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Thoughts on Hartke?

#21
I like the sound of their heads but they're just too heavy.

I liked their speakers (very clear) but they do seem to be a bit cold and flat.

I just picked up the HyDRIVE 12" to go with my Bergantino 12 and the combination KILLS!
 
#22
I love Hartke cabinets. I've always been kind of lukewarm for the heads, even the LH series. I remember back in the day, if you weren't an Ampeg player, the other kick arse rig was a G-K head through a Hartke 4x10. That match up still sounds awesome to this day.
 
#23
schecter5string said:
You really can't go wrong with Hartke.
I play A HA3500 head with a HyDrive 410, I also have a Hartke 2200 Pro as a back up cab.
You may want to look at the 2200 pro as a cab option, it really is a great 2x12 cab, it is 4ohms so it would be the only cab you could run with that head, but you would get all 250 watts into it.

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You can also look at Guitar Centers National used list for used cabs, it is always better to spend your money on the best cab you can, good deals can be found if you take your time and look around.
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Oh thanks a lot! And this cabinet would be fine running through that head with the 50 watt difference? Also, would the 2x12 setup provide enough power to work in a band? I'm not the best on amps to be honest. Thanks again, great help.
 
#26
The thing I like best about Hartke is Larry Hartke! Not only does he put his name on the faceplate, but he'll give you his cell phone number if you have problems or questions.

The purchase of a Hartke product is just the beginning of the relationship with the Hartke company. It seems to be the end of the relationship with far too many manufacturers these days.
 
#28
I would welcome any thoughts on this, but I'll say this. I just got a HyDyrive stack, 4X10 and 1X15. It's a good sound, very bright, so that has to be what you like. But IMO neither cab sounds great by itself. It sounds good as a stack. I'll even say an SVT-HLF is more thunderous, and louder without distorting. I bought them because at 12" deep and 24X24, they will both fit in the back cab of a 4 door pickup truck. I'll keep working with them, but these are my initial thoughts.
 
#29
I have been using the Hartke 3500 head for quite some time. I'm the third owner of it. it's been abused. Dropped out of the trailer (in a roadcase) and had to have a few simple fixes done.. but for the most part, it's a work horse. I love this amp. Great booming sound. I personally run it through a GK cabinet but the Hartke cabinets rock as well. I highly recommend it..

And like many have said, Larry Hartke is on here and is always willing to help. Such a rarity nowadays. More manufacturers need this kinda support.
 
#30
To whoever posted the link to the 2200 Pro, I was really surprised to still see places still selling those, as they have been discontinued for some time now.

I have a 2200 Pro and absolutely loved it when running a GK 800RB into it. I am actually in need of one replacement 12" for it. Alunimum cone 150 Watts at 8ohms. Unfortunately when I contacted Hartke they were completely out of stock on those speakers. If anyone has one, I'd be into buying it. Thanks.
 
#31
nanookofnj said:
To whoever posted the link to the 2200 Pro, I was really surprised to still see places still selling those, as they have been discontinued for some time now.

I have a 2200 Pro and absolutely loved it when running a GK 800RB into it. I am actually in need of one replacement 12" for it. Alunimum cone 150 Watts at 8ohms. Unfortunately when I contacted Hartke they were completely out of stock on those speakers. If anyone has one, I'd be into buying it. Thanks.
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So you'd recommend one of those 2200 pro cabinets? Any idea as to how it'd sound with the head I posted? Thanks!
 
#32
The 3500 was my first real head... Got it from a pawn shop. It's a workhorse! My guitar player dropped it down about 6 stairs (no case). No problem. Went from falling down the stairs to doing a gig. It also was in a van fire. Pulled it out, wiped it down. No problem.

Only thing I ever had to do was replace the pre-amp tube. Probably damaged from getting dropped. The bad tube caused some buzz on the real low notes, but I just used the SS pre to fix that until I got the tube replaced. Good clean sound. I kind of miss that amp.
 
#33
I got back to playing bass after 45 years and discovered that all the amps I've used in the 60's were unavailable. I bought a Hartke LH500 and am quite satisfied.

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#34
So you'd recommend one of those 2200 pro cabinets? Any idea as to how it'd sound with the head I posted? Thanks!
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I would reccomend one without hesitation. Only problem I had with mine were the screw in casters which I never used anyway. I was always partial to the tone of a GK 800RB into a Hartke Aluminum cone cab myself for some reason. It was like a match made in heaven.

I did have someone play his Hartke 3500 into my 2200 and it sounded great though. The 2200 is 300 watts at 4ohms so plan accordingly. Best of luck.
 
#35
vin088xk1 said:
I've got the 2500 with 115xl and 210xl, great sound and easy to transport
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A lot of people have said I'd be best getting a 1x15 for low end and 4x10 to cover everything else;

Seeing as you own a 4x10 and this amp head, would you say the head has enough power with the 4x10 alone? It's a toss up between the 2x15 pro cabinet that was linked on the first page and the 4x10 XL you see.
Thanks!
 

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