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New Hartke Class-D Heads? Any Reviews?

Count Bassie

Count Bassie

Supporting Member
Jun 10, 2006
16,811
64,612
Smithfield, RI
#1
I just played my Fender Jazz through a Hartke Kickback 12, which has had the original speaker replaced with a neo Hydrive 12. It sounds really good, and I'm curious about the newer amp offerings, like the newer Class D heads. Anybody have a buzz on them?
 
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#3
57pbass said:
I just acquired the HL410 lightweight cabinet and so far it has worked out well. I saw the new head that is releasing in 2026 and it looks interesting.
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Yeah I'm very interested in that new head actually. I think Hartke is generally underrated for their amps. Whenever I play through one I'm like, "Why don't I have one of these?" And after playing my little booger here, and turning up some tone controls and volume, I'm impressed more than usual. Maybe it's the different speaker, which is also drawing a little more power from the 120 watt head, since it's 4 ohms and not the old 6 ohm model.
Anyway I think what I like about it is the lack of what I'll call 'hype'. Not a real complex sound, but it's got some shaping attributes in the controls. Dunno, it sounds real solid to me, just liking it.
 
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#4
Count Bassie said:
Yeah I'm very interested in that new head actually. I think Hartke is generally underrated for their amps. Whenever I play through one I'm like, "Why don't I have one of these?" And after playing my little booger here, and turning up some tone controls and volume, I'm impressed more than usual. Maybe it's the different speaker, which is also drawing a little more power from the 120 watt head, since it's 4 ohms and not the old 6 ohm model.
Anyway I think what I like about it is the lack of what I'll call 'hype'. Not a real complex sound, but it's got some shaping attributes in the controls. Dunno, it sounds real solid to me, just liking it.
Click to expand...
The few times I've used a Hartke rig it has always sounded good. I think there is a reliability issue with some of the gear they release which has steered me away from the brand.
I wanted to experiment with a sealed cabinet which is why I picked up the HL410.
 
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#6
Dana R Gregory said:
I have used the Hartke KB12 and KB15 in the past and they both have quite a bark. The 12 is very portable. Good amps.:thumbsup:
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I've had to let go of having an amp with notable presence in a backline, but with a decent foh system it's generally up to the gig. Letting go of the fetish and keeping the sound is a thing nowadays.
I do miss the air hitting me, but it's the sound I'm always after.
 
#7
Years ago one of my cousins brought a Hartke combo to the family reunion. As an aside our family reunions would have martins, acoustic Gibsons,and electric fenders from the 60's and 50's, as well as occasionally a one armed harp guitar from around 1900
The event turned into a blue grass, country Gospel, hootenanny

Back to the a Hartke bass amp, it got pretty deep while maintaining clarity.
 
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#11
I had the opportunity to compare my beloved Hartke LH 500 against a Hartke TX 600 and not only the LH 500 sounded sweeter but also beefier and louder. It's about twice the weight though !
 

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