Hartke HyDrive cabs vs. GK Neo?

Kwesi · #1 07-19-2010, 07:32 PM

So, I've been playing my Hartke stuff for about 2 weeks and it sounds awesome but, as cool looking things usually do, the GK Neo stuff has caught my eye

. I'm probably gonna make my way up to the local Guitar Center to funk around on whatever they have but until then some input would be nice to tide me over. Can anyone whose played on both comment on their tonal differences, specifically the 410s? Thanks!

jelwood · #2 07-19-2010, 07:40 PM

I'm going to bet that right when you start playing through those neo's, the difference will be night and day. The GK neos are notorious for sweeping large frequency response ranges and having unmatched clarity and silk. You will, without a doubt, soon be a convert.

Crystalman85 · #3 07-19-2010, 08:04 PM

I was thinking of getting a gk neo bass cab myself. I once tried it out at a guitar center and I though it sounded pretty cool.

JimmyM · #4 07-19-2010, 10:39 PM

6 of one, half a dozen of the other if you ask me. the hydrives are neos, btw. hard to say which you'd like better, but i'm a fan of the hydrives whereas i used to hate hartke cabs. still, gk also makes a nice cab, so flip a coin.

Montanamike · #5 07-19-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelwood

I'm going to bet that right when you start playing through those neo's, the difference will be night and day. The GK neos are notorious for sweeping large frequency response ranges and having unmatched clarity and silk. You will, without a doubt, soon be a convert.

+1

BillyIVbass · #6 07-19-2010, 10:57 PM

Haven't played the new GKs, but from the older quality stuff compared to my Hydrive:

Hartke: like the lows alot, the mids are a bit muddy, the highs are very clear

GK: lows are OK, but not impressive, the mids are more focused, hate the highs

Just my opinion.

metallicafan18 · #7 07-19-2010, 11:06 PM

I have played both, and own some NEO's. 410 wise, the GK has more low-end and punch to it. The Hartke seemed to be more trebely to me. I love them both, but I prefer a little more low-end to my sound.

The hartke seemed a bit more bright and crisp than the GK. The GK was a more rounded tone.

Kwesi · #8 07-20-2010, 06:47 AM

You know, I honestly thought that some input here would hold me over until I got into a GC to try them out but it's really just doing the opposite, lol. Either way thanks for the comments and keep 'em comin'

Kwesi · #9 07-20-2010, 07:47 PM

So I just got back from GC and here's the verdict:

Hartke wins!

I'm not going to write up full review or anything but I tried the GK NEO410 with a GK 700RB-II head and I just didn't like it. Even with everything flat and the filters all off the tone had a mild scoop and seemed to lack the fatness that I like to hear. I swapped the 700RB for a Markbass LittleMark III and there was MASSIVE improvement (again, everything flat, filters off) but the tone was still unfavorably scooped.

All in all the GK stuff was good but it didn't have the tone I was after, so even as cool as they look, I'll be sticking with my Hartke and I don't see that changing any time soon

.

somegeezer · #10 07-20-2010, 07:56 PM

GK stuff was scooped? They seem to be renowned for their mid growl.

Kwesi · #11 07-20-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somegeezer

GK stuff was scooped? They seem to be renowned for their mid growl.

Maybe in the upper mids? When I think growl I think the lower mid Jaco burp and when I went 75% and then 100% bridge pup it sounded empty. But when I switched over to another amp (Markbass Jeff Berlin 115) it was all there. I fiddled with the eq, boost, tweeter, and woofer controls too but nothing seemed to give me what I wanted.

woody357 · #12 08-10-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Maybe in the upper mids? When I think growl I think the lower mid Jaco burp and when I went 75% and then 100% bridge pup it sounded empty. But when I switched over to another amp (Markbass Jeff Berlin 115) it was all there. I fiddled with the eq, boost, tweeter, and woofer controls too but nothing seemed to give me what I wanted.

I use a GK 800RB, with a yorkville cabinet, and I have a backline 110 combo that I use for rehers. I'm not trying to say you don't know what you are doing, but you can get a scoop sound with both of those and the 700rb head, but you have to set it like that. IMHO with GK heads you have to know how to set them up, if not you could get disappointed.

Kwesi · #13 08-10-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody357

I use a GK 800RB, with a yorkville cabinet, and I have a backline 110 combo that I use for rehers. I'm not trying to say you don't know what you are doing, but you can get a scoop sound with both of those and the 700rb head, but you have to set it like that. IMHO with GK heads you have to know how to set them up, if not you could get disappointed.

That just may be the case but I prefer to have a head that I can plug up to most cabs and leave absolutely flat and get a tone that I dig.