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Ibanez ATK300
List: $1,000
When the ATK (short for ‘Attack’) bass was introduced back in 1995, it was a departure from the favoured Ibanez model back then (still is); the SR bass. As opposed to the latter’s sleek incarnation, the ATK sports a broader body & neck width plus a meatier neck rear; quite a contrast to its speed inducing cousin. Nevertheless, the ATK was introduced to appease the introverts who wished for a more thumping low end & has no obligations to shred their notes. The ATK took off quite successfully & a tasteful variation was introduced in 1998, featuring a neck single coil pickup. Nevertheless, due to waning popularity, 2004 saw the demise of the ATK but this year, the ATK is brought back to life under an Indonesian craftsmanship.
Build/ fit/ finish/ features
Contrary to its mammoth physique, the ATK300 is a fundamental player; a 4-stringer featuring & an active 3-band EQ section. The feature that dichotimised the camp into a love/ hate affair is the lone, triple coil pickup. Good news for cult followers is that the manufacturer has opted to retain the original body wood material (light ash), body end truss rod adjustment wheel & the through-body stringing feature, this of course being the potent formula for the ATK’s resonance & sustain factors.
There is nothing particularly wrong with the ATK in this department except for the fact that it’s quite massive (oh, wait till you handle Music Man’s Stingray…). Reflecting its guitar counterparts (namely the RGR321, RGR320 & MTM2), the QC here is admirable. This is of significant consideration as the bass retails for a good $1,000; in Planet Snob, the ATK's country of production is an insult to the asking price. Nevertheless, dismiss the ATK at your personal loss. Along with the Chinese Artcore models, this Far Eastern product is nothing short of fantastic.
Rating: 95%
Tone/ playability
Despite the electronic trickery on offer, the ATK’s overall voicing here is one of bottom end supremacy. The 3-band EQ & 2 single-coil emulations (thanks to the split coil feature) somehow failed to alleviate the ATK’s tone out of the rumble domain. What you get is enhanced clarity as opposed to a true enhancement of the upper end frequencies. In this light, the ATK is excellent for groove mongers & slap/ pop kings. This is further accentuated by the instrument’s medium frets & super smooth maple fretboard. The ATK is also superb played with a pick. If you are the solo type, please be informed that the upper frets access here is, at best, accessible. Do not expect a Fedora-grade generosity.
Tone test equipment:
• Amps: Ibanez SW35/ Fender Rumble 100
Rating: 88%
Conclusion
The ATK is revived following a request by Ibanez enthusiasts for a more boomy bass which is quite absent in the manufacturer’s catalogue. In addition to its mere re-introduction, the ATK has two other manifestations; the 5-string option as well as Slipknot’s Paul Gray signature model. For those of us who require a more utilitarian bass tone & prefers an established non-American brand name, this bass is for you. However, the overall built & weight of the ATK might repel many players in this part of the world due to their natural physique. The functional objective of the ATK should not be compared to its SR siblings, as well as the countless single coil laden Fenders out there. It is, for sure, a good sounding & well playing bass for the money.
Overall rating: 89%
Likes:
• That deep voicing…
• Superb build & finish
Dislikes:
• Not a wide range of tones on offer
• Weight
