Ampeg B2R vs. Hartke 3500

[OB311]

I'm looking for advice on the following purchase!

I've done alot of research, in my price range the two amps listed above are my price range. Also a GK Goldline500 is available....

I'll more than likely get a Hartke 410xl or vx410 (also in my budget).

Minus my personal preference in sound, because I like both. Which in your experience is the better buy, thinking in terms of (reliability, volume, quality)??

Small the medium venues for gigging.

[OB311]

bump

[stiles72]

I'm an Ampeg guy, but if you're going with a Hartke 410- I'd go with the Hartke head.

[OB311]

If an ampeg 410hlf was in my budget, I think I'd have my answer.

Is the general consences to match cabs and heads? Especially when talking about lower end rig?

[stiles72]

It's not necessary to match brands -but manufactures do design their gear to work best based on their other units specs, so I would match brands if possible. Plus IMO it just looks better when you have a matched set.

One thing to know - there's a world of difference between an Ampeg 410HLF and a Hartke 410XL. Night and day - so I would go with whichever suits the sound you're looking for.

[OB311]

Yeah, I was considering the VX410 because of the paper cones. But it's not ported, and I'd like it to be.

[blackba]

I have played both and for versatility liked the Hartke 3500. For classic rock, I thought the B2R was nice, but my friends had an issue where it would cut out after 45 minutes or so. The Hartke I played cause it was given to me to check out since it was acting up, but I worked perfectly for as long as I had it.

As I remember the Hartke 3500 seemed to have more power under the hood, but I never did a head to head comparison.

[dhines]

I have used the same Hartke head with an Ampeg 8/10 from '92 up until '08 when I bought my Phil Jones and I have received many many compliments over the years on my tone. The only thing that has gone wrong in that time is that the tube preamp went out for some reason but as I recall it was a cheap fix and has not happened since. Personally I think it sounds better than the B2R.

[OB311]

Nice! Thanks, I think the Hartke gets the win. I've heard that they are tanks and produce good sound!

Now, any thoughts on the VX410?

[username1]

I would buy the ampeg pf500 over the B2R. Better tone, more power and cheaper.

[OB311]

where can I get a used Pf500 for $250?

[username1]

Originally Posted by OB311

where can I get a used Pf500 for $250?

Sorry, i thought you were talking new.

[Dustin Teel]

To play devil's advocate, I often find that the specific mix of Hartke and Ampeg sounds great. Especially Hartke HA series heads on various Ampeg cabs. I've used my HA5500 on an SVT410HLF and was more than pleased with the tone.

On the contrary, a bassist in a local band we play with every year or so uses the new PF350 head on a Hartke 2x15. The sound is outstanding.

But yes, keeping brands together is generally a "safe" thing to do.

[stiles72]

Originally Posted by OB311

where can I get a used Pf500 for $250?

Watch Music Go Rounds used site. I paid $249 for my PF500.

[krstko]

only old or expensive Ampegs are good so Hartke is a good choice for cab use ears - alu speakers at Xl do sound different and if you like it, go for Xl, it's ''resistant'' to traveling and hits, also it has nice 5' speaker which makes nice clean tone ..but also remember: it is a heavy cab to carry

[OB311]

So let me ask this.....

With the hartke3500 being the middle road, Is here going to be a big difference in the 3000 or 4000? Other than they have been discontinued?

I see the 3500 has an eq, that seems to be a plus. Just wondering if there is that much difference in volume.

[I<34080]

I think there's a 2500 and a 5500 still on the market. Generally the same tone, just more or less power. Hartke also has the LH series of heads which are relatively inexpensive, provide more power, and get a nice warm tone (tube pre, fender tone stack).

I'm sure you could find an LH500 used for 250, and that's 350 watts into 8 ohms and 500 into 4.

[OB311]

I'm looking used! I can get a 3500 for $199, or a 4000 for $250.

OR.......a GK goldline 500 for $250, or a GK 400RB for $250.

Thoughts?

[OB311]

bump

[krstko]

if you look at pure power, 4000 insn't much louder than 3500 but either is enaugh loud for most giggs ..so this is ears again: you need to try the sound also if you need good eq go for 3500

GA also makes nice amps but it think cheaper GA amps aren't exactly the best ..but I may be wrong I once played on 4000rb with my Hartke 4.5xl cab and it sounded nice you can get GK amp too but I prefer Hartke half sack