Victor Wooten does he really play the new Hartke, are they a cool rig.

gary mitchell · #1 07-24-2010, 09:26 AM

I was just wondering,does Wooten play the new Hartke LH 1000 with matching cabs. Are is he just getting paid by Hartke to own one. Are they a good sounding rig, Ive seen him on Youtube with Stu but you cant tell much tru computer speakers. You can buy that whole rig for around 1500 bucks. I look at a Genz Benz Head that sold around a Grand with no cabs.

JAUQO III-X · #2 07-24-2010, 09:29 AM

Victor actually uses Hartke products.

Check him out live or during a clinic and see/hear for yourself.

Agito · #3 07-24-2010, 09:30 AM

I've seen him around YouTube few times playing with Hartke and I think he used Hartke in some SMV shows

neptoon · #4 07-24-2010, 09:37 AM

no, he recently dropped ampeg and in the past year or two has been auditioning dozens of other rigs...hartke is what he ultimately decided was best for him...it looks as if billy sheehan has made the same decision

jordy_on_bass · #5 07-24-2010, 09:58 AM

It is great to see a brand that was once considered 'second rate' being used and endorsed by great bass players - a true sign that Hartke is producing top quality gear. May look at buying the HA2500 head soon...if the missus will let me

Cheers,
Jordan

JimmyM · #6 07-24-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordy_on_bass

It is great to see a brand that was once considered 'second rate' being used and endorsed by great bass players - a true sign that Hartke is producing top quality gear. May look at buying the HA2500 head soon...if the missus will let me

hartke cabs have always had professional fans. their heads, not so much. but hartke really blew it out of the water with the lh heads and hydrive cabs. if i didn't already own everything i'll ever need, i might have bought a hydrive cab.

blastjv · #7 07-24-2010, 10:51 AM

May also just be a sign that Hartke has deeper pockets with signing artists. Endorsements don't always equate to better gear.

I'm not saying that's the case here, and I'm not calling either of those two legendary players 'sellouts' or anything like that. Just pointing out that there is a lot more that goes into signing up for an endorsement deal than "Which gear do I like the best?"

-JV

blastjv · #8 07-24-2010, 10:52 AM

I should add, that I did like the newer Hartke gear I've tried, and always liked their amps in general, though I didn't dig their cabs overall...

-JV

JimmyM · #9 07-24-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastjv

May also just be a sign that Hartke has deeper pockets with signing artists. Endorsements don't always equate to better gear.

I'm not saying that's the case here, and I'm not calling either of those two legendary players 'sellouts' or anything like that. Just pointing out that there is a lot more that goes into signing up for an endorsement deal than "Which gear do I like the best?"

-JV

i know part of vic's reasoning was being able to get hartke gear anywhere in the world, but still, it's a pretty desperate act when someone who already makes good money takes an endorsement with a company he doesn't like. not saying it doesn't happen, but those guys have enough competition for their endorsements where they can pick the gear they want.

chicago_mike · #10 07-24-2010, 11:03 AM

I really like my hydrive 410, even though I do fart it out, but thats me. I'd love to see a ported hydrive 410.

Larry Hartke · #11 07-25-2010, 07:52 AM

Hey Gary,
Just to be perfectly clear, no Hartke artist has ever been paid to play our gear, not one since 1984 when we made our first bass cabinet for Jaco. But this is something I hear and read every time we add a high profile artist. Jack Bruce, Will Lee, Stu Hamm, Victor Wooten, Nate Watts and the rest of our artists play Hartke gear because they like it. You can't buy these guys, they are not for sale. I'm sure we will hear this again very shortly when we announce the next big Hartke artist. But you've heard it from me, and it's the truth, no pay for play here.

JimmyM · #12 07-25-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

Hey Gary,
Just to be perfectly clear, no Hartke artist has ever been paid to play our gear, not one since 1984 when we made our first bass cabinet for Jaco. But this is something I hear and read every time we add a high profile artist. Jack Bruce, Will Lee, Stu Hamm, Victor Wooten, Nate Watts and the rest of our artists play Hartke gear because they like it. You can't buy these guys, they are not for sale. I'm sure we will hear this again very shortly when we announce the next big Hartke artist. But you've heard it from me, and it's the truth, no pay for play here.

the new hartke artist is the world's worst kept secret, bro

thisSNsucks · #13 07-25-2010, 07:59 AM

I helped out my cousin's band this past week and their bass player had the LH500 head with a hydrive 410 and 115. I got to play through it for a few minutes prior to them going on and I was seriously impressed with how nice that setup sounded.

It was a big outdoor venue and the Hartke setup was really punchy and articulate, but had great warmth as well. Not sterile at all. If I was touring I'd consider picking up the exact same rig as it sounded great and is cheap enough (price not quality) to beat the snot out of and not feel too terrible while doing so.

Hartke did a great job with this new line.

JAUQO III-X · #14 07-25-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

Hey Gary,
Just to be perfectly clear, no Hartke artist has ever been paid to play our gear, not one since 1984 when we made our first bass cabinet for Jaco. But this is something I hear and read every time we add a high profile artist. Jack Bruce, Will Lee, Stu Hamm, Victor Wooten, Nate Watts and the rest of our artists play Hartke gear because they like it. You can't buy these guys, they are not for sale. I'm sure we will hear this again very shortly when we announce the next big Hartke artist. But you've heard it from me, and it's the truth, no pay for play here.

**WoodyG3** · #15 07-25-2010, 08:04 AM

I can't think of a single time that I've heard someone playing through Hartke gear and thought it sounded anything less than great.

Jeff Scott · #16 07-25-2010, 08:28 AM

When I saw SMV Victor was very much using Larry's gear, and I spoke with Victor at NAMM this year, he is the real deal.

pasta4lnch · #17 07-25-2010, 08:39 AM

Larry seems like a stand up guy - I would imagine his products would reflect that. I played an old Hartke rig at a rehearsal space once that looked like it was dropped off the roof and it sounded great! Personally I'd love me a pair of the new 112's~

Larry Hartke · #18 07-25-2010, 09:22 AM

Ah Jimmy...but there's more than one! But, while I have you here I would just like to say that I think you are a tremendous asset here on the pages of Talkbass I see you out there helping players and answering questions from the most basic to the complex and it's always good well stated information.

I say hat's off to Jimmy folks!

I'd love to speak with you sometime, you have my number 201-680-8153 Cell

Rebmo · #19 07-25-2010, 09:34 AM

I can testify that Hartke doesn't pay me to use their HD115 and XL410 and I use them because I really like them. The Hydrive 115 is awsome paired with the XL410. I would love to have a HD 410 but ran out of $$, The 410XL balances nicely for my application using a old school GK800rb. No farting at all even at 7/10 volume setting which is way more than the 5/10 volume setting I typically use. The GK is 300W through this bottom setup. Application - Alt. Pop rock Tons of punch and makes a nice fan too on warmer days!

georgestrings · #20 07-25-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hartke

You can't buy these guys, they are not for sale.

In Vic's case, I'm not so sure - after all, why else would he be shilling that rediculously over-priced IEC cable???

I have alot of respect for you and your company, Larry - but I also believe in calling it as I see it...

- georgestrings