Ibanez catalog resources, here are my goto links.
You gotta love the earlier generation of Roadstars, Musicians, Studios, Blazers, etc. too
Vintage Ibanez Guitar Catalogs - 1971 through 2007
Ibanez Rules Catalog Index
Ibanez CATALOGS | SUPPORT | Ibanez guitars

 

[Gustopher]

Had a chance to practice with my band last night and I am totally impressed and in love with the sound of this bass. The preamp is extremely powerful, I can get a very wide range of sound from it and I was able to tailor my tone for different songs in a way that I was really enjoying. This isn't a light bass, I am going to weigh it on the digital scale at work but I am guessing its a whopper in the 11+ range. Even with that weight it balanced nicely and didn't "feel" as heavy as it is. First impressions in a band setting, I am going to have a hard time replacing this thing and I hope to play it for a long time. It is fantastic.