Blown 12" Hartke Kickback 12

gabbygumm · #1 10-08-2011, 10:14 AM

My wife plays in and leads worship team at church but has a Hartke kickback 12 amp she has played for 10 years or so.She also has played on our show at Lake of the Ozarks,Mo. for 36 years and she chose this amp for church .Long story short someone played through it and blew the speaker .Hartke seems to want too much to replace what speaker are you all replcing this speaker with ?It's a 125 watt amp.Thanks for anyones advice.Thom Gumm

will33 · #2 10-08-2011, 10:54 AM

Would need an accurate measurement if the internal size of the box. Allow for the wedge angle at the back and everything. Also the diameter and length of that tube port that's in the back. I used to have a kickback15. Surprisingly loud for what it is, handy to take to practice, etc. I've actually played a few small gigs with it and I'll tell you, somebody had to be pretty careless to blow it. It was easy to hear when the speaker was crying "please, not so much". Make sure it's not a fuse or something, check the old speaker with a battery. Can start looking around for 12's that take friendly to small boxes/practice amps.

DaveAceofBass · #3 10-08-2011, 12:17 PM

I used to work for Sam Ash and saw MANY MANY blown/defective Hartke speakers. I don't trust their quality control one bit.

T-Bird · #4 10-08-2011, 10:26 PM

Hi.

To me it's hard to believe that "Hartke" 12" speakers would cost significantly more than an eqvivalent replacement, at least that's the case with 10" speakers. It's just an "OEM" Eminence, IIRC/AFAIK. Edit: So much for my memory/knowledge, they're NOT Eminences, see post #6.

What was the "too much" quote?

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Would need an accurate measurement if the internal size of the box. Allow for the wedge angle at the back and everything. Also the diameter and length of that tube port that's in the back. I used to have a kickback15. Surprisingly loud for what it is, handy to take to practice, etc. I've actually played a few small gigs with it and I'll tell you, somebody had to be pretty careless to blow it. It was easy to hear when the speaker was crying "please, not so much". Make sure it's not a fuse or something, check the old speaker with a battery. Can start looking around for 12's that take friendly to small boxes/practice amps.

^This.

Then, if You're adventurous kind of a person, download (or use the on-line version) WinISD or something similar and start experimenting with different speakers and port lenghts. I wouldn't change the port diameter if it isn't absolutely necessary, or if the results get better with two ports.

If You're not that adventurous, post the internal dimensions and the port dimensions here, and someone will most likely do the modeling for You.

Regards
Sam

BBox Bass · #5 10-08-2011, 10:38 PM

I own one of these, and it's been a great little amp. My speaker has no markings, but the barcode sticker on the port says the speaker is 6 ohms.

Larry Hartke · #6 10-08-2011, 10:47 PM

Hey Gabbygumm,

Larry here, working the late shift out of New Jersey. Thank your wife for me, for playing Hartke all these years. Just e-mail me your name, address and phone number and I'll get your wife a new speaker for her Kickback 12.

The rest of you guys can help me make light bulbs for the kids just as soon as I’m done building my own refrigerator. Sheesh, all the guy’s wife needs is a replacement speaker, she’s not trying to get into the business!

And FYI we make our own speakers they are not Eminence.

lahartke@comcast.net
201-680-8153 Cell

**fuzzy beard** · #7 10-08-2011, 10:54 PM

Larry hartke is now my hero!

MOTORHEADBANGER · #8 10-08-2011, 11:01 PM

^Larry to the rescue, once again!!! Seriously though, Larry's willingness to come to the aid of anyone who needs help and dedication to the players (not just the stars) makes me proud to now be a Hartke guy.

jelwood · #9 10-08-2011, 11:03 PM

Larry Hartke is a boss.

I have heard nothing but good things about the kickback combos. I'm sure your wife will get another good ten years outta it!

T-Bird · #10 10-08-2011, 11:12 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

And FYI we make our own speakers they are not Eminence.

Thanks for clarifying that for me Larry.

Regards
Sam

JimmyM · #11 10-08-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveAceofBass

I used to work for Sam Ash and saw MANY MANY blown/defective Hartke speakers. I don't trust their quality control one bit.

I find that hard to believe. Hartke speakers will blow if you put too much wattage through them, but you can say that about any speakers, so I'd like to know what the owners of these cabs did with them before they returned them. I'd blame them way before I blamed the quality. I see plenty of 20+ year old Hartke cabs still in service, too. And the way Larry handles CS when something goes wrong, forget about it...I wouldn't worry in the least about owning Hartke products.

HMZ · #12 10-09-2011, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

Hey Gabbygumm,

Larry here, working the late shift out of New Jersey. Thank your wife for me, for playing Hartke all these years. Just e-mail me your name, address and phone number and I'll get your wife a new speaker for her Kickback 12.

The rest of you guys can help me make light bulbs for the kids just as soon as I’m done building my own refrigerator. Sheesh, all the guy’s wife needs is a replacement speaker, she’s not trying to get into the business!

And FYI we make our own speakers they are not Eminence.

lahartke@comcast.net
201-680-8153 Cell

Very COOL!

fhm555 · #13 10-09-2011, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...I see plenty of 20+ year old Hartke cabs still in service...

410XL here. Got it in the early 90's and it's never given me a bit of trouble.

Raptor0427 · #14 10-09-2011, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I find that hard to believe. Hartke speakers will blow if you put too much wattage through them, but you can say that about any speakers, so I'd like to know what the owners of these cabs did with them before they returned them. I'd blame them way before I blamed the quality. I see plenty of 20+ year old Hartke cabs still in service, too. And the way Larry handles CS when something goes wrong, forget about it...I wouldn't worry in the least about owning Hartke products.

I use Hartke Cabs and love the sound from aluminum speakers but I had a 15" seperate were the metal cone meets the coil. I think they have a weak spot there. I haven't found anyone that could fix it yet.

harleyboy · #15 10-09-2011, 07:17 AM

I thought my Kickback 12 was maybe blown a couple years ago and after messing with it I found that it just needed a new speaker cable! Worked it my case and it is still ROCKIN'!I think mine is about 14 years old...mostly used at home for personal practice but have used it for crowded stages that had Great PA!

Sounds Like Larry is going to hook you up though!

Great Deal!

GoesThump · #16 10-09-2011, 07:18 AM

I'm impressed. The (bass) world would be a better place if more manufacturers showed this type of support.

Next time i go shopping for an amp, I'm going to look at Hartke's stuff first.

GT

biobass · #17 10-09-2011, 07:18 AM

Kudos to Mr. Hartke!

I've had a Kickback 12 with the paper cone speaker for many, many years and it served me quite well, primarily for theater and jazz gigs.

Cheers,
Dennis

lowendrv · #18 10-09-2011, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

Hey Gabbygumm,

Larry here, working the late shift out of New Jersey. Thank your wife for me, for playing Hartke all these years. Just e-mail me your name, address and phone number and I'll get your wife a new speaker for her Kickback 12.

Larry, That's great customer service for any product at any price point....very impressive.

PS: Now you have me rethinking my next amp purchase.

Howzit · #19 10-10-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendrv

Larry, That's great customer service for any product at any price point....very impressive.

PS: Now you have me rethinking my next amp purchase.

Me too. I've been pondering a Fender Rumble 75, an Ampeg BA115 and the Hartke Kickback 12 as a practice amp for my 12 year old son.

...this response puts the Hartke to the front!