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Disappointed with Hartke

Spent

Spent

May 15, 2011
2,164
2,982
Upstate NY
waywardminds.band
#1
I picked up a used but mint Hartke XL 410 in November, my first 410. I was immediately in love with the sound, so much so that I bought an A25 to use at work during lunch breaks. This is the first cabinet that I've been truly happy with. My band gigs every weekend and rehearses once a week, so I play it twice a week and can't say enough about how good it sounds. Two weeks ago, at a gig, a horrible noise started coming from it. One of the drivers developed a tear. I was devastated! I immediatly called Hartke to inquire about a replacement and was told that they were out of stock until mid August! The rep didn't even seem at all concerned, not great customer service. I found out that the same exact thing happened to my band's previous bass player (our current keyboardist). So I'm done with Hartke (anyone interested in a two month old A25?). It seems to me that a company that deals with working musicians should be responsible enough to stock parts, especially parts that fail often. Now I've got a 95lb boat anchor in my basement. Luckily this is just a pastime for me. Just had to rant and get it off my chest.
 
#2
I think you need to be more realistic with your expectations. I used to work for a music retailer and dealt with all the vendors who's products we sold. Among those was Mackie. We were advised by Mackie to refer customers who needed gear repaired to a certificate repair shop because they had a six month backlog.

Vendors do run out of stock on things. Perhaps the person who answered your call could have handled your call better, but if they can't get a replacement for you till August (which is only a few weeks), what would you have them do? They can't give you what they don't have.

Perhaps you could borrow (you mentioned your keyboard player used to play bass) or rent another cabinet, unless you have a spare, till Hartke can replace your speaker. Sometimes things don't happen as fast or in the way we'd like.

I'd suggest being patient. Especially since you like the tone and whatnot. There are a lot of people who own Hartke products... and Fender, Ampeg, and all other vendors occasionally have situations like the one you described. If you go with another manufacturer, there's no guarantee it won't happen again.

In my experience, no manufacturer is exempt from such setbacks. Just my experience of working with many of the major manufacturers for three years.
 
#4
I don't think you'll find a driver elsewhere except maybe from an authorized service place or on ebay. I used a buddy's Hartke cab one time for one show we were both billed on. The 15" aluminum cone driver looked like Jiffy-Pop in the middle of my first set. IMO the amps are horrible sounding and the speakers can turn you on with some punch but are otherwise lame and just prone to the exact failure you experienced.
 
#7
Larry Hartke himself is on this forum often. I'd maybe see about talking with him before immediately writing the brand off like that. After all, did you not say that the sound was EXACTLY what you wanted? I'd give them more of a chance before just declaring them "bad" forever.

But, I'll be honest. MY perspective on the matter is influenced heavily by the fact that I've grown up in a small business. Often times, we've lost business due to customers having (sometimes) unrealistic demands of us. Although your request would seem completely easy, and simple to address from your view, consider things at Hartke. It's totally possible that they're dealing with issues that preclude being able to spare a single driver.

Lastly, Larry Hartke is HUGE on customer service, and WILL make this right with you if you give him the chance. :)
 
#8
hdracer said:
If they are out of stock they are out of stock.
You were probably the tenth person that day that called asking for one and go into a sob story.
You blew the speaker, he didn't.
Click to expand...

Seriously? Did you read my post? If I was the 10th person that day, maybe they have a real quality issue. Either way, I expect the cabinet to last more than a couple of years. And for the record I didn't blow the speaker, it tore. If I was overdriving it I would have fried the voice coil. I did nothing to damage it, the amp I was using was well within the tolerance of the cabinet. Lastly, the other bass player had the same thing happen and from what I've read, this is common. My expectations are not unreasonable, I expect the product to do what it claims, nothing more. Thanks for your input.
 
#9
majortoby said:
Larry Hartke himself is on this forum often. I'd maybe see about talking with him before immediately writing the brand off like that. After all, did you not say that the sound was EXACTLY what you wanted? I'd give them more of a chance before just declaring them "bad" forever.

But, I'll be honest. MY perspective on the matter is influenced heavily by the fact that I've grown up in a small business. Often times, we've lost business due to customers having (sometimes) unrealistic demands of us. Although your request would seem completely easy, and simple to address from your view, consider things at Hartke. It's totally possible that they're dealing with issues that preclude being able to spare a single driver.

Lastly, Larry Hartke is HUGE on customer service, and WILL make this right with you if you give him the chance. :)
Click to expand...

I agree for the most part, but they are not a small business. I had a bad speaker in an Avatar cabinet many years ago and Dave made it right. He sent along a crossover just in case, all at no charge. That cabinet is ten years old and still going strong.
 
#11
majortoby said:
Fair enough. I hate to sound preachy, but I just have a real soft-spot in my heart for Hartke, simply because I know their head honcho is a genuine stand-up guy who WILL go the extra mile for his customers. I don't even use his gear, lmao :p
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't believe the same thing. As I stated, I loved the sound of it. I'm just afraid that I'm going to have to wait a month, spend $150 on a speaker and then have another one go. At this point in my life (30 years in the biz) I'm looking for reliability. I even asked the rep if I could replace it with a Hydrive and he discouraged me from doing that. I feel I have to cut my losses and move on. My band typically gets $600 - $1,000 per gig, clubs want what they pay for. We all know that the bass is the single most important part of the band, without us it's just a lot of noise. ;)
 
#12
No speaker cabinet has 100% reliability, and two instances does not make the problem systemic to the brand. And....August is only two weeks away. You can be dramatic if you choose, or just realize that sometimes, **** happens.

