Official ATK Club (Part 3)

[Texan]

The is one of the greatest pawn shop finds ever. An american made ATK with the tension free neck and 5A flame fret board. I paid $145 USD. This and my Peavey TL-6 are my main basses. This things sings!

 

[Justin Tuskey]

The is one of the greatest pawn shop finds ever. An american made ATK with the tension free neck and 5A flame fret board. I paid $145 USD. This and my Peavey TL-6 are my main basses. This things sings!

: picks jaw up off floor :.....$145??? wow man play thing thing until the body falls apart.

 

[Texan]

: picks jaw up off floor :.....$145??? wow man play thing thing until the body falls apart.

They had it tagged at $250 IIRC, the battery was totally dead, which made it sound terrible. I knew exactly what the bass is and the rarity so would have gladly paid the asking price regardless, but I'm a bargainer and always try for a better deal. I asked the guy if he had another 9 volt which he did not, so I said, "I'll give you $100 for it because I really can't diagnose the problem and if the electronics are shot it will be at least a $150-200 to fix." He said "I have $145 in it, I'll be happy to break even". Inside I was a giddy as a schhol girl. I tried to play it cool and said in my best "do I really want this thing" voice, "allright, I'll take it." the rest is history. I have been blessed with the ability to come across smoking deals on awesome gear. I hope that the luck stays with me.

 

[Funk Factor]

Texan...that is a freakin' awesome bass ... Killer deal on a killer bass

 

[dozicusmaximus]

Bongolation....I voice my distaste for EBMM products as you do for our beloved ATK's.
Difference between you and I is that I sold my Stingrays....it's past due the time you should have sold yours.
I'm sure someone would appreciate them for what they are.

I also don't see all the sense in talking about adding P Bass pickups and doing extensive modifications....ya want a dead on P Bass tone....get a P Bass.
Adding a single coil, as what's offered on the 750 and the new Prestige makes sense as it's not that invasive and it's extremely useful.
Veneer tops suit a cosmetic purpose....I'm not into the coffee table look but it's well done on my 750...and yours as well.
If the bass suits you but that quilt maple is drivin' you up the wall.....Refinish it to suit your discriminating taste, or as I mentioned ...sell it and avoid them like the plague in the future.
Personally, I prefer every tone that my 750 gets me close to.
I get a warmer Stingray tone...a ballsier Jazz Bass tone ... A P Bass tone with more articulation.

My string of choice is DR Lowriders but I've been using the Elixers for the better part.
I get waaaay more life out of 'em,
I don't care for 'em when I first put a set on as the high end sounds a bit muted, but they open up after they've been played a bit....I do like the feel and tension of the Elixers, though.

My ATK 750 is the most "do it all" bass I've ever owned...if you can't cover everything you need to with one....it aint the bass.
If you have the need to extensively modify it...

Thanks Funk You answered a few of my questions I had about my 750 bieng shipped to me right now
You think you could share your settings?

 

[Martin89]

Wow, that's crazy! To think someone would pawn an ATK(let alone an American one) for $145...

 

[Texan]

Wow, that's crazy! To think someone would pawn an ATK(let alone an American one) for $145...

You would think that it's uncommon but it's not. I worked at GC for many years before seeing the light and I can recall countless times where people would come in needing money or wanting to trade for other gear and took ridiculously low prices for top notch gear. Back then if GC had a used bass tagged at $499, you could bet that they only had $100-150 in it. A used case tagged at $59 only has $.01 in it...pure profit.

 

[Martin89]

Yeah, I know you're lucky at a music store if they pay 50% of what they think they can sell it for. But I don't understand how people can give it up like that for even less. I guess the era of CL and the internet in general has changed that a bit. My buddy got an American G&L from GC for $300 because the guy who sold it to them took such a low offer.

 

[Bongolation]

Bongolation....I voice my distaste for EBMM products as you do for our beloved ATK's.
Difference between you and I is that I sold my Stingrays....it's past due the time you should have sold yours.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't hate EBMM instruments and I don't currently own a Stingray.

I'm sure someone would appreciate them for what they are.

"Appreciate" is the key word on gear -- when it peaks, I sell.

My mint ATKs are still appreciating.

I also don't see all the sense in talking about adding P Bass pickups and doing extensive modifications....ya want a dead on P Bass tone....get a P Bass.

Absolutely. Modding is usually pure lunacy. I've been advising against it for over forty years.

Veneer tops suit a cosmetic purpose....I'm not into the coffee table look but it's well done on my 750...and yours as well.
If the bass suits you but that quilt maple is drivin' you up the wall.....Refinish it to suit your discriminating taste, or as I mentioned ...sell it and avoid them like the plague in the future.

