New Hartke LH500 and buzz

Jkuespert · #1 11-08-2012, 09:38 PM

I just purchased a new Hartke LH500 amp with a VX410 cab. I'm a bit surprised at the amount of buzz this rig generates with the volume past 5. Even with no instrument cable plugged in, its more than annoying.

I've found that if I turn the treble knob completely counterclockwise, the buzz diminishes, but certainly this isn't the solution.

Any advice on where I need to begin to correct this?

madsheep#1 · #2 11-09-2012, 01:56 AM

I'd say it's faulty. Mine does not buzz at any volume. If you mean a bit of a 'hiss' at loud volumes then yes this would be natural but no 'buzz' from mine. Hope your problem is solved soon as these are great pieces of equipment.

Jkuespert · #3 11-09-2012, 06:34 AM

OK.. maybe buzz was the wrong word - yes, it is more of a loud hiss.

Unfortunately, this is my first rig, and I'm not certain if the hiss is normal. It seems to me to be overly loud at volume.

Again, if I turn the treble all the way down, it is completely silent.

perogato02 · #4 11-09-2012, 06:47 AM

A hiss? A good chance it is the tweeter in the cab.
Try the head with another cab, without a tweeter, and check out if it is still hissing.

hover · #5 11-09-2012, 06:51 AM

Occasionally I would get a "hiss" with the treble boost on on that head, more often when there was "dirty" club power / or less than well shielded bass plugged in.

bassphreak · #6 11-10-2012, 09:03 AM

Also, a flat eq setting is different on the LH series heads. It took me a long time to understand that. 'Flat is treble at like 2, mids at 8/9 and bass at 3 (I think). Turn the treble down too. I had a hiss with mine but it was the combination of the tweeter and my eq setting.

Vandy · #7 11-10-2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassphreak

Also, a flat eq setting is different on the LH series heads. It took me a long time to understand that. 'Flat is treble at like 2, mids at 8/9 and bass at 3 (I think). Turn the treble down too. I had a hiss with mine but it was the combination of the tweeter and my eq setting.

"Technically" Hartke uses what most folks (& historians?) call a "Fender stack". Treble and bass pots are mainly boost, while the mid pot is a cut only device . . .
Not sure if it applies to only their LH series amps (I own an LH1000) - it does not apply to the HyDrive combos (7-band EQ; no mid pot) . . .

jjk2007 · #8 11-10-2012, 08:26 PM

I run my LH1000 @ 3-10-0. If I need a little twink on the top end, I'll boost the highs to 2. I get some hiss if I really boost the highs, but I never run at those levels under normal circumstances. Somewhere around 2-10-2 is flat on these amps.