Hartke HA5000 issue.

ckoonz · #1 08-31-2010, 10:59 PM

Hello all and I hope I can get some help from you.

My Hartke HA 5000 that I have had since 1998 is sounding a bit old and crackly. I noticed a bit of a buzz in the lower registery and when I started investigating, this is what I came up with.

I have:
Hartke HA5000 from around 1998. Always been rack mounted.
Hartke XL 115 and XL 410
Peavey Cirrus 5-string
Monster cables connecting everything.

I changed my batteries in the active pick-up on my bass.
Changed around my preamp setting from tube to solid state.
I plugged one cabinet in at a time. nothing different.

But when I switched from Bi-amp to mono... Disaster! It is completely garbled and distorted. I am thinking it is something to do with the board but since I don't know much about electronics, I didn't want to mess around too much. I changed out my pre-amp tube with some spares I have and it doesn't seem to change anything.

It's working ok for now but I just tried out for a new band and I really need the old girl to be at her best. I hate to give up on her, she has never given up on me!

Thanks and Cheers,
Christian

Mingo Sanders · #2 08-31-2010, 11:07 PM

Find a good tech and get it checked out. Or open it up, plug it in, and take it in the hot tub! No, don't do that. Take it to a good tech.

JimmyM · #3 08-31-2010, 11:30 PM

ya, looks like time to spend a little money on it. i wouldn't spend much, though. when you can buy a working used head for as much as it costs to get fixed, that's where i draw the line. otoh, those things are built pretty well, and it could just be a loose solder from use, which can be cheap to fix. but it's time to take it in.

Larry Hartke · #4 09-01-2010, 07:18 AM

CKoonz

Give me a call and let's see if we can get the old girl back up and running for you.

Larry 201-680-8153 Cell anytime

**Marcus Willett** · #5 09-01-2010, 07:23 AM

Fantastic example of excellent customer service, kudos!

FWIW, just did a show last night into an older 1X15 XL Hartke cab. It's been a long time since I played through a Hartke cab and I had forgotten what a great tone it is for rock/pop stuff...sounded really, really good! Reminds me of my (and every other guy's) rig back in the late 80's/early 90's...the Hartke 4X10 and GK head...great stuff!

perogato02 · #6 09-01-2010, 07:37 AM

He strikes again!!!

But yes, it is tech time (and call Larry!)

ckoonz · #7 09-03-2010, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

CKoonz

Give me a call and let's see if we can get the old girl back up and running for you.

Larry 201-680-8153 Cell anytime

Will do. I will try and give you a call later today. I am up half the night usually since I work nights at a hospital. I'll call in the afternoon.

Awesome CS by the way. Kudos to Hartke!

BassmanAd · #8 09-03-2010, 02:14 AM

How's that for customer service? I used to have a HA3500 years ago, great amp with lots of power. In fact I think 240W @ 8ohms is a very conservative rating.

Anyway, I might get me another one if only to experience the very personal after sales service!

ckoonz · #9 09-19-2010, 08:52 PM

Larry, I will try to give you a call tomorrow. Things got really crazy around here and it looks as though I might need her again after all! Thanks for the support ahead of time!

Christian

ckoonz · #10 09-24-2010, 12:27 AM

Larry, seems like we keep playing phone tag. I have worked the last three nights in a row. Will hopefully get you later today when I wake up.

Thanks again for calling. We'll get it eventually!

Munjibunga · #11 09-24-2010, 12:31 AM

Larry rules.

mcapote · #12 09-24-2010, 06:25 AM

ckoonz just a heads up my HA5000 had a channel that all of a sudden started sounding like you were speaking into a fan cutting in and out and I called joe @ samson and he pretty much said its about $200 to fix something in this unit mainly because of labor and shipping, so unless your really attached to the unit you may want to look at buying a newer unit. minimum you are gonna pay is $100 labor plus shipping plus parts.

ckoonz · #13 09-27-2010, 12:25 AM

Just as a footnote... Larry finally got me on the phone this morning! A Sunday at 10:30 am Central time. To say that I was impressed with the customer service is an understatement and no matter what happens to my old girl, I might have just become a Hartke fan for life because of Larry. This is what real American products are made of... Good products with great people behind them. Just can't say how impressed I was. I never thought by posting here I would get the man himself to call me at home. With most companies the best you get is tech support from someone that might speak english.

