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comparison question?

BOOST

BOOST

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2006
Messages
427
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In The Pickup of a Sterling!
hey all i'm new.. to the EB MM and the forums.. i currently own a ibanez ATK 4 string 300 ..lefty... yes i'm a another lefty.. anyways when i bought this bass years back i could not afford the EB stingray i wanted :( now i can and my bass is in prestiege condition.. so i'm debating trading in partially or keeping? or should i maybe not purchase one at all?? i mean i know you guys are all probably 100% EB...no offense.. but i have read and heard that the ATK was basically a clone to compete with the sting ray but turned out to be a lil more diverse? so your input on my bass?? and possibly what you think i should do?? thanks :) and i hope to enjoy my stay

ryan
 
First and foremost, WELCOME! Glad to have you hear man. :)

Personally, I own a StingRay 4 and StingRay 5 and still have my very first bass. It may be in shambles but I still have it. If you're somewhat attatched to that Ibanez, then keep it and show it some love every now and then. If you get you a MusicMan, I personally promise you that you won't regret it. :D

Andrew
 
Welcome to the forum BOOST, make yourself at home.

I recently sold my first bass (f*nd*r MIM), after buying around 12 basses and it was easy for me, all the other basses were way better.

I can certainly testify that EBMM makes a great left hand instrument; I’ll soon have 4 of them. I’ve got several non-EBMM basses that cost way more, but they wind up hanging on the wall far more that any of the EBMM’s do.

I have no problem recommending an EBMM lefty to anyone, they’re great!




No, I don’t work for EBMM in any capacity, but when I’m absolutely certain about something, I will endorse it and Balls are Great!
 
Psycho Ward said:
Welcome to the forum BOOST, make yourself at home.

I recently sold my first bass (f*nd*r MIM), after buying around 12 basses and it was easy for me, all the other basses were way better.

I can certainly testify that EBMM makes a great left hand instrument; I’ll soon have 4 of them. I’ve got several non-EBMM basses that cost way more, but they wind up hanging on the wall far more that any of the EBMM’s do.

I have no problem recommending an EBMM lefty to anyone, they’re great!




No, I don’t work for EBMM in any capacity, but when I’m absolutely certain about something, I will endorse it and Balls are Great!
Click to expand...


Yes, balls are great!! Specially Big Ballz!:eek: :D
 
I played an ATK years ago when I worked at a local music shop & it seemed to be a good bass from what I recall. But it would be worth it to get an EBMM bass...trust me! :cool:
 
Dr Stankface said:
First and foremost, WELCOME! Glad to have you here man. :)

Personally, I own a StingRay 4 and StingRay 5 and still have my very first bass. It may be in shambles but I still have it. If you're somewhat attached to that Ibanez, then keep it and show it some love every now and then. If you get you a MusicMan, I personally promise you that you won't regret it. :D

Andrew
Click to expand...

...Agree with Stanky 100% :)
 
I've played some ATK's (noteowned), and their great for the money, but they sure ant' no stingray!
Like stated above: buy one, you won't regret it! And when you decided to buy one, their's the agony of choice (which one? what finish? maple/rosewood?,....) :D
 
I had an ATK fiver way back when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

It was a nice sounding bass, but it was HEAVY. And the hardware tarnished up very quickly....and I had a hell of a time keeping the neck adjusted properly.

Mostly, it was heavy. Like wearing a piano around my neck.

But if you're partial to yours, why not keep it?

I will say, to no one's surprise, that I find EB basses to be much, much better instruments.

(Shocking, I know, coming from me of all people.)

Jack
 
Welcome BOOST!

Having owned more basses than anybody in the free world has a right to, I can't keep anything in my aresenal that doesn't have the EBMM logo on it.

And no, I'm not brainwashed.
 
I've got an ATK 300 FL and a StingRay 4FL. Should make a dead-on comparo, but my Ray is modded, BassLines PU and innards. However, I have compared my Ray FL to a stock Ray FL. Stock has more sizzle, which I am glad to do without.

