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Should I get Hartke HA3500 or LH-500 ?

jcbrotel

jcbrotel

Jul 22, 2009
6
0
Nantes, France
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi all,

I intend to get 410 and 115 Hydrive Cabs and just don't know which head to get to feed them babies: HA3500C or LH-500 - or even LH-1000...

I play mostly blues, funk, ska and reggae on a 1978 Fender JB and I like deep round bass but also nice and crispy high med/trebble.

I've never owned a tube amp and fear LH may not be as robust as HA and I may miss HA's equalizer.

What do you suggest ?
:confused:

Cheers

JCB
 
#2
Not as robust as an HA? Retorical question....um, yeah, it pretty much puts the HA's to bed. I own the 1000 and I'm telling you, it's the best money I've spent in a while. And as far as the equalizer, let's be for real, how many people (including me) can really tell the boost at 1k..I don't even know what that is..


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#3
I played a mid-90s vintage 3500 ("Transient Attack") as my go-to head for years and loved it until the electronics started giving out.

Then I ordered a new 3500 a couple years ago and it was non-functional out of the box so I sent it back and have gone a different direction.

The 3500s of old were great but I'm not sure the newer ones are up to the previous standard.
 
#4
I have an lh1000 with those cabs through which i play mostly funk and slap. I love it. everything i need tonally and volume wise.
However, if you're used to a comprehensive graphic, compression, etc. It may not be for you. I think the lh would give you the crispy highs and solid lows (like it does for me) but it really does depend on your need for fuller eq capability.
As far as build quality goes, the lh is solid, certainly matching the standard of the ha3500 (but for fairness's sake, it is worth mentioning the 'frying eggs' problem other tbers have encountered).
Hope my opinions help mate
G
 
#6
the ha3500 and lh500 are hybrids, not full-on tube amps. the reliability of amps with tubes is only questioned by those who have never owned them.

i think they're both really good amps, especially when you consider their prices. in your case, though, since you like crispy highs and big low end, i think maybe the lh500 would be more up your alley since it has a fender tone stack.
 
#7
JimmyM said:
the ha3500 and lh500 are hybrids, not full-on tube amps. the reliability of amps with tubes is only questioned by those who have never owned them.

i think they're both really good amps, especially when you consider their prices. in your case, though, since you like crispy highs and big low end, i think maybe the lh500 would be more up your alley since it has a fender tone stack.
Click to expand...

+1. I own the LH1000 and I can dial in some nice lows and sizzly highs if needed. I usually run the 2-10-2 eq though.
 
#12
I owned both (an LH1000 actually) and sold the LH and kept the 3500(mosfet version, old) because of the extra tonal options of the graphic and tone controls and the ss/tube pre amp blend. The 3500 can do most sounds I find, whereas the LH amps are much more limited IMO/IME.
 
#13
I've currently got a LH-500 and a HA2500 (I've had a HA3500, I replaced it with the LH-500).

I like both, and the HA heads are really good amps (I keep the HA2500 for home practice and I've used HA heads for years), but the LH-500 has been great for me over the last couple of years, it's gone to every gig and every rehearsal and not let me down yet.

FWIW my band's music is based in rocksteady, reggae and dub, and the LH-500 will definitely do a warm old-school sound, but I also use a lot of effects and the amp deals with all that in its stride too.

I think some bass players might look at the lack of controls in comparison with other amps they've owned and worry that they will struggle to get a good sound out of it but honestly the thing just works. I take it as a mark of confidence from Hartke that they believe it's a fundamentally good-sounding amp and it doesn't need all those extra features.
 
#14
I have the lh1000, and I love it. You could make use of the balance knob to adjust the output level to each cab independently. I believe it has a tube preamp for tone and a solid state power amp for (insert favorite reason for solid state here). The 3band EQ is actually pretty nice and the brightness is great if you slap or don't have enough highs.
 
#15
dukeisdog said:
Probably the fact that they're inexpensive and great quality amps.

When I was buying my head, I tried out the LH series, and the HA series. The LH had a lot more definition, and a lot more power.
Click to expand...

true, i was just wondering because people tend to go for certain amps for certain reasons, i wasn't being cocky by the way, just curious.

Ive played through the LH500 and the hydrive 410 and 15 you sure do get a lot of bang for your buck!!!
 

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