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Thoughts on Hartke HA2500 or HA3500

74hc

74hc

Nov 19, 2015
2,752
3,024
Sunny California
#1
I have a chance to get a HA2500 in great shape at a very low price. It's been a home practice amp all of it's life. Price is so low that if it doesn't work out, it's not a big deal.

For about double, I can get a HA3500 in good shape, but used frequently on gigs. It definitely smells smokey, but not as bad as my old JCM800 I bought used. Wife made me leave it out in the garage while I cleaned it up.

No experience with Hartke, and would like to hear some opinions. This is backing up church choirs, so clean and vintage tones are best. No need for distortion or Lemmy type sound.

Weight is not much of a concern as I will be leaving it there.

Will be playing it through a 2x12 at 8ohms for now.

I can get PA support, but I want to stay away from that as it's been nothing but a pain in the rear. The PA system has too much feedback issues to where my BA110 can match and maybe outperform it, but I'm pushing it to near max at that point.

I've read nothing but good things about Hartke and its owner here, with a couple of exceptions: their new class-D amp, and one of their 2x10 cabs.
 
#2
The HA2500 is a fine amp and plays above its weight level power wise; that said, without PA support, you'd be better off with the 3500. They are widely available for very little, on the GC used site especially. Hartke stuff is generally bulletproof if a tad heavy.
 
#5
I have an HA2500, and it's a great head. I just use mine at home, no giging with it. Go with the HA3500, since you're going through an 8 ohm cab. My Hartke 112b cab is 4 ohms, so I get the full 250 watts from the HA2500 head. Hartke makes good quality gear.

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#6
The 3500 has both solid state and tube preamps. The tube pre sounds really nice with that tubey sheen. The solid state pre is very mid punchy. Blending the two gives many good options. The 3500 has the LED graphic EQ sliders which look good and a not too bad variable compressor which gives okay slap tones. The graphic gives almost limitless tonal options.
 
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#10
Update here. In short, I sat on the fence too long for the mint HA2500 and the HA3500. Reason is wondering if the wattage would be enough. Turns out it wouldn't have been a problem.

There's a couple of HA3500 for sale higher ($150 - $160) in my area. Not a deal like the original two. Neither are MOSFETs, but the newer bipolar power amp section. One, I'm told is a HA3500C which I have no idea what that really means. The other is a later Transient Attack version (not MOSFET).

Both have been gigged, but still in good condition with only small scratches. I have yet to go and see these.

The other option is two Backline 600s within several hours drive from me.

While I was deciding on the HA2500, I took my Ampeg BA110v2 in the main church I play at for a test against the Bose professional PA system.

Here's the result:

Screenshot_2019-08-06-19-41-22.png


Screenshot of my phone on a music stand in the center isle at the first row of pews. Probably ~20 yards from the main speakers. First was the run through the PA system with my assigned settings on the board. I was playing E major scale. Followed by a couple of our hymns. This is the record sound on the left next to the red line.

Second, I switched the wireless receiver over to the Ampeg 40watt amp that's next to the right mains speakers. Same E major scale run and hymns. Huge difference.

Lastly, I maxed out the preamp on the board for my channel (all the way to the right).

No doubt the HA2500 would easily provide the volume I need, but it was sold. :(

Don't know if I should take some time out early next week to check the Backline 600, or get one of the two HA3500s. I did like the sound I was able to get out of the HA2500 though. The backline 600 demo videos don't excite me too much, but youtube is a poor excuse for demo'ing amps. My feelings were it doesn't quite reach the character of the RB series, and it seems to have some off-sounding highs.

The other option is to wait and watch for a 400RB M III or IV which come up from time to time.
 
#11
I'd stick to the mosfet HA 3500. (Not Transient Attack).

Also, GK products are usually fantastic but it is my impression the Chinese made Backlines had some failure issues.

If you can find a nice 400RB go for it, but based on this post, I believe the 3500 will exceed your expectations for both sound (tube pre) and power, and remember that they are virtually indestructible.
 
#12
I had an HA3500 for about 7 years. My kid pressed the buttons in, and that was the end of it. Sold it for $100. I was ready to move on, anyway. I thought it was a solid amp, and I wouldn’t hesitate to own another.
 
#13
I had a 3500 for a while which was a great amp, although the tube pre section was a little noisy. For the prices they usually go for they are pretty hard to beat in terms of overall quality and bang for your buck. I do wish the compressor knob had a more gradual sweep. It's kind of like if the compressor is on, IT'S ON!
 

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