Hartke, Fender, Ampeg or....

[JimmyM]

I use Ampeg because it always feels like home to me, having grown up on it, but I have nary a bad word to say about Hartke or Fender. They’re a different vibe from Ampeg, but they’re very good gear.

 

[TBird1958]

Let's please keep this on topic, if you can't do that, please, just refrain from posting - Thanks.

 

[nic_lowend]

By going with a combo you're somewhat self-limiting as far as both power and weight. Most combos require an extension cab to get their full wattage. That adds to the overall weight of your rig as does having a head built into the cab itself. You also have less flexibility matching head with speaker compliments. How much wattage do you actually need and what speaker compliment sounds best to you?

As far as your choices; Hartke, Ampeg, and Fender. Each will have their own baked in "native voicing". I'd suggest going with which ever sounds best to you and best fits your style of playing the the genres you play. All three companies produce solid dependable bass amps. What I prefer or someone else prefers may not be what you prefer. Play each of them in a combo that suits your needs. Then decide.

With the only brand i never experience is Ampeg... I play once in a Jam with a Fender Rumble (not bad... but I still prefer the sound of my Hartke A100). I think trying an Ampeg combo with 15" should be a must before taking a decision. In any case... I dont want a head and a cabinet... I want to travel light... therefore I prefer the combo setup.

 

[Parzival]

There is so much good stuff out there. In the last 5 years I have played Mesa, GK, Hartke, Genzler, and Ampeg and they are all really good and have their own strengths and special things going on. Quality is easy to come by, just have to find what sound is yours.

 

[tshapiro]

I have the KB15 and absolutely love it. For a neo speaker, it gets a nice low end and although it doesn’t have a tweeter it’s got a very nice and smooth high end. My other amps are heavy and this one is very light. The kickback feature is a game changer for me during live shows. I highly recommend the amp for a lower priced amp that is a lighter weight work horse.

 

[Hawk620]

With the only brand i never experience is Ampeg... I play once in a Jam with a Fender Rumble (not bad... but I still prefer the sound of my Hartke A100). I think trying an Ampeg combo with 15" should be a must before taking a decision. In any case... I dont want a head and a cabinet... I want to travel light... therefore I prefer the combo setup.

You may be overlooking the fact that many current Class D heads and Neo Cabs weigh less than many combos. For instance my Genzler MG350 Combo which is actually composed of a Bass Array 110 cab and a separate Magellan 350 head which attaches to the cab weighs just 23lbs combined. The 112 Combo weighs just 27lbs. Even with a BA115 total weight would be just 39 lbs.

In comparison an Ampeg RB115 weighs 34lbs and the BA115 62lbs.

I just wanted to point out that many Class D bass heads weigh just 3-5lbs and cabs 25-35lbs so separate components and combos often weigh very close to the same. But by all means buy what sounds best to you. Try an Ampeg and see if you enjoy it's voicing or if you enjoy Hartke stick with that. They should sound quite different from one another.

 

[Yahboy]

Hello fellow bass players.
I am relatively new in the forum but not new into music.
I have owned a Harte A100 for sometime now and I love the sound and the simplicity of this amp.... but my back does not love him so much.
For this reason I am evaluating the possibility to upgrade to something more modern... class D and neodimium speakers... but without compromising on sound quality or power.

My obvious alternative I think it should be the Harte KB15. I never tried one personally but I can imagine that it is sonically not that different from my Hartke A100 (also 15" speaker).
However, some bass player friends also suggested me to try the Fender rumble and the new Ampeg rocket series.

I would like if some of you reading this (if you have experience across this brands) can give me a few pointers on what are basically the difference... in practical applications and sound.
I can say I like the clarity and warmth mix of the Hartke.... and I also have a boss katana amp (nothing wrong with this one) with a 10" speaker... and I can say that I can dig into a pleasant sound much faster in the Hartke than with the Katana. I also think that I prefer the 15" speaker sound... the openness and the warmth is really nice.

