Carvin Rig vs. Hartke Rig

[vinxbass]

just another quick question. Are neo cabs worth the extra money? thanks

Heck yeah!!

 

[Billnc]

I played outside New Years 25 degrees, and the HYDrive worked fine, now the full aluminum may not. I'm a fan of both companies but I'm loving the LH series amps.

 

[Mystic Michael]

For my money, the Carvin is a much better head. The Hartke is quite decent, don't get me wrong, but the B1500 is IMO a modern classic.

Not crazy about either cab, though. If I were you, i'd forget about either 8-10 and get the B1500 in a package deal with one BRX10.4NEO 4-10 (not the BR410 cab, which IMO is not as good) and add a second when i could afford it, if I still felt I needed it:

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Or bite the bullet now and get a full stack, if the funds are available (despite what the pic shows, this package includes TWO BRX 4-10s):

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But of course it's your $$, not mine. (It's always easy to spend someone else's money.)

My thoughts precisely. If you're really sold on (8) 10s, then (1) B1500 head + (2) BRX 10.4 NEO cabs = one scary powerful, pro-quality rock rig...

MM

 

[Mystic Michael]

Some gigs might only need the cab and I could conserve space, or if I had the room I could bring both and have the option to put a cab on each side of the drummer so my other guitarist could hear better.

Don't put both cabs on the floor. Stack 'em. And don't waste a cab by using it as a monitor for the other players. Use it for projecting out into the room.

(Im only 16, but my back might thank me down the road if I get the 2 4x10's).

You are wise to think so far ahead, Grasshopper...

MM

 

[kingpin2512]

I have no experience with carvin stuff but hartke I do. My current hartke head is having the same problems that theory028 had. I'm debating about keeping it and having it looked at or just getting a new head. So in the end I would probally get the carvin and a 4X10 or 2 over the 8X10.

 

[gjbassist]

Another vote for Carvin here!

 

[ourworldisgrey]

As a current carvin BX1200 and avatar 410 NEO owner, I'd highly suggest you go that way. So much headroom, powerful graphic EQ, and the preamp drive and built in compressor are really nice.

 

[theory028]

I have no experience with carvin stuff but hartke I do. My current hartke head is having the same problems that theory028 had. I'm debating about keeping it and having it looked at or just getting a new head. So in the end I would probally get the carvin and a 4X10 or 2 over the 8X10.

That is unfortunate. I took a glance at your profile and saw that you have a Harke HA3000. I wasn't sure of what I had so I looked at my profile and found it to be an HA3000 as well. It must be a problem with that model. Unless you happen to have purchased your amp from SSE Music in La Crosse, WI. That would be quite strange.

There seems to be a lot of hype over Hartke's service now. I'm quite impressed by the stories. It sounds like Larry and crew are doing an excellent job.

 

[kingpin2512]

No it was actually from the GC in appleton, WI and I got it used. Mabey it took a road trip.

 

[theory028]

No it was actually from the GC in appleton, WI and I got it used. Mabey it took a road trip.

Haha. That is surprisingly close, though. Here are some pictures of the HA3000 that I had. Maybe there'll be some identifying wear on it.

 

[kingpin2512]

Nope, but thanks for the pics. Did you find out what was causing it?

 

[cassanova]

I don't have experience with the newer Carvin cabs but I do with some of the older ones and also have experience with Hartke.

I do not recommend Hartke heads as from what I know of their heads from experience and word of mouth, they tend to fail. Too many times have I seen Hartke heads just stop working. The compressors on them are very sub-par IMO/IME. The high end hiss they produce is also unacceptable. You can't dial in any good high end without getting the annoying "hiss." I also find the overall tone, though usable, to be somewhat sterile.

Their cabs are IMO/IME inefficient and cannot handle louder volumes without distorting and also tend to lack bottom end. I would avoid them.

I feel the same about the Carvin cabs I've used in the past. They sounded great at lower volumes and had pretty good bottom end, but when you had to open it up and get loud the cabs were unable to handle the volumes, would distort, and lose the bottom end.

I have not owned a Carvin head but would buy one of those before I would a Hartke head. That being said, I'd shop around and see if I could find a good deal on something else that is more than likely better than the both.

BTW, and this may be a factor for you or it may not be. Carvin or Harke gear have lousy resale value. So when/if you decide to get newer gear you won't get much for it should you sell it. Especially the Carvin stuff.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I feel the same about the Carvin cabs I've used in the past. They sounded great at lower volumes and had pretty good bottom end, but when you had to open it up and get loud the cabs were unable to handle the volumes, would distort, and lose the bottom end.

If you're referring strictly to the old Carvin Proline or Redline models, I would agree with you 100%. But if you're not yet up to speed on the newer Carvin BRX line of cabs, you really owe it to yourself to do some research and read some reviews. It's not just apples and oranges. Apples and microchips...

MM

 

[Ronny49]

Those brand new Hartke Paper cone AK Series cabs are Fantastic!! I played them at Sam Ash and love the sound! They are less money and NO aluminum to worry about and the classic sound will be great in my classic hard rock band. I love the LH500 and 1000. But I went with the LH500 though it does not have a speakon connector, I will have my electronics guy install one. See the AK's here: Invalid Link Removed

Watch the video here: Invalid Link Removed