Hartke fans - looking for commentary

[SomeSkill]

All -- to quote a radio phrase, "long time listener, first time caller".

I've acquired an abused Hartke Model 2000, of which I'm considering rebuilding as a hobby project. It powers up, delivers audio, but has scratchy pots, sliders, etc. What I'm curious about is the history of this model. I've got history with SWR, GK, Ampeg and Fender amps; I know a bit about those manufacturers, but nothing on Hartke, really.

Every manufacturer seems to have a "goose egg" model of some kind, and I'd hate to put time into this unit and found out that it's got a bad reputation. General Google is a bit all over the map, so I'm coming to the experts. Any "historical background" would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[basscooker]

When new I believe these were their entry level head series, this model may have been the lowest entry.

The 3500 was \ is a reputable workhorse model with a pretty solid rep. No reason to believe the whole line isnt as good.

In general, the brand is still doing well, CS is there, though no personal expeience with them.

 

[TransylvaniaE]

Mid 80s to 90s the big trend was rackmount hardware.
Most used a separate Pre and Amplifier.

Hartke put this all in one unit. Pre and amp all in one.

Not at all entry level. At the time Transistor Quality almost tripled compared to 60s and 70s tech.
And this head was full of very highly regarded Toshiba Transistor of the Time.
Really some of the best available at the time.

"Bi Amping" was a big trend at the time. Likewise the classic 4x10 1x15 was the cool setup.

Hartke maximizing the potential of this actually working by including active filters and level control. Which would send proper signal to the 1x15 and 4x10.

Also included the tube hype then and the same tube hype that continues today.
Basically a tube preamp. Likewise built in compression. Which is actually rather good on this head.

EQ is straight forward and very usable.
Staying away from gimic sweepable EQ that Eden and SWR seemed to push. And just literally gave you control of every frequency you'd " sweep" too.

Hartke was every kids dream at the time.
The aluminum cone was highly marketed.
And basically since the internet didn't exist.
You actually had to read magazines about Bass and the Industry.
Hartke had highly regarded session players as endorsements.
reading any magazine at the time they had full page adds with the endorsements Artist.
Standing in front of huge full aluminum cone stacks.

The huge trend today is " high pass filters"
And to reduce over excursion Hartke was already there. The amp already has a built in preset 18dB high pass. It just wasn't a market trend at the time. But included by engineers to protect speakers.

 

[Sparky Mark]

Interesting to see that there's a switchable high pass filter on this amp. The manual recommends it's left switched on unless you are using sub bass speakers. Probably there to help get the most effective use of the 200 watts maximum output. If it works this head should be very flexible. The 12ax7 tube might need to be replaced if you are hearing scratchiness or strange noises when you're not adjusting any of the controls.
Samson Technologies

 

[musicman556]

Great amp. I had an HA3500 (just a more powerful version of your amp... same exact tone controls but with a bigger power amp section) about 20 years ago and didn't really understand how to properly use the controls at that time. It was my first "real" amp after a couple little practice combos. The HA3500 and a matching aluminum-coned Transporter 410 cabinet were my gateway to the world of separates, and except for one dalliance with a Carvin MB210 I have remained faithful to the concept ever since!

It sounded good enough even though I was a dummy. I eventually sold it because I "needed" an Ampeg head. I miss the Hartke! It never gave me any trouble over probably 6-7 years of use and abuse. I've actually been casually looking for one again... there's still a ton of them out there, and I'll probably grab one sooner than later. I have way more powerful and much lighter heads now, but for nostalgia's sake I want another HA3500! I'll give one a happy and comfortable retirement in my bassment soon enough.

Enjoy your HA2000! I am confident it will give you years of great tone once the pots and sliders get some de-oxit.

 

[Phlipper]

IME, until the last few years, those old Hartke 2000s and 3500s were seen on small local stages and backlines almost as much as old SS Peaveys. I've never played one that I couldn't dial in. And they are about as reliable as the old PV lead sleds.