So... if anyone who had experience with this brands would like to share a little knowledge I will be pleased.
If you also want to suggest other brands go ahead...
Thanks a lot
N

My previous Rumble V3 200/150 and Hartke KB15 .... China Eminence 15' driver respond more laid back, but Hydrive 15 just pretty fast response and sensitive with fast playing note especially B string.

My current combo are RB112 in stacked. I only play 4 string bass and i love this Ampeg combo can mimic SVT tone to my ear....

 

[Yahboy]

If i own a 5 string in future day, sure will choice 250w Hartke KB15 again .

The KB15 still sound slightly tighter than old A100， even hydrive has slightly less metal zing. But 250w vs 100w there are quite huge headroom different .

 

[nic_lowend]

My previous Rumble V3 200/150 and Hartke KB15 .... China Eminence 15' driver respond more laid back, but Hydrive 15 just pretty fast response and sensitive with fast playing note especially B string.
View attachment 7265705

My current combo are RB112 in stacked. I only play 4 string bass and i love this Ampeg combo can mimic SVT tone to my ear....
View attachment 7265708

Nice Bass!

 

[nic_lowend]

If i own a 5 string in future day, sure will choice 250w Hartke KB15 again .

The KB15 still sound slightly tighter than old A100， even hydrive has slightly less metal zing. But 250w vs 100w there are quite huge headroom different .

Maybe i didn’t understand what you meant But the kb15 is 500 Watts. I think because class D amps always rate a much higher power than A/B amps… even thought volume wise might be not so much difference.

 

[Yahboy]

Maybe i didn’t understand what you meant But the kb15 is 500 Watts. I think because class D amps always rate a much higher power than A/B amps… even thought volume wise might be not so much difference.

Suggest you read the KB15 spec carefully, Kb15 real watts are 250w only. 500w are peak.

If you compare both kb15 and a100 side by side, then you play the bass distance with both combo around 15fts or above, you can hear some volume and tone spread differently.

AB class sure sound bigger compared to class D when both has same watts. But 100w AB class still can't beat 250w class D.

 

[agedhorse]

Maybe i didn’t understand what you meant But the kb15 is 500 Watts. I think because class D amps always rate a much higher power than A/B amps… even thought volume wise might be not so much difference.

That’s not true, you are perpetuation an old wife’s tale.

I believe the KB-15 is 250 watts (RMS), peak numbers can’t be directly compared to RMS numbers without dividing by 2 (in amplifiers).

 

[nic_lowend]

Suggest you read the KB15 spec carefully, Kb15 real watts are 250w only. 500w are peak.

If you compare both kb15 and a100 side by side, then you play the bass distance with both combo around 15fts or above, you can hear some volume and tone spread differently.

AB class sure sound bigger compared to class D when both has same watts. But 100w AB class still can't beat 250w class D.

 

[nic_lowend]

Suggest you read the KB15 spec carefully, Kb15 real watts are 250w only. 500w are peak.

If you compare both kb15 and a100 side by side, then you play the bass distance with both combo around 15fts or above, you can hear some volume and tone spread differently.

AB class sure sound bigger compared to class D when both has same watts. But 100w AB class still can't beat 250w class D.

It is still a lot… and probably pretty loud.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

On a budget, I played an Ampeg BA210(version 2) for almost 10 years and hundreds of shows. Eventually got an extension can to boost it from 350, to 500w. That's about all ya need for most gigs especially if the amp had a DI out, which the BA210 does. If in the USA they can be found used for $200-250.

A 210 config is great for most stuff. If you're looking for an amp/cab situation I have to recommend the Genzler Magellan 800 and a Genzler 212 cab. It's my ideal amp and tone stack. Lightweight too! 4lb for the amp, 42 for the cabinet. The DI on the Magellan is superb and I have no complaints about it. There was one used on here for $650 which is a great deal!

View attachment 7263628

Southgate Roller Rink? Best venue!

 

[agedhorse]

AB class sure sound bigger compared to class D when both has same watts.

