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Hartke HD and KB Combo Club

#21
About twenty years ago I used to own the Hartke KB15 120 watt. It sounded great but wasn't loud enough for the average stage.
The other day I was invited to a jam session with some musicians. We rented a practice room in a Music Centre and I found the new 500 watt Hartke KB12 to be the bass amp. I plugged in, turned the volume up a bit and, WOW! What a sound! I really love the deep round warm tone it produced!

So, the day after tomorrow I'm going for a KB15. I am told it sounds even better than the KB12!
The main reason I want to go back to this combo is to use it as a stage monitor when we play with a FOH. This will get me a direct sound when tilted back, the controls, being in the front, are easy accessible, no need to carry more than this combo and I'll have a great sound that, with the 500 watts will be loud enough.

Next Saturday it will get it's baptism of fire as we play a festival stage with FOH.
Keep you posted about my experiences!
 
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#22
Considered, but never pulled the trigger on a KB15.

Now I'm thinking about one again. Just can't find one to try locally.

How versatile are they ? I play old school R&B, Americana, and some older rock ( mostly '70's - early 80's ).
 
#23
OOPS! I'm sorry. I didn't follow up on my post from June about the KB15.

Well, I got quite some live experience with the combo by now. I have mainly used it on stages with FOH as my bass monitor. On a few occasions though, in small venues, I used it as a stand alone amp. It can easily be used like that with a not too loud band.

Last weekend I played with drummer, piano/keys, guitarist and two vocalists in a smal theatre (appr. 80 seats) and I had headroom to spare. The genre was singer/songwriter, so quite subtle. I used a precision with flats and a fretless jazz bass with LaBella Back Nylons. Both instruments sound awesome through the combo. I had the eq almost flat withe mid a tiny bit enhanced. Used is as that with the fretless. With the pbass I engaged the Shape filter with the knob on about 2 o'clock. It gave a nice motown like sound.

With my other band we play mainly Southern Rock and America, bit of Country Blues. I use a precision with rounds in that band. The KB15 really loves the pbass growl. With this band I have used the combo as a bass monitor on stages with FOH. I place it in front of me by the side of the stage monitor and thus can control my sound a s I see fit.
On one occasion we played at a private party, so smaller venue and just PA for vocals, keys and kick. I thought of bringing the big guns but in the end decided to bring the combo. Again it did not at all dissapoint; it just provides great sounds and easy to tweak. A little turn of the knobs already makes quite a difference. The Shape filter need a bit more experiment, but once yuo get the hang of it, it's a very useful addition to the eq.

 
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