I avoid them because they're gradually falling from favor and getting to be a negative for flipping.

Bottom line:

At some point as a mature, serious and effective musician -- or simply as a mature, serious and effective person -- your goal becomes to accomplish your end with as little BS as possible.

Veneer tops, most fiddly active electronics, the mother of pearl inlay of Darth Vader riding a unicorn and all the rest of the geekery and frou-frou are just extraneous crap that gets in the way of clean, professional presentation and getting the job done. At best, it's more trouble than it's worth.

The thing I like about ATKs is that they are an original basic design that works. It's not just some rip-off of someone else's look, screwed-up just enough to keep from getting sued. I'm originally an Arts/Design guy and I recognize the ATK as a distinctive piece. A good example of a natural ash 300 is a classic.

What I don't like about the ATK is that it's heavy, the electronics are more complex than they need to be, plus they are cheap and sloppy. Complex + cheap + sloppy = trouble, an ongoing problem with Cor-Tek contract actives. The move to the SMT preamp from the earlier through-board has had plenty of problems, as these three long threads have evinced. Though mine are OK at present and I could repair them if they weren't, it's just more crap to worry about, and in my personal gear that's a non-starter. I'll flip these eventually.

 

[Funk Factor]

Thanks Funk You answered a few of my questions I had about my 750 bieng shipped to me right now
You think you could share your settings?

These are general settings I work with and will be different from one room to the next.
My Markbass amp is always flat with the VPF (mid scoop) at 10:00 ... I use a modded Boss GE-7 eq pedal cutting @ 200hz ( gets rid of the mud ) and boosting @ 100hz and 1.6 khz which gives me a nice round low end and articulation in the upper mids
It depends on the song as to which position I choose...keep in mind that I'm playing Motown..R&B..Funk stuff

Neck position....plenty of low end on this setting ... with my amp settings I will back my lows just behind the detent and boost mids on the bass to halfway between the detent and full...highs kept flat or backed off just a tad.

2nd position from the neck ...Jazz Bass mode
This setting is pretty scooped on it's own and I usually use this on 80% of the slap oriented tunes.
I bump the mids to halfway as in the previous setting and also boost highs by a 1/4 turn .... way more ballsy slap tone than any Jazz bass I've ever owned

3rd / Middle position ( rear single coil alone ) ... no help here ... I don't use it

4th Attack mode ... mids flat or backed off about 1/4 turn .. bass up 1/4 turn ... highs flat .... I use this setting for tight 16th note fingerstyle or soloing.
If I need a Stingray'ish slap tone, I use my 300 with the Basscultures pickup and Glock preamp ... it just does that much better than my stock ATK's

5th Traditional mode ... I boost lows by a half turn ...mids flat to slightly boosted ... highs cut a tad for fingerstyle
I use this setting quite a bit and also use it for some old school thumpin' ala Boogie Oogie Oogie .... I get a killer pick tone in this position

Bedroom tone don't mean a thang in a band setting, I've developed different settings for individual songs in a live setting that work for me and kill it out front

 

[Bongolation]

Bedroom tone don't mean a thang in a band setting

Bedroom tone don't mean a thang, period.

"Tone" only matters within the contexts of live performance or the proper final mix of a recording.

Any meaningful relation between bedroom tone and those two ends is both rare and accidental.

 

[dozicusmaximus]

Thanks again Funk I was wanting to see some settings to kinda gauge what's going on with the preamp before I get it. The 750 will be bedroom only for a while. I have to get used to all the knobs. haha.
I'm usually a set it and forget it type guy. But with all these options I would like to get a few nice tones out of it Which I'm sure I will.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

"Tone" only matters within the contexts of live performance or the proper final mix of a recording.

Any meaningful relation between bedroom tone and those two ends is both rare and accidental.

+1000

I wasted a lot of time in a love-hate relationship with my '64 Precision, because I didn't understand that. I would buy fancy coffee-table basses on approval because they sounded amazing in the store, and then be astonished when they didn't cut it in a club. Back to the P-bass again...

It took years before I learned to like what works, instead lusting after "ear candy". 30 years later, I'm glad to have ended up with a main instrument that looks like a coffee table bass, but sounds pretty much like a P.

One of the things that I like about the ATK, is that although it's capable of some tones that lean towards wankery, for the most part, the sounds I'm getting out of it are very stage-friendly. Doesn't knock me out at home, but sits well in the mix...

