• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Victor Wooten....Hartke?!?!?!!!!

#141
ElMon said:
I was always surprised that Vic played Ampeg for his sound. Nothing wrong with Ampeg, per se, but I could never imagine him getting his bright, fullrange tone out of what is IME darker-sounding gear.
Click to expand...

I'd say the bigger impediment is preconceptions about various gear when it comes to getting certain tones.
 
#142
greenboy said:
I'd say the bigger impediment is preconceptions about various gear when it comes to getting certain tones.
Click to expand...

Not really. Ampeg IS darker sounding. That is it's tonal stamp. Not saying you can't EQ the crap out of it, but still. I LIKE that tone alot actually and have had a TON of Ampeg gear. Whereas Hartke, being known for having a brighter tonal stamp, would seem to fit Vic's style better. IMO of course.
 
#143
ElMon said:
Not really. Ampeg IS darker sounding. That is it's tonal stamp. Not saying you can't EQ the crap out of it, but still. I LIKE that tone alot actually and have had a TON of Ampeg gear. Whereas Hartke, being known for having a brighter tonal stamp, would seem to fit Vic's style better. IMO of course.
Click to expand...

Uh, Ampeg's had lots of cabs, and I used the first of the two cabs Victor was using. It's got two 6.5" upper-mid drivers that help make it a very bright extended response cab. There's nothing dark about it. I suspect that after that cab got discontinued his next endorsement cab was also pretty even in top end. And if you haven't noticed Ampeg makes a lot of other cabs too and they aren't all dark sounding either.
 
#144
I find it revealing in the YT vid that Vic mentions how much support he received all over the world. Obviously, and understandably (no intent to dis Vic) a major criterion for his endorsement is that the company has to have the resources to provide such far-reaching support (and presumably, by extension, pay the endorser appropriately), which eliminates virtually all the smaller, btq cab makers right off the bat. I appreciate that VW may be more even-handed and thoughtful than most about his endorsements, but in the end, it comes down to business.
 
#145
I think that in the end, he stated what it came down to for him, and a big part of that was the people he was working with from the respective companies, citing that he did dig one smaller 'boutique' brand of cabinets but said that the owner was not someone he liked or wanted to deal with and let that person know that he was making a great product but essentially he was a jerk.

as for cash and being able to 'supply worldwide', Ampeg has that over any other brand even with the state that LOUD Tech. is in right now so although Hartke/Samson are big..... AMPEG and SWR have deeper pockets.

Vic states pretty clearly that he went with Hartke because of tone first, and because of the people working for Hartke and the company itself.

cool to see how many comments of "he must be doing it for the money" have been made since Vic has signed up with such an "uncool" brand like Hartke. :rolleyes: Not too much discussion has been made that I've read about Marcus going from EBS and back to SWR "for the money"....
 
#148
greenboy said:
Uh, Ampeg's had lots of cabs, and I used the first of the two cabs Victor was using. It's got two 6.5" upper-mid drivers that help make it a very bright extended response cab. There's nothing dark about it. I suspect that after that cab got discontinued his next endorsement cab was also pretty even in top end. And if you haven't noticed Ampeg makes a lot of other cabs too and they aren't all dark sounding either.
Click to expand...

I might have noticed, having sold Ampeg gear for more than 5 years when I worked in MI retail. And I have nothing against Ampeg gear. I only meant that Ampeg gear is dark-sounding when compared to the very bright sound of Hartke. Also, different ears hear different things. Never got to try the Vic/Steve Bailey Ampeg 4X10's, but I did love the crap out of the 1x15 we had in the shop. Did Vic rely on an Ampeg head when playing live? I always remembered reading that he relied more on his Walter Woods head. Could be wrong though.
 
#149
Interesting thread.

I had an old HA3500 great amp!

Right now I'm really liking the HA7000. For me it's a lightweight rig.


100_0606.jpg
 
#150
I recently picked up a LH1000 and have used it on a few gigs now. It's been awesome so far. I'm driving a Bergantino NV610 with it and the sound is very fat and punchy. It has to be one of the best deals out there right now.

Vic went with his ears and chose what sounded best to him. I believe his reasons.
 
#154
Wow, very interesting thread.:)

I Just picked up the Hydrive 410 for a couple of reasons.

1: Size, one of the bands I play in is going out to Canada for 2 weeks, and were in a smaller sized van. So theres no room for my 2 2x10 rig. I needed a 410 that would be portable. More portable than the standard 18" depth. The hartke is 15"

2. Volume. This correlates to 1. If I only took a single 210 with me, I would blow it up the first night and also possibly damage my amp. Im not going to risk that. On average my sm900 is at 4 to 7 on master volume and around the same for pregain. If I turn it up anywhere past 5, or even 3..a single 210 is toast. Plus it wont give the band what they want..Ill be asked to turn up constantly, wich would only piss me off, because I would blow the amp up.

The fact the cabinet sounds good is a bonus right now.

So Ill be touring with the hydrive 410 and my swr sm900, and Ill be happy to report while I'm out and about with it. I will take a look at the guts this weekend. :)

Oh...I cant stand the 800RB + 410XL combination..its the worst sound I have ever heard. HOWEVER..one of my fav sounds came from a 410XL, 405 Bright Box and a Peavey classic 400. That was a great sound.:cool:
 
#159
Ha, now I can take off the black electrical tape covering the Hartke names on my rig since Hartke is "cool" now. ;)

Just kidding! I've had this same 3500 head + 410XL cab rig since the early 90's and though I've gotten tired of its sound from time to time, it has served me well.
 
#160
scottice said:
Right on for Vic... do it for the tone!
After reading the article about Hartke in the most recent Bass Gear mag I have a renewed respect for the man's contributions. He's had a LOT of time learning and experimenting and only good things can come from deep experience like that.
Click to expand...
We have a full review of the LH1000 with at least the 4x10 and maybe the 1x15 too, in the next issue, which we hope to have out in 3 weeks.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back