Looking At Maybe The Hartke HyDrive 115C Or 210C?

[ryevick]

Anyone have time on these amps? I would like to hear peoples thoughts good and bad on this... they look like they might be pretty nice. I haven't had a chance to play them yet though.

[VegasBazz]

I love them both. This is going to depend on what kind of sound you're after. I initially got the 210c only because I love the smaller power house with its brighter and punchy bass response. After a day with my drummer and guitarist, who plays really loud, I returned it and exchanged for the 115c, which I now love due to its deeper bass response. The 210c had alittle problem cutting through the mix and my guitarist and drummer found it hard to hear me. But following day, I took it to jam with a band that does blues, classic rock, and jazz, and had no problem being heard and really shook down the walls. The 210c sounds really good and super punchy...but seems to lack the deep bass most hip-hop, funk, country, and reggae players often look for. The 115c is especially good if you play a 5 string bass. In my opinsion, this amp just responds better to the lower B string. I almost went for the 5210c so I can get the benefit of adding a 15" cab extension (with the Lh5000 head) but didn't like the flexibiliity or lack of. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[MasterBass!]

The Hydive 1x15 is a KILLER stand alone cabinet!!

[Vandy]

Originally Posted by VegasBazz

The 210c sounds really good and super punchy...but seems to lack the deep bass most hip-hop, funk, country, and reggae players often look for.

I (usually) play an Ibanez BTB575 & the active pups can dial in some good thud (Bartolini MKII's) with this Hartke.
The 210c has some great (basic) onboard manipulations, as well. Hartke Bass Attack (some effective grind) & compressor (which I use sparingly - not as an effect) are the examples here. A footswitch helps give you these expanded powers. This combo plays well with stompboxes as long as you are aware of unity gain demands . . .
That last bit (unity gain) bites me in the ass, sometimes . . .
Anyway, the XLR balanced out (pre & post), effects loop, plus stereo AUX IN are nice, too . . .

[coyote1]

I like the 210c, a lot. My only negative comment about it is that the overdrive ain't awesome.