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Severe clipping in Hartke amp

L

LastDaysPay

Mar 28, 2014
7
0
#1
I have a Hartke HA3000 head with a Hartke 4100 Cab. I get great sound through it but I have a ton of clipping. Not just the light coming on, but actual popping. It seems to happen the most when I hit my lower strings hard (which I do alot, I'm in a punk band). I'm playing a passive bass using the passive input, though I have also tried the active input with similar results. I've adjusted the knobs every way imaginable with no change to the clipping. I've swapped out all the cables, and have tried multiple basses.

Basically, I've tried every solution I can find online. Could it possibly be a short in the cabinet? If so, how could I check that? Or is it more likely a head issue? Thanks in advance
 
#2
What's your pre-Hartke signal chain (pedals, etc) and amp EQ settings? Clipping can be an indication you're pushing the amp beyond its limits.

Technically, this should go in the "Amps" forum but since you asked so nicely....

Riis
 
#3
Thanks for the reply. I posted this a couple times in Amps but didn't get any response. I plug in directly, no pedals. EQ are around 6 on the high and mid high, 5 on mid low and 4 on low. I get a nice, crisp sound. I've been told that 300 Watts should be enough to power a 4x10, but I guess I could be wrong.
 
#4
As was mentioned, the bad signal might be coming from whatever is in front of the amp. So, just to be sure, plug in directly and see if it does this. If it is the amp, here is one possibility.

If the amp didn't used to do this, a lack of headroom on the lower notes is an indication that the power supply electrolytic caps might need to be changed. The lower notes draw the most out of the caps so if they have a problem, this is where you hear it first. These caps deteriorate with time so depending on the age of your amp, you might need a recap. A tech can determine how healthy your caps are with an ESR meter.
 
#7
A good test would be to try the amp with a different cab as Paul said. If the amp is doing the same thing with a different cab, chances are greater that the problem is in the amp. If the noise goes away with a different cab, then look at your cab.

Nothing is ever straight forward.
 
#11
bolophonic said:
Sounds like it could be a technique problem. From what you describe, I would look at your setup and determine if you aren't creating the popping noise by digging in too hard. That might be eliminated by lowering your pickups or raising your action.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if your strings are hitting the poles of your pickups, that will create a heck of a pop. Sometimes pickups will work their way higher. Check it.
 

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