Hartke a100 horrible muffed sound

[TTPbass1]

HI everyone,

Today I make a big step from a small Marshall MB15 to a big Hartke A100. Great deception when I get home and set everything up, just to get a horrible muffed sound from the amp.

They tested a the guitar store, sounded really great, but not the same at home. I tried with headphones on and it sounds beautiful, I also tried connecting the bass direct to the amp, with no effects, and the result is the same horrible muffed sound.

I changed the battery on my bass, tried with different cables, but the result is the same.

The setup I'm using is: Cort Action V DLX with active pickups, Hartke VXL preamp pedal, Hartke A100 combo amp.

Any ideas about what may be wrong?

Thanks,

 

[xxx666]

Did you try it with your bass at the store? Sorry to say this but it could be your bass! Check the eq settings on both your amp and your bass - experiment a bit. It may be that the Hartke amp requires a different eq setting than your last amp to get you the tone you like

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks for the reply, no, I didn't tried the amp with my bass, but is a 3 month old bass, and It's been playing great on my old amp, and sounds great with headphones...

Could it be that the bass is not "compatible" with the amp?

 

[petrus61]

First try your bass. See if you can play that on a different amp other then your very own. If all the other fail-stops show nothing (testing cables, speakers, etc...) then it may just be your perception of "muffled" and your playing room's accoustic properties.

 

[petrus61]

Thanks for the reply, no, I didn't tried the amp with my bass, but is a 3 month old bass, and It's been playing great on my old amp, and sounds great with headphones...

Could it be that the bass is not "compatible" with the amp?

Sorry, didn't see this. Does your bass have a battery in it, meaning it's active? If so, it could be the batt. dying. Every bass is "compatable" with every bass amp.

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks petru, being used to play with a small amp I thought that I could get better tone with a big one, but this sounds really muffled even on low volume... If it sounds ok on headphones, could it be the speaker?

Sorry to bother, but I have a gig tomorrow and I was really excited to bring my new monster. The guitar store is closed on sundays, so I cant take it back until monday... I'm really dissapointed, I heard so much about Hartke, but this amp sounds really bad!

 

[floridagatorfan]

it's possible it's the room you are playing in, my ampeg sounds like crap in my room, but at gigs and out our rehersal room it sounds terrific, like someome else said it could just be the acoustics of the room

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks for the reply, I'll try it tomorrow at the gig, hope is the acoustics and not the amp...

 

[Exploiter8]

I know many are against this, but try the "Smiley" EQ, scooping the mids and eliminating the mud. You can always add more mids at the practice/gig.

Just a thought,
X8

 

[TTPbass1]

Will try that first thing tomorrow, now is a little late... Thanks for the advice!

Have you ever tried one of this Harkes?

 

[floridagatorfan]

good luck at your gig tommorow, let us know if it works out for ya

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks, I'll tell you how things work tomorrow.

 

[anderbass]

Here's a couple easy tests you could try yourself:

Try patching a guitar cord in-between your amps 2 effects-loop jacks. (does it sound better?)

If you have any other type of audio device, try plugging it into your Harte CD-Input and see if it sounds good or muffled.

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks anderbass, I run a couple more tests today and the result is the same.

Did the cd test, at first sounded great but increasing the bass on the source made the speaker sound muffled again.

I'm going to try with the effect loop thing, I'll let you know.

 

[TTPbass1]

Sadly nothing happened, I think I got a defective amp, going to return it on Tuesday, do you think I should stick with Hartke or look for another brand?

In the price range of the A100 they have a Laney RB6 and a Marshall MB60...

 

[floridagatorfan]

how did it sound at the gig, muffled still?

 

[TTPbass1]

Didn't used it, took one from a friend, I will return it tomorrow...

The thing is that the store is out of Hartkes, and they suggest to give me a Laney RB6... No one have a clue about those amps around here...

 

[Bassmec]

Didn't used it, took one from a friend, I will return it tomorrow...

The thing is that the store is out of Hartkes, and they suggest to give me a Laney RB6... No one have a clue about those amps around here...

Its a good old British Amp maker is Laney this is however in the budget end of their range. I was wondering if they do Ashdown
as the mag 300 is not that much money over here.
If I where you though, I would try to find a second hand ABM EVO 500 combo if there is one within reach.

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks bassmec, but is really hard to find bass amps over here... The offer is limited to small Marshall's, Hartke and some Laney.

The amp is basically for practice and small gigs, that's why 100 watts were more than enough. The Laney looks good, and it's 160 watts... gonna try it tomorrow...

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks for all your advice, the problem is finally solved. Went to the guitar store, we tested the amp with my bass, and it sounded great!!!, didn't know why it sounded muffled and distorted in my apartment.

The guy at the store recommended to change cable, strings, and to calibrate the neck of the bass. Now the bass has been calibrated and the strings changed to brand new erny balls.

amp Tested once more with my bass with new strings and cable, and sounded amazing, back to my apartment....

Connected everything... Amp on... Same muffled sound...

Took a bit of time testing different settings with eq... And now is sounding much better... Looks like the whole problem is that my apartment is not acoustically friendly...