Oh, and BTW, you bought a 1X8 combo, and tried to use it in a live band setting............the damage isn't shocking.
 
#13
Spent said:
Seriously? Did you read my post? If I was the 10th person that day, maybe they have a real quality issue. Either way, I expect the cabinet to last more than a couple of years. And for the record I didn't blow the speaker, it tore. If I was overdriving it I would have fried the voice coil. I did nothing to damage it, the amp I was using was well within the tolerance of the cabinet. Lastly, the other bass player had the same thing happen and from what I've read, this is common. My expectations are not unreasonable, I expect the product to do what it claims, nothing more. Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

Your responses in this thread says a lot.
I bet you acted the same way with the person on the phone.
What do you expect them to do? The speakers are out of stock at the moment. If you have heard of this happening before maybe there is a problem with their speakers and the phone person hears it all the time. That cab is $400 new. That puts in in the lower grade of cabs. You get what you pay for. If gigging is that important to you may be you should invest in some "Pro" gear.

I say junk the Hartke cab and get something better.
But no cab is completely bullet prof. Speakers blow
 
#14
guy n. cognito said:
No speaker cabinet has 100% reliability, and two instances does not make the problem systemic to the brand. And....August is only two weeks away. You can be dramatic if you choose, or just realize that sometimes, **** happens.

Oh, and BTW, you bought a 1X8 combo, and tried to use it in a live band setting............the damage isn't shocking.
Click to expand...

As I understand it, he bought the 4 X 10 for gigs and the 1 X 8 for his office. He blew out a driver in the 4 X 10 and, at this point, is so over Hartke that he wants to off-load the practice combo as well.

To the OP: if you had placed a 1 x 15 underneath the 4 X 10 to handle the lows, this never would have happened...j/k. Hope things get straightened out in short order and for low dough.

Riis
 
#15
hdracer said:
Your responses in this thread says a lot.
I bet you acted the same way with the person on the phone.
What do you expect them to do? The speakers are out of stock at the moment. If you have heard of this happening before maybe there is a problem with their speakers and the phone person hears it all the time. That cab is $400 new. That puts in in the lower grade of cabs. You get what you pay for. If gigging is that important to you may be you should invest in some "Pro" gear.

I say junk the Hartke cab and get something better.
But no cab is completely bullet prof. Speakers blow
Click to expand...

You assume a lot and understand little. Even more important, you add nothing to the conversation. To clarify (not for you, you know everything, but for anyone who has any interest in this thread) we have a decent PA with a nice sub, so the cabinet is mostly for stage volume. Many on TB use and like Hartke equipment and I happen to really like the way it sounded. You assume I found out about the problem prior to purchasing it, wrong again. Upon having the issue I found some helpful posts. The keyboardist, who no longer has his Hartke, told me that he had the same issue years ago. I'm not sure why you feel the need to respond, but don't feel compelled to respond further. Many people rant here because most members are understanding, give helpful advice and even add humor. I came here to vent to fellow bass players, not get into a pointless argument.
 
#16
guy n. cognito said:
No speaker cabinet has 100% reliability, and two instances does not make the problem systemic to the brand. And....August is only two weeks away. You can be dramatic if you choose, or just realize that sometimes, **** happens.

Oh, and BTW, you bought a 1X8 combo, and tried to use it in a live band setting............the damage isn't shocking.
Click to expand...

If you read my original post, I was told mid August, which is more than 2 weeks away. We're playing a gig that's being sponsored by a local radio station in two weeks, so mid August isn't going to cut it. You also missed the part about the A25 being used at work, I practice during my lunch break. Wow, **** happens, thanks for the heads up. After 30 years in the business, I never would have guessed.
 
#17
Cones tear due to over excursion - the driver being asked to give more than it is able to give. Add to that the fact that the cabinet was used and, like all used equipment, you have no idea what it was subjected to before you got it. If the replacement driver is not available 'til August then that is the way it is. Hartke probably buys their drivers in bulk and are waiting for the arrival of the latest batch. Larry has impressed me with the way he treats his customers. This will be made right but not until August.
 
#18
Zooberwerx said:
To the OP: if you had placed a 1 x 15 underneath the 4 X 10 to handle the lows, this never would have happened...j/k. Hope things get straightened out in short order and for low dough.
Click to expand...

There was a time when I actually used to do that. I had a Peavey BW and a 210 perched on top. The band used to refer to the sound that came out as brown noise. It was awful. For a few years I was in an original band with one guitar and an excellent drummer with a light touch. My MarkBass CMD 102P was more than adequate. Now I'm competing with two Mesa Boogies, a keyboard and a heavy handed drummer.
 
#20
BassmanPaul said:
Cones tear due to over excursion - the driver being asked to give more than it is able to give. Add to that the fact that the cabinet was used and, like all used equipment, you have no idea what it was subjected to before you got it. If the replacement driver is not available 'til August then that is the way it is. Hartke probably buys their drivers in bulk and are waiting for the arrival of the latest batch. Larry has impressed me with the way he treats his customers. This will be made right but not until August.
Click to expand...

I bought it from a neighbor who is a jazz bassist. He played with a small Hartke amp, never near full volume. It was actually a backup that he just used at home. I'm very aware of over excursion, which is why I never play without a Thumpinator.
 

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