Mr H Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I was in one of those new-fangled pawn shops in Liverpool yesterday and hanging on the wall was a Hartke-branded bass guitar. Anybody know anything about these? I know the amps are well-regarded, but what about the basses (if it's real)? For the record it was in the shop opposite the new Dawsons, and it was priced very enticingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Aluminium headstock or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr H Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) I didn't ask to get it down from the wall, damn it! Not that I would have known about that anyway. The front of the headstock was black (matching the body) with the Hartke logo, that's all I know. But lucky me that you happened to be around when I started this thread - cheers. EDIT: Looks like a Hartke SB15, from a quick web search, sold as part of a starter pack. Perhaps not such a great bargain after all. Edited March 17, 2013 by Mr H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 When I started out I bought a starter pack from hartke. Bass was a PJ setup with a black gloss body and matching headstock. hartke branded. Not too bad really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 If the front of the headstock was black then it won't be aluminium. IIRC the non-aluminium ones were mostly cheap instruments sold as part of a starter set with a Hartke practice amp. The ones with the aluminium headstocks used the Vaccaro aluminium re-enforced neck which was a development of the Kramer instruments of the 70s. The top of the range was the XL-4 which was hand-built in New Jersey and each one was supposedly individually tested by Larry Hartke himself. It had top of the range hardware and electronics with Sperzel locking machine heads, Schaller bridge and EMG active pickups and pre-amp. There was also a budget XK range made in the far-east with lower quality components. Unfortunately the XK models were notorious for failing welds between the headstock and the truss-rod/neck re-enforcement channel, and should really be avoided. Here's a photo of my XL-4: [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC01837-1.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr H Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363518643' post='2013501']IIRC the non-aluminium ones were mostly cheap instruments sold as part of a starter set with a Hartke practice amp.[/quote] Encyclopaedic! Google: for those without access to Big Red X... Your XL-4 has four strings - I expect to find it in Cash Generators very soon. EDIT: just saw your post, rOB - spot on! Edited March 17, 2013 by Mr H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 [quote name='Mr H' timestamp='1363519311' post='2013508'] Your XL-4 has four strings - I expect to find it in Cash Generators very soon. [/quote] I have a friend who's expressed an interest in buying it. If not it'll most likely be on eBay in the next month or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 [quote name='Mr H' timestamp='1363519311' post='2013508'] EDIT: just saw your post, rOB - spot on! [/quote] It was fine (not wonderful) as a cheap starter instrument. Started my love affair with pickup blend knobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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