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Official ATK Club (Part 3)

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#481
LeoP said:
Hi guys, I have this USATK4 for a few years now... great bass! So count me in...
Any idea where can I get the PG? and which color was the original?
Thanks
Click to expand...

The original pickguard on the USATK is a white pearloid. The one on my USATK5 seem to be a bit thinner and higher quality than the current "plasticy" pearloid pickguards.

Here's a copy of the catalog page showing your "VB" vintage burst beauty at the top. Mine is also a VB.
 
#483
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#489
lowendgenerator said:
I had a chance to pick up a bass like this years ago and passed. I still kick myself.
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It's a wonderful bass, I haven't played many basses but I still haven't found one that I like better than it. I got it for a steal too. The local Mom and Pop music shop had it in there for about two years, I would occasionally come in and play it then he finally offered it to me. Apparently a guy ordered it and never picked it up so I got for almost nothing.
 
#495
lowendgenerator said:
To the gentleman with all the Paul Gray model ATKs: Is the neck profile thinner on that model? I'm watching a video of Paul's playing, and his neck appears to be thinner at the nut. Optical Illusion?
Click to expand...

Of the six ATKs I've owned... the only two 4-strings have both been PGB1 models.

Before I started looking for a used PGB1 I checked the neck specs of both the PGB1 and ATK300 models at Ibanez.com when they were both current models. My recollection is that the neck dimensions were the same... and are the same as the specs listed for the current ATK200 and ATK1200 models.

Scale/Length 864mm/34"
Width at Nut 42.5mm
Width Last Fret 63mm
Thickness 1st Fret 21mm
Thickness 12th Fret 24mm
Radius 240mm

I just measured my PGB1 and the nut width and 1st fret thickness are right on the specs. My slide caliper does not have long enough jaws to verify the thickness at the 12th fret.

I really like my current PGB1TK as it plays great and is the lightest (9 lb. 9oz.) ATK I have yet owned.

I'm still keeping my eyes peeled for a great deal on another 4-string ATK.

Funk Factor will likely chime in with a neck comparo once he gets his "Bunker EX1" up and running. The Bunker (USATK) necks are usually referenced as having a thinner profile than the Ibanez neck.
 
#496
Another welcome upgrade for the Prestige would be a new bridge design ( seein' as how Ibanez saw fit to change the pickups )
Something like this
 

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#497
BassmanM said:
Any of you guys know if the ATK 405 ever came in colours other than sunburst and blue? Thx.
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I think I've looked through every digitally archived Ibanez catalog and have ONLY seen the ATK405 in sunburst or transparent blue... but the same country never had the option for both colors in the same model year. However, the ATK400 was available in both colors during the same model year.

I expect that there are many ATK enthusiasts that have there eyes peeled for the rare opportunity to own an ATK400/405... and I'm definitely one of them.
 
#498
Funk Factor said:
Another welcome upgrade for the Prestige would be a new bridge design ( seein' as how Ibanez saw fit to change the pickups )
Something like this
Click to expand...

Have any fellow ATK owners experimented with replacing the stock bridge/plate with an aftermarket bridge. I would love to see some pictures.

I often ponder how it would affect the tone.

I weighed the bridge af an ATK305 when I had it apart and was very surprised by what I found.

Take a wild guess how much mass it holds...

...... 17 ounces... yes... a full 1 lb, 1 oz.
 
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#499
17 ounces...damn, that's hefty!
But......that bridge has a cosmetic appeal that I dig.
Looking at the GIOATK without the big o' cadillac bumper bridge doesn't hold the same appeal to me.

On another note...my luthier has informed today me that my Bunker EX is done :hyper:
I'll be picking it up tomorrow with details to follow :D
 
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#500
Funk Factor said:
17 ounces...damn, that's hefty!
But......that bridge has a cosmetic appeal that I dig.
Looking at the GIOATK without the big o' cadillac bumper bridge doesn't hold the same appeal to me.

On another note...my luthier has informed today me that my Bunker EX is done :hyper:
I'll be picking it up tomorrow with details to follow :D
Click to expand...

I agree on the cosmetic appeal of the the plate. I've thought about having a metal working shop make me a polished aluminum plate that would shave off more than a 1/2 pound... and it would still look cool. Not sure how it might change the tone... or how much it would cost:confused:

Sounds like it's time for you to stage a BATTLE of the ATKs... to see which of your trio comes out as the TOP FUNK MACHINE.
 
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