New Guy Here (and I use Hartke) lemme have it gearheads!!

[DDThunder]

Attachment 48512
Greetings TB
Anybody want to tell me about their Hartke horror stories?
I have played professionally for 25 yrs, and owned literally every kind of rig on the market. I play rock and roll. I play loud. My amp
requirements are volume/headroom/grit. I toured with SVTs for years, and thats always been my bottom line for rock bass.
Recently, I decided to leave the seclusion of my studio and tour a new rock project around the southeast.
Without the massive funding for a new set of SVT's, I was given the choice of a pair of 7000 mosfets in good shape(for less than the cost of 1 SVT) I have custom cabinets from 18's-15's- -12's(yes 12's) and a good ol Hartke 410vx.
I can configure this rig in a few different ways depending on the gig.My heads are mounted in custom cases to sit atop the spkr stacks . I had some minor re-soldering done on both heads and put shock-proof rubber underneath the amp, and I have ZERO PROBLEMS NOW. I tried out ALL the HI$$ heads that are currently out, and none have the sheer power and tone of these beasts. This rig is the absolute closet to my old ampeg sound.
Yes it is heavy (ever tote a SVT?) Repairs? (ever own a SVT?)
I've only used this rig for a few months at rehearsals(full blown soundstage at performance volume), and have NO issues other than watching beer cans fall off things while I play.
I came to this forum seeking 411 on newer rigs and found this hartke debate, thought maybe this input might help someone else.
It sure helped me (the money i saved got me a 71 p bass!)

[Eric Perry]

Just two heads that both pooped out on me. I've since switched to an SVT-III and will personally never do Hartke electronics again.

IMO, YMMV, etc.


P.S. Welcome to TB!!!

[neptoon]

i've got a hartke 410xl that sounds great, but it's not near as loud as my eden rig...welcome aboard, bro...you know, i try not to let gear debates bother me too much...i like what i like...that's why ice cream comes in more flavors than vanilla...know what i mean?

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by DDThunder

(yes 12's)

Actually 12" drivers in bass cabinets have been common place for some time.... my preferred driver size for at least 20 years now!

I've no comment on Hartke other than I like the look of the 2x15" and would love to try one out with my 100lbs all tube head... but with 33% more power tubes (and output) than an SVT... I don't know if it would hold up.

Welcome to TB

[DDThunder]

Originally Posted by neptoon

i try not to let gear debates bother me too much...i like what i like...that's why ice cream comes in more flavors than vanilla...know what i mean?

Amen bro!!
I've been quietly reading these debates for a while, and its TRUE
the rig greatly depends on what is fed into it.
Styles vary and so do volume requirements.
With the oversaturated market for tone shaping tools, one could squeeze just about any sound needed with the right pieces.
When I go to hear another band or player,I dont look for the rig,I listen for the tone.That Simple.

[neptoon]

and having said that, i would kill to hear what a pair of hartke 4.5xl's would sound like with a hartke 215 (only a pair just to round out the impedance issue)

[DDThunder]

Originally Posted by neptoon

and having said that, i would kill to hear what a pair of hartke 4.5xl's would sound like with a hartke 215 (only a pair just to round out the impedance issue)

True Dat!!
Push 64hz a little w/that set-up and you get bowel distress!
been thinking about adding a 2nd xl just to even it up for stacking.