Hartke a100 horrible muffed sound

[will33]

Could be the acoustics of your apartment. Just to be sure, check your electrical outlets with a meter. You could have really low mains voltage there or something.

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks will33, I will check that, could be the source of the problem...

 

[floridagatorfan]

yea i kinda had a feeling it was just the acoustics of your apartment, i get the same thing at my house,

 

[TTPbass1]

Must be that, never had a problem like that with the small Marshall MB15... But outside my apartment this beast really rocks...

I just wanna check the outlets, if it's an electrical problem I really like to find out, cause don't Want to damage the amp...

 

[floridagatorfan]

yea, it wouldnt hurt to check them out,definatley dont wanna do any damage

 

[David Jayne]

There's probably nothing wrong with your power at your apartment. You just aren't used to an amp that has headroom and low end. Compared to that tiny Marshall, your new amp is a beast.

 

[TTPbass1]

Thanks dmusic148, I've noticed that the problem is basically with the low B chord, so as you suggest I just have to get used to it...

 

[Russell L]

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...

I knew it. Hey, and don't expect the good tone you find at home to sound like it does when you get to a gig. It'll be all different. Every environment is different. You just have to eq for it. Safest bet is everything set neutral until you can try tweaking the knobs a bit. Stay away from having too much bottom, and remember that your mids are your best friend.

 

[TTPbass1]

Final chapter of the story...

The Hartke amp continued to sound muffled and distorted on the low end, returned to the store and got a new one, just to find out the same problem... Looks like they got a defective batch of amps, as other customer suffered from the same problem.

The store manager apologized for the inconvenience, but also explained that this is the first time they have a problem like that with Hartke. He exchanged the Hartke A100 for a Laney RB6 that was $100 more, at no extra charge...

Tested in the store, great sound and really full of power (165 watts!!!). This thing really shakes the floor....

Will gig with it on Saturday, so let's see how it performs on the stage...

 

[mcnach]

so, how did it go?

 

[TTPbass1]

Just Great, I love the RB6, great sound, full of power and very reliable

 

[GabiGator]

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,

How about, just ditch the "preamp pedal"?! I personally use various active and passive basses STRAIGHT into the A100! Excellent results!

 

[agedhorse]

How about, just ditch the "preamp pedal"?! I personally use various active and passive basses STRAIGHT into the A100! Excellent results!

You might want to check the dates of the posts, the last post was almost 14 years ago…