My ATK is the best MM-inspired ax I've every played. Not talking about appearance-rip-off 'clones' here, just things like the Ray, the ATK, the GnL Climax,, etc. It sounds terrific, hotter than a stock Ray but smoother [meaning less sizzle, less 'brittle']. So did Ibanez beat MM at their own game? Not really. As others have mentioned, ATKs are great boat anchors and it's not too much of a challenge to get humongous tone from humongous 12 or 13 lb slabs of wood and wire with thru-body stringing.

If you really dig your EB MM [I assume you'll get into them], the ATK is a very compatible back-up if you don't have to wear it for hours on end. Maybe you'll want to defret it. Most players wear their fretless less than 25% of the gig.

I'm gonna get flak for this, but as a player of both, I can't tell you that you'll get a several hundred dollar improvement in sound and playability. They did a really great job with the ATK so the difference won't be huge. But you can find StingRays under 9.5 lb. The tuners on my ATK are not so great [not worn, just mediocre], and the wood you see thru the burst finish is truly ugly. The MMs are plainly a better bass, but knowing the ATK as well as I do, there's no urgency to upgrade. It's not some entry level turd. You'll part with it or retire it when you're sick of the weight.

Or maybe you just need a 5-string? Nobody needs a heavier ATK! If you like the ATK but you need a 5, you want a MM. Period. Also, if you've been trying to figger out what that 3-way switch is for on the ATK, just try a Sterling or an SR5 to experience a switch that really does something.
 
Last edited:
Golem said:
I've got an ATK 300 FL and a StingRay 4FL. Should make a dead-on comparo, but my Ray is modded, BassLines PU and innards. However, I have compared my Ray FL to a stock Ray FL. Stock has more sizzle, which I am glad to do without.

My ATK is the best MM-inspired ax I've every played. Not talking about appearance-rip-off 'clones' here, just things like the Ray, the ATK, the GnL Climax,, etc. It sounds terrific, hotter than a stock Ray but smoother [meaning less sizzle, less 'brittle']. So did Ibanez beat MM at their own game? Not really. As others have mentioned, ATKs are great boat anchors and it's not too much of a challenge to get humongous tone from humongous 12 or 13 lb slabs of wood and wire with thru-body stringing.

If you really dig your EB MM [I assume you'll get into them], the ATK is a very compatible back-up if you don't have to wear it for hours on end. Maybe you'll want to defret it. Most players wear their fretless less than 25% of the gig.

I'm gonna get flak for this, but as a player of both, I can't tell you that you'll get a several hundred dollar improvement in sound and playability. They did a really great job with the ATK so the difference won't be huge. But you can find StingRays under 9.5 lb. The tuners on my ATK are not so great [not worn, just mediocre], and the wood you see thru the burst finish is truly ugly. The MMs are plainly a better bass, but knowing the ATK as well as I do, there's no urgency to upgrade. It's not some entry level turd. You'll part with it or retire it when your sick of the weight.

But if you want a Bongo...you need a new bass yestrday already.
Click to expand...



I'm quite used to carrying around an extra 9.5lbs.
 
BigBallz said:
I'm quite used to carrying around an extra 9.5lbs.
Click to expand...
Not quite sure what you mean. An ATK is an extra 3 lbs on the shoulder, as compared to a swamp ash Ray.

If you just mean you're very happy to have a 9.5 lb Ray, or that you carry two of them, way cool. If you personally put on 9.5 lbs, go to the gym. You don't mean you're preggers do you?
 
ok thanks guys well i'm going to get a MM stingray 4 string.. decided translucent teal, moonpickguard, and rose wood fret with matching stock.. i'm a lefty too.. NOW!!! does anyone know where to go for best deals? lol in canada would help... but states is ok too.. also.. when u order these bases do they come with a case?
 
BOOST said:
ok thanks guys well i'm going to get a MM stingray 4 string.. decided translucent teal, moonpickguard, and rose wood fret with matching stock.. i'm a lefty too.. NOW!!! does anyone know where to go for best deals? lol in canada would help... but states is ok too.. also.. when u order these bases do they come with a case?
Click to expand...

Case is included. Good Luck!
 
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