Hartke 3500 Transient Attack - History?

[capitalrhythm]

Just bought a used Hartke Model 3500 Transient Attack. Guy said he'd been using it in a church for like 12 years. I'm interested in the history of this amp i.e. when was it made? Also, how much did it cost then?

Thanks!

 

[will33]

Those things have been around since the 80's and continued production well into the '90's, maybe later???

Edit: Of course you could always just ask Larry Hartke. His phone number is pretty much public info by now and he'll post here once in a while. Like Hartke equipment or not, you gotta hand it to the guy. I had a transient attack 3500 several years ago. The thing could get good tone if you used the tube pre setting and left the solidstate off and left the compressor off or just enough to click it on, don't turn the knob up. You have to understand this thing also looked like it had survived nuclear holocaust right along with keith richards and the roaches. Eq is useable and versatile. It sounded pretty dang loud for what it was rated. If you can explain what your playing with it, music style and other equipment I could give you a tip or 2 as to how to adjust it.

The other Hartke amp I used to own was a Kickback15. I really liked that little amp and wish I wouldn't have sold it. If you angle it back towards you whether from the front or the rear it was mids like crazy. If you set it up facing forward it was useable midbass and less mids/more fullness. This was one amp where you could push the midscoop shape button and it wouldn't suck away all your tone, it actually helped it by knocking some uppermids down so it sounded like it had a bottom to it by comparison. Anyway, there was good sounds to be had if you went a little against the grain to get them and it was plenty loud too. Played several small gigs with it and although it had to put in a full nights work it did so without complaint.

Should note that it's also a really convenient little amp. Little things like handle placement and thinking about the weight, etc. You can carry it around easily with the speaker and knobs facing towards your leg and not beat up your leg while walking. It's very stable when sitting up facing forward, you can set stuff on it or sit on it. It's also stable when kicked back. It fits in your passenger seat like a little kid and the seatbelt fits right on it.

Haven't had a chance to play the newer LH500's or Hydrive Cabs but the internet buzz is good for what it's worth.

Anyway, enough rambling, what kind of shape is the amp in and how's it sound?

 

[JimmyM]

3500 is inexpensive but it's a pretty good and well built amp if you ask me. i think when they came out they were in the $350-400 ballpark.

 

[BurningSkies]

Does it say 'MOSFET' on the front plate? If it says Transient Attack but not Mosfet then you're looking at mid to late nineties I would guess.

 

[capitalrhythm]

It says transient attack on the frontplate. This thing looks mint. The old owner apparently only used it in church on sundays. No scratches, no discoloration. Only thing I noticed was dust in the effect send/return and other back outputs/inputs.

I bought it with two 210 Transporter cabs (transient attack) for $499 from a local music store. Found out when I got home though that one of the speakers is blown so I'm taking one back and hopefully will get some sort of cash back.

I'm thinking of selling the good one and investing in an 8 ohm 15" cab and maybe another 8 ohm 210 but with a tweeter.

What's the difference between mosfet/transient attack?

I'll get some pictures soon.

Also, haven't had a chance to play it on a good size cab yet, so I haven't heard its full glory. But on the 210 it sounds phenomenal, even the low end is powerful and punchy.

 

[Stanley Pugh]

3500 is inexpensive but it's a pretty good and well built amp if you ask me. i think when they came out they were in the $350-400 ballpark.

I payed in that range, Still have it.
It is a great amp.

 

[Rat Blitz]

It's the only solid state amp I have left (got rid of the rest). I think it's a great amp and very ballsy. My only complaint is that it's a tad loud but who hears the hum when the band is playing. Any by the time of the first break my ears are usually ringing too much to notice.

 

[BurningSkies]

It says transient attack on the frontplate. This thing looks mint. The old owner apparently only used it in church on sundays. No scratches, no discoloration. Only thing I noticed was dust in the effect send/return and other back outputs/inputs.

I bought it with two 210 Transporter cabs (transient attack) for $499 from a local music store. Found out when I got home though that one of the speakers is blown so I'm taking one back and hopefully will get some sort of cash back.

I'm thinking of selling the good one and investing in an 8 ohm 15" cab and maybe another 8 ohm 210 but with a tweeter.

What's the difference between mosfet/transient attack?

I'll get some pictures soon.

Also, haven't had a chance to play it on a good size cab yet, so I haven't heard its full glory. But on the 210 it sounds phenomenal, even the low end is powerful and punchy.

