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I think the key is DYNAMICS with your right hand. obviously it only has one pickup, but depending on where you play and how you attack the strings, it can sound immensely different. pair that with the active eq (which I really only use to adjust to varying rooms/ I like the tone i get flat with DR hibeams.) and you really got something. as long as you get one with a good neck, and can take the weight, its gold man. enjoy
Ask and ye shall receive!
#137 - ledhead709
Sweet looking ATK's! Welcome to the club.
I'm returning my ATK so my member number is available, I really liked it but it just didn't have the exact tone I was looking for now, but I think they're great basses for the money, and I hope to have one again later in my life.
So, nothing we can do to talk you out of selling your ATK? Can you describe what you didn't like about the tone? Just trying to
I already sent it back to Musicians friend, the tone didn't have the growl of the stingray, and I was and am looking more for a Stingray tone but at the same time I also want the tone of a Ric but it was really good for playing The Offspring stuff but then I would play Blink-182 songs and I would struggle to get a tone that was similar to Mark's tone on their earlier albums and I also loved the color. The thing is, is that I called every place around my area and in my state and nobody had one in stock so I couldn't try it out before buying one.
new bass day guys. here's the thread I made for it 
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=707217
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=707217new bass day guys. here's the thread I made for it
Nice
We need more pics here so I'm dropping the spoiler on his thread
Sweet looking bass Justin! I have that same model as well. Hopefully it treats you as well as mine has treated me.
thanks man, its got a hidden ash grain in there. harder to see than it is to photograph. but he pattern on the back is nice. I'm a sucker for a nice ash
hahah
true that zomb13, true that. well since this IS the ATK club, I figured I would share some side by side comparisons of the older vs newer models. here is an excerpt from my "nbd" post plus some extra.
"It plays really well though, I am getting used to it. although they are the same bass, the newer ones have a pronounced heel on the back of the headstock whereas the old ones don't. also the new ones have a very very satin finish on the neck and fretboard, and are more rounded off on the edges of the fretboard. I don't know if I like that yet though. It makes it feel cheaper overall, and given its 10.2 lbs to my main ATK which is 11.4 gives it a "cheaper" feel. of course the sound is on par, and I do love it. I know the tones I can get out of ATKs, and know how I like to play them. this was more or less a backup bass. the finish is nice in person. not popping loud, but instead very classy. this finish matches with almost any band type and/or gig venue. I would feel uncomfortable playing my natural/clear pickguard one in a heavy band." Another thing to be noted is either the neck in thinner overall, or the the wood by the neck plate is thinner, or perhaps the body thicker, all by 1/8 of an inch. reason saying is because the strings are closer to the pickguard when the action is set the same on both basses. also you can see where the pickguard meets the side dots on the neck. on the older models there is a gap between pickguard an side dots, but on this new on they meet right up against eachother. it is interesting though, as overall is makes the neck set better into the body. I know 1/8 inch is barely noticable, and it wont be once I play it out, but just making a contrast for contrasts sake.
another interesting thing to note is, on my older ATK the neck is more glossy. BUT having run my hand all over the neck nd headstock in varying places, I really can confirm that I have glossed it up while playing it. I never really thought about it but have heard other people talk about glossing your neck as you play it over time. wow this is the case. right near the neck pocket its very satin-like, and also up near the nut and all on the headstock....satin. also the top edge of neck/fretboard (where one might rub their thumb if gripping like a bat) is more glossed. I dont usually grip like that but I wasnt the first owner of my main bass. I guess I had gotten used to the slowly accumulating gloss and now the new satin feels so strange.
soon enough I'll be getting my neck back from my black ATK and a family shot plus more ATK banter will ensue
"It plays really well though, I am getting used to it. although they are the same bass, the newer ones have a pronounced heel on the back of the headstock whereas the old ones don't. also the new ones have a very very satin finish on the neck and fretboard, and are more rounded off on the edges of the fretboard. I don't know if I like that yet though. It makes it feel cheaper overall, and given its 10.2 lbs to my main ATK which is 11.4 gives it a "cheaper" feel. of course the sound is on par, and I do love it. I know the tones I can get out of ATKs, and know how I like to play them. this was more or less a backup bass. the finish is nice in person. not popping loud, but instead very classy. this finish matches with almost any band type and/or gig venue. I would feel uncomfortable playing my natural/clear pickguard one in a heavy band." Another thing to be noted is either the neck in thinner overall, or the the wood by the neck plate is thinner, or perhaps the body thicker, all by 1/8 of an inch. reason saying is because the strings are closer to the pickguard when the action is set the same on both basses. also you can see where the pickguard meets the side dots on the neck. on the older models there is a gap between pickguard an side dots, but on this new on they meet right up against eachother. it is interesting though, as overall is makes the neck set better into the body. I know 1/8 inch is barely noticable, and it wont be once I play it out, but just making a contrast for contrasts sake.
another interesting thing to note is, on my older ATK the neck is more glossy. BUT having run my hand all over the neck nd headstock in varying places, I really can confirm that I have glossed it up while playing it. I never really thought about it but have heard other people talk about glossing your neck as you play it over time. wow this is the case. right near the neck pocket its very satin-like, and also up near the nut and all on the headstock....satin. also the top edge of neck/fretboard (where one might rub their thumb if gripping like a bat) is more glossed. I dont usually grip like that but I wasnt the first owner of my main bass. I guess I had gotten used to the slowly accumulating gloss and now the new satin feels so strange.
soon enough I'll be getting my neck back from my black ATK and a family shot plus more ATK banter will ensue
I hope more people feel this way about their ATKs... it makes it easier for me to find better deals on used ones that feel 'cheap'.
