Meanwhile, a light year into the future since this thread began...
I own an ATK 750K, and it’s a great instrument that I’ve had for 9 years. I sold it to a bud 2 years ago... then bought it back this winter. Although, there’s always been something clumsy about it But it’s also charmed me. I have also put it up at my local music store as a trade in value, but they weren’t interested. Had it on Kijiji recently think a new Sire PJ maple neck/Tobacco burst Would be better... only one nibble of interest.
So: I will make it mine.
1st: sanded the neck profile from round Louisville Slugger, to a flatter back. Carefully done with scaled grades of sandpaper 80 to wet sand body work emery 600. Immediately better!
2nd: Hipshot ultralite tuners from a friend: dropping 110g off the head.
3rd: The Bridge weighs 455 g, and as a big flat brass plate wrapping around the triple coil pickup, I think it sucks more tone than it transfers; it’s ugly and covers up a lot of really beautiful Koa top. See a Gotoh 404 string through/top load I like - but means addressing the electrical ground somewhere, because of the shorter bridge.
Also considering one of these new Ray Ross saddles bridges for the experiment. But just dropped $297CND on the ridiculously overpriced Hipshot Ric bridge (triggered after considering it for 6 yrs), so will skip ‘for the sake of science’ approach, and try the $40 Gotoh (they make quality stuff and I’m already familiar with their gear).
4th: remove the poly-plastic-reverberation-straight-jacket coating on the body, and get it to the beautiful open-pore ash and koa wood. This is drastic, but life is short and the process is a learning experience.
Rich bass players can just go ahead and buy another $4000 boutique bass to show photos of.
