LeftyJ

Can you believe this is actually a smaller-bodied model compared to the original ATK shape? Those can be even heavier! The 200 (and several other more recent models) have a slightly slimmed-down body shape, it's not as wide as the original ones. Helps when looking for a case that fits. And the headstock is just slightly narrower as well. I've had three MIJ ATK's from the 1990's and all of them were boat anchors - especially my 5-string ATK305. They were wonderful basses, and I somewhat regret selling my first one. I've had them alongside a Stingray 5 for a few years, and as far as comparison goes I think they were very similar - both in weight, tone and feel. The neck shape of the ATK305 was a really close match to the SR5. The main difference in feel was the satin lacquer finish on the ATK (but polished to a gloss by years of playing) versus the oil finish on the Ray. Tonewise, the Ray had more clank and less mid scoop with all set to neutral, and was overall the more agressive sounding of the two. The ATK had a trimpot on the preamp board to adjust the output level, but even when matching it to the Ray it was still the more polite sounding of the two. Both had that distinct brightness but on the Ray this started at a lower frequency, it seemed, which helped it punch through a mix just a bit better. Both were fantastic basses though, and the ATK punched well above its price point. Enjoy!

Höfner posted an update on their socials today to clarify one or two things: Dear musicians, Höfner fans & friends, some of you may have already heard: our company has been going through a difficult period - especially since the introduction of the US tariffs - and filed for insolvency on Thursday, 11 December 2025. We would like to clarify a few things: We are not discontinuing production, distribution or our media channels. In Germany, there is a three-month period before the actual insolvency procedure is opened. This period offers the opportunity to consolidate the company and restructure it for a better future. Within this period, we will continue to build and sell our instruments and the Höfner team is doing its best to provide you with the support, service and warranties you expect. We would like to express our appreciation to all of you who continue to support us even in these difficult times! Thank You! The team at Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG

FTFY. It is very much still the same company. To be fair though, Gary Levinson operated from Switzerland but no guitars or basses were actually built there. The manufacturing was done in Japan at first, and later in Korea. The one @Brian18242 posted is the Blade Austin Classic, and is made in China.

That's sad, such an iconic brand. I'd love to own a Club Bass one day, but they're too expensive to justify how little I would play it (as there were never any lefty Icon, Ignition or Contemporary Club basses, only Violin basses - but I really don't care for those even if it is arguably THE most iconic lefty bass out there).

That's certainly an acquired taste! Somewhat reminds me of the Jackson Anti Gravity too, which was designed by the late Harry Fleishman. This was the original prototype, which borrows heavily from Kubicki. The production instrument by the Jackson Custom Shop kept the overall shape, but without the fanned frets, with regular magnetic pickups and with a pointy headstock:

And this one, about that same awful song:

And this classic:

At first glance I thought they only changed the saddle design, but I see they went with intonation screws instead of the free sliding saddle that locked in place. Interesting choice.

I can't recall any bass gear purchases in 2025. The sad truth is I've barely touched my basses all year, I've decided to leave my doom band and I've had a renewed interest in guitar. Because boy did I make some guitar purchases! I have long been interested in Fender's offset offerings, and have had lurking GAS for a lefty Jazzmaster for years now, and a short stint with an Ibanez ORM-1 left me madly in love with te 24" scale but hankering for something that also had a neck pickup. So lo and behold when in February both a Jazzmaster and a Jaguar popped up used for fair prices! Of course I did the sensible thing and bought both of them, and I've been playing both a lot but especially the Jaguar. The Jazzmaster is an American Professional II from 2023, and the Jaguar is a Mod Shop instrument from 2020 that had its electronics slightly (and badly) modded. I had the electronics tidied up and added the classic "strangle switch". And then a few weeks ago the same seller I got the Jaguar from offered a MIC Danelectro DC for sale, that I also really wanted to try. At just €150 I couldn't resist. And I've been having a ridiculous load of fun with it so far! It looks like a toy, it feels like a toy, it's built like a toy, but it's REALLY fun to play (even unplugged, as the hollow construction makes it surprisingly loud) and the amplified tone is fantastic. The lipstick pickups by themselves are nothing impressive, but they have great clarity. The real surprise was the middle position of the switch, because as it turns out both pickups are then wired in series and sound surprisingly powerful and wonderfully chimey.

There's some comfort in knowing it was a one-off at least.

I guess Rickenbacker lost the blueprints of these: Now that's a proper shortscale 4001. The proportions are slightly weird, but it's very cool.

Worse! Metal!

I don't really see myself playing my air phallus behind my back, and especially not with my teeth, sorry.

When I bought my (nowformer) Stingray 5 in an eBay auction, the seller (the bass player of IONA) let me know his band would be coming to a venue near me in a few weeks time. Rather than shipping the bass to me, he suggested he'd put me on the guest list so he could hand it to me personally. I gladly accepted! To add to that, I was allowed to bring a friend, and he suggested I pay him my winning bid in Euros rather than Pounds (saved me about €100), plus I got a live DVD from their merch shop with the bass in action. The bass came in a well-traveled aluminium Stagg case with many airline stickers which I still have (I later bought a real Music Man case for it because the Stagg would leave sticky residue on the bass every time I used it). Very cool experience! The band played folky prog rock and I greatly enjoyed the evening, even if the band were very vocally christian and I'm usually not into religiously themed music. It was a wonderful bass too, that I kinda wish I still had. I traded it for a Status S2 Classic 5-string that is my current number one, so I guess it was a happy farewell!

I have no basses or guitars with roasted necks, but I do have 2 cents about Music Man necks moving: I had a Stingray 5 which was very susceptible to changes in humidity, and would move quite a bit with the change of the seasons, but it got a LOT more stable when I had the neck re-waxed by my favourite luthier. The Music Man necks are oiled / waxed rather than lacquered, which should seal the wood just the same against humidity, but unlike lacquer an oiled / waxed neck does require regular maintenance.