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Been lurkin this thread since part 2 and now I was wondering if anyone had any advise for me.
I have a 2007 ATK300 that I can no longer play. The neck is far too big and the combination of nerve damage and arthritis in my hands means with the current neck I only get to play it 10-15 minutes at a time. It is one of my fave basses ever and it just breaks my heart to have to sell it. I've had to sell 4 others basses for the same reason. I didnt mind the others but my ATK? No, say it aint so.
I can play for hours (most days) with the slim neck on my Ibanez SR300 which brings me to my question...
...is there a similarly profiled 22 fret neck to the Soundgears that will fit an ATK? I've spent the past few days lookin over the internet, checking threads here and comparing countless models of Ibanez and I just dont seem to be able to find the answer.
Any suggestions?
Am I really gonna have to let the bass go?
I have a 2007 ATK300 that I can no longer play. The neck is far too big and the combination of nerve damage and arthritis in my hands means with the current neck I only get to play it 10-15 minutes at a time. It is one of my fave basses ever and it just breaks my heart to have to sell it. I've had to sell 4 others basses for the same reason. I didnt mind the others but my ATK? No, say it aint so.
I can play for hours (most days) with the slim neck on my Ibanez SR300 which brings me to my question...
...is there a similarly profiled 22 fret neck to the Soundgears that will fit an ATK? I've spent the past few days lookin over the internet, checking threads here and comparing countless models of Ibanez and I just dont seem to be able to find the answer.
Any suggestions?
Am I really gonna have to let the bass go?
I don't know of any direct drop replacements personally, but there may be something out there. I would either:
A: Contact someone like USCG (?) and see about getting a custom neck built...
or
B: try to have the existing neck reshaped (which may or may not be possible to get SR thin)
IIRC, Mark White (Spin Doctors) had his neck profile made to match his Modulus, so I would think there is some wiggle room for comfort.
The custom neck saves your original, so if you do later decide to sell, you'll still have it.
If you can't afford to go custom, look for a beat-to-hell ATK for cheap (like $150) and sand n' shape it's neck yourself. If you get it right, there's your replacement neck! That still saves your original, and if you screw up you are only out 150 plus sandpaper
@ Ursus Tyrannus
I'd hate to think that I'd have to give up playing my ATK's!
The only neck that I know of that may work is a Moses Graphite 22 fret Sterling neck, which has a Jazz Bass profile...a bit of a pricy endeavor. ...
Having it reshaped would be the option I would explore,...I'm sure that would be pricy as well.
I prefer a flatter radius and I'm currently having that addressed on my tri-fade 300 .... my 750 will follow when that one is completed.
My luthier advised me that there were a couple inconsistencies in the board on my 300.....That's cool, I didn't it expect it would be perfect.
Having the fingerboard trued and a tad of fall away starting at the 15th fret is gonna increase the playability immensely.
I had a medium low action on it before I decided to have this done...I should be able to get it stupid low when it's all done!!
Gonna be worth every penny to me in the end.
Good Luck with it, bro
I'd hate to think that I'd have to give up playing my ATK's!
The only neck that I know of that may work is a Moses Graphite 22 fret Sterling neck, which has a Jazz Bass profile...a bit of a pricy endeavor. ...
Having it reshaped would be the option I would explore,...I'm sure that would be pricy as well.
I prefer a flatter radius and I'm currently having that addressed on my tri-fade 300 .... my 750 will follow when that one is completed.
My luthier advised me that there were a couple inconsistencies in the board on my 300.....That's cool, I didn't it expect it would be perfect.
Having the fingerboard trued and a tad of fall away starting at the 15th fret is gonna increase the playability immensely.
I had a medium low action on it before I decided to have this done...I should be able to get it stupid low when it's all done!!
Gonna be worth every penny to me in the end.
Good Luck with it, bro
awhhhhhhhhhhhhh mannnnnnnnnnnnnnn. getting me excited. I pulled out my fretless the other day to do some recording. when I play softer and with a warmer tone, it is so smooth and buttery. I should be recording it on one of my buddies albums, and then my own bands album which we are working on. Ill of course have clips up when its done. I LOVE the fretless-ness of the atk. same great feel, not with lower action and more mmmmmmmmmmmmm, or should I say mwah.
