Had a long weekend of gigs with the LH500: better equipped to give some thoughts. Overall, I like the amp. Still getting used to the passive tone stack but my sound is in there. Other musicians ( and a few guitarists) liked the sound. Volumewise, its pretty good, I don't have to push it past 12:00 and its loud. Clean and full. Ran it last night with my Foundation and played a set with my friends new Valenti. It handled both really well. My only complaints about the amp are: cheap power cord ( easily replaced), no speakons, and ( this may be a Hartke thing) the knob on the bass control fell off already. Otherwise, I'm happy
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Hartke LH500
- Thread starter KJung
- Start date
Just got my Hartke LH500 today and hooked it up to my 4x10 and i'm very impressed with the sound. For the price u cant go wrong. Larry Hartke is a really nice guy to talk to. He' answered all my questions and concerns months back before i had one on order. If your looking for a good 500 watt head well look no further.
I have an Ashdown ABM 1x10 combo that I love. Actually with an Aguilar GS112 hooked up it's the best sounding small rig I've heard (haven't heard much of the high $ stuff though - not available around here), but I'm looking for a head as a backup and was wondering what else is out there. The Hartke LH1000 has caught my attention. I've read the descriptions on this thread and a few others, but wondered if anyone here can compare one to an ABM soundwise? I usually run the ABM with the valve/solid blend half way, EQ off, Preset on so thought the Hartke would be covering similar ground?
Not sure how good the DI is. Used at a big bang gig where the sound guy was ...err...inexperienced? My understanding of it is its a tap before the preamp and tone controls.
Different beasts alltogher. The LH series is way better constructed. The LH 500 is much simpler and a lot fuller sounding. Never thought the 3500 as a loud amp: this one's 500 watts seem plenty for anything I run up against.Despite all the toneshaping options of the 3500, it seemed limited to me. I don't like graphic eqs and although I wanted to feature the tube sound of the 3500 I felt the need to dial in some SS preamp sound to get some snap and articulation. The LH feels just like a vintage amp: turn it on, dial in some sound and your volume control finds a sweet spot for your touch and it sings. More like old amps like Sunn and Acoustic. You compensated for what was missing for the room with the tone controls ( which didn't do a lot of obvious sculpting) and turned it up until you filled the room. Very much the same with the LH.
Yesterday, I brought along my Linden EQ and ran it in the effects loop for my first job. Not so hot there but it sure added boom. At night, I ran it as a pre for a set and it really made the sound come out thick and full. More like a b12x12. Fat and gooey but clean at the same time. Until you thumb or slap: then you find out that there are still a lot of highs available for your sound.
Found something about the LH500 that I'm not happy about. It sits on 4 large rubber feet. And I do mean large. However, the rubber is leaving dark marks on my blond tolex cabinet. But its minor.
Yesterday, I brought along my Linden EQ and ran it in the effects loop for my first job. Not so hot there but it sure added boom. At night, I ran it as a pre for a set and it really made the sound come out thick and full. More like a b12x12. Fat and gooey but clean at the same time. Until you thumb or slap: then you find out that there are still a lot of highs available for your sound.
Found something about the LH500 that I'm not happy about. It sits on 4 large rubber feet. And I do mean large. However, the rubber is leaving dark marks on my blond tolex cabinet. But its minor.
So, I got kind of pumped about this after reading KJung's review, and I played one the next time I was at Sam Ash.
I have to be honest, it sounded terrible.
BUT, I think it might have been the speakers, because my experience with it could be described as the exact opposite that KJung described. Bascially, no matter what I did, the tone sounded pretty dramatically scooped. I was playing through the HyDrive 4x10 cabinet. I started with a Spector Euro, and chalked it off to possibly a weak battery. So I picked up a different Spector, and it sounded the same. Confused, I picked up a passive Jazz Bass. Completely hollow tone, I could hear only extremes. Even boosting the mids on the EQ pretty signifcantly left me with a tone that seemed best suited for radio metal and nothing else.
It must be the cab. Has anyone else had a similar/dissimilar experience with this combination? I'm shocked that my experience was so extreme, because it wasn't what I was expecting at all.
I have to be honest, it sounded terrible.
