Totally disillusioned with hartke hy-drive

[NorCal Dog]

i played a 500 seat venue last night with my new Hartke LH1000 running into a pair of Carvin LS1503's. the soundguy looked at me kind of funny as i was loading in, but at soundcheck he commented that " that rig sounds sic "

had the volume on like 2.75,, PLENTY of headroom

it kinda sounds like you're expecting way too much from your combo

just remember,, when you're playing in larger rooms

BIGGER is BETTER

 

[Zooberwerx]

i played a 500 seat venue last night with my new Hartke LH1000 running into a pair of Carvin LS1503's. the soundguy looked at me kind of funny as i was loading in, but at soundcheck he commented that " that rig sounds sic "

had the volume on like 2.75,, PLENTY of headroom

it kinda sounds like you're expecting way too much from your combo

just remember,, when you're playing in larger rooms

BIGGER is BETTER

Sidenote: I use the 1503's as PA mains coupled with Yorkville subs. Yep...they'll fill up the room with no problem.

Riis

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Even with PA support IMO a 210 is just not enough even for stage volume if the band is rockin' at all. A loud drummer will out do a 210 rig a lot of times.

 

[Sub5ound]

Hartke is really hit and miss...more times miss. They are constructed like crap. Was it one of those hybrid speaker deals? dont fix what aint broke.

 

[BillyRay]

Most 210 combos are not efficient at all and you do need an extension cab even if its just for monitoring use (like you asked from it). The power section will be running at 8 ohms to accomodate for a future extension, so this cuts wattage about by half and the speakers/designs are dictated by price point and size/weight issues moreso than sound capabilities.

Combos might be fine for quiet situations, but when stage sound is somewhat high, you really need something that has more efficiency/speaker area/wattage.

 

[silvermaneZ]

I have to say that at the end of last week I got an email from Larry Hartke himself. Apparently he was reading through the forum, saw my post, and took the time to get in touch with me about what he could do to fix my issue. I have just emailed him back expressing my thought that I was expecting too much from the combo, as a number of TBr's have pointed out. I will let you know what the outcome is, but I am truly impressed that he took the time to try and offer some personal assistance to me.

Robert

 

[ErnieD]

where did you find Hartke in the Houston area? Ive, personally, never seen any Hartke rigs in any local stores or even used in any bands that Ive seen in the Houston area. Did you buy this local? Orderd it online? I see alot of Ampeg, Peavy, Fender Trace in local bands and I use GB/GK/Carvin amps when I gig. Just wondering what stores locally are carrying Hartke? I used a guys Hartke combo back in 2006 when I lived in NOLA, it was OK. Just never seen new Hartke products for sale locally.

 

[Gearhead43]

I have to say that at the end of last week I got an email from Larry Hartke himself. Apparently he was reading through the forum, saw my post, and took the time to get in touch with me about what he could do to fix my issue. I have just emailed him back expressing my thought that I was expecting too much from the combo, as a number of TBr's have pointed out. I will let you know what the outcome is, but I am truly impressed that he took the time to try and offer some personal assistance to me.

Robert

Wow. I have never been a Hartke fan, but I may have to re-think that. That is way cool, and a rare thing nowdays for someone to actually be that involved with their product and support.

 

[rodl2005]

I'm with all rest.... A 2x10 is NOT enough for a LOUD gig!!! 4x10 at least!!

 

[JimmyM]

Wow. I have never been a Hartke fan, but I may have to re-think that. That is way cool, and a rare thing nowdays for someone to actually be that involved with their product and support.

It's a shame that we have to single people out for that as exemplary behavior when it should be the norm. Don't get me wrong...I think it's great that he did it, too. But everyone who sells stuff should do it.

And then I woke up.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

It's a shame that we have to single people out for that as exemplary behavior when it should be the norm. Don't get me wrong...I think it's great that he did it, too. But everyone who sells stuff should do it.

And then I woke up.

I agree. I think it is very cool that Hartke emailed Silvermane. I read an interview with Larry in a British magazine over the weekend. He has had close to 14,000 phone calls (probably more since the interview) since he posted his # in those ads. He said if he turns the phone off for a meeting he has 80 to 90voice mails and he answers them all.

I have never used or tried Hartke's gear but that kind of an attitude makes me want to support him. I have a ton of GK gear and have owned other GK stuff over the years and no one from GK has ever emailed me!

 

[Bassslayer69]

the Hydrive combos are only rated at 250 at bext!
(no extiention cabs allowed)
get the head, and cabs, and you will be in bliss!

 

[kiwlm]

any reply from Larry? I am considering this combo and thought 250W would be enough for on stage monitor!

 

[Wadge]

I'm not sure whether it is a problem with Hartke but I have a similar problem with my Hartke kickback 10. I pretty much only use it for home practice nowadays but if I ever push it beyond 5 it will distort.

I was hoping I could use it for really small gigs but it really isn't enough even for that. It seems silly to me to have that power (30watts) and not being able to use it because the speaker in the combo cannot handle it. I would have imagined the amp and speaker capabilities would have been matched.

 

[Jay Corwin]

Micro Rigs might be all the rage, but if you need to move a serious maount of air - still need some decent sized cabinets.

500+ with no PA support. I wouldn't even try that with a combo that size.

 

[Rickett Customs]

Sounds like if you're getting into bigger shows, use the 210 combo for practice and size up accordingly. 810 Baby! or at least a 610, 412,212 & 210, etc. This is the reason why I never went micro either.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I would have imagined the amp and speaker capabilities would have been matched.

If you buy a combo it's for the convenience of having the amp and speaker in one box. If you buy a small combo it's for the convenience of a small package. The trade off in both cases is performance. That's the nature of a combo amp, and you can't blame the manufacturer for having to obey the first rule of loudspeaker physics: Low, Loud, Small. Pick two, any two, but only two. You can't have all three.

 

[Wadge]

If you buy a combo it's for the convenience of having the amp and speaker in one box. If you buy a small combo it's for the convenience of a small package. The trade off in both cases is performance. That's the nature of a combo amp, and you can't blame the manufacturer for having to obey the first rule of loudspeaker physics: Low, Loud, Small. Pick two, any two, but only two. You can't have all three.

At no point did I ever expect it to be loud. I would never expect it to keep up with a loud drummer or electric guitars. Neither do I expect it to be low - it is a very small combo after all. All I intended to use it for was for quiet restaurant gigs with a very quiet drummer (brushes) and guitar.

But if the manufacturer gives me a volume knob which goes up to 10, I would expect the combo to be able to play cleanly, even if not loudly, when I put the volume up to six - not nine or ten, but six, heck even seven - on the volume knob with a light touch.

I know it is possible because a GK combo will do that, an ampeg combo will do that, possibly other Hartke combos will do that. This model will not.