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Hypothetical Situation! (Hartke Content)

#21
So how did this turn out?

BTW, just to answer your question about people looking down their noses at them, Hartke makes fine stuff, but the cabs are a real love it/hate it kind of thing. I don't like their cabs much at all. But I have used Hartke heads from time to time and they're actually not bad at all IMHO.
 
#22
JimmyM said:
So how did this turn out?

BTW, just to answer your question about people looking down their noses at them, Hartke makes fine stuff, but the cabs are a real love it/hate it kind of thing. I don't like their cabs much at all. But I have used Hartke heads from time to time and they're actually not bad at all IMHO.
Click to expand...
Depends on lot on the cab - Hartke gear doesn't all sound the same. Like Jimmy, I generally like the sound of the amps and dislike SOME of the cabs, but other Hartke cabs I've tried have had really solid tone (I'm talking about some of the XL series cabs here).

The 115xl, 2.5xl and 4.5xl are great, imo. The 210xl I own is not great and only any use as an extension to something beefier (and it's not that fantastic at that).

I've kept my Hartke stuff, though. My "practice rig" permanently set up at home is a Hartke 5000 with the 115xl, 2.5xl and 210xl cabs. Sounds good to me - and LOUD! :D I also have a 3000 head that I keep as a spare, but this is a bit unnecessary really.

Having said all that, I'm a Markbass guy now and wouldn't go back, but for me that's as much about weight as it is about tone (although I can say the MB sounds damn near perfect to me). My MB 210 combo plus 115 cab weighs 82lb total. The nearest equivalent rig made up of my Hartke stuff - 5000 head plus 115xl plus 2.5xl - weighs close to 150!

Bottom line - I'd try the gear and see whether it worked the way I wanted it to, and if it did, then I'd go for it. But I wouldn't use it if it was going to get me down every time I had to listen to myself playing through it. Or carry it. ;)
 
#23
Getting to this late but here are a few thoughts that I have. First you have to try the gear to see if it works for you. Then there should be something in the contract that allows backline just in case you go on the road and can't transport all your own gear (unless Hartke will make sure there is Hartke gear at all the venues you'll be playing).
 
#24
1st ask yourself, do you really need a new rig?
2nd will using this rig put anymore money in your pocket?
3rd will using this rig make you sound better, worse, or the same?
4th what happens if the gear get broken or stolen?
5th what happens if you just can't stand the stuff and have to get out of the contract?
6th will using this rig in anyway further your career?

I used a Hartke 4.5XL for years and it did a great job. The Hi-Drive stuff? Who knows?
 
#25
+1 on the Hartke gear being solid. Also +1 on the 'clean' angle- Felix Pappalardi wouldn't probably have used it (but jack Bruce does...)!

It's a nice offer- but is it a profitable move for you (+1 on Greybeard's take)?

So, all discussion angles probably covered here, what did you do?!
 
#26
Sorry guys been extremely busy as of late....

They allowed me to check out a 4 x 10 cab as well as the 15" cab.

First the Cabs...The construction seems nice and solid, however i'm not a huge fan of sealed cabs (i prefer ported, and front ported if i can get it) and i really don't like the two tone look either....however that is cosmetic. The drivers seem to put out way to much treble orientd sound for my personal taste; however not so badly that i couldn't eq them to get a decent sound. If i were buying these cabs i would be worried about the process in which they fuse the paper to the aluminum it seems to me it would be a weak point....I'm no expert by any means but i'm fairly sure the two different substances will react differently to vibration (or maybe i'm just over thinking it?) anyway long term life of the speaker has me worried...is it just a gimmick? 1000 watts at 8 ohms for the 4x10 less than 70 pounds and 500 watts for the 15" cab at around 50 pounds. I posted pictures price and specs in this thread someplace....they are well priced considering their output and appointments.

next the heads:

1st the Hartke LH1000 Bass Amplifier Head (1000 Watts)
much like the older heads it is fairly straight forward and simple to use. It is 2 x 500 watts, or (1000 watts bridged in mono) has a 12AX7 tube preamp. Bass and treble shelving controls plus a mid-peak EQ controls, selectable brite switch, selectable limiter switch with LED indicator. Balance control blends level of A and B outputs, front panel XLR direct outputs Rear panel 1/4-inch effects loop plus 1/4-inch and speakon output connectors crammed into two rackspaces overall i like the sound but lts kind of generic sounding and fairly clean. Seems rugged and is rack mountable which is a plus in my book...they are available and according to the rep flying off the shelves

But in my book the Kilo is just plain awesome for lack of a better word! This thing has three (Yes THREE) 12ax7 tubes, an overdrive circut and a foot switch to control the overdrive, your effects loop, eq and mute. In has all the appointment of the LH series plus they also tossed back in the compressor and the shape circuit off their 3500 series on here as well. Street price on this thing is around $1000.00. it also has 2 x 500 watt output or 1000 watts bridged in mono. It apparently isn't available in stores yet. Its heavy as hell and takes up three rack spaces but man does it cook!

they also want me to use their VXL Bass Attack - Preamp / Pedal or at least have it on my board...however IMHO this thing just really..... well i don't like it (personal opinion)

At this point i have decided not to take this deal, at least in the form they are currently offering it.

but seriously these new products far outshine their older products and if i were currently looking for a new Head the Kilo would be it...I don't think it can be touched with its features for the price...(maybe i can work a discount...lol)

hope that helps

also i didn't get the chance to try these in a band setting i would have really liked to have been able to play with a drummer and a guitard to really give them a proper test.
 
