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Should I keep this cabinet or bail....

estimated_eyes

estimated_eyes

May 12, 2013
189
189
#1
Talkbass community,

Let me first say hello, longtime lurker, first time post. So I ruined one of the speakers in my Hartke 215xl cab (it runs through a Hartke 3500 head). Bought the cabinet and head because I joined a band and desperately needed a rig to use in order to gig.

So heres my question(s)...since I blew the speaker I have been looking for a replacement speaker. I eventually want to use the speaker in a new rig with a second speaker of the same. First I am curious what sort of speakers I should be looking for? I want to be able to run a lot of bottom end without having to worry about blowing the speakers, as well as have nice mids and volume.

Second question, my Hartke cab is stripped right now. Can I put two nice speakers in this cabinet and have a great sounding cab? Or is the cab not that great? (quality of wood, construction, etc.)

I appreciate any and all willing to guide me a bit here with some advice. Thanks!
 
#2
Cabinets, especially bass cabinets, are not just plug and play. That cabinet was designed and tuned to respond to the particular drivers that it came with. Changing the drivers will change the sound - might work, might not work.

So, I'd try and find the exact same speaker to replace it with. If not, someone who knows more about cabinet tuning can recommend a driver that'll work well with that cab.
 
#5
The diameter of a spkr is not a guide to how "low" it will go. In fact, in order for a bass guitar to get louder, you need to CUT the lows from your amps eq. Much to learn if you wish to avoid blowing anymore spkrs. I suggest the faq's and stickies at the top of the amps forum.
 
#9
OP,
I can't comment from experience on the build quality of Hartke cabs but I haven't read too many complaints so the cabs are probably fine. You'll want to contact Hartke for a replacement speaker for that cab to work the way it was designed.
I owned a 3500 amp and it's a monster. I had a history of blown 15"s as proof. When equing the 3500 don't use the smiley face eq as much as you might want to. Your best friends are the low-mids to give you punch and save your 15"s and your money. Go easy on your first two eq selections on that amp.
Another idea, which I can't help you on, is to model your cab for two replacement speakers that would work. You'd want to talk to some experts around here for help with this suggestion.
 
#10
4OnTheFloor said:
Never heard a cab with 15s worth a dime.
Click to expand...

jon-stewart-popcorn.gif
 
#13
4OnTheFloor said:
Never heard a cab with 15s worth a dime.
Click to expand...

Yes you have. Tons of classic, iconic recordings were made by bassists playing through 15s.

But back to the OP:

famousbirds said:
Cabinets, especially bass cabinets, are not just plug and play. That cabinet was designed and tuned to respond to the particular drivers that it came with. Changing the drivers will change the sound - might work, might not work.

So, I'd try and find the exact same speaker to replace it with. If not, someone who knows more about cabinet tuning can recommend a driver that'll work well with that cab.
Click to expand...

^^^ Definitely this.
 
#15
This could get me banned, LOL, however I did pretty good luck dropping Peavey black widow speakers and drivers into just any old cabinet as long as the impedance matched the original driver. No, it's not gonna sound like the driver that was in there, but I found it good enough for rock 'n roll and Bar bands!
 
#16
Appreciate the replys from all.

In response to blowing the speakers and EQ'ing the bass, that was not the issue. I didn't blow the speaker, I accidentally ripped the cone working on the cab. I know how to EQ my bass with mids (never have played with the "smiley" EQ), I just wanna be able to play my speakers loud (I'm only running a 350 watt head right now, will upgrade down the road).

My question was more of what kinda 15's do you guys recommend? and whether I could use my stock Hartke 215xl cab shell to put some nice speakers into (or do I need a new cab), and make a decent rig?

Thanks.
 
#18
Repair the Hartke 15 or replace it with same 15. Sell it when you're ready to upgrade. IMO, this is inevitable if you are or will be playing professionally because this is not a gig- grade rig. Assuming this is a vented cab with a single internal compartment, two different drivers in the box def won't work out. Two new drivers down the road in a box not designed for them almost certainly won't work out either.
 
#20
Until you decide what to do about the drivers in your cab, and depending upon where the tear in the cone is, apply cloth tape to both sides of the tear and play on... It should be a light and thin type of tape...

Long ago and far away in another rock n roll time, players used to take razor blades to their speaker cones to give them more distortion! I never tried that, and don't recommend it... But I've seen it, and thought it sounded like ass!

Many of those cones were simply repaired with thin cloth tape. As long as the tape holds, and is "air tight," you're good to go.

I agree with Chef - if you liked the cab's sound before the driver was torn, tape it, recone it, of replace the driver with an identical driver.
 

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