Rib13Bass Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (edited) With the exception of weight, this bass is a very impressive Stingray alternative - - Soundwise: it definitely gets very inside the Stingray ballpark, enough to where it would be difficult to be able to tell the difference if part of a recording. What do you think? I'm curious if any of you are hearing it the way I am. Enjoy Edited April 16, 2023 by Rib13Bass 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (edited) Had an atk400 korean made, difference being the extra pu, a gift from a bc member actually. It was a seriously well built instrument. And as mentioned in the video, it was heavy! although that didn't bother me. The neck was pretty hefty though! In a multi instrumental recording it would be hard to tell the difference. Solo however would be a different story. It just had a different sound to it. But due to the pu location then it certainly gets in the ball park. Bit like a dimension bass or maybe a Warwick fna. I enjoyed the fun video. Nice playing too. Although it's always good to hear a bass in isolation too. Edited April 16, 2023 by Twincam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rib13Bass Posted April 16, 2023 Author Share Posted April 16, 2023 5 minutes ago, Twincam said: And as mentioned in the video, it was heavy! although that didn't bother me. thanks for watching and the comment. Im the same way: Im a stocky guy so heavy basses don't really bother me, as they hang from my frame comfortably not too different than lighter basses when playing live...but I can definitely see how this may be a hindrance and a deterrent for those with different physiques than mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Nice review 👍.. I don't much like the look of it but it certainly sounds OK and does the job, Im not bothered by a bass's weight either and I'm a skinny bloke! I think someone on here is selling one at the mo if I remember correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Very Stingray sounding, maybe ‘Ray experts could hear a difference but I can’t. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 I had one for a while. Far too cumbersome to be used regularly. I don't know why they're called "Stingray killers" - I didn't see them as directly comparable. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floFC Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 @Rib13Bass good, entertaining video. They are not all made in Korea. Mine is made in Japan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 (edited) Great video. I really like the sound if it. And the look. I think Ibanez was really good at interpreting classic shapes (I think this, the Roadster and the Roadstar). It's great that they found their own space with the Soundgears but I wish they did more classic-looking stuff. The Talman series is a very good step in that direction. Unfortunately for what I have read they tend do be headstock heavy and I was not blown away, soundwise, watching reviews. If as you suggested they were to bring the ATK back - but lighter - I would be very tempted. Edited April 17, 2023 by Paolo85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 16 hours ago, TheGreek said: I had one for a while. Far too cumbersome to be used regularly. I don't know why they're called "Stingray killers" - I didn't see them as directly comparable. Yeah, "back killers" maybe, but I didn't see anything Stingray Killer about the one I had (which was very nice, but a real boat anchor). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 (edited) I've had a few lefty ATK's, all made in Japan. They were originally made in Korea (from 1994-1995), but when they became succesful production moved to Japan for just a few short years (1996-1998) before moving back to Korea - with the exception of a Prestige model that was short-lived, the ATK1300/1305. And the weirdest oddity of all, the USA-made USATK models - made for Ibanez by Bunker Guitars, with their unique, patented Tension-free Neck, which is basically just a wooden shell around an adjustable steel rod, and a separate headstock bolted to the end. The later ATK series were Indonesian, and are easily recognizable for their lack of a truss rod cover on the headstock, but rather a spokewheel truss rod adjuster at the neck heel. I've owned two ATK300's and one very rare ATK305 (only a scant few lefties ever made). I loved them, but I'm not really into the MM type tone anymore and sold all my basses with MM-style pickups. I kinda wish I had kept the fourstring in this picture, it was a beast and somehow sounded warmer and punchier than the other two ATK's I owned. Edited April 18, 2023 by LeftyJ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I had an ATK305 and it was pretty good - sounded good, played well, but its neck was too wide for me so it never became a favourite. However, it was a very solid bass to play and the pickup was great. I am surprised they don't do them any more, but I guess they know the sales figures! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 33 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I am surprised they don't do them any more, but I guess they know the sales figures! Yep. They were discontinued twice now. Production of the Japanese and Korean models ran from 1994-1999. They came back by popular demand in 2007 after a certain mr. Paul Gray of Slipknot fame could be seen regularly gigging a left-handed amber ATK300. He was the one reason the ATK series was brought back, and he was subsequently honoured with his own signature model, the Ibanez PGB-1. These Indonesian models ran from 2007-2018. During this time, Ibanez also made some smaller-bodied versions (like the ATK200) to bring the weight down. These look very similar, but the body is slightly narrower. These also had a slightly different bridge which fits humbuckers with regular MM dimensions, which made them easier to modify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I think the pickup of the ATK is the thing that made it special. I remember when first had it I wondered what the point of the switch was as the sounds weren't that different, but turned out when playing live at volume it made a huge difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lidl e Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 On 16/04/2023 at 18:29, Rib13Bass said: With the exception of weight, this bass is a very impressive Stingray alternative - - Soundwise: it definitely gets very inside the Stingray ballpark, enough to where it would be difficult to be able to tell the difference if part of a recording. What do you think? I'm curious if any of you are hearing it the way I am. Enjoy I dont know rib13. I know DRF. Wassup, bud. It's boalg. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rib13Bass Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 12 hours ago, lidl e said: I dont know rib13. I know DRF. Wassup, bud. It's boalg. WOW!!! Hey my brother ! I miss ya, dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I had a 300, mint green job. Loved it but for some reason decided to move it on (probably had my head turned by something else...). One that got away... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 An atk 300 is for sale in the sales section, if anyone interested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurroundedByManatees Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I like ATK's. They are definitely a cheap alternative to a Stingray. They come pretty close imo. The best one I've played was a Japanese 305, I wouldn't mind having another 🙂 The status of "stingray-killer" is usually mentioned by sellers, just because they've read it somewhere and think it sounds good I guess. There is no reason why they would make a Stingray feel sad.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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