Upgrading ATK 300

[steve2]

I was talking to my Ibanez dealer today about upgrading my bass. I told him I was a little disapointed in the power. He said if there was room he may be able to add an additional 9 volt battery and make it a 18 volt. He said that would be a cheap upgrade. Any ideas on that or other suggestions thanks.

Steve

 

[optikhog]

Did you try raising the pickup to be closer to the strings? That makes a HUGE difference in output on the ATK in my experience. I dunno if that preamp will take 18V and be happy.

You could also look at the 750's with the jazz pickup in the neck position...

 

[steve2]

I have not tried raising the pup I measured from the pickups higest location inside the the E and G string on the middle row on the pickup and it is right at 1/8 of an inch on both locations. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Vic Winters]

Have you tried raising the internal gain pot?

 

[A9X]

I told him I was a little disapointed in the power.

What do you mean? Not enough signal output? If so, I find that hard to beleive from the experience when I had one. If for some reson turning up your amp isn't an option (it's free too!), the there's in internal pot as has been suggested.

Going to 18V, will not increase the gain.

 

[steve2]

I have a MM style bass also and with the same settings it has much more power than the ATK. Maybe the MM style pickup should have more power than the ATK. Dont get me wrong it has decent power but for active I just thought it would be a little stronger with that big pickup. I have not adjusted anything other than the external pots.

Steve

 

[A9X]

Trying to be pragmatic, not argumentative, does it make a real difference in your life? If hot swapping basses on stage is an issue, mark the VC on your amp with the two settings, or set your MM a bit lower so they end up the same level at your amp input.

Sigbal levels in actives are often set with no gain (EQ flat) so they're about the same level as many passives and work into the existing amps in similar ways. High level does not equate to quality.

 

[steve2]

No It does not make a difference in my life. I dont have any problems the way it is. I will say this the power of the ATK is equal or better than my ESP 6 string which is also active. Like I said its no big deal. Adding a extra battery was just a suggestion from my LMS.

thanks

 

[steve2]

One last comment. I played in a Christmas concert this evening and I also changed my battery. (its been a while since I changed the battery) that seemed to really help also I put on a set of Marcus Miller fat beams.

By the way we had 21 musicians playing. I think this is the first time I ever played with a full Orchestra. All is all I am happy with my ATK.

 

[12bass]

Cool..... the ATK is a nice bass IMO. Another thing to think about is whether the preamp in your bass can take 18V. Some can't, and it would suck if you cooked the preamp. Best case scenario is that the higher voltage will add a bit of headroom, but no more gain.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Adding a extra battery was just a suggestion from my LMS.

Adding a battery will not make the bass louder. The pickup should be closer than 1/8" and if that doesn't do it, turn up the gain pot in the bass. That will do more than adding a battery.

 

[A9X]

Cool Steve, I just didn't want you to speand money and make mods to a good bass when it would not make any improvement and may have ended up costing you tone you liked.

 

[Jamie_Funk]

Have you tried raising the internal gain pot?

Did the OP try this yet? My old original series ATK305 has a smal trim pot adjustment (phillips head screwdriver would turn it) - was set too low factory, increased it and signal/nosie was better, thought even NICER when I replace dthe preamp altogether with an EMG BTC.....

 

[steve2]

Were exactly is the internal trim pot located. How do I get to it? I took the back plate off and I did not recognize it. Just wonder should the treble side of the pickup be closer to the strings or the same. Thanks

 

[steve2]

I found it. I was just a tad supprised that counter clockwise turned it up. Just guessing from 1 to 10 it was set on a 4 or 5. I turned it all the way up. Perhaps I should have turned it about to 7 or 8. I can tell more I guess when I get on my main amp. At home I just have a 60 watt I practice with. But defiently more power. Would my 6 string ESP B-206 have the same type of adjustment.

I just checked my ESP totally different preamp. I played the ATK for about 5 minutes sounded awsome.

 

[Jamie_Funk]

I found it. I was just a tad supprised that counter clockwise turned it up. Just guessing from 1 to 10 it was set on a 4 or 5. I turned it all the way up. Perhaps I should have turned it about to 7 or 8. I can tell more I guess when I get on my main amp. At home I just have a 60 watt I practice with. But defiently more power. Would my 6 string ESP B-206 have the same type of adjustment.

I just checked my ESP totally different preamp. I played the ATK for about 5 minutes sounded awsome.

And all was well in the world

Glad it worked out for you.

Jamie

 

[.Ed]

Wow, after having my Japan ATK 305 for about 12 years and being somewhat disappointed in the output volume, I found this thread and made me look at the trim pot. My trim pot was set all the way clockwise, which means the lowest volume. So I changed that, which makes a huge difference. Great to find something like that after such a long time