Issues with Hartke LH1000 + fEARful stack

[DethByDoom]

I don't think a 2x10 is anywhere near the level of volume the OP is referring to. Markbass does have cute little stuff though.

Haha

 

[BurningSkies]

Thats fine and dandy, but this isn't a question of whether I'm playing too loud, its a question of why my amp + cabs aren't operating at the capacity for which they were designed (and for which I bought them!)



Great suggestion, I will check the crossover first thing. Thats the one part of the build I wasnt 100% confident in (I bought the crossovers pre-wired but they looked alittle off... I wasn't at all happy with my order from speakerhardware.com, wouldnt surprise me if they sold me a bunk xover too



Not a terrible suggestion. Although we seem to have very different needs.... I'd be replacing my 12/6 stack with a pair of 2x15's if it came to that.

While I get "my tone" in the high mids and treble from playing an old Rickenbacker into a variety of drive pedals, what I really needed the fEARfuls and Hartke for is the BASS. That rattle-your-pupils kick-you-in-the-chest bass that my drummer and guitarist can feel from across the room. We found we can't improvise successfully unless the guitars/vocals are HEARD and the bass/drums are FELT. I guess I wasn't so clear on my needs at first, but this is the reason I dont want to unbridge the amp or downgrade to a small cab or single cab.

The fEARfuls live up to their hype, I would have never expected to get that epic FELT bass out of a small stack with two 12"s and two 6"s. The only rig I've played through that could equate to that was when I ran a pair of 2x15's. So ideally I'd like to get my fEARfuls in order, if for nothing else, to save my back and save some space.

I'm surprised to hear that about speaker hardware. That's unfortunate. Do check that crossover. I'm still skeptical that you're frying drivers with the 3012LF with the Hartke. When you get in there, I'd love to see some pictures of what you find. The 3012LF has a 450/900w thermal rating and its one of the few speakers that has the excursion that backs that up.

I'm also sorry that your fEARful experience hasn't lived up to its potential as of yet. I'm sort of wondering if the 15's would have been a better fit, but you should be getting more than enough volume from those 12's.

 

[Toastfuzz]

I'm surprised to hear that about speaker hardware. That's unfortunate. Do check that crossover. I'm still skeptical that you're frying drivers with the 3012LF with the Hartke. When you get in there, I'd love to see some pictures of what you find. The 3012LF has a 450/900w thermal rating and its one of the few speakers that has the excursion that backs that up.

I'm also sorry that your fEARful experience hasn't lived up to its potential as of yet. I'm sort of wondering if the 15's would have been a better fit, but you should be getting more than enough volume from those 12's.

I wouldnt take it personally... you didnt build or design my cabs, or manufacture my speakers.

I'm still struggling to gauge where the initial point of failure was, I'm in a bit of chicken-egg scenario... did my failing speaker cause my amp to overheat, or did my faulty amp cause my speaker to blow? People here seem to think that if it was the amp's fault, both of my cabs would be toast right now. The fact this happened with a new pawn shop amp would nudge me to think its the new variable, but then again its the first time I've run the stack at full power. Also, my cabs are home built, so very likely there could be a mistake in the crossover... wont know until I take it out.

Next step is stress testing the Hartke on my 2x15. Oyyyy not looking forwards to more blown speakers, wish me luck!

 

[BurningSkies]

I wouldnt take it personally... you didnt build or design my cabs, or manufacture my speakers.

I'm still struggling to gauge where the initial point of failure was, I'm in a bit of chicken-egg scenario... did my failing speaker cause my amp to overheat, or did my faulty amp cause my speaker to blow? People here seem to think that if it was the amp's fault, both of my cabs would be toast right now. The fact this happened with a new pawn shop amp would nudge me to think its the new variable, but then again its the first time I've run the stack at full power. Also, my cabs are home built, so very likely there could be a mistake in the crossover... wont know until I take it out.

Next step is stress testing the Hartke on my 2x15. Oyyyy not looking forwards to more blown speakers, wish me luck!

I'm sorry on account of the fact that I really think these are great speakers, and I really like what they can do. Something isn't working right, one way or another and that's frustrating. It sucks to have new gear and not have it perform up to expectation.

My comments on the speakers come from my regular use of the 15" versions, which hold the same power ratings, albeit being a bit more sensitive/louder. I've been using a high powered power amp and gigging mine continuously for nearly 3 years. They've been loud enough to compete with outdoor FOH without fail or excursion problems. I know where the excursion/volume limit is, because I've reached it from time to time and backed off. I also know that they are capable of producing deep bass 'across the room'. I don't have the pre-produced crossovers though, mine are spec'ed slightly earlier than those, and are surface mounted to actual wood rather than onto printed boards.

 

[B-string]

I wouldnt take it personally... you didnt build or design my cabs, or manufacture my speakers.

I'm still struggling to gauge where the initial point of failure was, I'm in a bit of chicken-egg scenario... did my failing speaker cause my amp to overheat, or did my faulty amp cause my speaker to blow? People here seem to think that if it was the amp's fault, both of my cabs would be toast right now. The fact this happened with a new pawn shop amp would nudge me to think its the new variable, but then again its the first time I've run the stack at full power. Also, my cabs are home built, so very likely there could be a mistake in the crossover... wont know until I take it out.

Next step is stress testing the Hartke on my 2x15. Oyyyy not looking forwards to more blown speakers, wish me luck!

While I find it unlikely there would be any, if you have a voltmeter you can check the amp for DC offset. That is the most common thing from an amps output that will/can damage speakers. SS, output transformerless ONLY amps! Disconnect any cabs and with a 1/4" speaker cable turn the amp on. Measure DC volts at the tip and sleeve on the 1/4" jack (DO NOT SHORT them). DC voltage present should be well below 1 volt DC, usually a few millivolts.

 

[Toastfuzz]

I'm sorry on account of the fact that I really think these are great speakers, and I really like what they can do. Something isn't working right, one way or another and that's frustrating. It sucks to have new gear and not have it perform up to expectation.

My comments on the speakers come from my regular use of the 15" versions, which hold the same power ratings, albeit being a bit more sensitive/louder. I've been using a high powered power amp and gigging mine continuously for nearly 3 years. They've been loud enough to compete with outdoor FOH without fail or excursion problems. I know where the excursion/volume limit is, because I've reached it from time to time and backed off. I also know that they are capable of producing deep bass 'across the room'. I don't have the pre-produced crossovers though, mine are spec'ed slightly earlier than those, and are surface mounted to actual wood rather than onto printed boards.

Hmm, so what do you mean when you say excursion limits? Volume-wise I know theres still additional headroom, but I'm unfamiliar with "excursion." I'm typically running these LOUD and FUZZY, and I liked that I could get the desired volume out of a smaller package (with the 12"s) but perhaps I'm still reaching a limit somewhere?

 

[BurningSkies]

Hmm, so what do you mean when you say excursion limits? Volume-wise I know theres still additional headroom, but I'm unfamiliar with "excursion." I'm typically running these LOUD and FUZZY, and I liked that I could get the desired volume out of a smaller package (with the 12"s) but perhaps I'm still reaching a limit somewhere?

It doesn't sound like it. The distortion that you get from running out of excursion on the 3015LF is pretty ugly and noticeable to me. When it happens, you KNOW you've hit a limit. Excursion is the amount of travel of the speaker. It can only go out (or in) so far...These speakers have more travel than most any others on the market.