I went to my local Luthier to pick up a bass that had been worked on, and I noticed a new guitar store had opened up right next door. Might as well check it out right? I figured I'll pick up some new strings and look around.
I walked in and saw mostly guitars, but then almost around the corner I spotted this Ibanez ATK on the wall that looked very interesting to me. I've been wanting a stingray style bass for awhile and I had seen these around before in pictures but never in person.
I heard they were pretty heavy so I figured I would go and see how heavy they actually were, but to my surprise it was very light, maybe around 7-8 lbs. Hmm... well I'm sure it's not balanced if it's this light. Wrong again, it balanced perfectly.
Well Ibanez have a reputation for having fast thin "shreddy" necks and I don't love those, but man this neck nothing like that. It feels like a chunky P bass neck which feels great to me.
So then I plug it in, and it sounds great... I'm thinking to myself "man am I really going to buy this thing?"
I took a pause and gave it a real good examination up and down to see if anything was weird with the neck, etc. After it passed that test I thought to myself that I should probably put it back and wait a week, if I still want it I'll buy it.
But I couldn't do it, bought it on the spot.
Turns out it's a '95 MIJ Ibanez ATK100 which is the passive version of the ATK line.
I guess they only made these for 2 years, and the body is made out if different wood than the other ATK series which is why it's so light.
The more I learn about it the more I like it, there's even the faded outline of a skull and crossbones sticker that apparently used to be on it which I think is pretty cool.
In the past when I buy basses it's always after doing a ton of research, reading up on all the models, pros and cons, etc. This one I just saw it, liked it, played it, bought it.
I had a chance to play it for a few hours last night and I just love it. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's perfect for me.
Walked in for strings, walked out with a new bass and forgot the strings
I walked in and saw mostly guitars, but then almost around the corner I spotted this Ibanez ATK on the wall that looked very interesting to me. I've been wanting a stingray style bass for awhile and I had seen these around before in pictures but never in person.
I heard they were pretty heavy so I figured I would go and see how heavy they actually were, but to my surprise it was very light, maybe around 7-8 lbs. Hmm... well I'm sure it's not balanced if it's this light. Wrong again, it balanced perfectly.
Well Ibanez have a reputation for having fast thin "shreddy" necks and I don't love those, but man this neck nothing like that. It feels like a chunky P bass neck which feels great to me.
So then I plug it in, and it sounds great... I'm thinking to myself "man am I really going to buy this thing?"
I took a pause and gave it a real good examination up and down to see if anything was weird with the neck, etc. After it passed that test I thought to myself that I should probably put it back and wait a week, if I still want it I'll buy it.
But I couldn't do it, bought it on the spot.
Turns out it's a '95 MIJ Ibanez ATK100 which is the passive version of the ATK line.
I guess they only made these for 2 years, and the body is made out if different wood than the other ATK series which is why it's so light.
The more I learn about it the more I like it, there's even the faded outline of a skull and crossbones sticker that apparently used to be on it which I think is pretty cool.
In the past when I buy basses it's always after doing a ton of research, reading up on all the models, pros and cons, etc. This one I just saw it, liked it, played it, bought it.
I had a chance to play it for a few hours last night and I just love it. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's perfect for me.
Walked in for strings, walked out with a new bass and forgot the strings
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glad you got a good one --- congratulations on your new instrument! 
