Laney RB9 or Hartke HA5500?

[arif.is.beast]

Hey all,

I am trying to decide between 2 stacks:

* Laney's RB9 bass head with RB410 cab


or

* Hartke's HA5500 bass head with 410XL cab


I haven't heard bad about the RB9, nor have a heard bad about the HA3500 (so I assume the HA5500 would be at least just as good but louder =P), I just want to know what the general bass player population would recommend?

I'm intending on spending between $1000-1500, I play alot of various types of music, but mostly metal or death metal in genre (I play along to Protest the Hero, Black Dahlia Murder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, so tone range is important), and these are the two best stacks I've come across locally (I live in the Frankston area in VIC, Australia). If anyone has any other suggestions for a good stack around that price, please let me know. I use a Hohner B Bass V, if this changes opinions at all =)

Thank you all =)

[Gav4003]

Originally Posted by arif.is.beast

Hey all,

I am trying to decide between 2 stacks:

* Laney's RB9 bass head with RB410 cab


or

* Hartke's HA5500 bass head with 410XL cab


I haven't heard bad about the RB9, nor have a heard bad about the HA3500 (so I assume the HA5500 would be at least just as good but louder =P), I just want to know what the general bass player population would recommend?

I'm intending on spending between $1000-1500, I play alot of various types of music, but mostly metal or death metal in genre (I play along to Protest the Hero, Black Dahlia Murder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, so tone range is important), and these are the two best stacks I've come across locally (I live in the Frankston area in VIC, Australia). If anyone has any other suggestions for a good stack around that price, please let me know. I use a Hohner B Bass V, if this changes opinions at all =)

Thank you all =)

The hartke head all the way. I have used laney rb9 which is a very good and reliable amp head for a while but now use the hartke 3500 which hands down has a much better variety of tones to it, the valve preamp makes so much difference to it and to be honest the volume of the 3500 is unreal, I play in a punk/hardcore band and I've never had it up past 4, I can't ever see myself needing more out of a head.

[arif.is.beast]

Thanks Gav, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for =) the Hartke is winning so far =)

[clubdude]

Hartke, all the way! Great sound, great value, and even greater customer service. I've had the 2500, 3500, and now a LH1000. Loved them all. And I've owned SVT, Sunn, Acoustic, GK, Fender, Vox, ..... Too many to remember. But I'll put the Hartke, overall, against any of them. Not saying they are the very best sounding for everyone. There is no amp that fits that bill, but you can get two Hartke rigs for what some of them cost.

Stu Hamm still uses HA5500's, btw.

I will be selling a 410XL and a 210XL shortly. 410 is in a road case with casters. Will sell it with or without road case. Neither have a scratch that I know of. Certainly nothing major.

PM me if you have any interest. And happy shopping.
CD

[surfingbird1]

well, I have a Laney RB9 Stack - matching RB410 and RB115, I can say this thing is loud, and crystal clear, the compressor and enhancer are super usable, ITs loaded with celestion speakers, moderate weight, and pierces the mix (in a good way)

it has low - lows and three dimensional mids and highs

i couldnt recommend it enough

[Gav4003]

The laney is a good quality amp and to my ears was loud untill I went back to the hartke, I'd never bash Laney, they are a good quality company and my laney gear had many miles on it before I changed, it never let me down but in honesty I get a lot more response from the Hartke head and would rate it up there with any other named head going. For me if the 3500 ever packed in or got lost I would buy the same again without a seconds thought

[eyvindwa]

I play primarily progressive death metal trough a Hartke HA5500 stack (410 + 115). I've had it for seven years or so now, and it has not failed on me yet. Great sound for a good price!

[David1234]

Having played both, I lean toward the Hartke.

Nothing wrong with the Laney, but the Hartke seems more natural and flexible to me. Maybe get a better cab than a VX though. Decent, but you can probably do better. Like for example an HX cab.

[Gav4003]

Originally Posted by David1234

Having played both, I lean toward the Hartke.

Nothing wrong with the Laney, but the Hartke seems more natural and flexible to me. Maybe get a better cab than a VX though. Decent, but you can probably do better. Like for example an HX cab.

Fair point on the cabs, I use my 3500 through an ashdown mag810 and it works a treat.

[arif.is.beast]

Wow, thanks for all the response guys =]

Hearing great about both of them is this thread is making it a really hard choice, but I think I'm going for a Hartke because the users who have played both have gone for the hartke =)

I will have a browse for other cabs as well, thanks for that extra advice David =)