Has anybody here tried installing an ACG pre-amp on an ATK? Is it possible? If it is what specific model is compatible with an ATK configuration?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
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Here's my new ATK750QM:
Number please!
Great looking bass, and with the J-pickup too....awesome! Let us know what you think after playing it for awhile...
When my ATK750QM arrived there was fret buzz all up the fretboard, so I raised the saddles. This helped but I had to raise the saddles ridiculously high to eliminate the buzz. I looked up info on string height/neck relief and when I pressed down the E-string at the last fret I couldn't fit a credit card under the string without lifting the string.
Everything I've read, including the Ibanez owner's manual, says that turning the truss rod counter-clockwise (toward the G-string) loosens it and adds relief. I did this and now I've got even less relief! What do I do (short of having a professional take care of it)?
Everything I've read, including the Ibanez owner's manual, says that turning the truss rod counter-clockwise (toward the G-string) loosens it and adds relief. I did this and now I've got even less relief! What do I do (short of having a professional take care of it)?
First of all, don't panic! Getting new basses perfectly set up through the mail is a crapshoot. If I read your serial number correctly, your bass was made in February of 2008. What that means is that your bass has been sitting who-knows-where for the past two years, and probably hasn't been taken out of the case since then. The strings are old already, and the neck most likely has moved since it was set up at the factory. Just the luck of the draw.
So, the first thing to do is get new strings, and do a complete set up routine. If you're not sure how to do that, then by all means, take it to a professional and have it done correctly. If you're not sure how to do it, you may end up damaging the neck, or worse, breaking the truss rod. I'm sure you probably got a good enough deal on the bass that paying for a set up will still be worth it. Or, do you have a friend/fellow bassist that knows how to do it for you?
I do have a question for you... when you turned the truss rod, did it feel like it was getting harder to turn, or easier? Did you loosen the strings first? And did you only go a quarter turn maximum? If these sound like dumb questions, sorry 'bout that, but I don't know how much experience you've had with tweaking the set up on a bass.
One more thing, and it's a long shot, but you should contact the seller and tell them that the bass is essentially un-playable, and will they pay, or at least split the difference in the set up cost.
That's all the advice I've got for now. Unless there is something terribly wrong with the neck, it should be just a matter of getting it set up right. Good luck!
So, the first thing to do is get new strings, and do a complete set up routine. If you're not sure how to do that, then by all means, take it to a professional and have it done correctly. If you're not sure how to do it, you may end up damaging the neck, or worse, breaking the truss rod. I'm sure you probably got a good enough deal on the bass that paying for a set up will still be worth it. Or, do you have a friend/fellow bassist that knows how to do it for you?
I do have a question for you... when you turned the truss rod, did it feel like it was getting harder to turn, or easier? Did you loosen the strings first? And did you only go a quarter turn maximum? If these sound like dumb questions, sorry 'bout that, but I don't know how much experience you've had with tweaking the set up on a bass.
One more thing, and it's a long shot, but you should contact the seller and tell them that the bass is essentially un-playable, and will they pay, or at least split the difference in the set up cost.
That's all the advice I've got for now. Unless there is something terribly wrong with the neck, it should be just a matter of getting it set up right. Good luck!
There's a rosewood ATK 4-string neck on eBay for $79.00 in case anyone's interested....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190371266301&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190371266301&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
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Wow! I am sure glad I quit when I did! I was totally turning it the wrong way - without loosening the strings, no less! No wonder it was so difficult to turn. No wonder the problem was getting worse instead of better!
I'm one lucky son-of-a-gun that I didn't break my truss rod! I wondered if I needed to turn it the opposite way, but the manual didn't have info about this kind of truss rod nut. I turned the truss nut the other way, and it was much easier and solved a lot of the problem. I still need a bit more turning because there isn't enough relief, but at least I'm turning it the right way now!
Thanks!
The rule of thumb on adjusting truss rods is no more than a quarter-inch (1/4) turn per day. You need to let the neck "rest" for a day before adjusting it again, if it still needs it. Here's a couple of links to info on adjusting relief, action, intonation, and pickup height. Put on new strings before you do any of this! You need to do the set up with new strings so the bass will settle in a be adjusted for them.
Neck Relief-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/adjusting_neck_relief.html
String Height-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/adjusting_string_height.html
Intonation-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/setting_bass_intonation.html
Pickup Height-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/setting_bass_pickup_height.html
I Googled "adjusting bass relief" to find these links. There are a lot of great sites out there on setting up your bass. Take your time, have patience, and you will learn how to set up your bass for your style. Have fun, and let us know how you do.
Neck Relief-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/adjusting_neck_relief.html
String Height-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/adjusting_string_height.html
Intonation-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/setting_bass_intonation.html
Pickup Height-
http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/setting_bass_pickup_height.html
I Googled "adjusting bass relief" to find these links. There are a lot of great sites out there on setting up your bass. Take your time, have patience, and you will learn how to set up your bass for your style. Have fun, and let us know how you do.
Now if only I could find the body of a Paul Gray signature model. I liked the color of the 2 they produced for him, but I hated the neck inlays.
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So for the last 5 months or so I've had my ATK305 set up passive, with an extra pickup in the neck. I recently returned it to stock, with the preamp and just the stock pickup. I don't know why I ever changed it in the first place! I had some crazy modding urges at the time... I realized I was trying to make a modern sounding bass behave like an old-school Jazz. 
