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hartke VS laney

T

therex

Jun 24, 2007
832
2
lima
#1
i am going for a new amp soon, and right now i have this 2 choises since they are nice amps IMO, but i would like some feedback on the amps
first amp
Laney RB4
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i really like 160 watts of power, but i am sure of the clarity of the sound, i tried and a laney RB1 and it had a really trebly tone, but it might be due the 8" speaker
Hartke A100
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seems like a nice amp but i am worried about the low end that i love, i now it has nice highs and mids, not sure about lows so any info?

i cant try the amps unless i am with the will of buy so it is hard to me to decide, i will try them both if i can but some info would be great

BTW the bass is a VM p bass with QP pups and gotoh 201 bridge, this amp is never ever going to be used for gigging(unless its a really small gig that doesnt require the big amp)
 
#6
Between those two, I'd go for the Laney. More wattage, paper speaker. Both should put out a fairly big sound but the Laney is more of what I like in an amp than the Hartke.
 
#7
I've got a Hartke combo I bought as a smaller, more portable alternative to my 4x10 and 15x cabs. At the time, I was comparing SWR, GK, and the Hartke (no laney). The Hartke blew both other amps away. The tone is very versatile and though it's only rated at 120watts, was WAY louder than the GK. Not that you're looking for a GK but maybe this will give you something to compare it to volume wise.

I love my Hartke . It sounds so good with both my Fender and Music Man, it has become my only stage amp. The only thing I don't like about it, is that the D.I. is pre e.q only, but I use a Sans Amp D.I. anyway so thats not a big problem.

Seriously check out the Hartke.
This is the one I have. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#11
I owned a Laney RB4 until recently and it was a great combo. I wouldnt gig it (though I know of people who have and do) but as a practice/jam combo its great. I could get lovely tones from it, and had many compliments from people about my sound which I put down to the amp just as much as I do to anything else in most cases.

It has a reaaaally big low end thanks to the 15" driver but it's not muddy as some here seem to suggest. I found it to give a very nice old school thumpy tone as well as being able to deliver more modern mid focused sounds.

I've never played a hartke but they seem like a similar breed to the laney in terms of quality and price point.

If its low end youre after the Laney is for the win I think, dont worry about its clarity as you can dial in a little low mids and you're there.

IME :)
 
#15
hey guys i tried an ampeg BA115 today, i have to say i could get nice tone out of it, but find one could ve very hard, and i have yet to try the laney and the harkte
BTW wich will have a more vintage tone? the laney or the hartke?, i really enjoyed the 2 omde of the ampeg i am looking for something similar but maybe louder, and with more tone shapping in the EQ so right now i am wanting the laney, but as always i must try
 
#16
I've got the RB8, similar design but with 300 watts output. The on-board graphic EQ is one of the best I've come across and the 15" driver really throws out a nice punchy defined sound. The only drawback is that it weighs a tonne but it fits in my car which was one of the reasons for choosing a combo.

If you gig it you will need an extension cab as it just doesn't fill a room on it's own, unless you have PA support of course, but 160 watts is enough to drive a 15" for practice sessions and small gigs.

I've played through a couple of Hartke rigs and they have sounded great, don't have any experience with their combo's though.
 
#17
therex said:
hey guys i tried an ampeg BA115 today, i have to say i could get nice tone out of it, but find one could ve very hard, and i have yet to try the laney and the harkte
BTW wich will have a more vintage tone? the laney or the hartke?
Click to expand...

I posted in favor of Hartke. I wouldn't call it a vintage tone by any means though. You can definately E.Q. however you want but vintage and Hartke don't seem to be synonymous...IMO. I would say the Hartke has more of a "modern" tone. You can get lots of bottom and punch and it's very loud for its size/wattage.
 

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