Ibanez Announces The Return Of The ATK Bass Guitar

Ibanez has announced the return of the big-bodied, big-necked ATK bass to the Ibanez line. Two main versions will be offered.

The upper-end version, the ATK700, features a light ash body, quilted maple top and a 5pc maple/walnut neck and will be available in two finishes, Blue Moon and Natural. The list price will be $933.32.

The basic version, the ATK300, features a light ash body and a 3pc maple neck with maple fretboard. The four-string version of the ATK300 will be available in three finishes: Black, Natural and Tri-Fade Burst. The list price will be $666,65. The five-string version, the ATK305 will be available in Tri-Fade Burst finish and will list for $706.65

The ATK's signature feature is a 3-coil pickup, which is accessed by a special character switch that allows rapid changes of tone, all in humbucking mode. The most noticeable feature is the bridge, which has been placed, as are the pickups, to facilitate slapping and popping techniques. The ATK bridge also allows through-body stringing for more low-end and sustain, or through-bridge stringing for more high-end and attack.

Background

Remarked Paul Specht of Ibanez Communications: "The ATK was released in 1995, when grunge was still in force, to be our 'anti-Soundgear' bass. Where our Soundgear is sleek, sexy, and narrow necked, the more aggressive ATK was designed for players who wanted a big-bodied, big-necked bass with the resulting huge tones you can only get from the combination."

Various ATK's were made in Japan, Korea and the United States from 1995 to 1999, when the bass was discontinued due to changing music trends and rising interest in other Ibanez models like the Soundgear and the BTB.