Hahaha... that part bugged me...
so...
i broke half of the back plate where the battery is and i just use duct tape to cover it
easy peezy!
Yeah, literally i punched the control plate in half when i couldn't find a screwdriver to replace a battery before a show back in 2003... i never did fix it... punk mojo FTW!
Thanks THand and Funk. I appreciate the input.
I had very briefly considered the reshaping of the neck, but I'm clumsy and as for a custom neck I did look into that... too bad I'm dirt poor.
I was hoping someone would just say "oh yeah, a late 90's 22 fret SR4 neck would drop right in"... and I also hope to win the lottery and meet the girl of my dreams.
Sadly, for my hands, it the most painful bass but to my ears my favorite bass. Thats why I haven't sold it... yet.
Worst part, it red sparkle, my fave color.
I got it for a good price so it may just be considered functioning fine art perhaps?
I had very briefly considered the reshaping of the neck, but I'm clumsy and as for a custom neck I did look into that... too bad I'm dirt poor.
I was hoping someone would just say "oh yeah, a late 90's 22 fret SR4 neck would drop right in"... and I also hope to win the lottery and meet the girl of my dreams.
Sadly, for my hands, it the most painful bass but to my ears my favorite bass. Thats why I haven't sold it... yet.
Worst part, it red sparkle, my fave color.
I got it for a good price so it may just be considered functioning fine art perhaps?
Would a luthier charge all that much to shave down a neck? I doubt it would cost as much as another bass. You could save some money by refinishing it yourself using Tru-oil and gunstock wax like Ernie Ball does. Oil and wax is a great finish anyway.
Couple of months update:
I still love this bass to death. The only thing that bothers me is the 2+3 tuning pegs on the 305... any lefty's wanna trade necks?
I still love this bass to death. The only thing that bothers me is the 2+3 tuning pegs on the 305... any lefty's wanna trade necks?
@ Justin...lookin' forward to hearin' some of those fretless jams. The only fretless stuff I've heard to date are a few youtube clips....this one is pretty good
@ PluckyThump
I just dont know how much that would be. I aim to ask in the next week. I've kinda assumed it would be expensive but have no basis for that assumption.
I just dont know how much that would be. I aim to ask in the next week. I've kinda assumed it would be expensive but have no basis for that assumption.
^ Nice! I've had mine for about 2 years now. It was my first ATK and the reason I bought two more.
Are you the guy with the factory atk fretless? I have one of those too. I really like it although I have a slight issue with intonation higher up on the neck ...
- Nov 8, 2010
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- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
Hahaha... that part bugged me...
so...
i broke half of the back plate where the battery is and i just use duct tape to cover it
easy peezy!
Yeah, literally i punched the control plate in half when i couldn't find a screwdriver to replace a battery before a show back in 2003... i never did fix it... punk mojo FTW!
Very nice! LOL
I'm pretty punk/diy but considering my ATK is my nicer bass it might be a while before I go that route!
Love your videos, Pudsey!
hehe ... I thank you very kindly! Appreciate it.
Anyhoo ... speaking of fretless ATKs ... dunno if anyone has seen this guy from France on youtube before ... great player. He had his regular fretted atk made into a fretless by a luthier who put an ebony board on it. (I had to ask him in a msg to see what the hell was going on with that ATK with the BLACK fretboard, haha) It sounds wicked IMO. I really think the Atks are good basses and they make a really unique fretless ... I guess the overall weight, pickup and that massive bridge must add to the uniqueness of the fretless atk tone. Check the atk with ebony fretboard for something different. The tone almost puts me in mind of the tony franklin fender (with the ebony board). I'd be half tempted to find an old atk and have it converted ... I wonder what something like that would cost?
http://www.youtube.com/user/bassetoss#p/u/7/CyW7yQTdy-g
http://www.youtube.com/user/bassetoss#p/u/0/vSHVnXCz7XM
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