IMHO the volute is a great touch and adds strength at the neck/headstock transition, a relatively weak area where angled headstocks without a volute tend to snap. Also rolled FB edges are usually reserved for higher end basses because it entails more work and most people seem to like the feel. It's what I give all of my basses.
I hope more people feel this way about their ATKs... it makes it easier for me to find better deals on used ones that feel 'cheap'.
IMHO the volute is a great touch and adds strength at the neck/headstock transition, a relatively weak area where angled headstocks without a volute tend to snap. Also rolled FB edges are usually reserved for higher end basses because it entails more work and most people seem to like the feel. It's what I give all of my basses.
well you arent getting mine! haha I love the color and those are just very minor ocd type qualms. when it comes down to it, its a very nice bass and I will be playing it regardless. I understand what you mean about the volute. its just strange for me to get used to it after not having it there for so long. and the edge of the fretboard being rounded is a nice touch the more I play it, again, just different.
I also forgot to mention that in my main player, the output jack is starting to get iffy at times, and occasionally the whole preamp starts to sound like the battery is going. Its not the battery, because a few well placed love taps fixes it. so that one may be a platform for a new preamp and jack. The seymour duncan preamp in there is alright, although nothing fancy. the eq points are very usable, but the gain of the eq seems half as much as the standard preamp. also there is a pull switch on the volume knob which activated a preset bass and mid combination that are controlled with little trim pots on the inside. I currently have the mid trim down and the bass up a little so when the knob is pulled out it scoops up the mids, acting as a nice preset for slapping.
I hope more people feel this way about their ATKs... it makes it easier for me to find better deals on used ones that feel 'cheap'.
IMHO the volute is a great touch and adds strength at the neck/headstock transition, a relatively weak area where angled headstocks without a volute tend to snap. Also rolled FB edges are usually reserved for higher end basses because it entails more work and most people seem to like the feel. It's what I give all of my basses.
Yeah, I like the volute. To me it adds to the "comfy" feel as does the rolled edges(I roll my own too
).These are some of the features that mark a quality of design in the ATK, and excellent craftsmanship that you usually only see on basses costing much more. IME, IMO, YMMV, YADDAYADDAYADDA.
well at least not with your permission. Where do you live?
Yea, I've heard of that 'common' issue before but have yet to experience it (knock on wood).
The comparison is a neat idea, thanks.
Personally, I don't equate "lighter" with "cheaper" as a rule, if by "lighter" you are still at 10.2 lbs! Lots of people seek out basses that weigh alot less than that and pay a lot for them. So to most people, that is a plus. But I see your point, meaning..if you handed me a 6.5lb ATK, first I would run with it and once in a safe hiding place, I would start taking it apart to see what was wrong with it
I don't know what to make of your observation about the 1/8" difference around the neck. 1/8" isn't alot if you are mowing your lawn, but in guitar building, it is huge. Think about the difference in a modern P bass neck, and a modern jazz neck....IIRC, that's about an 1/8" and is enough to make some people pick one over the other. I think closer study is warranted here.
The comparison is a neat idea, thanks.
Personally, I don't equate "lighter" with "cheaper" as a rule, if by "lighter" you are still at 10.2 lbs! Lots of people seek out basses that weigh alot less than that and pay a lot for them. So to most people, that is a plus. But I see your point, meaning..if you handed me a 6.5lb ATK, first I would run with it and once in a safe hiding place, I would start taking it apart to see what was wrong with it
I don't know what to make of your observation about the 1/8" difference around the neck. 1/8" isn't alot if you are mowing your lawn, but in guitar building, it is huge. Think about the difference in a modern P bass neck, and a modern jazz neck....IIRC, that's about an 1/8" and is enough to make some people pick one over the other. I think closer study is warranted here.
haha you are too right about the weight. i know its only a pound, but when you play one specific bass for so long and then you pick up another that looks the same, but weighs less, well it kinda freaks me out. dont worry though, I got this bass on monday and have been playing it everyday neglecting my main
and I like it. about the neck thing. I havent otten out a tape measure, and probably wont. but I will post pics, give me a few minutes. you can clearly see the difference, and I can minutely feel the difference. thats just what happens when you play one exclusively for so long.- Status
