Hartke LH500 or Fender Rumble 800

The Rumble 800 gets lots of love..check the club

Fender Rumble Club

 

I've had the LH500 and currently have the Rumble 500 head. I would absolutely go for the Fender. The Hartke is okay IMO. Solid amp that sounds good. The Fender is light, sounds great, feels more powerful (my 500 vs the LH) and is really easy to get a great sound. I use mine as a backup but am happy to use whenever I need a change of pace. I don't care for the distortion on it's own but it does work really well in a mix.

I think they are equal on the reliability front.

I'd do a Rumble 800 into whatever cabinet you like. Fender does make a Rumble 4X10 if you want to go matching. Or you could look for a used cab locally. Always see 4X10's for sale.

 

For me, yes.

 

I own the Rumble 500. I had test driven the Hattie. I prefer the Fender.

 

Remember the Hartke has the 'tone stack', so Flat is 'usually' meant to be about 2-10-2 (bass mid treble)

Read here:
LH500 Hartke and the quest for sound

 

The LH1000 would be a better comparison for the Rumble 800. The beauty of the Hartke is that it is simple. I personally found it limiting but that doesn't stop it from being a good amp. The Fender weighs a lot less, can handle a 2 ohm load and includes a carrycase/cable/footswitch (if any of that matters to you).

Both amps can handle most gigs I would guess.

 

My lil rig

 

LH500 is a workhorse.

 

LH500 has more power.

 

I agree it's a tank

 

Rumbles are very popular, and at GC’s everywhere... but the LH500/1000 are hybrid amps that SLAM.

 

I used an LH1000 for years, it's dead simple and rock-solid reliable. If you use effects, distortion, overdrive, or pedal preamps you can make it sound however you want.

I only stopped using mine when i got an SVT, it's still my backup.