Hartke: Why Do Musicians Use It?

[Al Kraft]

The one experience I have with Hartke started maybe 15-20 years ago, with the most extraordinary "blowout" sale from a retailer that I ever experienced.

IIRC, I was then a member of an early online bass forum called The Bottom Line. A member posted and said that a big mail order retailer was selling the Hartke HA1400 head, along with 12 (!) sets of bass strings, for:

$99

That was too incredible a deal to spend even a second considering, so I called and bought it. Somewhat to my surprise, all came through exactly as promised. I sold the bass strings on ebay, and easily made my purchase money back after the first few string sets sold.

And that Hartke head has been flawlessly powering my music room bass rig ever since. Effects loop, a contour switch, four band EQ, switchable compression, all for $99?

Anyone else remember that deal? Anyone know what was behind it?

Link Removed
(Picture borrowed from reverb.com, where these things are still selling for $100.)

I used one of those heads for years along with a 210 cab as my lightweight coffeehouse/restaurant rig. It worked flawlessly and sounded great with my Hartke 2.5XL or my SWR Goliath Jr II cab.

 

[dave_p]

I’ve been going gigs with a 210xl for years. Got the cab for 100$ And it does the job gig after gig after gig. That’s why musicians use Hartke.

 

[Calebmundy]

House amps (or at least cabinets) and a lot of direct-only in ear setups. Almost no one ever has to haul an amp anywhere in town any more!

I played through a Hartke 410 cab one time. It was provided backline equipment for a pretty big stage I was playing... saved me having to haul my own. I thought it sounded fine. Wasn't my favorite, but then, it wasn't mine either.

The OP is in Nashville... and I've been gone from there for 25 years, so I don't know what the hungry gigster shleps up and down Broadway & Printer's Alley these days. But if Hartke sucks, this is the first I'm hearing of it. I couldn't have afforded one in my day.

 

[Calebmundy]

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....

dude, your shop looks cool! I haven’t made it by yet. I saw you started carrying Lākland!

 

[Al Kraft]

A buddy of mine who plays a number of instruments (and all of them quite well) including bass let me use his GK MB500 and Hartke 210XL rig for a rehearsal at his place a couple weeks back. I thought the 210XL sounded fine and it sounds even better when he pairs it with his 115XL. I've used his set-up often at rehearsals and when stopping by to help out at an open mic night he runs and always enjoy playing it.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I love my Hartke 210/410 setup.

Took the 210 out for a party and man it sounded sick.

Lightweight and punchy.

What else can you ask for.

I have been toying with a TX600 for about a year now, and am really starting to enjoy this head.

Plus, the Hartke stuff just looks amazing.

 

[JimiLL]

I disagree completely. Billy Sheehan and Victor Wooten are likely doing "fine" financially, but not rich. They'll take any endorsement deao they can get. If Hartke pays the most, they'll play Hartke gear.

I'm not saying they're bad people for doing it. They'll both sound amazing through whatever amp they use. And they both deserve to make whatever money they can in my view. I'm all for their getting paid.

Victor Wooten is supposedly worth 5 million

 

[mikeswals]

Had a 3500/210 combo and hated it. Bought it 'cause it was cheap, used it in a roots-americana band which didnt play loud at all, and that thing would constantly go into safe mode and cut out. Drove me nuts

 

[MMMiguelito]

THANK YOU!
I was actually looking for a 10" version of this (I already have a Hartke 2200, 2x12 version). Alas, they don't make one.
I appreciate you sending the link, though.
MP

It reminds of this cab. Not sure if you’ve seen it:

Chris Cole 1212 Bass Guitar Cabinet Kit

 

[MMMiguelito]

I play in an acoustic-ish band (acoustic guitars, electric (usually a P) bass, sometimes drums, everybody sings), and I recently bought a Hartke 'Tiltback' KB-12. I absolutely love it. It is PERFECT for this format, and I can get great old-school tone from it.

Played thru one at a friend's house and was blown away. Jumped on the interwebs and bought me one. I got the 'new, version with the 500 watt switching power amp. 500W seems a little 'aspirational' to me, but plenty of booty for the stuff I've been doing lately, and it has a DO so I can send it to the PA for larger venues.

 

[craigmack1979]

Long time Hartke user all the way back to 1988...410XL cab and 2000 head after having used a GK head for a few years. Both have been great, with only one minor mod (noisy fan replacement) and routine maintenance (replaced caps/preamp tube), and using a BOSS multieffects pedal mostly for EQ I've never had trouble dialing in a tone I liked. Playing live outdoors I found that combo to be a little weak vs. a loud band, and the 410XL is one heavy beast at almost 90 lb, so I now use the old combo for rehearsals and lug out an LH1000 and lighter Hydrive 410HD for shows. Am already jonesing for a 410HL cab that weighs even less, about half as much as the 410XL!!

did you ever get the HL410 ??

 

[craigmack1979]

All this Hartke talk is making me want to go buy a new rig!

Back in the day Harke was the brand to have. To me it seems to be analogous to what Aguilar is now.

I've owned one Hartke product. A combo that was super loud and had a great sound! My only issue with it was that the input jack broke on it. It was plastic. I have no doubt Hartke would have taken care of me if I pursued it.

I can understand people's apprehension a bit. Their aesthetics arent for everyone. If you listen to how they sound though you will be surprised.

Hartke is working man’s amp . The fact that Hartke not colored is great thing imo …. Cause it adapts to color aka tone of your amp ! I have run serval diff amps thru these light weight beasts and they accept lotta power as I crank up vol one back off bass … these speakers kick ass !! I debated after I got the HL410 would it be better get matching cab or the HL115 The Hartke HL410 and HL115 are light weight beasts . I purchased HL410 11 mos ago and just got the HL15 last week .

View attachment 4267427

My gig-rig for the last 10+ years
LH1000, HyDrive 115 and Hydrive 410.
I'm really happy with the sound (and looks).

I used to go direct to FOH before, and then I used a Hartke Kickback for DI and monitoring.

kick ass rig !! Exactly what I have but I have HL series ! beast

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[jamro217]

Never had a problem with them.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Took my HX410 out to a gig last Saturday with my TX600 head.

Being I have the 410 in my basement room, it sounds boomy, with heavy bass in the room.

Not so at this restaurant, the rig had a chance to open up and it sounded like a whole new animal.

It was awesome having people come over and compliment my sound.

Hartke stuff kick a$$!

 

[ERIC31]

I like running my 2 Hartke XL210 cabs vertically. Is it possible to remove the logos (which are sideways) and put them back on (right side up)

without destroying them?

 

[Deleted member 394181]

In the early 2000's I got an HA 3500. I had a moment of bliss when I ran it through an SWR 1x15. I was in a rock band, it sounded awesome, I had power. I really don't know why I traded that rig. My only problem is, I wish Hartke was made here.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I like running my 2 Hartke XL210 cabs vertically. Is it possible to remove the logos (which are sideways) and put them back on (right side up) View attachment 4973935 without destroying them?

It'll look worse as it will obscure the uppermost driver...or more so than it is now.

Riis