There are "Transient Attack" 3500 amps out there that are both with and without the MOSFET designation. They're different amps on the inside. The MOSFET power sections were supposedly closer to a tube amp, warmer and fuller. They're really punchy as well. Later on they re-designed the amp with a different power section. While none of them fetch that much cash on the used market, the MOSFET ones, are worth a slight premium. They also have a reputation for being a bit more solidly built. The upper left hand corner of the amp face is where it would say "MODEL 3500 MOSFET 350 WATTS"

 

[Artman]

I know that this is an old thread, but I'm waking it back up since I am returning to using a 3500 after trying Class D for several months.

I owned a 3500 MOSFET during the early 1990's. Ballsiest, punchiest, most percussive bass amp I have ever played through.
But...I ran into dependability issues with it, fixed it but was unable to trust it again so I sold it and went to an Ampeg for a couple of years that just didn't spin my props.
Then I purchased a then brand new Model 3500 Transient Attack head.
It sounded almost exactly like the 3500 Mosfet, but was slightly less punchy or percussive when digging in hard or slapping at the strings (I don't play slap very well).
The TA's Compressor was a little bit more aggressive than the one in the Mosfet as well, so I just dialed in a little less compression on the TA.
A few years ago, I picked up a used 2000-something HA3500 that still had the square transformer in it.
I don't know if that transformer made any difference other than being physically heavier than the radial transformer used in the newer Chinese-built heads.
That HA3500 to me sounded a touch more growly and punchy than I remember the 3500TA being.

I know that there were a few years during the past decade when they made the HA3500 and HA5500 with a silver face plate, but I have no experience with those amps.

I've become tired of my Class D amp's little quirks, so I decided to go back to a big amp head. I found a great price on another Model 3500 TA, so I ordered it. It ought to be arriving this weekend. It will be interesting to see if it seems lacking to my ears today. I'm guessing there will still be a bit more heft in the sound of the 3500 TA than my current Class D amp. If I'm happy with the amp's performance, I'll do the quiet fan mod on it.

 

[donahue]

They were my first big boy amps. I used to run a 3500 clean and a 2500 dirty set up in stereo through the top and bottom halfs of an 810 Fridge. That was a beastly rig and sounded great but a pita to set up all the time, splitting my signal, dialing in both levels etc. Good sounding amps. The BL was bummed when I moved on to something different.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I have a TA3500 i bought used about five years ago, used for around $200.00 CAD. It's only been used at our rehearsal space. I bring it as a back-up for gigs, but haven't had to use it as of yet.
After some suggestions for @BurningSkies at the time of purchase, I have really grown fond of this amp! Loud punchy and RELIABLE has been my experience.
As Burningskies suggested to me at the time, if you use the graphic EQ, be VERY careful with that 31hz fader, it's driver killer!
Fishheadjoe

 

[BurningSkies]

I have a TA3500 i bought used about five years ago, used for around $200.00 CAD. It's only been used at our rehearsal space. I bring it as a back-up for gigs, but haven't had to use it as of yet.
After some suggestions for @BurningSkies at the time of purchase, I have really grown fond of this amp! Loud punchy and RELIABLE has been my experience.
As Burningskies suggested to me at the time, if you use the graphic EQ, be VERY careful with that 31hz fader, it's driver killer!
Fishheadjoe

Mine is still up and running from whatever... 1992 or 3? It's in our band practice room and gets used regularly. Still a great sounding amp.

 

[Sparky Mark]

I still have my AH3500 mosfet from the early 90's. It sits under the stairs in a 2U SKB. I haven't used it for over a decade now but it was my favourite (and only) amp for many years and never missed a beat so I just can't let it go.

 

[Oddextreme]

Looking at the info available, my Mosfet 3500 TA just gave up at a gig last night, after almost 35 years of no issues. Ran the "send - return" test and the previous amp is good. Anyone try to replace the transformer on these guys? There seems to be plenty out there, but this one has history! Can you even find that power amp?

 

[agedhorse]

Looking at the info available, my Mosfet 3500 TA just gave up at a gig last night, after almost 35 years of no issues. Ran the "send - return" test and the previous amp is good. Anyone try to replace the transformer on these guys? There seems to be plenty out there, but this one has history! Can you even find that power amp?

How do you know it’s a bad power transformer??? That’s about the least likely part to fail.

 

[Sparky Mark]

Looking at the info available, my Mosfet 3500 TA just gave up at a gig last night, after almost 35 years of no issues. Ran the "send - return" test and the previous amp is good. Anyone try to replace the transformer on these guys? There seems to be plenty out there, but this one has history! Can you even find that power amp?

The good thing about that amp is that almost any competent amp tech should be able to diagnose the fault(s). Certain components might be obsolete nowadays but you could be lucky and have the option to get it repaired.