New amp for Hartke HyDrive 4x10/1x15 full stack

Waffles and Scotch · #1 09-22-2011, 08:32 AM

Okay, so last time I came on here asking for suggestions for an amp to match my SWR 4x10/1x15 full stack I got some great responses, so here goes again...

About 6 months ago I blew my SWR full stack (long story), so I purchased a Hartke HyDrive 1x15 to go with my older GK 4x10 and my Mesa M6. I love the sound, but I want to get the matching HyDrive 4x10 cab, my Mesa needs to go in the shop. I also like having a backup rig - just in case.

SO...since I really love my M6 I was looking into possibly getting a Mesa M9 to go with the Hartke rig. I like the simplicity and the tone the M6 puts out.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I'm playing on an Ibanez SR706, btw...

refbassist · #2 09-22-2011, 08:44 AM

Hartke LH1000 would sound great, check it out.

Waffles and Scotch · #3 09-22-2011, 10:27 AM

I'll check it out - thanks!

BassmanPaul · #4 09-22-2011, 11:03 AM

Do a search for the reasons not to pair a 4x10 and a 1x15. It's a poor mating at best.

Waffles and Scotch · #5 09-22-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Do a search for the reasons not to pair a 4x10 and a 1x15. It's a poor mating at best.

That's one heck of an informative post, buddy!!

I always love it when people post absolutely no information except a jab at the equipment you're currently using...

RickenBoogie · #6 09-22-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

That's one heck of an informative post, buddy!!

I always love it when people post absolutely no information except a jab at the equipment you're currently using...

because you haven't been informed, or read any of the hundreds of threads on this very topic?

Febs · #7 09-22-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

That's one heck of an informative post, buddy!!

I always love it when people post absolutely no information except a jab at the equipment you're currently using...

Here's one thread I found quickly using the search suggested by BassmanPaul ("pair 410 115"):

Uneven tone/volume with 410 and 115...help!

Waffles and Scotch · #8 09-22-2011, 12:43 PM

What you're missing is the fact that whether or not a 1x15 and a 4x10 cab should be paired is completely irrelevant to this thread topic...

Dustin Teel · #9 09-22-2011, 01:18 PM

+1

Who cares?

If it sounds good, it sounds good.

Would running my bass through a set of keyboard monitors and PA subwoofers and driving it with a guitar amp head make much sense? Well, no, not really.

If it sounded better than an Ampeg 8x10 with an SVT head, would I do it?

Absolutely.

Febs · #10 09-22-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

What you're missing is the fact that whether or not a 1x15 and a 4x10 cab should be paired is completely irrelevant to this thread topic...

In that case, I'll second the recommendation for the LH 1000.

It has a balance knob that may help mitigate the problems you run into when pairing a 4x10 with a 1x15.

jjk2007 · #11 09-22-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

In that case, I'll second the recommendation for the LH 1000.

It has a balance knob that may help mitigate the problems you run into when pairing a 4x10 with a 1x15.

+1. If you're going to run that setup, get an amp you can run in stereo with a balance knob to help "even out" the sound of the two cabs.

**mintondm** · #12 09-22-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

What you're missing is the fact that whether or not a 1x15 and a 4x10 cab should be paired is completely irrelevant to this thread topic...

+1.

As far as acctually being HELPFUL and answering your question, I was demo running the same configuration at Sam Ash the other day paring the 410-115 HyDrives. I was running them using my GK1001RB-II head and tried the stores' Hartke LH1000 floor model. Needless to say, either configuration, got most of the store turning heads (they like me, I get away with alot...lol). I did like the response of the Hartke head, although was not super impressed with the levels. It appears that the Hartke cabs are faaaairly power hungry to get them moving, and I think the LH1000 was slightly under-powered for the cabs (Remember a perfect scenario is your amp should be 2.5 times more than your cab to prevent clipping and excesive draw on the amp (overheating, undue stress from clipping out, ect., WHOLE other issue... That's why you see a lot of guys running one cab per amp, to keep that 6 db headroom). That being said with the GK1001, I heard a LOT more action sooner without pushing the amp as far. But looking at the numbers:

LH1000 (Bout 600 bucks):

Dual Parallel Mode: 2 x 225 watts @ 8 ohms, 2 x 320 watts @ 4 ohms, 2 x 545 watts @ 2 ohms
Bridge Mode: 1 x 750 watts @ 8 ohms, 1 x 1100 watts @ 4 ohms

GK1001RB-II (Bout 750 bucks):

460W @ 8 Ohms
700W @ 4 Ohms

Now the cabs, pay attention here...

