Ibanez ATK300 [2007-2010]

I snagged this baby at a pawn shop for $175 out the door with an Ibanez case.

I always thought I would like to play guitar, but my hands & fingeers are huge, and trying to wrestle guitar strings never worked. When I picked up this bass, I picked up a mighty massive (both size and weight) guitar, and found I could actually hit one string at a time!

This bass comes with a huge chrome bridge, ash body w/maple neck, and a beautiful furniture-like finish. It is buil like a s**t brickhouse. It also has 4 knobs (volume, bass, mid, and treble controls) as well as a switch that allows you to shoose the coils in the soapbox style pickup.

It might be a dream if it were a little lighter, but I have picked up lighter basses and this ones weight seems to fit it's size. Really no complaints.

SOlid. Thruough and through. Nice wood, beefy bridge, clean frets, great finish.

I think they still make these out of Japan, and if you are big guy like me, try to get one. You won't be sorry.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

(Originally written by seb_c_bien/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
3-coil pickup.

Active, bass, medium, treble.

I would prefer an overall tone control!

Cheap/moderate finish

UTILIZATION

A bit rough but quite pleasant neck.

Good playing comfort although the instrument could be more ergonomic with a thumb rest for finger picking.

To replace the battery you have to unscrew the rear plate.

SOUNDS

VERSATILITY: You can play everything with this bass guitar! The active EQ and the 3-way toggle switch (attack, classic and whatever) provide huge possibilities. For finger picking select the classic setting, boost the low-end and reduce the highs: You'll get a round and warm sound but with not enough sustain, unfortunately. The bass is also very good for slapping thanks to its EQ and switch (in attack mode). The sound growls a bit and has a powerful impact. For pick playing (select the center position, turn the low and high controls fully on and turn the mids halfway), the sound is also very good but the instrument starts to show its limitations, the sound loses definition and presence (which, on the other hand, might be normal with such settings).

LINEARITY: the response is quite flat and characterless (for more character, buy a passive bass). This bass guitar emphasizes the quality of the amp you use.

BALANCE: Well-balanced frequency response, good note and octave balance, powerful E-string.

I also tested it with a Big Muff fuzz pedal and a fat distortion (DOD FX-69)!

EQ: Not very subtle but extremely effective and accurate volume control! The selector has a subtle influence on the sound and it's good so otherwise it would have been too much and the instrument would have lost versatility.

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°Before buying it I tested an Ibanez Signature (Korn's bassist model) and it disappointed me.

I also tried out a budget Cort A4 which wasn't that bad but the sound had less dynamics and was not so versatile.

A Squier PB modified: unbalanced sound.

A Squier PB: unbalanced sound without punch.

An Ibanez SDR: too twangy for my taste.

°Compared with this instruments, the ATK-300 provides a very good performance.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for one month and I find the price/quality/versatility ratio very good. It's a good instrument for beginners or for other musicians who want to learn bass guitar.

I bought it secondhand and I think I would have to spend a lot more money to find a better sounding and more versatile instrument.

2009 model, very well manufactured in Indonesia, in the Cort factory in what I was told, to check. Having decided not to buy Chinese instrument (saw how the workers are treated there, it is not obliged to condone) that suits me. For technical specs, everything is on the site of Ibanez, it will be better written by me

USE

The handle is fantastic! Thick and round, it fills the hand and is especially "soft" yet firm, roughly opposite the handle of an Ibanez SR. After playing lots of bass in 20 years of practice (already!), The handle of the ATK is the one I needed knowing that I have big hands and I've never been completely at comfortable with my Fender Precision (which are super bass) or other yamaha and Cort.
The bass has a look that I find pretty terrible, very good ergonomics, balanced game standing or sitting, and has a weight quite bearable, important detail for those who have back problems like me. Easy access to acute, knowing that the handle body-fitting shoe is very streamlined.

SOUNDS

"I play everything" we read often in these lines ... As to me nothing more true!
So versatile, and is widely ATK allows with its micro triple coil. Position 1 (I use +), more rounded and enveloping sound rendering 2 is a more powerful hair and 3, we approach a vintage sound. All this, of course, is for my use on my amp Hohner MVB 500 50w (vintage and terribly effective). Because we all know that a guitar or bass can not be judged only in terms of what amplifies it. I also connects to my Presonus card for computer music use, and uses and AmpliTube guitar rig mac software. Here too, it does so without problem! My favorite sounds with this bass are those that stick to the dynamic game, with or without slap: bass and treble bottomless mediums. This insrtu was designed for this purpose and this remark. The downside may be difficult to get a well rounded sound typical Jazzbass ... but by boosting the bass on the Equalization and lowering mids and highs we approach anyway.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I've had 6 months, I was looking for a low average range in nine. Have been many times in my favorite store and have tested everything revolved around 400-500 euros max: Fender Jazzbass and precision Southwestern (these are frankly low supplanted in this range, it is expensive logo) Cort GB99 (j ' I hesitated a moment ...), a Yamaha BB reissue, the Squier classic vibe, ESP, etc. Each time I returned to the ATK! This does not mean that another low was not intended for me, but this was obvious.
This bass is original, both in aesthetics and sound. Not comparable to ultra flat series that also Ibanez (or Cort), it is also far from typical low metal. His domain is the rock, funk (excellent slap) and derivatives. Also jazz, jazz-rock, at least. I read that "ATK" was the nickname of "attak", says it all matter punch! I am fully satisfied, and if I find a magic wand one morning, maybe I'll stick him a neck pickup for more velvety, unless a replacement of the original micro possible. Excellent bass in its price range, try before deciding, but in any case can not be ignored, which is not bad!

Rdition
a micro
worse and I know
handle fairly easy, but I find a little stiff

UTILIZATION

So I said, neck a little stiff I think, but it can be a matter of habit I just acqurir
yes ACCS fastoche
apse weight, it does not care about you no
the sound is really surprising
sincrement, I can not see the interest to buy low aujourdh'ui Chres, a part of TRS premium because it sounds a little gear with a good amp in the ass kind eden as I have, well, we see that the fire musicman stingray with my friend or jazz bass 75 rissue us
vraimet impressive bass and midrange, or the apche is a bit in the treble, it's seen the diffrence with a good jazz bass and musicman
otherwise the rock is perfect, and the price is really, I swear
I'm bluffing

SOUNDS

For me it fits a little while PRSA,
with eden
dja said above

OVERALL OPINION

I recently bought 350 euros OCCAZ like new
is worth
I dja a G & L Tribute L2000 which I t by one of pioneers to buy
and I keep it as a relic
these are really low complmentaires, to ATK rock, g & l for the funk
say that the two runies compltement replace a musicman
to report quality price, go there without hsiter, a severe snoring, sounded the death