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Any Thoughts on a Hartke B120?

M

MarMar

Inactive
Sep 9, 2020
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#1
The Hartke B120 threads are a little outdated so I wanted to see if anyone was willing to offer some recent insight. It looks like a 1x12 combo at 120 watts, but I read the little thing actually has 2 12 inch speakers in it - one that faces forward and supposedly another that faces downward.

I have noticed that Hartke is a fairly reputable brand at its price level. However, I also read that these B120 amps can struggle at higher volumes. I'm not the kind of person who would turn my master volume to 9 or 10 out of 10, but I wonder how it would sound at a safe, louder level.

Any information on these? How do they sound? Are they good enough for a practice amp or a coffee shop or brewery gig? Do they struggle under louder volumes? Are they heavy or bulky?
 
#3
abarson said:
The owner’s manual shows clearly that there are indeed two 12” speakers in the cabinet.
http://www.samsontech.com/site_media/legacy_docs/b_series_manual.pdf

I vaguely recall trying one once many years ago and not liking the tone at all. Maybe some knob twiddling could have rendered something better, but I think my initial impression didn’t cause me to even try.
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I appreciate your feedback. I've always gigged through an Avatar 4x10 with a GK Backline 600 head on it. People on here like GK, but it seems they like their other products moreso than the Backline series. I have what are probably "odd" settings on my equalizer on my GK head and I love the way it sounds for the kind of music I was making in my main band.

Basically I am looking for something smaller that is loud enough to take to practices. Every time I look, though, I get directed towards another head and cab setup. I want something that is small enough that I can fit in my car but loud enough to keep up for practices and jam sessions.
 
#5
MarMar said:
I appreciate your feedback. I've always gigged through an Avatar 4x10 with a GK Backline 600 head on it. People on here like GK, but it seems they like their other products moreso than the Backline series. I have what are probably "odd" settings on my equalizer on my GK head and I love the way it sounds for the kind of music I was making in my main band.

Basically I am looking for something smaller that is loud enough to take to practices. Every time I look, though, I get directed towards another head and cab setup. I want something that is small enough that I can fit in my car but loud enough to keep up for practices and jam sessions.
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Since/if, you like the sound of your Avatar 410 along with your G.K. 600, maybe find a "used" Avatar 210 cabinet (they pop up in the T.B. classifieds at reasonable prices now and then), park the 210 at rehearsal, take the 410 to gigs.

(My gigging cabinets for the working, 5 pcs., outlaw biker band I've played in for the past 12 or so years: Two, Avatar 210 Neo cabinets stacked as a vertical 410.)
 
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#6
shoot-r said:
Since/if, you like the sound of your Avatar 410 along with your G.K. 600, maybe find a "used" Avatar 210 cabinet (they pop up in the T.B. classifieds at reasonable prices now and then), park the 210 at rehearsal, take the 410 to gigs.

(My gigging cabinets for the working, 5 pcs., outlaw biker band I've played in for the past 12 or so years: Two, Avatar 210 Neo cabinets stacked as a vertical 410.)
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That's a good idea on the 210. I really like Avatar especially for the price.
 
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#7
MarMar said:
That's a good idea on the 210. I really like Avatar especially for the price.
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Just my ears opinion, the Avatar 210 Neo cabinets are the best of the inexpensive 210 cabs commercially available, (and I think they beat-out most of the higher priced 210 cabinets on the market as well.)
My big stage, outdoor cabinet has been a Bergantino NV610 for sometime, with the Avatar vertical 410 set-up used for everything else.
Recently I've started using the Avatar vertical 410 for everything, (the band actually prefers the Avatars.)
 
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