Disagree.

 

[Arthr1986]

The Marshall JCM800 that is a Class AB amp produces 100 watts with 110 volts. Then 100 watts divided by 110 volts, means the Marshall JCM needs 1 volt to produce 0,9 watts.

A Class D amp like Gallien Krueger MB200 have a switching power supply, which is a digital power suppl that is called Class D. The promoters of this technology argue that this type of amp is more powerfull than Class AB amps.

The Vox VX50BA for example, besides have a tube technology called Nutube 6p1, but have the same power supply used by Class D amps. It power supply turns 110/220 volts into 19 volts to produce 50 watts. Then 50 watts divided by 19 volts, means the VoxVX50BA needs 0,38 volts to produce 1 watt.

Then the Class D amps are not more powerful than Class AB amps but Class D have more energy efficiency because produce more watts with less volts. But how can it produce more power with less energy?

Reduce the voltage of all electronics to araound 18 volts make sense only to devices like computer speakers, effects pedals, smartphone and watches..
only make sense in place where there is no eletric energy and people depend of batteries and solar panels. At a city with infra structure and energy lines powered by hidreletrtic usines people can continue use 90 to 250 volts without worry about lack of energy.

 

[agedhorse]

The Marshall JCM800 that is a Class AB amp produces 100 watts with 110 volts. Then 100 watts divided by 110 volts, means the Marshall JCM needs 1 volt to produce 0,9 watts.

A Class D amp like Gallien Krueger MB200 have a switching power supply, which is a digital power suppl that is called Class D. The promoters of this technology argue that this type of amp is more powerfull than Class AB amps.

The Vox VX50BA for example, besides have a tube technology called Nutube 6p1, but have the same power supply used by Class D amps. It power supply turns 110/220 volts into 19 volts to produce 50 watts. Then 50 watts divided by 19 volts, means the VoxVX50BA needs 0,38 volts to produce 1 watt.

View attachment 7266314

Then the Class D amps are not more powerful than Class AB amps but Class D have more energy efficiency because produce more watts with less volts. But how can it produce more power with less energy?

Reduce the voltage of all electronics to araound 18 volts make sense only to devices like computer speakers, effects pedals, smartphone and watches..
only make sense in place where there is no eletric energy and people depend of batteries and solar panels. At a city with infra structure and energy lines powered by hidreletrtic usines people can continue use 90 to 250 volts without worry about lack of energy.

Your post again looks like nonsensical AI word salad.

Absolutely NONE of this makes any sense whatsoever. Before you start defending your position, consider that I have been designing amplifiers and their power supplies commercially for about 40 years.

 

[Yahboy]

Disagree.

Need your knowledge share ,Sir.

 

[Yahboy]

The Marshall JCM800 that is a Class AB amp produces 100 watts with 110 volts. Then 100 watts divided by 110 volts, means the Marshall JCM needs 1 volt to produce 0,9 watts.

A Class D amp like Gallien Krueger MB200 have a switching power supply, which is a digital power suppl that is called Class D. The promoters of this technology argue that this type of amp is more powerfull than Class AB amps.

The Vox VX50BA for example, besides have a tube technology called Nutube 6p1, but have the same power supply used by Class D amps. It power supply turns 110/220 volts into 19 volts to produce 50 watts. Then 50 watts divided by 19 volts, means the VoxVX50BA needs 0,38 volts to produce 1 watt.

View attachment 7266314

Then the Class D amps are not more powerful than Class AB amps but Class D have more energy efficiency because produce more watts with less volts. But how can it produce more power with less energy?

Reduce the voltage of all electronics to araound 18 volts make sense only to devices like computer speakers, effects pedals, smartphone and watches..
only make sense in place where there is no eletric energy and people depend of batteries and solar panels. At a city with infra structure and energy lines powered by hidreletrtic usines people can continue use 90 to 250 volts without worry about lack of energy.

This is the one nice and underrating small bass combo ...