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Hartke 210 distorting at all volumes on low notes.

WashburnBasser

WashburnBasser

Feb 19, 2006
599
227
Massachusetts USA
#1
Hey, my brand new Hartke 210 is farting on the low notes, but only with the EQ knobs on my active bass turned up all the way. I know I am not clipping the input on the GB600 I'm using, but I still get farting. Am I correct in assuming that my bass is just putting out very low frequencies the 210 can't handle, or is something else at play? If I put the EQ knobs on the center notch, there is no farting at any volume. I'd prefer to be able to use the EQ knobs on my bass, but I will sacrifice using them up all the way if I have too. The volume knob can be turned almost all the way down and it will still fart with the EQ knobs up all the way. Also, it may be possible I just don't understand my onboard EQ all that much, maybe it is normal to keep it around center, and only boost or cut a little.
 
#6
Have you tried this on other cabs? Have you tried this with another active bass? I suppose both of the voice coils in your cab could be rubbing, but is unlikely if it is new (unless you've pushed the speakers really, really hard). Is it possible that your bass is sending out the distortion from its onboard preamp? You might want to check the batter. Also, are you sure that you're not pushing your amp's preamp too hard and the amp's clip light is missing it? Also, does your cab have a tweeter?
 
#7
Nah, I put a fresh battery in, running at low volumes, haven't tried another active, and I have noticed this a bit when using it with a few other cabs, but not all of them. The clip light isn't flashing at all, and I've even turned it down way past a spot where it won't clip. I'm thinking its a combination of factors, and its really not too bad, I'm going to be less "all out" with my onboard EQ now. I used to think that full on was flat, and that anything else was a cut. Now I realized that full on is a boost, and center is flat. Still, if anyone has any ideas how to minimize this weak distorting, it would be nice.
 
#8
i use a hartke 2.5xl, and i have an active EQ in my bass

YES, it DOES fart unless I pull out the low end.. its frustrating to the point where im going to sell it and invest in an avatar cab to replace it....

The low power handling of the speakers probably has alot to do with it too, but these speakers Just cant handle what I want them to.
 
#10
You're using TWO preamps and a 600 watt amp on a 2x10 cab.
It doesn't matter how you set your EQ or your onboard preamp, you will hear that farting anyway, unless you play really lower volumes and minimum low frequencies.
Your 2x10 cab is not physically capable to handle that much power, even though the instruction manual says it can. Your coil will resist (maybe... two preamps :S maybe... it's all gone now like Dbassmon said) but never your speakers, they won't resist that much.

Your clip led is either burned or dysfunctional hahaha, your bass all the way up and so your amp it MUST have lighted someway!
 
#12
I have the Hartke 210c...running a Passive Fender Am. stnd. thru a Sadowsky Preamp......i keep the pre amp volume at 12noon and treble and bass on 12 noon ....but when i turn my hartke past 6 it distorts and clips like no other. I've turned down my pre amp to 9 oclock , which is almost off...and still Hartke 210c distorts.....it's as if it just cant handle what i thought it could. Wanna sell it and get a Jeff Berlin Mark Bass
 

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