Hartke questions

[bassfunk]

Hi Guys

So I'm thinking of upgrading my Mag 250 C115 combo to separates. I've had the chance to play through a Hartke HA 3500 at a couple of gigs. And I liked the sound. Unfortunately I can't seem to find one second hand at the mo. But there seem to be a few Ha 4000 heads going. I've never played through one of these so I'm interested in the differences. I know the 4000 doesn't have the tube pre-amp. Has anybody played both and can they tell me how they differ?

I'm also thinking of getting a Transporter 4x10 cab (mainly because of the weight). Does anybody know how these differ to the XL ranges etc?

Any opinions are welcome. As are offers of similar heads/cabs.

Thanks Guys

Pete

[Merton]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26831"]Have a look here[/url] - I've just got the LH500 (it arrived this morning). Can't wait to use it in anger tomorrow night

Edited December 16, 2008 by Merton

[bassfunk]

Hey thanks for that Merton. I forgot to add that I had already read everything there is to read on the LH500 and although it really appeals to me I'm not sure I could use it with a transporter cab because of the power ratings? And I casn't really afford any other lightweight cabs. I'm looking to spend £400 at the most.

Good luck with it Merton. They look like awesome amps

Edited December 16, 2008 by bassfunk

[Merton]

I wouldn't worry too much about power ratings - if the speakers don't like it you'll be able to hear!

I'm going to be running the LH500 through a 240W 4x8 cab this weekend (8ohms, the LH500 produces about 350W at 8 ohms apparently) but as long as I'm careful with the volume and bass controls it'll all be fine

[lemmywinks]

Sorry to hijack the thread to shamelessly plug my cab.......

I've got a 4x10XL in excellent condition for £190.

It's the usa built one, not the chinese ones available now (Hartke switched all of their manufacture overseas a while ago).

It comes with a cover (these are about £30+) and a high quality Cordial Hiflex lead (about £15 IIRC)

It's 400w @ 8ohms, if you wanna try it i'm in blackpool so not too far away

LINK:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25107&hl=hartke+xl"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;hl=hartke+xl[/url]

[Guest MoJo]

*Shameless plug* Don't know how much a Hartke head is these days, but if you want some serious muscle check out my Laney B1, for sale [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=34325"]here[/url] A hugely powerful (1500 watts) and much respected amp (ask any Basschatter) and much better than the Hartke HA5500 I used to own

[bassfunk]

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='355868' date='Dec 16 2008, 12:34 PM']Sorry to hijack the thread to shamelessly plug my cab.......

I've got a 4x10XL in excellent condition for £190.

It's the usa built one, not the chinese ones available now (Hartke switched all of their manufacture overseas a while ago).

It comes with a cover (these are about £30+) and a high quality Cordial Hiflex lead (about £15 IIRC)

It's 400w @ 8ohms, if you wanna try it i'm in blackpool so not too far away

LINK:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25107&hl=hartke+xl"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;hl=hartke+xl[/url][/quote]

Thanks Lemmywinks. I had seen your cab. But I'm a little worried about the weight I don't want anything heavier than the combo I already have (It's a bit of a walk from my flat to the car park round the back). I will certainly keep it in mind.

[bassfunk]

[quote name='bassman2790' post='355888' date='Dec 16 2008, 01:05 PM']*Shameless plug* Don't know how much a Hartke head is these days, but if you want some serious muscle check out my Laney B1, for sale [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=34325"]here[/url] A hugely powerful (1500 watts) and much respected amp (ask any Basschatter) and much better than the Hartke HA5500 I used to own[/quote]

I hadn't seen this in the for sale section. It looks as though it may be a little too powerful for what I'm looking for though.

[lemmywinks]

It's not that heavy really, not much more noticable than the transporters when lugging, also it has the pull out handles so it's easier to carry, esp for two people. I tried the TP range and didn't like them all that much so ended up buying the two XL ones (also i had the HA5500 head so they were a bit underpowered).

Specs from the website - 4x10 TP is 65 (29kg) and the 4x10 XL is 88lb (39kg)

It's up to you though dude!

Cheers

Steve

Edited December 16, 2008 by lemmywinks

[steve]

not had experience of a transporter cab, but I used to have two 210XL's and they were great sounding cabs, I sold them because I wanted to build 2 omni10.5's (which I still have)

[bassfunk]

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='355931' date='Dec 16 2008, 01:36 PM']It's not that heavy really, not much more noticable than the transporters when lugging, also it has the pull out handles so it's easier to carry, esp for two people. I tried the TP range and didn't like them all that much so ended up buying the two XL ones (also i had the HA5500 head so they were a bit underpowered).

Specs from the website - 4x10 TP is 65 (29kg) and the 4x10 XL is 88lb (39kg)

It's up to you though dude!