KUDOS to you Larry and thanks again for the call... I think I might have to replace her with one of the newer models. Just can't decide which would be more fitting, the LH1000 or the LH500. I have an older set of Cabs and I don't want to blow them up with too much power but I may be replacing them at some point with something capable of handling more. The XL410 and XL115 that I have say 180watts at 8 ohms on the sticker in the back. I think that's what it was. I am at work right now so I can't go check.

Does anyone have any suggestions to what I should go with? Will the LH1000 blow up my older cabs? I try to stay conservative with my volume. I have always found louder isn't always better but I need to get the punch in the bottom end again. I was looking at some of the reviews but they are always so bias.

ckoonz · #14 09-27-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

ckoonz just a heads up my HA5000 had a channel that all of a sudden started sounding like you were speaking into a fan cutting in and out and I called joe @ samson and he pretty much said its about $200 to fix something in this unit mainly because of labor and shipping, so unless your really attached to the unit you may want to look at buying a newer unit. minimum you are gonna pay is $100 labor plus shipping plus parts.

Thanks, kind of cements in what I was thinking, that I have to replace her. I might get her fixed and keep her as a backup but I need something asap to take her place.

Any thoughts from anyone would be welcome. I am playing a Peavey Cirrus five through older XL 115 and 410's. Mostly Rock in the style of Godsmack, Pantera.

**dmonroe** · #15 09-27-2010, 12:34 AM

Well I have been trying to decide which direction I was gonna go when I needed a more powerful setup. Just have a Hartke A35 for a practice rig now. This kind of response just settled that issue for me. I'll DEF be sticking with HARTKE! Very impressed with this.

ckoonz · #16 10-06-2010, 02:06 PM

Ok... not to blow smoke or anything but, Larry, You the man! I spoke with Freddy on monday and ordered a new LH1000.
To all of you out there with any doubts as to Hartke, there may be a better head with more bells and whistles out there but, for the price and service these guys are doing, there is no other choice! When I go to replace my cabs, I WILL be calling Freddy and ordering them. Not only is he a great asset to Hartke but he PLAYS what he sells! He was really helpful when it came to my decision. Even if the price was a little more than another manufacturer, I would still go with Hartke just bassed on the fact that I got such great service. Sometimes it comes down to who is going to back their product and these guys do for sure!

Thanks again Larry and Freddy,

Christian Koonz

T-MOST · #17 10-06-2010, 02:15 PM

I use the same amp at my church from 2004. I get slight distortion (sometimes) in the lower register. Also, the amp hisses like a freaking snake! I never liked this rig and I hope it craps out very soon.

ckoonz · #18 10-06-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-MOST

I use the same amp at my church from 2004. I get slight distortion (sometimes) in the lower register. Also, the amp hisses like a freaking snake! I never liked this rig and I hope it craps out very soon.

It might just be there is dust inside. I opened mine and blew it out with an air compressor and it improved greatly. I was playing with it on 5 the other day for an hour or so at practice and it held up. I just bought a new LH 1000 from Larry to update cause I noticed when I switch the biamp to mono it gets all garbled! On biamp it works fine for now. Believe it or not, it's cheaper to replace it now! TRUST me, call Larry!
You just have to remember that the HA5000 is quite old now and parts aren't that available. Check your preamp tube as well while you are in there. If you haven't replaced it, do it now. It's cheap and it can't hurt.
If you are looking to replace it, I highly recommend giving Larry a call. They will most likely cut you a really sweet deal! I couldn't believe it. Great service from Larry and Freddy. Couldn't be happier!

ckoonz · #19 10-14-2010, 09:29 PM

Just to update anyone that cares, I got the new LH1000 last week thanks to Freddy and Larry at Hartke. Used it at practice the other night and, MAN, what a difference! It sounds awesome and with some slight adjustments, got that hartke sound that I grew to love. I know now that I made the right choice sticking with them and highly recommend anyone considering Hartke to give Larry a call. They make one hell of an amp and back up what they sell with actual American service! Thanks again guys and you have another satisfied customer!!!

Christian Koonz