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Hartke LH500

#501
tombowlus said:
I believe our "optimally flat" setting was pretty close to 2-10-0 on the Bass, Mid, Treble. Boosting mids does seem like an issue, but in practice, this amp sounds/feels pretty rich in the mids. I think my preferred setting was right about 2-10-2.

Tom.
Click to expand...

For the most part, I find 3 - 10 - 1 to be optimal for most of my situations. And funny enough, if I start boosting the treble a bit, it seems like I get a boost in the mids as well. This is also possibly the result of "tequila ear". :help:
 
#502
KJung said:
+1 As long as you don't dial in a bunch of the tube tone, the RH450 stays totally clean. The Hartke LH is nice and clean also.... both good choices. The RH450 is much smaller and lighter, and has a bunch more features... and... costs a bunch more than the LH500, which sounds great, but is 'bare bones' feature-wise and is really an amazing amp for the low, low price.

And, +1 that the big, dual mono and bridgeable LH1000 would give you virtually limitless options regarding dual cabs or single cabs.
Click to expand...

The RH 450 is really cool looking, and seems to offer a lot including tone.....but I have no experience with it thus far........forget all but tone for a moment.........for rich, thick, meaty, focused bass......who wins between these two heads.....??
....and can you think of something else I should strongly consider......??

thanks again!!
 
#504
keyboardguy said:
Larry's 'flat' is below:


"""Larry Hartke's EQ Flat: Bass-2.4, Mid-10, Treble-0

Reviewer's favorite: B-4 M-8 T-4

The testor's optimum flat: B-2 M-10 T-0

Fender tone stack: B-0 M-10 T-0 OR B-2 M-10 T-2''''

Regards,

Mike
Click to expand...

When I purchased my LH1K about a year ago, I initially liked it, as it sounded huge (loud) with my Hydrive 410 and 115, but gradually started to dislike the lack of deep bass achievable from the tone stack EQ. Even now I see post after post debating how to get a good sound....should it be that hard/elusive? My old Hartke 3500 gets a better tone set flat than my LH1K. Upshot is, I've sold the LH1K and bought a LMIII which is plug and play heaven.

Larry, when are you going to produce a lightweight (digital power?) head with an EQ section more like the HA series? They'd sell like hot cakes IMO.
 
#505
Wow, I don't find great tone elusive at all with this head. Seat at 2 or 3 on the bass, mids at 10, and treble at 0 or 1, it's amazing. And cranking the bass beyond 3 gives incredible deep bass. But all ears are different.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#506
Cab Choice is a biggie with these hartke LH heads, don't automatically assume the Hydrive cabs work best (though you'd think they should).

Aren't the Hydrive cabs a sealed unit? Maybe a ported cab would get you where you want.

I didn't get what I wanted from my LH1000 until I picked up a GB Neox 212.
 
#509
it's either the LH500 or LH1000 and I can't decide between the two. Does anyone here play the LH500 through an 8ohm cab only (if so.....how loud is it?). I have an Avatar 2X12 DeltaLF 1000 watt 8ohm cab and an Ibanez 1X15 300watt 8ohm cab. I'll use both if I have to but would rather just lug the Avatar.....I'm just wondering if 350watts into 8ohms is going to be loud enough stage volume. I'm usually FOH supported (rare gigs where I'm not). If I'm not FOH supported I'd bring both cabs. Advice is appreciated!

If I got the LH500 I'd have enough to get a custom rack case to match my Avatar (orange tolex). If I got the LH1000 I would not have enough for the custom case. I know the LH1000 would give me 750 watts at 8ohms and that's impressive but if I don't need that much then why have it? HELP ME DECIDE!
Thx,
Barry
 
#510
Dude I have the LH500 with both a Hartke 1x15 and 4x10 (both 8 ohm cabs). Through the 400watt 4x10 this is definitely loud enough for pub and small club gigs standalone(no FOH). The music is hard rock covers and is pretty loud! The 1x15 doesn't really cut it alone but my original band is 80's metal. I use them both together as the 1x15 adds some nice low end.
Hope that helps.
 
#511
bazzanderson said:
If I got the LH1000 I would not have enough for the custom case. I know the LH1000 would give me 750 watts at 8ohms and that's impressive but if I don't need that much then why have it? HELP ME DECIDE!
Click to expand...

Depends on what you mean by "need"... :hmm:

If it's only as much power as will get you a decently loud sound - without much consideration of the quality of that sound, then I guess the LH500 would fulfill your "needs".

My motto is: When in doubt, always go for the greater headroom. Isn't double the available wattage really worth the extra $150? Especially when you can always pick up a case later?

After all, do you care more about how it looks? Or how it sounds? :eyebrow:

MM
 
#512
V
bazzanderson said:
it's either the LH500 or LH1000 and I can't decide between the two. Does anyone here play the LH500 through an 8ohm cab only (if so.....how loud is it?). I have an Avatar 2X12 DeltaLF 1000 watt 8ohm cab and an Ibanez 1X15 300watt 8ohm cab. I'll use both if I have to but would rather just lug the Avatar.....I'm just wondering if 350watts into 8ohms is going to be loud enough stage volume. I'm usually FOH supported (rare gigs where I'm not). If I'm not FOH supported I'd bring both cabs. Advice is appreciated!

If I got the LH500 I'd have enough to get a custom rack case to match my Avatar (orange tolex). If I got the LH1000 I would not have enough for the custom case. I know the LH1000 would give me 750 watts at 8ohms and that's impressive but if I don't need that much then why have it? HELP ME DECIDE!
Thx,
Barry
Click to expand...

I've been using my LH500 with a single 15 in an experimental jazz/blues trio. Plenty loud for us but if you play heavy metal you will want more cones.

:D

Joe.
 
#516
After testing the amp when it came out and then forgetting about it, I bought a LH-500 last week.
I immediately compared it thru my db212 at reharsal with my trusted SA200 and my ABM500.
Bass was a Sadowsky PJ5.

The amp sounded absolutely great and is very easy to dial in.
Consequence: the ABM has to go!

I am rather thrilled about this and I am wondering how it will compare to my MB SA450.
 
#517
KJung said:
As long as you don't dial in a bunch of the tube tone, the RH450 stays totally clean. The Hartke LH is nice and clean also.... both good choices. The RH450 is much smaller and lighter, and has a bunch more features... and... costs a bunch more than the LH500, which sounds great, but is 'bare bones' feature-wise and is really an amazing amp for the low, low price.

And, +1 that the big, dual mono and bridgeable LH1000 would give you virtually limitless options regarding dual cabs or single cabs.
Click to expand...

So, the LH1000 has more flexibility and twice the power at half the price of the TC RH450. What am I missing here? If the tones available from each are comparable it comes down to features, size and weight in favor of the RH450. Right?

I'll take the Hartke, thank you.
 
#518
bazzanderson said:
Does anyone here play the LH500 through an 8ohm cab only (if so.....how loud is it?).
Click to expand...

I just recently got the LH500 and the HyDrive HX410. Only played one gig with it so far and at volume 6 is was plenty loud. I would say that for any gigs that it wouldn't be loud enough for, there should be PA support in which case you would be fine.
 
#519
jcburn said:
Dude I have the LH500 with both a Hartke 1x15 and 4x10 (both 8 ohm cabs). Through the 400watt 4x10 this is definitely loud enough for pub and small club gigs standalone(no FOH). The music is hard rock covers and is pretty loud! The 1x15 doesn't really cut it alone but my original band is 80's metal. I use them both together as the 1x15 adds some nice low end.
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

+1 to that
 

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