Ok, sorry for the long title. I recently took on an extra gig, so I decided to just grab a second amp so not to lug gear around town.
I picked up a Hartke LX8500 based on previous experience with the LH1000 but needing a smaller package. It arrived today so I figured I’d A/B it with my EBS Reidmar 750.
First off, build quality. The Hartke seems very well put together for the most part, it has a pretty sturdy case that could withstand Thunderdome. The handle is a good touch and doesn’t feel cheap. The knobs on the Reidmar are a lot more solid, but I can’t really find anything on the Hartke that I felt iffy about. It’s definitely geared towards the working musician, put it in a case like you would any small amp and it’ll be fine.
The front and back panel on the Hartke are a bit more user friendly than the Reidmar. The aux input and headphone output jacks are on the front of the Hartke which is aesthetically unappealing, but pragmatically it kind of works for me. The Hartke does also give you an led indicator letting you know if your DI is pre or post, which I did not hate.
Tone wise is where I saw the biggest difference. The Hartke is very clear, not a hair out of place. It is warm too, a lot more than I figured and the tube gain was useable. Not the best in the world, but it’s musical and it works well. It took a bit of work to dial the tone did, but I pretty easily found a perfect modern R&B sound. Clear, with a great fundamental and mids that were there without being honky or overbearing. The treble control and bright switch did exactly what they say in the tin. It definitely had a boatload of punch into my 2x10 and playing my Mighty Jazz or My P alongside some Dua Lipa, Sade or even New Radicals (You Get What You Give, killer bassline)….it just worked. The Hartke knows it isn’t fancy, it also does not give a rats a$&. It’s there to do a job and it does it well. I’m sure it’ll cut through a mix if eq’ed properly, but I haven’t had the chance to play it in a band setting yet.
The Reidmar, on the other hand speaks with a very authoritative voice. It’s not a bull in a China shop, but it wants to be loud. Its not as clean as the Hartke, not in any way. But it will broadcast the notes into your spine through sheer horsepower. I’d use this amp anywhere I’d want a Mesa 400+ or an SVT but did not want to drag the weight. Don’t get me wrong, I get that the Mesa, the SVT and the Reidmar are wildly different animals (I have owned all three over the years). But if you want sheer magnitude and great tone that will support the mix without getting lost in it, this thing will deliver.
So far, I dig them both. They’re both extremely useable, great sounding amps. They each have their strengths, but they both bring a lot to the table.
That’s what I have so far. I’m going to use the Hartke this weekend at the White Sabers DCI live performance in Mt Olive New Jersey. I figure that should give me a great trial by fire for it.
I picked up a Hartke LX8500 based on previous experience with the LH1000 but needing a smaller package. It arrived today so I figured I’d A/B it with my EBS Reidmar 750.
First off, build quality. The Hartke seems very well put together for the most part, it has a pretty sturdy case that could withstand Thunderdome. The handle is a good touch and doesn’t feel cheap. The knobs on the Reidmar are a lot more solid, but I can’t really find anything on the Hartke that I felt iffy about. It’s definitely geared towards the working musician, put it in a case like you would any small amp and it’ll be fine.
The front and back panel on the Hartke are a bit more user friendly than the Reidmar. The aux input and headphone output jacks are on the front of the Hartke which is aesthetically unappealing, but pragmatically it kind of works for me. The Hartke does also give you an led indicator letting you know if your DI is pre or post, which I did not hate.
Tone wise is where I saw the biggest difference. The Hartke is very clear, not a hair out of place. It is warm too, a lot more than I figured and the tube gain was useable. Not the best in the world, but it’s musical and it works well. It took a bit of work to dial the tone did, but I pretty easily found a perfect modern R&B sound. Clear, with a great fundamental and mids that were there without being honky or overbearing. The treble control and bright switch did exactly what they say in the tin. It definitely had a boatload of punch into my 2x10 and playing my Mighty Jazz or My P alongside some Dua Lipa, Sade or even New Radicals (You Get What You Give, killer bassline)….it just worked. The Hartke knows it isn’t fancy, it also does not give a rats a$&. It’s there to do a job and it does it well. I’m sure it’ll cut through a mix if eq’ed properly, but I haven’t had the chance to play it in a band setting yet.
The Reidmar, on the other hand speaks with a very authoritative voice. It’s not a bull in a China shop, but it wants to be loud. Its not as clean as the Hartke, not in any way. But it will broadcast the notes into your spine through sheer horsepower. I’d use this amp anywhere I’d want a Mesa 400+ or an SVT but did not want to drag the weight. Don’t get me wrong, I get that the Mesa, the SVT and the Reidmar are wildly different animals (I have owned all three over the years). But if you want sheer magnitude and great tone that will support the mix without getting lost in it, this thing will deliver.
So far, I dig them both. They’re both extremely useable, great sounding amps. They each have their strengths, but they both bring a lot to the table.
That’s what I have so far. I’m going to use the Hartke this weekend at the White Sabers DCI live performance in Mt Olive New Jersey. I figure that should give me a great trial by fire for it.
