HARTKE LH HEADS ARE HA5500 HELP PLEASE

[Fred Mott]

My cousin is saving for one of the Hartke LH heads. We were sitting up one night talking, and he was telling me he like that old school sound. Lots of smooth bottom end. I told him he might be better off, getting the HA5500. He's going to be using a Carvin BRX12 cab actually it has 212s in it. and maybe a 15 cab with it. We got into a pretty good discussion. So we both decided to let you guys help us judge. He plays in a band that plays country, blues and some old school rock, like late 60s to 70s. I know they started doing Come Together by the Beetles. I guess it depends who are what the crowd wants. Mostly Blues But between the two Hartke LH Heads are the Hartke HA5500. I think 500 watts would be plenty. Thanks you GUYS

[JimmyM]

500w would be plenty. out of the two i like the lh500 better, but all the hartke heads are pretty cool.

[Fred Mott]

I forgot to add he uses a USA Fender P bass all the time. The only reason I say USA is I think the pickups are different then the Mexico are Jap built P bass guitars.

[Sparky Mark]

I owned an LH1000 and still own an old mosfet 3500. The 3500 is pretty much as loud as I ever need and is way more flexible tonewise than the LH. The HA has both tube and SS pre and as many EQ options as you could want. The LH has a Fender style tone stack which is great if you like the one tone but isn't as adaptable IMO and IME.

[Gotta P]

I like the lh500. not familiar w/the others.

[Fred Mott]

I would like to hear Larry Hartke's thoughts on this. My cousin really like's him. It is pretty cool he gives his phone number out on here.

[AMJBASS]

The LH500 is one of the better sounding heads I have owned(and I have owned a lot). For the money its unbeatable. Loud, clear, and a real warmth to the sound. Killer sounding heads.

[Fred Mott]

Whats the difference between the BA5500 and the HA5500

[TheNightLife]

I've owned the ha series and I wasn't all that impressed with it but I played the lh series and just setting everything flat sounded great. I would get the lh

[Rthm]

im almost ready to grab the HA myself, i think it sounds amazing. its incredibly versatile with just the tube/ss pre's even without engaging the graphic eq. i played the LH right after it, tho, and i wasn't impressed.....i felt like it was, i dunno, restricted by the eq.
just some thoughts.

[levis76]

I'm an HA man myself. I like the versatility the front end on these amps offers. I used a HA3500 for years with no issues and no complaints. With the variety of styles your friend will be playing, I don't think he can go wrong with the HA. Running a VT pedal in front of it will add even more tonal options.

Played an LH once at a store thru an AK cabinet. It reminded me of the SWR LA12 I started out on with its very basic control layout. I missed the dual preamp and EQ the most. It does one tone very well, kind of a bottom heavy vintage tone, but with authority and a quick response. Not a lot of upper mids but lots of low end. Not a bad setup, just not for me.

[levis76]

Originally Posted by Fred Mott

Whats the difference between the BA5500 and the HA5500

The BA5500 doesn't exist, it's a typo. There are two "versions" of the HA series though. The older version has the black faceplate while the new version has the grey faceplate. Don't know if they changed anything from one to the other, I think the grey models are reissues and some internal components may have been sourced from different suppliers. Maybe Larry himself will pop in to enlighten us.

[Fred Mott]

Larry where are you.