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Hartke 4000, opinions?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Captain Awesome, Oct 19, 2001.

  1. Oct 19, 2001 #1
    Captain Awesome

    Captain Awesome

    Apr 2, 2001
    PDX
    What do you guys think of the Hartke 4000? I've never tried it but it has a very good price. I know that the other Hartke heads (that have the tube preamp and graphic EQ) have problems with durability, but the 4000 is a completely different design that I haven't read any complaints about. It also includes a subharmonizer (like Ashdowns). Is this a good head? How would it compare to the Ampeg B-2r?
     
  2. Oct 20, 2001 #2
    captainpabst

    captainpabst

    Mar 18, 2001
    Tennessee
    i've played thru a hartke 4000 before. i thought it was a nice head - good sound/lots of features for the $$. bass player gave it a favorable review - you could try digging thru their archives for it.

    other heads around that price range are the ampeg b2r (like you mentioned), gallien krueger 400rb, carvin r600, swr workingman's 4004, peavy firebass, and a fender bassman 400. as for how the hartke compares to these, that's something your ears will have to tell you. i don't know what i would pick out of these choices - i'd have to go audition (and re-audition) them again. good luck. ;)
     
  3. Oct 21, 2001 #3
    Captain Awesome

    Captain Awesome

    Apr 2, 2001
    PDX
    Ok, I found the Bass player review and they definitely liked it a lot. Anyone else have an opinion on this head?
     
  4. Oct 21, 2001 #4
    I.'.I.'.Nakoa

    I.'.I.'.Nakoa Guest

    Aug 10, 2000
    Fort Worth.
    i havent a chance to try one yet, but i will comment on the ha3500. I LOVE it. Nothing but good sounds, great eq section, i can get my tone real easy. my next amp will probably be a ha7000..
     
  5. Oct 22, 2001 #5
    Basso Gruvitas

    Basso Gruvitas Supporting Member

    Jun 7, 2000
    Dallas/Ft. Worth TX
    If you look at his articles, Terry Buddigh at Bass Player has used the 4000 as a reference amp, ever since he first reviewed it. He uses it to test basses and cabs. That speaks very highly of the head. He must really like it.

    I tried it once at a music store and was impressed. I thought it had a big sound and the EQ could bring up some good sounds.

    For comparison, you may also want to look at the SWR Bass 350, the Workingman's 4004...I didn't care for the Ampeg. It sounded like it was pushing less than the rated wattage.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2001 #6
    craigb

    craigb G&L churnmeister Supporting Member

    Jan 27, 2000
    Spring, TX (Houston metro)
    I have one and like it but I did not go out and comparison test a lot of amps. I did a lot of "bench testing" checking out specs, reliability info from a sampling of the TBL archives and such. As picky as I am on basses I just don't care that much about the amp. I seem to prefer solid state to tube, at least the Peavey Alpha tube preamp I tried. The tube pre sounded great by itself but I got lost in the mix when the band was playing.

    I only gig about once a month so I don't really stress it at all. I also don't get to turn it up. I'm running it with a SWR WM-15t cab and right now I'm having trouble imagining an indoor gig I couldn't handle with this setup. But then again we are old farts and I keep everyone aware of overall sound level so we don't blow people out. I'm thinking about getting earplugs anyway since even at practice everyone else likes the overall sound level a lot louder than I like.

    So I like the 2 band of parametric eq (I'll boost the mids a touch). I can't speak to the reliability other than it's been bulletproof for the low level of stress I put on it. I sometimes wish I had gotten something with a stereo power section so if/when I add another cab I wouldn't be limited to an 8 Ohm cab. A Carvin 2x10 would fit what I'd want for a second cab but I can't get one because they are 4 Ohms.