HX410:

1000W "RMS" @ 8 Ohms

HX115:

500W "RMS" @ 8 Ohms

Looking at the fine print without getting into the specifics of the audio issues with mixing cabs with different size drivers, you have a disparity between the power handling of the cabs 1000 vs. 500. That means than when you start to push things, the 115 gets closer to it's electrical and heat thresh-holds before the 410 will (meaning it's gonna blow 1st...) IF you were to push it...

So basically, if you are gonna use that combination, ensure that you have enough power to run both cabs safely, and make sure you watch youre volume knob!! Avoid the temptation of ramming the volume up on any amp over what the total cab/stack rating is. Take from experience, I've lost several 115 cab drivers in this combination. Learn from experience lol.

As far as what I took from the listening test, my GK head, as usual, had more mid/mid-hi, the GK growl I like, plus took the Hartke Hi-fi kinda sound and added some meat to it, which I was really happy with.

All in all, I got the Hartke 810 Hydrive :-) 2000w @ 4 ohms... Now to FURTHER upgrade my amp lol.

**mintondm** · #13 09-22-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundar

And how many of you have tried the HX410 and the HX115 together, and have judged them and determined them to be inferior when paired? For the most part, I agree that that cabs should be matched, but there's an awful lot of bass players that use this configuration still, especially with the Hartke HX series.

Me!

Agreed, I have (and still use my GK stack 410/115 with a hi-low pass dsp inbetween). My only issue with the cab combo for the Hartke stuff was the signifficat power handling difference with how much the seperate cabs needed to get moving. Again, TOTALLy different topic than the OP though lol.

BassmanPaul · #14 09-22-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

That's one heck of an informative post, buddy!!

I always love it when people post absolutely no information except a jab at the equipment you're currently using...

Sorry you feel that a simple warning is a jab at your equipment. I'm simply trying to save you from compounding a mistake. This subject comes up so often that many of us are tired of repeating all the typing we do.

A 1x15 from any commercial manufacturer will never be able to hang with a 4x10 in any way. It will be a weak link in your system. Matching cabinets is always the best way to pair a cabinet.

Waffles and Scotch · #15 09-22-2011, 02:23 PM

Thanks for all the help! Much appreciated.

Waffles and Scotch · #16 09-22-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintondm

All in all, I got the Hartke 810 Hydrive :-) 2000w @ 4 ohms... Now to FURTHER upgrade my amp lol.

*jealous*

This is my ultimate goal (in a few years). What amp(s) are you looking at that can power that cab?

Waffles and Scotch · #17 09-22-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Sorry you feel that a simple warning is a jab at your equipment. I'm simply trying to save you from compounding a mistake. This subject comes up so often that many of us are tired of repeating all the typing we do.

A 1x15 from any commercial manufacturer will never be able to hang with a 4x10 in any way. It will be a weak link in your system. Matching cabinets is always the best way to pair a cabinet.

Well, I just wanted to know what amp(s) some folks might recommend purchasing for a particular setup, not whether or not they agree with said setup and why. So basically your advice (IMO) was to search for a reason to dislike my current and future setup. As an earlier poster said, if you like how it sounds (and the sound guys, band members, etc like how it sounds), who cares?

Just came in here looking for info pertinent to my situation. That's all.

**mintondm** · #18 09-23-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF Ghost

*jealous*

This is my ultimate goal (in a few years). What amp(s) are you looking at that can power that cab?

I LITERALLY just got home with it liek an hour ago lol. Right now I'm still using my GK 1001RB-II, sitting pretty at about 700 Watts at 4 ohms, so I can push it gently, but the amp does strain long before I get the volume to the foundation rattling levels I want! I'll be sticking with GK for all my future heads for the foreseeable future, I just love the response and mean growl I get when I push it. I'll prob upgrade to the 2001RB which is right around a listed 1080 W @ 4 Ohms (Which is the biggest retail amp they make currently. I'm gonna have to make some connections when I get to NAMM in January and press this issue... lol.

A little compression to take out the overbearing mid-low (which really stands out on the HyDrive btw due to the hybrid driver design) but the GK punch really takes it to a new level.

I'm gonna get off here and go put cracks in my walls! Goodluck!

I'll post some pics here before the end of the night lol.