 

[Funk Factor]

Bongolation
ATK's, at full price were, and still are, worth every penny....I would have paid more
The stock preamp does a killer job...it's well voiced and not noisy.
I don't use 1 tone throughout a set of music and find the stock preamp on my ATK's extremely useful.
The few bad ones that made the news hasn't affected my opinion, whatsoever.
Does it compare to my Glockenklang ... not at all.

There's nothing, whatsoever, in your profile that gives me any indication of your experience as a bassist/musician.
I collect mint U.S. commemorative stamps....doesn't make me a postman.
I have no idea if your opinion( other than it being heavy, as that is well known ) is based on personal experience/gigging with the bass or from what ya read on the web.
I'm not trying to make it personal, and mean no offense, man .... I just don't understand why you continue to find fault in the preamp of a bass at this price point,.....What do you expect?
What I gather is that you like light, passive basses without fancy tops and your main interest is making a profit from it's sale.

I'm curious to know how many people in this club have experienced any problems with theirs

 

[THand]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't hate EBMM instruments and I don't currently own a Stingray.


"Appreciate" is the key word on gear -- when it peaks, I sell.

My mint ATKs are still appreciating.



Absolutely. Modding is usually pure lunacy. I've been advising against it for over forty years.


I avoid them because they're gradually falling from favor and getting to be a negative for flipping.

Bottom line:

At some point as a mature, serious and effective musician -- or simply as a mature, serious and effective person -- your goal becomes to accomplish your end with as little BS as possible.

Veneer tops, most fiddly active electronics, the mother of pearl inlay of Darth Vader riding a unicorn and all the rest of the geekery and frou-frou are just extraneous crap that gets in the way of clean, professional presentation and getting the job done. At best, it's more trouble than it's worth.

The thing I like about ATKs is that they are an original basic design that works. It's not just some rip-off of someone else's look, screwed-up just enough to keep from getting sued. I'm originally an Arts/Design guy and I recognize the ATK as a distinctive piece. A good example of a natural ash 300 is a classic.

What I don't like about the ATK is that it's heavy, the electronics are more complex than they need to be, plus they are cheap and sloppy. Complex + cheap + sloppy = trouble, an ongoing problem with Cor-Tek contract actives. The move to the SMT preamp from the earlier through-board has had plenty of problems, as these three long threads have evinced. Though mine are OK at present and I could repair them if they weren't, it's just more crap to worry about, and in my personal gear that's a non-starter. I'll flip these eventually.

Yawwn....how many years have you wasted whining about this now?

There were about 3 people posting about bad pre amps in the blowout of , what, 2008? That was all. You have complained about that ever since even though you're own ATK pres are fine...matter of fact, if any one would like to search, they will see how you RAVED about the terrific quality Cort-Tec had put out with these, and they were unbelievably good basses. Prefect center line, etc...

Now we have had another blow out of the Indonesian 300's, and I didn't see ANYONE getting a faulty preamp...or anything else faulty.

You say yours are real heavy. Ok, so what? Mine are not, so I guess it sucks to be you, huh?

I think you just need to finally shut up.
Go to the Fender American Deluxe thread where they are all happy to spend 1700 for those basses and still have to replace pre's and pups...Educate them with you insight, trash us and how we don't appreciate your wisdom...but just do it somewhere else. If you had really read the thread, you would see we all love our ATK's and try to support each other. If you love your ATK's, stick around, but if you just want to talk down your nose at people and put down what we are here for...go away.

 

[Medford Bassman]

I can only speak from my experience with this instrument. I've owned a few Ibanez basses over the years and sold them as well.

Then on a fluke I was on the MF website and saw the blowout they were having on the ATKs. I never played one before. Then friends at TB said look over at Music123, they will 123% match the blowout price. So I called and picked one of these up for $130.

So I get this thing and play it. Pretty damn impressive for a $130 bass. A little heavy sure. So? It's also very quiet electronically. I just don't see why some have to slam this bass. I've been playing bass over 30 years. I have played and seen some serious junk.

I take this bass to gigs as my backup. But sometimes I use it the entire show because...hold onto your hats...it's just fun to play.

My $ 0.02 for the day.

 

[Funk Factor]

So I get this thing and play it. Pretty damn impressive for a $130 bass. A little heavy sure. So? It's also very quiet electronically.

I take this bass to gigs as my backup. But sometimes I use it the entire show because...hold onto your hats...it's just fun to play.

It's impressive at it's original price, ridiculously so at 130.00 clams.....and yeah....it's fun as hell to play

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Subscribed - just because I really, really, really want a USA ATK.

 

[BassmanM]

Can I please get a number too??

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Zomb13]

Can I please get a number too??

Absotively!

#162 - BassmanM