Hartke Hydrive 5210 combo

oriol · #1 05-05-2011, 01:15 AM

Hi folks,

I just bought a Hartke Hydrive 5210 combo. It has the LH-500 watt valve preamp. I realized that I have to turn the volume knob almost 7 (in a ten scale) in order to be heard. I play in a jazz-fusion setting. Quite weird, cause it claims there's 350 watts. Is it normal? Is this because its a valve preamp? I also realized that at volume past 5 the speakers are moving quite a bit, while with my 4x10 speakers this never happens.
BTW, the combo is brand new!

Thanx!

Febs · #2 05-05-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oriol

Hi folks,

I just bought a Hartke Hydrive 5210 combo. It has the LH-500 watt valve preamp. I realized that I have to turn the volume knob almost 7 (in a ten scale) in order to be heard. I play in a jazz-fusion setting. Quite weird, cause it claims there's 350 watts. Is it normal? Is this because its a valve preamp? I also realized that at volume past 5 the speakers are moving quite a bit, while with my 4x10 speakers this never happens.
BTW, the combo is brand new!

Thanx!

I don't think I've EVER had the volume of my LH-500 that high. Which input are you using on the amp?

oriol · #3 05-05-2011, 05:57 AM

Hi, I'm using the active input (all my basses are active). There's also an important leap: until volume at 5 there's not a big change in overall sound, but past 6 then I've noticed an important overall sound increase.

Roundwound · #4 05-05-2011, 06:01 AM

Put a fresh battery in your bass.

oriol · #5 05-05-2011, 08:06 AM

I did it ;-)

oriol · #6 05-05-2011, 12:53 PM

I'll try the same speakers with my old Hartke amp, and the LH head with my 4x10 speaker... Well, we'll see..

jjk2007 · #7 05-05-2011, 01:17 PM

A few things. Remember the active jack is not as hot as the passive jack. I realize you're using an active bass, but if you listen and make sure nothing is getting overdriven, you might be able to use the passive jack if necessary. For whatever reason, the volume pot on these amps (LH 1000 too) seem to "come alive" after they hit about 6-7. I wouldn't worry about having to run that hot. Also, the EQ on the LH amps is "flat" somewhere around bass at 2, mids at 10, and treble at 2. If you have the mids set at say 5, IME you will have some loss in overall volume. I would try the EQ settings first, and see if that helps.

Fenderjazz6823 · #8 05-05-2011, 01:25 PM

I just got the 115c and i'm looking to pair it to the 5210c combo so please post again if you fix the issue I might go with the 210c combo instead i'm not to sure

**cheezewiz** · #9 05-05-2011, 01:28 PM

I play an active bass and almost always use the passive input on an amplifier. That may be the main thing.....

bass nitro · #10 05-05-2011, 01:50 PM

I don not think that is going to help.I have had same problem with mine a week ago.Brand new.It is not 350 watts - i don not believe in this.How is possible not to cover 65 watts Peavey guitar combo and drummer in small room? Obviously many peoples have this problem.It is pure lie that is suitable for small and medium venues like description says.Friend of mine said to me that hi has played on 115c and said that it is way louder than mine.I had to buy GK or Ashdown instead.I suggest that or it is not 350 watts or there are too many faulty units on the market.I have compared my amp to Carlsbro head and cab 250 watts old one - my was sound like fart.I am disappointed with this amp.Have returned my to Thomann.de to swap it with new one but i have many doubts that new one is going to sound in deferent way.

jjk2007 · #11 05-05-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass nitro

I don not think that is going to help.I have had same problem with mine a week ago.Brand new.It is not 350 watts - i don not believe in this.How is possible not to cover 65 watts Peavey guitar combo and drummer in small room? Obviously many peoples have this problem.It is pure lie that is suitable for small and medium venues like description says.Friend of mine said to me that hi has played on 115c and said that it is way louder than mine.I had to buy GK or Ashdown instead.I suggest that or it is not 350 watts or there are too many faulty units on the market.I have compared my amp to Carlsbro head and cab 250 watts old one - my was sound like fart.I am disappointed with this amp.Have returned my to Thomann.de to swap it with new one but i have many doubts that new one is going to sound in deferent way.

It could also be the tube. It seems there have been several of the Hartke amps that have had bad tubes out of the box. You could also get in touch with Larry Hartke himself to help figure out and resolve the issues you are having.

bass nitro · #12 05-05-2011, 02:01 PM

My e-mail

Hi there.I have bought Hartke 5210C from Thomann.de but i think there is something wrong beacuse there is no enough power comming out from speakers - i mean it does not sound like 350 watts - it is sound like 80-100 watts combo.I had to turn the volume knob to 8 to get about 100 watts may be a little more.Both speakers work it is obvious-they moved.I have used diferent cables and other bass guitar to make sure where is the problem.Obviously there is something not right with this amp.Any suggestions?Thank you very much

The answer

It's hard to determine what the problem is, if there is one at all, and I don't have too much information to go on. Please call customer service at 1-800-372-6766 9am-5pm M-F EST, a member of our support team will be happy to help you troubleshoot the issue over the phone.

Please feel free to get back to me with any additional questions or concerns. I'm here to help!

Thank you Greg Orrigo
800.372.6766
Samson Technologies Corp.

oriol · #13 05-05-2011, 02:22 PM

Wow... Thanx everybody for your replies... Not good news anyway since it seems there's people with the same problem with this amp...

MysterMunky · #14 05-05-2011, 02:26 PM

Just plug into the passive input. I had this same issue but it was quickly solved.

bass nitro · #15 05-05-2011, 02:31 PM

solved how?to change input? 5210C 350 watts?no way!

Sparky Mark · #16 05-05-2011, 02:36 PM

Active basses don't always have a higher output than passives, until you start boosting the bass' onboard bass/mid/treble controls significantly. I have always used the passive i/p on any amp without a problem. It should make a significant difference to the volume you can achieve without maxing the volume knob.

Also, I think a 2 x 10 bass cab is probably the smallest set up that could hope to 'compete' with a loud drummer and 65W guitar amp in a rock situation. I used to play with a guy who played thru a 50W 2 x 12 Marshall combo and I needed a full 4 x 10 + 1 x 15 rig to be heard!

Sparky Mark · #17 05-05-2011, 02:48 PM

The fact that your speakers are moving a lot means you may benefit from backing off the low end.

I used to own a Hartke Hydrive 15 combo and initially couldn't cut thru the mix, even though the speaker was moving massively. Then I twigged that if I backed off the low end a bit, there is more power available for the important mids which helped me to be heard.

bass nitro · #18 05-05-2011, 02:56 PM

i know that.i even switched horn on and boosted mids but ...anyway.I paid lot of money to get home practice combo only.If i did know about i would not buy it.

jim777 · #19 05-05-2011, 02:58 PM

I have a Hydrive 210 combo that's 250 watts, and it also is pretty quiet up until about 5. After that though it takes off, so it doesn't bother me.

MysterMunky · #20 05-05-2011, 03:07 PM

I wonder why my 5210c with a Musicman shakes my walls at 2?

Must be faulty

Or maybe I live in a paper house....