Cheers

Steve[/quote]


Hmmm. I suppose 10 kilos is nothing to a man of my stature! I am very tempted. I'll do a bit more research etc and think about it. If I find the right head at the right price I might just give you a shout.

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='bassfunk' post='355910' date='Dec 16 2008, 01:21 PM']I hadn't seen this in the for sale section. It looks as though it may be a little too powerful for what I'm looking for though.[/quote]

It will run with much lower rated cabs. I've been running it with a Marshall MBC410 rated at only 600 watts without any problems. It should run into a 410XL without any problems too. Just go sparingly with the volume. Running a 1000 watt head into a 400 watt 8 ohm cabinet means the amp isn't going to have to work so hard therefore theoretically, you will get a clearer sound than a 350 watt head turned up to 6 or 7 to achieve the same perceived volume.

I found the Hartke heads sounded very hollow and too clinical for me and the HA5500 just didn't have enough umphhh to cut it.

Edited December 16, 2008 by bassman2790

[bassfunk]

[quote name='bassman2790' post='355986' date='Dec 16 2008, 02:13 PM']It will run with much lower rated cabs. I've been running it with a Marshall MBC410 rated at only 600 watts without any problems. It should run into a 410XL without any problems too. Just go sparingly with the volume. Running a 1000 watt head into a 400 watt 8 ohm cabinet means the amp isn't going to have to work so hard therefore theoretically, you will get a clearer sound than a 350 watt head turned up to 6 or 7 to achieve the same perceived volume.

I found the Hartke heads sounded very hollow and too clinical for me and the HA5500 just didn't have enough umphhh to cut it.[/quote]

It really does look like a great amp. But I've had the chance to try the Hartke in a gig situation and was happy with it. If I had the chance to try the Laney I might be blown away. But I wouldn't want to buy something without trying it out first. It looks like you're in a hurry to shift your amp too and I'm still at the decision making/fund gathering stage at the moment.

[Guest MoJo]

Fair enough. I could do with shifting it soon which sounds awful as it's such a great amp but I've already spent the money (as you do).

Good luck with your hunt for your Hartke

[bassfunk]

[quote name='bassman2790' post='356025' date='Dec 16 2008, 02:46 PM']Fair enough. I could do with shifting it soon which sounds awful as it's such a great amp but I've already spent the money (as you do).

Good luck with your hunt for your Hartke[/quote]

Thanks Mate. And good luck with your sale.

[Tinman]

I AB'd the Transporter and the XL cabs and to my mind was a no-brainer. The XL cabs are way better sounding. Yes they're a bit heavier but it's worth it for the difference in quality (I ended up with two 4x10 XLs and they sound enormous )

[lemmywinks]

Oh forgot to add, the 2000/3000/4000 series heads are actually a lot easier to use than the others as there's no graphic eq. There is however a shape contour with (IIRC) an attenuation control which handles this superbly.

I used to have an HA3000 (my first bass head.... ) and it was simple but very effective, only traded it as the HA5500 came in the shop!
Missed the Shape circuit as i found it dead easy to dial in a tone as in effect it was just one knob replacing loads of sliders.

Ta
Steve

[mike.be]

[quote name='bassfunk' post='355820' date='Dec 16 2008, 11:53 AM']Hi Guys

So I'm thinking of upgrading my Mag 250 C115 combo to separates. I've had the chance to play through a Hartke HA 3500 at a couple of gigs. And I liked the sound. Unfortunately I can't seem to find one second hand at the mo. But there seem to be a few Ha 4000 heads going. I've never played through one of these so I'm interested in the differences. I know the 4000 doesn't have the tube pre-amp. Has anybody played both and can they tell me how they differ?

I'm also thinking of getting a Transporter 4x10 cab (mainly because of the weight). Does anybody know how these differ to the XL ranges etc?

Any opinions are welcome. As are offers of similar heads/cabs.

Thanks Guys

Pete[/quote]

hi,i use a ha550 head with vx cabs(4x10,1x15)and i think they're great.there's loads of uummph in the head and the vx cabs are nice and light;and i can hear every note nice and clearly.the tube pre-amp isn't that great but the sound is loud and i can dial in most sounds.
hope you get what you want.

[bassfunk]

[quote name='mike.be' post='356467' date='Dec 16 2008, 10:37 PM']hi,i use a ha550 head with vx cabs(4x10,1x15)and i think they're great.there's loads of uummph in the head and the vx cabs are nice and light;and i can hear every note nice and clearly.the tube pre-amp isn't that great but the sound is loud and i can dial in most sounds.
hope you get what you want. [/quote]

Yeah I had looked at the VX cabs. They are very light. I thought I had it all sorted and I wanted a HA3500 and 410TP. Now I'm all confused. I guess I'll have to wait to see what kind of money I can get together, and how much talking round 'the boss' will need.