BUT, I think it might have been the speakers, because my experience with it could be described as the exact opposite that KJung described. Bascially, no matter what I did, the tone sounded pretty dramatically scooped. I was playing through the HyDrive 4x10 cabinet. I started with a Spector Euro, and chalked it off to possibly a weak battery. So I picked up a different Spector, and it sounded the same. Confused, I picked up a passive Jazz Bass. Completely hollow tone, I could hear only extremes. Even boosting the mids on the EQ pretty signifcantly left me with a tone that seemed best suited for radio metal and nothing else.
It must be the cab. Has anyone else had a similar/dissimilar experience with this combination? I'm shocked that my experience was so extreme, because it wasn't what I was expecting at all.
the biggest issue for me is:
LH500 vs. 700rb-ii
LH500 vs. LMII
I understand different amps have different qualities which some people prefer, but I have trouble putting the LH500 before markbass or GK (I have played all 3 of these amps) Does anyone find the LH500 to be flat out superior to the other amps in question? if so, in what way?
LH500 vs. 700rb-ii
LH500 vs. LMII
I understand different amps have different qualities which some people prefer, but I have trouble putting the LH500 before markbass or GK (I have played all 3 of these amps) Does anyone find the LH500 to be flat out superior to the other amps in question? if so, in what way?
That is interesting. The one I played was very even and punchy. It sounded very warm, fat, and punchy to me. Again, similar to the Alembic F1 preamp, with less bloom and more articulation. I played it out of an Eden212XLT though (and a couple of other cabs), but that was just a killer combination if you dig a 'clean tube tone'.
alexclaber
Commercial User
The EQ is passive and the closest to flat setting is 2-10-2. If you assumed the EQ was cut/boost then any typical settings you'd have used would have been seriously scooped.
Alex
+1 Just like the Alembic pre, and the original Bassman, that EQ design can throw you for a little bit of a loop unless you understand the above.
alexclaber
Commercial User
Fender Dual Showman actually, the Bassman was a different design. I think this has to be my favourite bass preamp design just because it's so elegantly simple and sounds great for so many tones.
Alex
Ah, I'm surely not an expert on the old Fenders. It's quite similar to the feel and response of the Alembic F1 to my ear.
I agree that, for a certain tone goal (warm but still relatively clean, but with lots of dynamic response), it's a beautiful sound, and simple (as long as you don't assume noon is flat!).
alexclaber
Commercial User
And from an engineering standpoint I'm not sure if it's actually possible to make a bass preamp with any fewer components!
You don't even need a pregain because there's plenty of headroom and very low noises (no transistors!)
Alex
You don't even need a pregain because there's plenty of headroom and very low noises (no transistors!)
Alex
Ken, you used to use an Ashdown ABM didn't you? How does this compare, sound-wise. I've never played a proper valve amp or an Alembic pre. The Ashdown is my only real point of reference!
While I've played quite a few Ashdown heads in a music store setting, I've never gone to school on really getting to know those heads.
From my very 'non direct' A/B, the LH and Ashdown500 are both in the same tone universe, but the LH still sounds more 'tubey and old school' to me, even compared to the Ashdown with the 'valve' control engaged. However, again, from my comparison months and months apart (please take that into consideration), the LH is again more of an 'old Fender' with LOT's more power, whereas the Ashdown is a modern sounding hybrid that you can dial in some tube warmth.
And from an engineering standpoint I'm not sure if it's actually possible to make a bass preamp with any fewer components!
You don't even need a pregain because there's plenty of headroom and very low noises (no transistors!)
Alex
+1... no pregain with the LH either. I have no idea if they look the same inside, but the feel and vibe and tone (IMO) is very similar.
I again have NO idea regarding reliability, etc. of the LH line, since they are very new. It's still amazing that a sub $400 head can sound like the LH... amazing to me.
I ordered an LH1000 from LDS in Ferndale and I am happy with it.
The thing about the head is that the true character of your bass comes through, good and bad... hence:
My EBMM = sound from above (heavenly)
My OLP MM2 = sound from below (hellish)
My Musicmaster modified w/ SPB-1 = Grand Funk to the max!
The thing about the head is that the true character of your bass comes through, good and bad... hence:
My EBMM = sound from above (heavenly)
My OLP MM2 = sound from below (hellish)
My Musicmaster modified w/ SPB-1 = Grand Funk to the max!
