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Hartke: Why Do Musicians Use It?

#187
Because they're awesome! Back in 2012 I had bought an Ampeg PF500 and being the Ampeg loyalist I thought this was THE head I needed. Turns out the used Hartke 2500 at the local music store blew the pf500 out of the water. I couldn't believe how fat and punchy the tone was. Not only did it sound great but for 250 watts it was un believably loud. I never had to turn the volume and gain knobs past 12 o'clock. I promptly traded the PF500 for the HA2500 and never looked back.
 
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#189
I have used Hartke gear for over 20 years and never had any issues. My first was GK 400RB head with Hartke 410XL cab. Then I later got a 115XL cab and ran that in BiAmp mode. The Hartke 115XL cant handle as mouch power as the 410XL cab but when ran in BiAmp mode it sound great and worked well within it's limits. The 410 and 115 XL cabs were plenty loud and sound awesome together.

I have always liked the Hartke sound and bought a new Hydrive HD 210 which I just love, but it may not be for everyone, just like Aguilar, Bergantino, Mesa and other cabs may not be to everyone's liking. The same with Basses.
 
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#191
TjMetalhead said:
Because they're awesome! Back in 2012 I had bought an Ampeg PF500 and being the Ampeg loyalist I thought this was THE head I needed. Turns out the used Hartke 2500 at the local music store blew the pf500 out of the water. I couldn't believe how fat and punchy the tone was. Not only did it sound great but for 250 watts it was un believably loud. I never had to turn the volume and gain knobs past 12 o'clock. I promptly traded the PF500 for the HA2500 and never looked back.
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Ain’t it funny how that goes. I had the same experience with Ampeg. Back in the day I believed I wanted an SVT 3 or 4 (Pro). Local music stores had them.... they were never impressive, and especially for the gigantic price tags. I could not decipher their justification for those prices, except of course for the brand name they carried. Sorry, but I’m not one to purchase underperforming overpriced gear just to get a name tag.
 
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#193
I really like my Hartke gear. I get the tones I am looking for. I run my Hartke 8500 800watt head with a Darkglass 2x12" cab and my Laney Nexus Studio Live 500watt head with a Hartke HD210 cab. Nothing bad to say about them at all..So far so good :cool:

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#196
TjMetalhead said:
Because they're awesome! Back in 2012 I had bought an Ampeg PF500 and being the Ampeg loyalist I thought this was THE head I needed. Turns out the used Hartke 2500 at the local music store blew the pf500 out of the water. I couldn't believe how fat and punchy the tone was. Not only did it sound great but for 250 watts it was un believably loud. I never had to turn the volume and gain knobs past 12 o'clock. I promptly traded the PF500 for the HA2500 and never looked back.
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+1!

After my "second" Amp*g PF500 burnt out on me at a Friday night gig (first one burnt out at it's first power up) I had to run out and try to find something to get me through Saturday and Sunday's gigs.
The ONLY bass head I could find locally was a Hartke LH1000 that had just been recieved at the music store.

Wasn't familiar with it, bought it anyway just to get by for a few weeks, pulled the staples from it's shipping box that night at the job, absolutely loved it!

Used that head for several years, no problems, got bit by the TalkBass class "D" bug, sold the LH1000, I've regretted parting with it ever since!
 
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#197
Silas Caldwell said:
While watching the likes of Dave Ellefson, Billy Sheehan, Rex Brown, Etc., I noticed they all used Hartke. From what I seem to have noticed is after the Mid-2000's Ampeg Meltdown many artists transitioned to Hartke, but why? Why not Ashdown, Gallien-Krueger, Aguilar, MarkBass, upon many other bands? I'm pretty sure you could get a full Hartke 1000 Watt head and 2x12 HyDrive Cabinet that Billy Sheehan uses, and still not have enough to get even a used Aguilar (or other brands) Head. Why do the big names use Hartke?

Other Notes: I have heard these speakers blow out a TON, another question mark there....
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Tone, bottom string growl and note separation across the neck.
I like Marshall tube amps but still have a couple of Hartke's in the stable for when it suites the venue or I feel like matching it with certain basses. I wish I had Harke amps in the 70's.
 
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#198
danbones said:
so, has anyone here played a Hartke aluminum neck bass? i remember seeing them in the early 2000’s and thinking they looked rad, but i’ve never seen one outside of old issues of bass player mag. I always wondered how they held up against the alu neck kramer basses.
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I own one of the prototypes. It's a great bass with really nice clarity and sustain.
 

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