• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Hartke, New Problems......

metalreptile

metalreptile

Guest
Apr 25, 2013
15
2
#1
I have been so looking forward to getting my Hartke setup completed. I purchased a new Hartke LH1000 a few weeks ago, and have been saving for a new HyDrive 4x10 cabinet, which arrived yesterday. I had also purchased a new SpeakOn cable to connect the two. Got everything connected according to instructions, and hooked up my bass to try it out. Everything seemed fine, but I could hear a slight rattle as if a speaker was busted or something. Annoying to say the least. Playing higher notes, and volume, it was much more noticeable. Almost as if I was using a distortion pedal. I double checked all my connections, and re-read the manual, and looks like everything was fine. No matter what settings I used, same thing. SO, I unplugged the SpeakOn cable and used a cable with regular 1/4 inch plugs. Not even speaker cable, just an old guitar cable. PERFECT sound, no distortion whatsoever. The company I got the cable and cabinet from is sending me a new cable free of charge to see if that is the problem, and also said if it wasn't the problem, they would switch out the cabinet for me as well. If neither of those solves the problem, maybe it is the jack in the head? Got it from a different dealer, so I may be in trouble there as it has been a few weeks. My main question is, has anyone else experienced any problem like this?
As a side note, the cabinet arrived safely, but the silica gel packet that was in the carton came open, and now I have hundreds of little silica beads behind the grille......grrrrrr.....
 
#4
metalreptile said:
I have been so looking forward to getting my Hartke setup completed. I purchased a new Hartke LH1000 a few weeks ago, and have been saving for a new HyDrive 4x10 cabinet, which arrived yesterday. I had also purchased a new SpeakOn cable to connect the two. Got everything connected according to instructions, and hooked up my bass to try it out. Everything seemed fine, but I could hear a slight rattle as if a speaker was busted or something. Annoying to say the least. Playing higher notes, and volume, it was much more noticeable. Almost as if I was using a distortion pedal. I double checked all my connections, and re-read the manual, and looks like everything was fine. No matter what settings I used, same thing. SO, I unplugged the SpeakOn cable and used a cable with regular 1/4 inch plugs. Not even speaker cable, just an old guitar cable. PERFECT sound, no distortion whatsoever. The company I got the cable and cabinet from is sending me a new cable free of charge to see if that is the problem, and also said if it wasn't the problem, they would switch out the cabinet for me as well. If neither of those solves the problem, maybe it is the jack in the head? Got it from a different dealer, so I may be in trouble there as it has been a few weeks. My main question is, has anyone else experienced any problem like this?
As a side note, the cabinet arrived safely, but the silica gel packet that was in the carton came open, and now I have hundreds of little silica beads behind the grille......grrrrrr.....
Click to expand...


I purchased the Hydrive 410 recently and the speakers made the same noise as described above. Needless to say after countless hours of trying to solve the problem I gave up and returned the cab.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GKon
#6
metalreptile said:
I have been so looking forward to getting my Hartke setup completed. I purchased a new Hartke LH1000 a few weeks ago, and have been saving for a new HyDrive 4x10 cabinet, which arrived yesterday. I had also purchased a new SpeakOn cable to connect the two. Got everything connected according to instructions, and hooked up my bass to try it out. Everything seemed fine, but I could hear a slight rattle as if a speaker was busted or something. Annoying to say the least. Playing higher notes, and volume, it was much more noticeable. Almost as if I was using a distortion pedal. I double checked all my connections, and re-read the manual, and looks like everything was fine. No matter what settings I used, same thing. SO, I unplugged the SpeakOn cable and used a cable with regular 1/4 inch plugs. Not even speaker cable, just an old guitar cable. PERFECT sound, no distortion whatsoever. The company I got the cable and cabinet from is sending me a new cable free of charge to see if that is the problem, and also said if it wasn't the problem, they would switch out the cabinet for me as well. If neither of those solves the problem, maybe it is the jack in the head? Got it from a different dealer, so I may be in trouble there as it has been a few weeks. My main question is, has anyone else experienced any problem like this?
As a side note, the cabinet arrived safely, but the silica gel packet that was in the carton came open, and now I have hundreds of little silica beads behind the grille......grrrrrr.....
Click to expand...
Did you ever get the new cable and if so, results?
 
#7
Never had a Hartke Cab, but I have an LH500 that was having issues a couple years ago. I got in touch with Larry, and he found a service center near me and got it fixed for free. A few months later I was having another problem and he replaced the entire thing for free, sent me a new one right to my house. I don't abuse my equipment by any means, but the head had miles on it. Tons of gigs and practice, and was over a year out of warranty. He never asked, just sent me brand new equipment.

I'm sorry to hear about your equipment problems, but rest easy knowing your in good hands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gsgbass, Fishheadjoe and BrentSimons
#8
draygriff said:
Thanks for the "heads-up" on the cab problems. Going to be playing Fri & Sat with my new HyDrive 4x10 and LH1000. I'll have a spare 4x10 in the equipment trailer just in case.
Click to expand...


I wasn't pleased with LH1000 and 4x10 combo...Unless you're using D.I. I feel like the single cab alone doesn't have enough power...at louder voulmes I noticed speakers starting to break up and sound like poo...instead of ordering another 4x10...I returned the cab and instead found a used Ampeg 8x10 "The Fridge". I'm so happy with my choice, the 8x10 gets ridiculously loud...more than you ever might need but that gives you a ton of headroom.
 
