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Hartke Volume...

T

ToadWarrior

Aug 26, 2009
239
27
Manitoba Canada
#1
Ok so recently I have started practicing/playing with my new band.
I own a Hartke3500HA head and a Hartke VX410 and play a Hofner Icon, we play modern punk/metal.... I have found that my bass sound is nearly inaudible over my two guitarists (specifically my rhythm guitarist who plays an SG through a 120watt solid state half stack.)

Anyway, problem is, my bass seems to distort and get very muddy and hard to hear whenever I reach about 5/10 volume on my amp.. So my question is, Is my cab the problem........ Or is it my guitar, I was wondering if getting a Fender Jazz or Precision might remedy this problem, or if I should concentrate on my rig.
 
#2
The problem is more than likely the guitarist. They're probably too loud. My hartke with a single 410 (I had the XL for a short while) and I was never above 2-3 on the volume know.

At that volume can you even hear the drums?

Adding another cab and increasing speaker area/getting the speakers closer to ear level will help, however, having them turn down will help even more.

If needed you can always DI through the PA.
 
#3
I hear so many people (bassists, especially) complaining that they can’t hear their bass, and they’re playing in a room that’s smallish with no acoustical (ie bass traps) treatment, and think their rigs are not powerful enough, and the whole problem is standing waves in the room.

Educate yourself on that subject before looking for more power.

That rig should be sufficient.
 
#4
Our drummers pretty fierce so yeah I can hear him.

Yeah i was thinking about the acoustics of the room, and ill try propping my cab on something and standing further away, and in a different room, etc. But I was thinking maybe the fact that im playing a hollow body bass, might be the reason why I'm not hearing myself, I find my notes just aren't very clearly defined, and I get a really "boomy" sound I can hear myself making the chord changes but right away I get lost. I doubt the Hof is the best bass for this type of band.
 
#7
I would use a wireless rig(maybe borrow one if you dont have one)and walk out about 2/3 of the way to the rear of the room and listen....many of the sound waves we as bassists create don't sound good until 20ft or more in front of the cabinet, and the room attenuates some and boosts others toward the middle or back end of the house...play from there and tweak your eq until it gets right...I would be willing to bet you need to turn up your mids and upper bass, and flatten out your low end...it will sound too bright and thin when you stand in front of it, but sound great once the sound "forms" out in the room...then, if you still cant hear what you are doing onstage, at least you know it is right to your audience, and that you just need another way to hear it, maybe in-ears!
 
#8
I use a single Hartke 410 with a LOUD drummer and guitarist using 100w Marshall (usually with an SG) and find it more than loud enough with a solid state 400w head. Having the cab either tilted back or sitting closer to ear level (I've recently started placing mine on a bench) helps immensely.
 

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