ATK BASS BRIDGE AND STANDARD BASS BRIDGE

To adjust the string height of the saddles use a 1.5mm allen wrench on each saddle (4)
To adjust Intonation adjust the phillips head screw back or forth.

STRING GAUGES
Ibanez guitars are setup from the factory with the following standard string gauges.
Models

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

Electric

.009

.011

.016

.024

.032

.042

7 String

.009

.011

.016

.024

.032

.042

Bass 4

.045

.065

.80

.100

Bass 5

.045

.065

.085

.105

.125

Bass 6

.030

.045

.065

.080

.105

.128

Acoustic .012

.016

.024

.032

.042

.053

7th
.054

ADJUSTING THE INTONATION

Intonation adjustment is usually necessary when new strings are fitted (it can also
be affected by the angle of the tremolo unit).
Adjusting the intonation is performed by moving the individual string saddles forward
or backward.
To check the intonation: Use an electronic tuner and tune the guitar to a standard
pitch.
Note: All lbanez guitars use A--440 for a standard pitch. Play the harmonic at the
12th fret, compare it to the fretted noteat the 12th fret, these notes should read the
same on the tuner.
Before adjusting the intonation, first determine the direction that the saddle needs to
be moved.
Note: If the 12th fret is sharper than the open note, the saddle needs to be moved
back.
If the 12th fret is flatter than the open note, the saddle needs to be moved forward.

TRUSSROD
All guitar necks are subject to great stress as a result of string tension, humidity or
changes in climactic conditions. Occasionally, there are times when the neck may
need adjustment.
The truss rod is adjustable at the headstock using as allen wrench or an adjustment
wrench.
Note: This adjustment should be performed periodically and only by qualified repair
personnel. Over adjustment can result in damage to the instrument and will no be
covered under warranty.
SETTING STRING ACTION
"Action" is measured by the distance between the string and the fret.lbanez
standard action is set from the top of the fourteenth fret to the bottom of the string.
Note: Make sure the truss rod is properly adjusted before adjusting the action.

The action can be easily adjusted by raising or lowering the bridge studs or saddles
depending on the model.
If lower than standard settings are desired, this can often result in"buzz" or "rattle" of
the strings. This is caused by the string vibrating.
Different gauges of strings can result in the need for truss rod, tremolo, action or
intonation adjustment.

Neck Relief

You want a little...not a whole lot for example this is an exaggerated picture, but you will get the idea.

keep in mind you want it to look pretty straight when looking down the neck of the bass.
To site the neck hold the bass by the horn and bring the headstock toward your face...then close one eye
and look down the side of the neck.
this may help too

To adjust

Action
Action is measured from the bottom of the string to the top of the 14th fret.

Low E - should be apprx 2.75mm to 3mm

G - should be apprx 2mm to 2.5mm
this is also subjective, as long as you are not buzzing while playing you can get away with whatever you are
comfortable with.

Pickup Height
Your pickups should measure about 3mm from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string (on both the
high and low sides) while depressing the last fret on the fretboard.

Intonation
When holding down the 12th fret the note that you play should be the same as when the bass is un-fretted
this should also be the same when you hit the harmonic on the 12th fret.
for the first string
open (nothing fretted)- E
12th fret depressed - E
harmonic on 12th fret - E

To adjust Intonation move the saddle back and forth until you have the result above

String Action Gauge

How to determine string action with the String Action Gauge.
I-0670

Measure string action (the height of the string above the fret) at any point by placing the
gauge behind the string. The string height markings are at increments of .010" (ten
thousandths of an inch). When the bottom of a mark aligns with the bottom of the string, that
measurement is the string height at that point.
The markings themselves are .005" thick, so referring to the top of a mark instead of the

bottom adds .005" to the measurement. In this way the progressive string height scale
measures in .005" increments.

String action specs

The suggested measurements listed here refer to the string height at the 1st fret and also at
a higher fret. Measured for the outermost bass and treble strings.
Relief
Lay a straightedge across the frets and measure the clearance at the 8th. (Or put a capo at
the 1st fret and press a string down at the highest fret the string becomes the
straightedge.)
Suggested action settings
Steel-string acoustic guitar

Bass E

Treble E

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 12th fret
Relief: .002" at the 8th fret

.023"
.090"

.013"
.070"

Nylon-string acoustic guitar

Bass E

Treble E

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 12th fret
Relief: .002" at the 8th fret

.030"
.156"

.024"
.125"

Electric guitar

Bass E

Treble E

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 12th fret
Relief: .001" at the 8th fret

.024"
.078"

.010"
.063"

Bass

Bass E

Treble G

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 17th fret
Relief: .014" at the 7th fret

.022"
.105"

.020"
.094"

Mandolin

Bass G

Treble E

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 17th fret
Relief: .005" at the 6th fret

.030"
.075"

.020"
.065"

Banjo

Bass D

Treble D

Action at the 1st fret

Action at the 12th fret
Relief: .008" at the 8th fret

.037"
.090"

.035"
.090"

For more information on setups, including setup preferences of

famous players, see Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide
and How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!

