Just to go off topic, how do you like the Charvel bass?
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Hartke, Fender, Ampeg or....
- Thread starter nic_lowend
- Start date
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,024
- 5
- 220,888
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Power (rms) is independent of amplifier class. There are class D amps that are equal in performance to class AB.
There are also over and under-performing class AB and class D power amps.
Yah, a lot . But once i mod it to fully passive..... Stock Active preamp sound too modern to my ear, metallic and slightly shy on Mid range while both pickup engage. Passive mod ok, but i love currently Volume 500K / Blend 250K MN mod, no tone control .
I've owned all three brands and can tell you my experience with them.
Hartke KB15: Was intrigued by the lightweight kickback design and bought one. Played one show and was in love! It was super loud and I could hear myself (amp) over the whole band with monitors. Was extremely impressed...... then the speaker developed a horrible rattle sound. I tightened the screws, but the rattle remained. I had Sweetwater send me another one and it did the same thing. I ended up replacing the speaker with an Eminence CB15, but it made the combo around 55lbs! Also the fan of the KB15 is really loud! Overall I would never buy another one.
Fender Rumble 500 combo: I've owned multiple Rumble 500 combos and they have been very nice. The are light and loud. The only problem I've had with some that I've owned was QC issues like a fuzz sound coming through the speakers. However when I got a good unit, it was great! Had to put mine on a stand during gigs, but it sounded really good.
Ampeg RB100: I really loved this combo. It was built like an absolute tank, but I wasn't a fan of the tone. Plus at 100 watts it really wasn't loud enough to play with a full band, but that not really what it was meant for.
My favorite overall combo amp that I would buy again is the Bugera BXD15A. I had the chance to pair one of these against a Rumble 500 and a Markbass CMD151P at a gig. The Markbass was the best, but the Bugera was a close second place and easily beat the Rumble 500. I played hard and the Bugera never farted out and stayed loud and clear. The Rumble was farting out at higher volumes. The kickback feature is awesome and I could hear myself loud and clear with the Bugera. I assume the all aluminum speaker has something to do with it. The Bugera is heavier than all the stock combos that I've owned and carpeted, but it was the best combo I've ever owned.
Hartke KB15: Was intrigued by the lightweight kickback design and bought one. Played one show and was in love! It was super loud and I could hear myself (amp) over the whole band with monitors. Was extremely impressed...... then the speaker developed a horrible rattle sound. I tightened the screws, but the rattle remained. I had Sweetwater send me another one and it did the same thing. I ended up replacing the speaker with an Eminence CB15, but it made the combo around 55lbs! Also the fan of the KB15 is really loud! Overall I would never buy another one.
Fender Rumble 500 combo: I've owned multiple Rumble 500 combos and they have been very nice. The are light and loud. The only problem I've had with some that I've owned was QC issues like a fuzz sound coming through the speakers. However when I got a good unit, it was great! Had to put mine on a stand during gigs, but it sounded really good.
Ampeg RB100: I really loved this combo. It was built like an absolute tank, but I wasn't a fan of the tone. Plus at 100 watts it really wasn't loud enough to play with a full band, but that not really what it was meant for.
My favorite overall combo amp that I would buy again is the Bugera BXD15A. I had the chance to pair one of these against a Rumble 500 and a Markbass CMD151P at a gig. The Markbass was the best, but the Bugera was a close second place and easily beat the Rumble 500. I played hard and the Bugera never farted out and stayed loud and clear. The Rumble was farting out at higher volumes. The kickback feature is awesome and I could hear myself loud and clear with the Bugera. I assume the all aluminum speaker has something to do with it. The Bugera is heavier than all the stock combos that I've owned and carpeted, but it was the best combo I've ever owned.
My previous KB15 has rattle power amp casing. Agree the fans a bit noisy, but still silent than Ampeg Micro SVT....
I also has positive opinion on Bugera 15, sound clean and solid. But i hate the fabric cabinet cover and i favor with Ampeg Rb112 tone myself.
If you divide watts by volts, you get amps. So the JCM is only 0.9 of an amp, not a full amp... I'm joking here.
For real though, that post is full of crap; more watts with less volts just means more current and in the end equates to the SAME power. Power (W) = voltage (V) * current (A).
You're right. It is a beast and I believe my 210 weighs a bit more than the 115 which is why I put huge locking casters on it haha.
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Just to give some last news on this project. I got on Black Friday a pretty good deal for a Hartke LX5500 and i got it. Originally i was not going for a head and a cabinet... but the price for that Hartke LX5500 was difficult to pass.... I have tried it a few times and I really like the sound. Now the only "problem" is to get a cabinet that at the moment I dont have. I am now in the hunt to get something which can handle at least 350 watts at 8 ohms and delivers a good sound. I will not compromise in any cheap cab, otherwise makes no sense to have a good Hartke head (this one is hybrid, comes with a valve in the pre amp) to match with a bad quality box with very average speakers. I have my eyes now on the Hartke HD210 or the Markbass traveler series.... There also some other alternatives that are interesting. I tried also the rumble cabinet (210) but did not like it... send it back. I will post it when i get the whole set ready.
Merry Christmas guys, and thanks again for all your valuable advice.
Merry Christmas guys, and thanks again for all your valuable advice.
Nice!!! You're on the right track. Any of the Hartke HD's will work very well with that head. Also may want to try out the Gallien Krueger NEO series cabs. I imagine they'd match very nicely as well. Have fun on your search! I think you'll ultimately be happy that you went for a head/speaker setup. That way, down the road, you can always add another cabinet.
Hi, may I ask what you end up getting? I'm looking to get this head as well...
Sure thing! I got a Gallien and Krueger 212... second hand and kind of old. It was pretty cool, but I got it as an experiment because I wanted to test the 212 sound... which ended up being very cool to me. I think it is a nice compromise between a 410 and a 115. However, I sold the GK 212 in February or March... for a better price (i made a profit out of it) and went for a Markbass 212, the model is: Markbass MB58R 122 P-4. The sound is superior than the old GK... but is difficult to be fair... the GK box was problably played for years. The Markbass box is a diffrent technology and very light weight. The sound is very hifi... even though this one has the normal ceramic speakers and a piezo. Still very good quality box.
Now I am checking the Markbass heads... I think Markbass fits more to my "ideal" kind of sound. However, the Hartke is really good.
