Hartke - in general?

[AnalogBomb]

I've recently made the move to Hartke after trying out various other brands (Ashdown, GK, TC, and ahem, err laney) and I have to say I'm dead pleased! I picked up an LH500 head in a trade and it packs a punch, both in volume and tonally. Best of all I like its no nonsense EQ! I'm playing through a transporter series cab too.

Having heard various opinions on Hartke, just wondered what people thought in general?

[paul_5]

I really like the stuff. I've had an LH1000 and LH500 and still use their Hydrive 410 cab. It's always been very reliable and i've never had any problems with anything of theirs. The tone shaping o the LH range is a bit underwhelming, hence not using them anymore (wide variety of basses being used through the same head needs a bit more flexibility for my taste) but generally I've been very impressed.

[0175westwood29]

love the cabs never really tried out there heads

andy

[Conan]

I have a(n) LH500 and although I love the power and basic tone, I found that I just can't boost the mid-range enough. So I have "invested" twenty quid on a cheap Behringer graphic equaliser pedal.

Problem appears to be solved!

[OldG]

I used to gig with a Jazz through a borrowed HA3500 and TP410 - lovely tone with just a little valve pre mixed in.

I was extremely sad to give it back and use the Line 6 LD300 I bought to replace it - total disappointment

[BILL POSTERS]

I love it.

Currently using a 3500 4X10 Combo, which I bought new in 06 after trying one in a rehearsal room and being blown away by it,
Its a great bread and butter amp, used it in all sorts of situations, loud and not so loud, and its been trouble free, still get people asking what it is and comlimenting the sound..

Had a few others, mainly 3500 heads which i.ve bought faulty and sold. and I use my daughters 120W Kickback as a practice amp.

[icastle]

I have an old HA3000 head that I use as a backup amp.

No built in effects and just a simple 4 band parametric - very little to go wrong and no little sliders to break off... a good little workhorse.

[barkin]

My current gigging rig is a Tanglewater Classic J through a LH500 and a Barefaced Compact, and I can't see me changing it any time soon.

Also have an HA2500 which I keep mainly as a backup, but I'd happily use it as my main amp.

Edited January 29, 2013 by barkin

[indiegrungesound]

I've said this a few times already, but I'll say again that my LH500 rules!

[dincz]

Same family, same factory - was very pleased with a Samson power amp I used for a couple of years. Not sure if they use exactly the same power amp section but they look almost identical. Great build quality and reliability.

Edited January 29, 2013 by dincz

[BILL POSTERS]

As I already said, I like Hartke amps. The new HH..

But their Bass Strings, Oh dear oh dear. Horrible klanky tings.

[xgsjx]

Other than the Kickback combos, I've never tried a Hartke rig. But going on the customer service on here, I wouldn't hesitate in trying them out if I ever change rigs.

[neepheid]

I've owned an HA3500 head and used an HA5500 before. Nice amps, good tone shaping and a quite precise, focused, "modern" tone to them, but I suppose it depends what kind of cab it's used with.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1359484630' post='1955498']
But their Bass Strings, Oh dear oh dear. Horrible klanky tings.
[/quote]

They're my favourite strings! Just goes to show how different strings are, and how they feel to different people.

[discreet]

dood is the man to ask re all things Hartke...

[Dood]

I may come over a little biased here by posting my love for Hartke but truthfully I've been playing Hartke gear for well over 17 years now on countless gigs all over the place and it has been brilliant. I've tried and used most of the current range, my favourites still being the XL speakers and the Kilo head. I'd be happy to chat about any of the kit.

I've got a lot of respect for Hartke UK who are an example of excellent customer service - and the fact that you can call up Mr Larry Hartke on his mobile anytime is just brilliant! If he has time, he'll have a chat!

Dood

[Dood]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1359485246' post='1955513']
dood is the man to ask re all things Hartke...
[/quote]

ha ha!! I'd just popped in to the thread too take a look! You beat me to it!

[discreet]

There he is!

[Lozz196]

Had an HA4000 head, with 210 & 115XL cabs. Great rig, really versatile and powerful. Briefly had a Hydrive cab, but was too tight and punchy for me, but have to say it was very good at that sound, nothing wrong with the performance, just not suited to me.

[Dood]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1359485560' post='1955525']
There he is!
[/quote]

Sorry it took my time to see the batman/thundercats signal in the sky!!

[discreet]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1359485917' post='1955536']
Sorry it took my time to see the batman/thundercats signal in the sky!!
[/quote]

That's OK - I think I need to change the bulb.

[Geek99]

I have the hydrive 210 combo and its excellent in every way. Only thing i would add is a headphone socket.

The strings are cheap and cheerful and they work well enough

[thodrik]

Generally I find the aluminium cabs to have too much 'zing' to them. I do rate the amps highly though, especially the LH500 and 1000 amps.

[Russ]

Always loved the speakers, especially the new HyDrive cabs, but was never a massive fan of the heads - the tone just never quite did it for me. I also think their branding is a bit cheesy - the logo screams "80s". If they could come up with a more "sophisticated" branding it might go a long way to making them more popular.

I actually told Larry Hartke all this (in a much less blunt way) when I ran into him at Sam Ash in 48th St in New York last November. He took it in good grace and gave me a business card.

[AnalogBomb]

This is all ace! I have to say I'm proper made up with mine! Apart from the scratchy tone pot on my lh500, for which I have ordered the required contact cleaner (I hope!)

Yep all in all, one of, if not the best amp I've played!

[OldG]

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1359487497' post='1955571']
Generally I find the aluminium cabs to have too much 'zing' to them. I do rate the amps highly though, especially the LH500 and 1000 amps.
[/quote]

My Jazz (tokai '62 copy) had a lovely exaggerated growl through the aluminum coned cab i used.... the strings were well used though - enough to thump like flats (I'm not a fan of zing either).