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Bass Head and Cab advice

Which amp would you go for?

  • Hartke 3500a

    Votes: 33 22.6%

  • Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II

    Votes: 46 31.5%

  • Warwick ProFet 5.1

    Votes: 26 17.8%

  • Gallien-Krueger Backline 600

    Votes: 41 28.1%
  • Total voters
    146
K

KidBanjo

Oct 17, 2008
17
0
London, UK
#1
This has probably been asked in one way or another but I’m looking for a new bass head and cab. Nothing spectacular looking at about £500-£650 absolute max, it’s just for small to medium sized gigs and practicing. We wont be playing stadiums anytime soon so will have a hard job justifying anything much more than £600 ;)

It comes down two these two I think…

Hartke 3500a - Bass Amplifier
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Hartke 4.5 XL - 4x10 with HF Driver XL Series Cabinet
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OR

Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II Head
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=112

Ashdown MAG 410T Deep Cabinet
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?section=mag&ID=24

Want this to last me, so reliability and performance are important.
I like the idea of the valve preamp in the Hartke but never had any experience of the aluminum cones in the cab. I play anything from poppy indi stuff, a bit of rock to reggae n ska.

I am going to try and play both set ups but would appreciate peoples opinions on them or anything else in that kinda price range. Thanks
 
#5
perogato02 said:
I would go for the Hartke combination but I really dig those alu cones ..
Click to expand...

What would you say the difference is in sound?
I've been told Aluminum cones are punchier but less forgiving?

Apart from that theres the sensitivity
Hartke: 99 dB @ 1 W/1 M
Ashdown:101dB @ 1 W/1 M

My current is 96 dB @ 1 W/1 M

I've been told and vaguely remember from uni that the difference from 96db to 100db ish should be quite significant?
 
#6
I used the Ashdown EVOII 300 for years before going over to MarkBass (not as cool looking but smaller and lighter). If you decide on the Ash I've got an ABM 2x10 fitted with Superfly speakers for sale, they go brilliantly together. PM me if interested. Unsolicited selling? What can I tell you I have no shame;)
 
#9
I notice nobody's mentioned the Laney RB9, should I avoid this like the plague? I only mention it as I've got an RB4 at the moment which is why I'm looking to upgrade, it sounds OK but nothing to shout about.

Seriously considering the Hartke LH500, I like the idea of extra power.
 
#10
Hope someones still looking at this and thanks for all the votes, although there's no clear leader! ;)

I think that none of the amps has a clear lead means it will come down to snap decision in the shop.

Any opinions on the 4X10 cab, I play a bit of reggae now and then so not sure if an aluminum cone would suit this?

And will running the HARTKE LH-500 through a HARTKE 4.5 XL - 4x10 cab be a recipe for disaster? Wish I could add it to the vote, as I quite like the no nonsense look of this amp, I've got my own compressor pedal so don't really need one onboard?


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#12
Thanks to atheos and dannster, going to give some serious consideration to the Hartke LH500 looks like a goody.

Apart from that non of the others seems to have a clear lead so guess I'll have to trust my ears in the shop.

If I was to go for the Gallien-Krueger would you recommend the Gallien-Krueger 410BLX cab?
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on paper it doesn't look nearly as good as the Ashdown or Hartke cabs?
 
#15
KidBanjo said:
If I do go for the Hartke LH500 or 3500a whats the issue with the tubes in the pre-amp? How delicate are they? Will I need to replace them any time?

Basically will I be living in constant fear of them blowing up? ;)
Click to expand...

Don't worry about them, preamp tubes live most of the time longer then the rest of the amp.
You could replace them, but in the Hartkes it doesn't make that much difference for your sound (heard it on the grapevine, since I never tried it myself).
 
#16
Just like to thank everyone on this site who helped with their advise/opinions.

Ended up getting the Hartke LH500 and thanks to a great bloke in the music shop an Ampeg Classic 410HLF, it weights a ton but sounds amazing! I've had it a few months now and I can confirm that the amp and cab work really well together, I can get anything from an amazingly deep sound to a lovely trebley sound for slapping.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

http://www.ampeg.com/products/classic/svt410hlf/index.html

Cheers
 

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