I even had flats on it but now I've got some nickel Lo-Riders back on it. It's a much better fit.
The slap tone is sooo much sweeter than I remember. The output level is also a lot better, it was really weak without the preamp. I found the trimpot and set it near the max, now my ATK balances with my P-bass pretty well (it's just a little hotter). I still don't really love the bass/treble EQ points (50Hz/10KHz), but the mid EQ (400Hz) is VERY useful- cut for slap, and boost for some really articulate harmonics. I found these points on the frequency plot on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also put the pickguard back on, and it looks way more professional. Maybe it's because it's kind of like having a new toy, but having this back to it's original format is really fun.
I even had flats on it but now I've got some nickel Lo-Riders back on it. It's a much better fit. The slap tone is sooo much sweeter than I remember. The output level is also a lot better, it was really weak without the preamp. I found the trimpot and set it near the max, now my ATK balances with my P-bass pretty well (it's just a little hotter). I still don't really love the bass/treble EQ points (50Hz/10KHz), but the mid EQ (400Hz) is VERY useful- cut for slap, and boost for some really articulate harmonics. I found these points on the frequency plot on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also put the pickguard back on, and it looks way more professional. Maybe it's because it's kind of like having a new toy, but having this back to it's original format is really fun.
So for the last 5 months or so I've had my ATK305 set up passive, with an extra pickup in the neck. I recently returned it to stock, with the preamp and just the stock pickup. I don't know why I ever changed it in the first place! I had some crazy modding urges at the time... I realized I was trying to make a modern sounding bass behave like an old-school Jazz.
The slap tone is sooo much sweeter than I remember. The output level is also a lot better, it was really weak without the preamp. I found the trimpot and set it near the max, now my ATK balances with my P-bass pretty well (it's just a little hotter). I still don't really love the bass/treble EQ points (50Hz/10KHz), but the mid EQ (400Hz) is VERY useful- cut for slap, and boost for some really articulate harmonics. I found these points on the frequency plot on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also put the pickguard back on, and it looks way more professional. Maybe it's because it's kind of like having a new toy, but having this back to it's original format is really fun.
Thanks for the update!
I am now officially glad that I did not mod my 700.
Is it possible to install a passive pickup into an ATK 3EX1 that is still active electronics? I was asking someone about it, and they seemed to think that the ATK is a passive pickup into an active pre-amp. If that's the case, I should be able to put a pickup into the bridge position, and wire up a blend knob, correct? I'm not sure. I've been debating this for a while.
Pickups are passive to start. Although some pickups may be wired hotter than others, most can be wired to an active eq system.
i have a confession to make... last sunday, i was so stressed out on my finances and i almost sold my ATK! and when i played it last night, i fell in love again. haha. thank goodness i didn't sell it. what was i thinking!!! nevermind, back to your regular programming!
ps. so that's what credit cards are for!
ps. so that's what credit cards are for!
...go and sin no more.
Where's the fun in that?
Ok, so I was fortunate enough to get hold of a slightly used ATK300 RSPBK a couple of weeks back. New strings, a setup, a little cleanup on the body and it plays like new. The only thing that bothers me about it is the reason I bought it. The engraved pickguard and bridge. They're a bit cruddy and some spots look worn. Anyone have any tips on how to return these parts to their previous glory?
So for the last 5 months or so I've had my ATK305 set up passive, with an extra pickup in the neck. I recently returned it to stock, with the preamp and just the stock pickup. I don't know why I ever changed it in the first place! I had some crazy modding urges at the time... I realized I was trying to make a modern sounding bass behave like an old-school Jazz.
The slap tone is sooo much sweeter than I remember. The output level is also a lot better, it was really weak without the preamp. I found the trimpot and set it near the max, now my ATK balances with my P-bass pretty well (it's just a little hotter). I still don't really love the bass/treble EQ points (50Hz/10KHz), but the mid EQ (400Hz) is VERY useful- cut for slap, and boost for some really articulate harmonics. I found these points on the frequency plot on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also put the pickguard back on, and it looks way more professional. Maybe it's because it's kind of like having a new toy, but having this back to it's original format is really fun.
Ah unlucky man, I'm running mine passive still, but with the different humbucker it's a very different deal. Bit tempted to give the preamp another go, not tried it with the Jazz pickup installed on it too, would be kinda nice to have a volume control again too
Alright, thanks for the confirmation.
Now the next step...decision of a pickup.....I'm kind of thinking of installing a 50's P pickup, just to be different.
You might find the contrast between the sound of that and the very modern sounding stock ATK humbucker to come out with something a little odd. You'd be ok with the more organic sounding bassculture.de one, but that's still a fair contrast cos it's very hot, punchy and deep sounding, whereas the 50s P pickup will just be pure warm thumpyness. My Jazz pickup adds a little more depth and warmth in midrange, and obviously there's some contrast between the two sounds, but they mix pretty well, with the 50s P and stock ATK humbucker they're very different kinds of tone.
What kinda sound are you wanting this neck pickup to add? Or are you just not entirely happy with the sound of your ATK in the first place?
What kinda sound are you wanting this neck pickup to add? Or are you just not entirely happy with the sound of your ATK in the first place?
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