Hartke A100S v Ashdown Electric Blue EVO II EB12 v Ampeg BA115

[iconic]

OK about me,

I'm learning bass, been messing about for a 9 months or so. I love my funk, disco stuff, play at home, currently have an little Orange Crush B20, little 20 watt bass combo which has been great really for what it is, but I'm not liking the sound any more....'tis only a 'lil amp so the tone is always gona be muddy, weak 'n cold....I live in a detatched house so I like to wind things up when I'm playing ...for what it is this 'lil Orange is quite good but its more the tone I'm not liking, not the volume.

I spend more time on my bass than I do my £5K bike so the bass interest is really great value therefore I want to spend £250 on a decent 'ish amp, warmer, punchier, louder, better all round really and something I can also input external into...all the usual....something I won't want to upgrade in the future.

I don't really want to go s/h, I simply get plain pissed off with the hassle of [b]kissing 20 frogs to get a princess[/b][i][/i] I do it for a living buying cars and hate it....I want the reliability of buying new.....unless you can convince me otherwise.....I'm no different to anyone else and love the look of the Trace Elliot gear but everything I have enquired about in my budget, has some sort of issue...lemonade money, champagne taste.



About my choice,

well all these amps seem to get a good review, are all in a similar price range, the Hartke is my preference at the moment as it seems the best value???

Hartke
[url="http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=5453"]http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=5453[/url]

the Ashdown seems to be popular too, but I know nothing about them?

[url="http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=2958"]http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=2958[/url]

Ampeg

[url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/carlsbro-bass-bomber-bass-guitar-amp-combo--37693"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/carlsbro-bass...mp-combo--37693[/url]

many thanks as always for your input gentlemen

Edited January 5, 2010 by iconic

[umph]

where are you based? you'd be best going down to a shop and trying them all out, rather than blindly buying one online and being disapointed. Are you going to be gigging these amps if so it may even be worth saving up a little bit more.

[iconic]

I'm down in Essex, near Chelmsford.....soon to be In Medway though!

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='iconic' post='701915' date='Jan 5 2010, 05:41 PM']I'm down in Essex, near Chelmsford.....soon to be In Medway though![/quote]

Where abouts in Medway?

[Guest MoJo]

I used to own a Hartke Kickback 12 and I seriously wish I'd never sold it. Loads more bottom end than a single 12" driver ought to produce with nice, clear, crisp highs. It would happily hold it's own against a drummer, keyboards, guitar and vocals. If another came along at the right money, I would snap it up like a shot. I don't know how the A100 compares with the kickback but if it's anything like, you won't be disappointed.

That said, you may be well advised to look second hand. I've just picked one of [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANEY-R3-BASS-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER-amp-165-Watt_W0QQitemZ280446361736QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item414be7e088"]these[/url] up for a mere hundred notes.....a lot of amp for not a lot of dosh.

Mark

Edited January 5, 2010 by bassman2790

[faceman]

I'm selling my Ashdown EB180 on the forum at the moment, I've had it for two years and love the sound of it. It's surprisingly good for the size and cost of the amp. I found the Ampeg to be too much bass and a very inadequate sound compared to the Ashdown. No experience of the Hartke though.

[mazdah]

I'd go for Ampeg over the Hartke A100. Ashdown is also cool, but I prefer MAG line over the EB.

Get the used, american made Ampeg, you shouldn't regret it. And the resale value won't drop.

[iconic]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='701952' date='Jan 5 2010, 06:13 PM']Where abouts in Medway?[/quote]


Chatham...but just got the homebuyer survey thru today and things may have ground to a very sudden halt

[lemmywinks]

The Hartke A series are great but build quality isn't as good as the old USA Hartke stuff. I have a little A70 which is loud and sounds great, however it's had a hard life and farts and rattles a bit now
I'd certainly take the Hartke over the Electric Blue which although decent enough didn't sound anywhere near as good to my ears

I'd still say go for a second hand head and cab instead of a smaller new combo. Have a look at Peavey stuff for something in your price range, there's usually a few for sale on here

[iconic]

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='702463' date='Jan 6 2010, 09:14 AM']The Hartke A series are great but build quality isn't as good as the old USA Hartke stuff. I have a little A70 which is loud and sounds great, however it's had a hard life and farts and rattles a bit now
I'd certainly take the Hartke over the Electric Blue which although decent enough didn't sound anywhere near as good to my ears

I'd still say go for a second hand head and cab instead of a smaller new combo. Have a look at Peavey stuff for something in your price range, there's usually a few for sale on here[/quote]


thanks for the response's gentleman.

Lemmywinks: head and cab....do these still sound OK at low sound output levels, say when home practicing, or do they need to be given some beans to get a decent tone?

[lemmywinks]

I guess it depends on which head and cab, everything i've owned (Hartke and Markbass) has been great at low volumes. I use an Ashdown Superfly and a small 1x12 cab for solo practice and it sounds good

If you're going to be practicing with a drummer or gigging in the near future then 2nd hand stuff is the way to go on your budget. There's nothing worse than having an amp that sounds great at home but doesn't have enough umph in a band situation

It's surprising just how good old Peavey etc. gear sounds compared to new fancy gear, i saw a band last year with an old Peavey head into a no-name cab and it sounded ace