Excellent old SS heads.

 

[TransylvaniaE]

Pretty much.

Very Reliable
And doesn't need " advanced" protection. Lol
Meaning you can drive it very hard and it won't shutdown in a middle of a song

And the preamp can do so called modern
Tones. Or just leave the sliders flat and slightly twiddle the contour
And your done.

Between the GK so called legacy style of EQ everyone copied. Basically Bass Treble and 2 mids. And these older Hartke Pre Amps. Pretty much the best out there.

 

[Aussie Player]

A dozen years ago I was using 3 Hartke's in my rig, 2x HA500's and a HA3500 into an 8x10 and 2 x 2x15 cabs. It was a 3 piece band and Bass guitar was an equal contributor. Never had a single issue with them on the road and still have a HA3500 and a Transporter 4x10 cab though I have moved onto Marshall's VBA and JCM800 with a single VBC 4x12 cab these days.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

It's the Keith Richards of amps...it will never die!
I have a TA3500 that I use for rehearsals, simple to use and has the ability to be used as a hammer and keep on working.
Fishheadjoe

 

[sonojono]

Definitely low entry. This was my first bass amp when I started gigging at age 14!

 

[IBJammin]

Everything TransilvaniaE says. Even though the HA2000 was the entry level, it still has the true tube preamp channel. When they remade it into the HA2500, they dropped the tube, but still tried to have a "tube like" channel. Bi-amp wasn't on the lower end models, the HA5000 has that.

 

[Meaculpa]

I'm sorry I cannot help you with that good looking head you got but I can tell you I love Hartke and their Hd line.. im hoping to get my hands on the bigger brother of that series the hd 508.
I use hd25 at home for practice and in the rehearsal room we got an old Hartke A100 with a 15 inch full aluminum cone. No matter what wattage, always loads of punch!

 

[TjMetalhead]

I had an HA2500 that I traded an ampeg pf500 for back in 2012 and did not regret it at all. I paired the HA2500 with an SWR working man pro 4x10 and it was the best tone I ever had in my life. My favorite thing about the HA2500 is it's simple interface and the 9 band slider eq. Also having two different volumes for the tube and solid state was fantastic. One thing I couldn't believe was how loud it was for 250 watts. I was driving an 8ohm cab too at half the power at it was still louder than my guitarists 4x12 peavey he had at the time. I don't have that rig anymore but would love another HA2500 to pair with a 2x12 bass cab.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I had the HA3500 and 410xl pairing for a few years. It was a solid set-up. The cab was heavy and built like a tank. The head gave me no issues in the 7 years or so that I owned it.

 

[The Petro]

As someone who has the specified head that I bought new in the mid 90s, i would say it is worth it. I played in cover bands with for a solid 4-5 years. Plenty of power. And to top it off, i just fired it up in Oct after it has been sitting in my attic since maybe 2010.
I used to have a buzz, which turned out to be a broken ground on my passive bass.
I am shocked it still works.

 

[gitfiddl]

I had one for a few months in the mid-Nineties. Sadly it was stolen. Truly a workhouse of an amp. I ran mine through either a 4x10 or 2x15. "Low-entry" only as far as their asking price was/is concerned. Very versatile tone-wise and very reliable in my experience. I still have one and use one of its bigger 3500 brothers.

 

[dbase]

My 1st amp when getting back into it was a Hartke HA2000. Usually one of the plastic slider switches are always missing on the EQ but it was a good amp. Sold it and got a LH500.

 

[rufus.K]

I had an HA3500 in the early 2000s, and an HA5000 around 2006/2007.

I never bonded with either of them sonically, so i never gigged them. Was always a utility amp until I peddled 'em.

 

[6thplanet]

I've had my HA7000 for 20+ years, still rocking.

 

[ChoGall]

I had that exact same head for my thrash band when I was 18. I abused it and spilled beer on it and it still sounded great and always turned on. Fix her up!