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Steer clear of Hartke?

#22
I own a Hartke LH1000. But it new. After 8 months of using it every weekend it lost half of its power in the middle of a gig. At the time I was running it in bridge mono mode so I still had power but not as much as I needed. I brought it to an authorized repair center and found out that a capacitor had blown on it. Hartke had them fix it at no cost to me and I got it back within a week. It was a good and bad situation for me.
The bad is I am gun shy about using it on a gig now so I am going to make sure I bring my Mark Bass LMII as a back up. But it means I have to bring more stuff to a gig. I really like to bring as little as possible. I am getting lazy in my old age :).
The good is the Hartke backed the head up 100%. So I know if it ever goes down again it will be fixed. But for a head to go down after being only 8 months old doesn't sit well with me.
 
#25
When I was getting started, I bought the VX series 4x10 and 1x15 with a 3500 head, all for around $700. Yes, they are heavy. No they are not the best, but they are good. I still have them as they meet my needs.
If I had any complaints, it would be the weight and the 1x15 seems to get a little muddy with my 5 string, but I can usually bring it out of the mud with the EQ on the 3500.
 
#26
I used my Kickback 10 at my rock gig last night. The DI works well and the amp pushes enough tone for stage volume without crushing everyone. The signal into the DI hits the crowd out front.

The small kickbacks limit the low end so the signal stays true to your tone (although you can only turn them up to about 12 noon). Just over 30 pounds and the amp does the job.

I think that on paper the kickbacks don't look so hot but they are pretty loud and sound great. I find that the mids are strong, but the highs are not any different than other rigs I have used (SWR, for instance).

For my upright I run it flat, for electric, flat with shape engaged around 1pm.
 
#29
bassybill said:
I still own two Hartke heads and three cabs. Gigged with them a lot over the years. Always sounded good and never had a problem. They're not in the same league as my Markbass stuff, but then neither is the price.

The only thing I dislike about my Hartke gear - unfortunately, this is a major thing for me nowadays - is that the cabs are as heavy as hell.
Click to expand...

Not as heavy as Peavey!

I got a 3500 thru a 1x15 and 2x10 extension. VERY playable and easy to transport.
 
#30
I've been using Hartke for 15 years, no problems. I prefer it to some more expensive gear. I've had the Hydrive 410 and LH1000 since they came out last year. I prefer Hydrive to all aluminum. The only reason I sold the HA7000 I had was I hate the biamped sound and only used one side for ages as it couldn't be bridged. So if you like the sound go for it

By the way most gear is so reliable I wonder how many people who have problems trash their gear.
 
#33
I had a four ten transporter cabinet & a one fifteen XL cabinet that I got cheap at an auction about twelve years ago.

I did not like the Transporter.The XL was OK.

I also had a 200 (or was it 250)watt Korean made Hartke head.I forget the model number.I bought it when Sam Ash cut it to $225 a few years ago.Bought it as a spare.Used it a bit & it was OK.Seemed rugged enough.I gave it to a friend's bass player daughter when her amp got stolen.She's still using it.

I've had to play Hartke a lot over the years.Seems most sound companies suppling backline supplies a Hartke four ten &a single fifteen XL cabinets with a Gallien Kruger 800RB amp.That was mainly in the 80's but I encounter it a lot now.I'm not crazy about Hartke stuff but it's not the worst.I do remember playing an SVT head with two Hartke cabinets & it did not sound good at all.Didn't mind them too much with a GK head. I kind of like some of the Kickback combo's.

I would grab that Kickback if it's 120 watts & $125!
 
#34
I have the HA5000 with 1x15XL. Love them both. The 15XL cab is very solid and clear.
Own the 15 kickback too , but you might not get good lows with the 10. I compared the 12 and 15 kickbacks, and the 15 was definitely more fit for small gigs. Overall it's good stuff.
 
#35
I gigged 2 of the first generation Hartke 4x10 XLs for several years and eventually all the drivers cracked at the bend in the aluminum cone near the surround due to metal fatigue. I replaced them with the later design driver without that bend and they were fine...but the cabs were heavy...but, as mentiond before, not as heavy as PV cabs.

I also had a Hartke 3500 head that was fine but I moved on to an AMP BH-420 that I liked better.
 

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