LH500 a little pui but I've had a long day

[Melodicgroove]

Biggest piece of misrepresented garbage I have ever played through. At best a 200 watt amp. No beef! I think this is by far the most upset I have ever been with any amp. I've owned a 3500 and a 7000 both made back in the nineties, this thing can't even compare to those running one 8 ohm cab. Can anyone give me any justification for this? Running a 2007 Stingray in the passive input through a Warwick 6x10(6 ohms). Trust me, the active input was a joke. Been playing for 17 years this month and I have never seen such a display of misrepresented garbage. I am now quickly losing all hope.

[knappymer]

Really? I LOVE my LH500. I play through various cabs (8x10s, 4x10s ect) and it sounds amazing through all of them.

I think it may be a combination of the fact your only running it at 6ohms which may only be giving the cab around 400 or so watts. I know the head runs 500 at 4ohms and around 350 at 8ohms. So you're probably not giving the head the opportunity to give the can enough power.

Try plugging into a 4ohm 500-800 watt cab or two 8ohm cabs and see how you feel then.

Good luck.

[Melodicgroove]

Respectively, 400 solid state watts is loud, or it once was. This amp is not loud. Side by side to an Ampeg B2R rated a 350 watts(probably made in the 90's)through my same setup, LH500 is not even there. The LH500 with the bass on 8, Mid on 7, treble on 6, volume at 6, bright and limiter switch is off, it can barely keep up with a drummer and one guitar, and no beef in the sound. I turned the volume to 8 just to see what it would do, nothing but break up. I have an overdrive pedal if I want dirt. It sounds okay by it self, but who plays by themselves? PUI is on hold for now. Talk in the morn.

[JimmyM]

i've played one a couple times and it didn't seem underpowered. maybe it's got a fritzed tube?

[jjk2007]

Sounds like yours might have some kind of issue. I have the LH1000 and haven't gone much past 3 through my hydrive 410. I realize the 1000 has twice the juice, (even though that's not a huge gain in volume) but something sounds like it might not be right. Why not hit up Larry Hartke and see what he has to say. You can send him a message here, or call his phone even.

[wave rider]

Did you try 2-10-2 with the tone controls ala the Fender "tone stack"?

=wr=

[jjk2007]

Originally Posted by wave rider

Did you try 2-10-2 with the tone controls ala the Fender "tone stack"?

=wr=

As a side note, I love the tone of this amp using this setting.

[knappymer]

I agree with Jimmy and jjk. I compete with guitars, keys/electronics, a drummer and a mad man behind the mic. In that case I run through either a Hartke VX810 or a 410 and a 112 and it's crazy loud.

I'd maybe have the tube and the head checked out before getting rid of it.

Hope it works out.

[Melodicgroove]

It's brand new, just got it, I can swap it out. I picked the manual up just a second ago and it says it should take about 3 seconds for it to produce sound(cycle the power) after flipping the power switch on. This one takes like 15 seconds to produce any sound. I've had amps take a couple seconds to warm up, but it was a long time to get any sound. It's clean, until about 8 on the volume knob. Reckon it's a dud?

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by Melodicgroove

Reckon it's a dud?

Yes. From what I've seen through this forum, Larry Hartke is always helpful, and will do what he can to resolve your problem. He'll probably post himself any minute now ...

[Melodicgroove]

Ninja FTW!!!!

[JimmyM]

maybe but i don't know if taking 15 seconds to produce sound would make it a dud. every amp i've ever played that had a tube took at least 15 seconds to get the tube warm enough to operate.

[Melodicgroove]

I had an ampeg that took a while to cycle as well, the B200R. It was always like, how about now- no. Okay now. nope. Okay... now. Ahh, there it is. Rather annoying tbh.

[JimmyM]

the b200r has a tube, too. if you want an amp with tubes, that's the way it goes.

[Melodicgroove]

The delay in sound didn't really make an impression on me until I read in the manual that it should only take 3 seconds to cycle the power. That's the only thing I can see wrong with it other than it is severely lacking in power. I guess I should just send it back. Thanks for clarification on this matter.

[jjk2007]

My LH1000 takes about 10-15 seconds before it makes a sound. No biggie for me. Maybe you have a tube issue like Jimmy said earlier.

[BillyIVbass]

Yes, the manual is semi-bogus. I've owned the LH500 and LH1000 both with stock and different tubes. 10-15 seconds sounds about right as mentioned above.

As far as power to get the full 500 watts you need a 4ohm cab. Most all amp companies have a powerful sounding model number, then you read in the fine print what hoops you need to jump through to get that power.

Garbage? Call it whatever you want if you can find a better amp priced under $350 new.

[The Thinker]

Sounds like maybe a lemon. I played an outdoor gig in a pop/rock band with my LH500 through an 8 ohm 210 cab. I didn't run through the PA. The sound guy said it sounded great all the way at the back of the venue. I had to crank it nearly all the way up, but it got the job done.

[punkrocko]

As stated before, I think it’s probably your EQ settings with the Fender Tone Stack. At B-8, M-7, T-6, you’ve scooped out a very large chunk of your perceived volume. Try 2-10-0 first to see if you’re able to get close to the volume level needed. There are some very good threads on the Fender Tone Stack here at Talkbass.

[marksdbass]

The first time I fired mine up, I thought the same thing. It's got good tone, but it seems weak.
I D.I. to the board, so.....you know the rest.