Where is Larry Hartke?

[Mastermold]

View attachment 4859111 Hopefully his mustache and mid-80s haircut are still intact.

So who’s dressing up tonight as Larry for Halloween?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

So who’s dressing up tonight as Larry for Halloween?

Ha! Yeah!!

 

[pbassnut]

Where is Larry Hartke?

I don't know where he is right now, but when I stopped into the Sam Ash music store on 34th Street in NYC a few years ago, he was managing their bass department. Needless to say, they carried a whole lotta Hartke gear. We hadda nice conversation and he seemed like a really nice guy.

 

[lucas303]

He is, without doubt. I used to see him at Sam Ash all the time and he liked to chat with people.

I was always impressed that he never took it personally when I told him I didn’t care for his amps much. He would ask what brand I did like and what I liked about it and he would comment that it was great that bass players had so many choices. A class act.

I’m not sure he actually “worked” at Sam Ash, really. He had some sort of partnership with them and I think he spent a lot of time hanging out there as a sort of ambassador for his brand. Either way, he was always pleasant to talk to.

He never struck me as being in great health. With all that’s going on in the world, I wouldn’t blame him for laying low and steering clear of public places for a while.

I went into that Sam Ash a handful of years ago while visiting NYC and didn't know who he was. Even though I was just browsing around and didn't know who I was talking to, he was really nice and patient. He let me try out a whole bunch of different basses, and was very nice and down to earth. I hope he's doing well.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

He's a regular on Facebook (when he's not being terrorized by his daughter's jungle cat Wolfi). Super nice, funny guy and I enjoy his posts a lot. Whatever you do, just don't reply to him with emotes or memes lol. He hates those.

That is very true! He personally stated that Memes are the lowest form of human communication. I totally agree with him too. His Facebook posts are really funny and creative too. He loves the Svengoolie hosted movies!

 

[Carl Hillman]

Where is Larry Hartke?

Larry's at your house.

Happy Halloween!

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

That is very true! He personally stated that Memes are the lowest form of human communication. I totally agree with him too. His Facebook posts are really funny and creative too. He loves the Svengoolie hosted movies!

Well how olds his daughter lol
It’s all the rage with 20 year olds ! Lol!

 

[blowinblue]

I've just been awakened to another good reason to not be in the business of selling products to musicians.

M. M.

 

[Killing Floor]

 

[MVE]

He is, without doubt. I used to see him at Sam Ash all the time and he liked to chat with people.

I was always impressed that he never took it personally when I told him I didn’t care for his amps much. He would ask what brand I did like and what I liked about it and he would comment that it was great that bass players had so many choices. A class act.

I’m not sure he actually “worked” at Sam Ash, really. He had some sort of partnership with them and I think he spent a lot of time hanging out there as a sort of ambassador for his brand. Either way, he was always pleasant to talk to.

He never struck me as being in great health. With all that’s going on in the world, I wouldn’t blame him for laying low and steering clear of public places for a while.

There is a bar here in Chicago where Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds would hang out and drink beer and chat with people.

 

[Topkat13]

I was just at ACE hardware and I swear I saw him in the lawn and garden section. He was asking about aluminum shovels which if you think about it makes sense.

 

[kmon]

I heard he was cryogenically frozen…or else he’s training for the kumite in a secret underground lair. Definitely one of those.

 

[g-dude]

Back before I ever picked up a bass when I was a teenager, in my mind being a bassist meant having a Hartke amp and one of those cool cabinets with the metal speakers.

Even though I love my Mesa gear, part of me feels like it'd be great to get a 90s era 4x10.

 

[mb94952]

You mean like right now?

Yogi Berra !
"Excuse me sir, do you know what time it is ?"
"You mean now ?"

 

[Harper]

A few years back I texted that number they used to run on the back of Bass Player in the ads. It wasn't Larry's number anymore. I sent the current owner a picture of the ad and they thought it was pretty funny.

 

[metron]

 

[dave64o]

I was just at ACE hardware and I swear I saw him in the lawn and garden section. He was asking about aluminum shovels which if you think about it makes sense.

Maybe talking to them about a revolutionary new shovel design that's an aluminum/paper hybrid...



Just to clarify, that's absolutely NOT taking a shot at him or the Hartke HyDrives. I have a pair of HyDrive HD210s that I like quite a lot.

 

[Michael Vee]

Is Larry on Talkbass lurking? Or was he on here in past years?

 

[Super Bass]

Is Larry on Talkbass lurking? Or was he on here in past years?

Exactly, Is he on Talkbass?

 

[hennessybass]

I follow him on FB, and he is one of the only good things on there.
Looks to me like he is enjoying himself... beer, pizza, subs, a nice car, a good sense of humor, and some kind buds.