#28
Snakeman1066 said:
At this point i have decided not to take this deal, at least in the form they are currently offering it.

but seriously these new products far outshine their older products and if i were currently looking for a new Head the Kilo would be it...I don't think it can be touched with its features for the price...(maybe i can work a discount...lol)

hope that helps

also i didn't get the chance to try these in a band setting i would have really liked to have been able to play with a drummer and a guitard to really give them a proper test.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... :eyebrow: Bro, you shouldv'e tried it in a rhythm-section! You can't really know 'till you've 'paced' it. I had a Guild-Hartke (original) 410 and it cooked with an SVT and a Trace-Elliot AH 200 head (power ratings are nothing). And if it's tweakable to get 'your sound'; hmmm..., I say.

Go back! Call him up and give it one last run! You can still say no. Humility is the last key to anything!
 
#29
It sounds like it's better than the gear you're using now, so yes.

I, too, would be flattered, but I'd have a hard time giving up my Eden.

Edit: It's lame that you HAVE to use that attack pedal though. Is it true bypass? Could you just never turn it on?
 
#30
Eminor3rd said:
It sounds like it's better than the gear you're using now, so yes.

I, too, would be flattered, but I'd have a hard time giving up my Eden.

Edit: It's lame that you HAVE to use that attack pedal though. Is it true bypass? Could you just never turn it on?
Click to expand...

i noticed they are giving that pedal away when you buy a few of their new products.....

I only use the HA3500 head in the bar most saturday nights....it lives there and i don't have to worry about it!....on my other gigs i'm actually using a Carvin BX600 on top of a BR410 and a BR115 which i bought as a complete package slightly used off a guy for $750.00.....(This is what i was playing the night they approached me) overall i like this setup for the most part....but i bought because it was a good deal and i needed the rig. However i'm currently looking at a Genz Benz and GK heads to be coupled with a set of Avatar Cabs.
 
#31
Eminor3rd said:
It sounds like it's better than the gear you're using now, so yes.

I, too, would be flattered, but I'd have a hard time giving up my Eden.

Edit: It's lame that you HAVE to use that attack pedal though. Is it true bypass? Could you just never turn it on?
Click to expand...

I think he just has to have it in his 'board. That's a little silly, actually- he already would be using the pre- from the Hartke head.

Anyway, the whole idea of it is dumb in my book. You're just doing free advertising for Hartke. A bad business move from a business standpoint. If you're going to be a whore, you'd dang sure better get paid!

I've had a little time to adjust my thinking... :)
 
#33
It's not like you are a fashion model (unless maybe you are that too). You don't have to just wear the clothes. You get to play the gear and I would hope offer feedback on what works for you etc.

I can't believe some of the prima donna words I am reading about not taking the endorsement. I guess you can keep playing the Carvin gear that you paid for.
 
#34
Well if you bothered to read my posts you will note that i really liked the Kilo head (Quite a bit), but didn't really care for their cabs at all (Not my sound). The way the deal was worded didn't work for me either (and no i'm not giving details as I'm not here to bas Hartke i actually own some of their products) and when i came back at them with a variation on the proposal they got all wonky, so i walked...with my pride intact...I'm not gonna beg to play a product that i wouldn't feel comfortable recommending to someone else. The deal may have gotten myself and the band a little exposure, but we aren't trying to be rockstars, we are more than happy playing locally and going home to our families when we are done.

I'm currently looking at a Genz Benz Head and Avatar cabs, or a GK head and Avatar cabs, as i really like the sound of the Eminence drivers.... (also in my posts) as both heads have tones i really dig...still trying to decide
 
#35
You'll use it and you'll like it punk! <pushes snakeman up against the wall>.

Just kidding with ya...at the end of the day, you do what's best for yourself. I did read your post and my personal take is that I usually need to try out gear in a band situation for a bit to realize its potential.

That's cool though, you did the noble thing by not selling out if that is what you truly believe regarding the new Hartke cabs.
 
#36
I'm completely down with your decision. There was a time I would have killed to get an endorsement deal with anyone just to look like a big shot. But now, I like having the freedom to play whatever I want whenever I want, and I really don't need a pseudo-endorsement (pseudo because most of them are simply slightly better than average discounts, anyway).
 
#37
Lync It is hard to judge a persons tone through a post...sorry you came off as a bit of a smarta$$ and it just rubbed me the wrong way.

I had originally asked them to bring the stuff to me so i could try it in the bar with my band but in the end they made me come to them. Apparently they had several people trying out the cabs and heads that day, and we all had to come to them.

based on what i heard that day i just didn't care for their overall tone, but others may really like them.....just not my cup of tea. I wish them all the best with new product line.

My guitard also had the chance to try out a certain company for an endorsement deal at one time too and in the end chose to buy a Krank head and cab instead.

While i would have loved to walk around telling people that i had an endorsement, i couldn't bring myself to sacrafice the sound i have in my head for the sake of a new rig. Maybe i am nuts, and if i were a much younger man i might have actually gone for it, but as it stands I'm happy playing the products i chose to play.

I have fallen in love with the sound of the Eminince drivers that replaced the Hartke drivers in my old cab hence the lean towards Avatar.
 
#39
Lync said:
I can't believe some of the prima donna words I am reading about not taking the endorsement. I guess you can keep playing the Carvin gear that you paid for.
Click to expand...

Why- because it's free stuff? So what, it's free. And it's not free really, because you have to play your music with it. It's a contract.

Prima-donna. No, it just pays to be thoughtful and weigh your decisions.
 

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