IBANEZ ATK 300 BASS

Pros:The Musicman sound plus more for Half the price.

Built like a tank.
Cons:Looks like they selling these in the states in '99.
Better get on Ebay.
The Bottom Line:If you want the Musicman sound
without the Musicman price, or a versatile and well
constructed workhorse of a bass: Then go ATK.
The Ibanez ATK is a diamond in the rough. It's not a
boutique bass. It is not exotic. It is not handmade. It won't
cost you an arm and a leg either. What it will do is provide
you with years of flawless service in the trenches of your
musical endeavors. What it will also do is provide you with
a fairly wide pallette of very usable and musical sounds
(and it does the Musicman thing particularly well). The ATK
is a really great instrument and it's a shame that Ibanez
doesn't sell them in the U.S. anymore.
I originally bought my ATK in 1995. I had a Squier P bass
and this ATK was my first REAL bass. I was in love with
the Red Hot Chilli peppers and wanted to sound like Flea
so bad I could taste it, but at 15 I couldn't even think of
affording a Musicman Stingray. I checked out the ATK
because I had read that it was designed with the
Musicman sound in mind. A local shop had a brand new
sunburst 4 string hanging on their wall, and after a few
hours with this bass, I forked over the cash and went
home a happy teen. I played this bass all through high
school, and I continued to play it through college. It has
NEVER given me any trouble. I absolutely love this bass. I

have since succumbed to gear lust and now play an older

Warwick thumb 5 (she's so sexy it hurts), but I still come
back to the old ATK and it never ceases to impress me
with the rich sounds it can produce. I don't think I'll ever
get rid of this bass.
The ATK apparently came in several different models and
configurations but Ibanez sold only the 300 and 305 in the
U.S. The construction is top notch - three piece ash body,
three piece 22 fret maple neck and maple fretboard. Medjumbo frets, black dot markers. Mine has a nice sunburst
finish. The bridge is large and substantial with its polished
plate extending up to surround the single pickup, and it
allows for top or through-body stringing (although I've
found I break strings more often when through-body
stringing). The neck is a 5 bolt asymmetrical pattern, well
fitted with no slack in the neck pocket and no movement.
The control cavity is well shielded with threaded brass
inserts for the cover screws (a feature usually found on
high dollar instruments), and the battery compartment has
its own separate cover. It is really surprisingly well
constructed considering some of Ibanez's other offerings.
For the electronics end, there's one MM style 3 coil (2
coils, 1 dummy) with a 3-way selector switch; you've got 3
choices: single coil (still humbucking with dummy coil),
series, and parallel. The tuners are big open gear, 2+2
configuration by schaller. It has an onboard 3 band eq with
bass, mid, and treble boost and cut as well as a volume
control and the coil switch mentioned above. The eq is
really well voiced and usable. It's pretty powerful too (go

easy on the bass knob for your speakers' sake). You can
really get a lot of different sounds out of the ATK and it
lends itself to any style of playing, be it fingerstyle, slap,
with a pick, etc. (hell, it's way better for slapping than my
Warwick!).
As far as ergonomics and playability, well it is a pretty
good sized hunk of wood. The body is somewhat similar to
a P bass on steroids, and the neck is nothing like the tiny
little things on Ibanez SR series (which I never really cared
for anyway). It is meaty but NOT uncomfortable at all.
Definitely playable. The ATK is a little on the heavy side,
but not unbearable (and light compared to my Warwick).
That's probably its only fault. The weight lends itself to the
bulletproof feel of this bass though, as well as its sweet
tone I'm sure. Good string spacing, great for slapping and
popping till your fingers bleed. It came set up with medium
to low action and stayed that way for years till I learned
how to set up my basses myself. It still has great, low
action, allowing speed-of-thought fingering with minimal
effort (Learn how to set up your bass!). I also want to
mention the looks of this bass. Very distinctive, especially
with the big honkin' chrome wrap-around bridge. Not ugly
really. Just distinctive. I can't say it enough. The ATK is
what a bass should be.
FINISHES
NTF
Natural Flat

SPECS

neck type

ATK4 3pc Maple neck

body

Ash body

fretboard

Maple fretboard w/Black dot inlay

fret

Medium frets w/Premium fret edge treatment

number of frets

22

bridge

ATK4 bridge

neck pickup

CAP Sonic Arch4 neck pickup (Passive)

bridge pickup

CAP Double Humbucker bridge pickup (Passive)

equaliser

Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band eq

nut

Graph Tech BLACK TUSQ XL nut

hardware color

Chrome

case/bag

Gig bag included

NECK DIMENSIONS

Scale
a : Width at Nut
b : Width at Last Fret
c : Thickness at 1st
d : Thickness at 12th
Radius

CONTROLS

FREQUENCY RESPONSE