#9
Well, here goes. I did get the new SpeakOn cable, same problem. I talked to the place I got the 4x10 from, and they asked me to try a different head if possible. Got to thinking, and realized the old Peavey TNT 600w amp had a SpeakOn connection for an external speaker. So, I hooked up the Hartke to the Peavey amp. Plugged in my Ibanez SR1300 bass & gave it a few notes.....all of my tests have been at low volume, as was this one. This time it sounded like I had a SuperFuzz pedal connected, and also running tremelo at full blast. Wow. I hooked the Hartke back up to the LH1000 Hartke head, same effect. I was getting VERY upset at this point. But then I got to thinking again, and unhooked the Ibanez, and got out my Fender American Deluxe Jazz. PERFECT sound. I had changed the battery in the Ibanez just as I got the Hartke. But, I had also played 3 gigs using that battery, and I always leave the bass plugged up & use a tuning pedal as a mute between sets. So, I put another new battery in the Ibanez, and now it sounds fine as well. I feel stupid, BUT, it had the distortion with the last "new" battery. I always use Duracells, but maybe I either put in one that was weak to start with, or inadvertently put the old one back in and discarded the real new one. Either way, I feel stupid. But at the same time, that still doesn't explain how the 1/4 inch connector sounded great, and the SpeakOn sounded like crap. I haven't tried it again since yesterday as my wife has been having some medical procedures & problems. As soon as I get a chance, I'll try it out again and see if there are any problems. So....looks like my bass was the problem? I just can't figure out the cable difference tho......
 
  • Like
Reactions: tfer
#11
I had a similar issue with one of my Hydrive 112s. A buzzing that got louder with more volume. I bought a replacement driver and got the old one checked out to be repaired as an emergency replacement. It was fine (the speaker guy was impressed with the design of the driver too!). Turns out it was probably the speaker wire buzzing against the cone, that's all we could come up with.

Lucky I had the extra driver, as I roasted another one shortly after! That poor cab took a beating before I realised you need two of em to make it work.

Cheers

Tim
 
#12
Well, apparently my hearing sux bad enough that I didn't hear the distortion after the battery change. It IS still there, with both basses when using the SpeakOn cable. 1/4 inch connection works fine. Beginning to get frustrated again, even though the amp sounds great & has more power and punch than I will ever need. Would just be nice to be able to make use of the SpeakOn cable. Waiting for a reply from the dealer on what they may do.
 
#13
metalreptile said:
Well, apparently my hearing sux bad enough that I didn't hear the distortion after the battery change. It IS still there, with both basses when using the SpeakOn cable. 1/4 inch connection works fine. Beginning to get frustrated again, even though the amp sounds great & has more power and punch than I will ever need. Would just be nice to be able to make use of the SpeakOn cable. Waiting for a reply from the dealer on what they may do.
Click to expand...
You can't just return the cable and buy one locally?
 
#16
metalreptile said:
...still doesn't explain how the 1/4 inch connector sounded great, and the SpeakOn sounded like crap.
Click to expand...
Be aware that the Speakon connection works (properly) _only_ in Bridge mode.
Bridge mode does not work with the 1/4" connections - Dual Parallel only.
So you're comparing apples to kumquats if you have not also been changing the Bridge Mode switch as you go from Speakon to 1/4"; you made no mention of this, so we just don't know...
 
#19
ArtechnikA said:
Cool - had to ask...
OK - when using the 1/4" inputs, is the Balance knob in the center?
Have you tried using both channels ?
There have been isolated incidents of one side of the amp failing; I'd expect that to make hash of anything in Bridge mode...
Click to expand...

Yessir, balance knob centered. I have played with that & tried it about every position, but doesn't help. I am using the passive channel instead of the active, as I like the sound better, but have tried both. I doubt there is a combination I haven't tried.....lol. Amp at high volume, bass at low, and the opposite, and then all points in between.
The distortion I am getting in bridge mode is minor, but there.....and on midrange to higher notes, it sounds as if the speakers are "cutting out". Almost like they are getting too much power or something.
 
#20
metalreptile said:
Yessir, balance knob centered. I have played with that & tried it about every position, but doesn't help. I am using the passive channel instead of the active, as I like the sound better, but have tried both. I doubt there is a combination I haven't tried.....lol. Amp at high volume, bass at low, and the opposite, and then all points in between.
The distortion I am getting in bridge mode is minor, but there.....and on midrange to higher notes, it sounds as if the speakers are "cutting out". Almost like they are getting too much power or something.
Click to expand...
By 'Both Channels' in Dual Parallel with the 1/4" output, I mean the 'right' and the 'left' output.
(There is no difference between 'top' and 'bottom' on each side.)
Try the right side, and then the left side - they should sound the same with the Balance centered.

What's your EQ like ?
"Flat" on an LH1000 is typically 2-10-2. IOW - Treble and Bass almost but not quite at zero, Mid all the way up.
If you're running with everything at noon you have a significant bass and treble boost.

I have, and have used, that exact setup - LH1000 into HyDrive 410.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back