Members db. Posted September 16, 2009 Members Share Posted September 16, 2009 I know this amp has been talked about before, but I would like to know what the general consensus is about this is. Seems like a good deal : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/3500/ What are the pros and cons? One of the reviews says the XLR Out is noisy? Is it a POS? Thanks for any input. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 16, 2009 Members Share Posted September 16, 2009 You were just ready to spend 1K on a little combo, right? Forget this crap, man. Here you go. Amp - http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.STL6-0?ref=fg&ovchn=SCU&ovtac=CMP&ovcpn=&ovcrn=Genz+Benz+STL6-0+Shuttle+600-watt+Lightweight+Bass+Amplifier+Head Get an avatar cab...http://www.avatarspeakers.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 16, 2009 Members Share Posted September 16, 2009 You were just ready to spend 1K on a little combo, right? Forget this crap, man. Here you go. Amp - http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.STL6-0?ref=fg&ovchn=SCU&ovtac=CMP&ovcpn=&ovcrn=Genz+Benz+STL6-0+Shuttle+600-watt+Lightweight+Bass+Amplifier+Head Get an avatar cab...http://www.avatarspeakers.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted September 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 16, 2009 You were just ready to spend 1K on a little combo, right?Forget this crap, man.Here you go.Amp - http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.STL6-0?ref=fg&ovchn=SCU&ovtac=CMP&ovcpn=&ovcrn=Genz+Benz+STL6-0+Shuttle+600-watt+Lightweight+Bass+Amplifier+HeadGet an avatar cab...http://www.avatarspeakers.com/ Yeah, my credit card found its way back into my wallet. But the Genz looks super nice. It would be a sweet rig matched up with the Avatar... You don't like the Hartkes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 16, 2009 Members Share Posted September 16, 2009 Yeah, my credit card found its way back into my wallet.But the Genz looks super nice. It would be a sweet rig matched up with the Avatar...You don't like the Hartkes? I have never heard a hartke that made me say, "Holy {censored}, that sounds great!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billystrat Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 I own an LH500 and my church has a 3500. They're decent all around meaning; Price isn't bad, You can dial in a good tone, and they're solid, but by chance they break, Hartke has serious customer service as in Larry himself will make something happen. Sure you slap it up against something 2-3x times the price you'll notice some faults, but I've never had a reason to get something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ErikHoppy Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 I've got that head. Paired it with a Mesa Powerhouse 2x10 for my first bass rig. Playing bass for less than a year, I'm not sure how much weight my comments can hold, but I'll give you my honest opinions. It's a decent head. Can get plenty loud. I never run it past half volume with my Mesa, makes my shelves shake {censored} off when practicing. I haven't gigged with this setup yet, as I'm not in a band. Hartke's seem to be very neutral. Even though it has a tube preamp, it's clean as hell. I'm not getting much of any saturation or bite coming out of it. As for recording, I'd rather just go in direct and use some Sansamp plugin of something to add dirt if I want it, rather than using the amp's DI. I got mine for like $160, which is damn cheap for the volume. It meets my needs, so I'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members perrydabassman Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 DB, I definitely agree with Thrustin on this one. Number one, when you pick it up, you are like "No way this could sound good." as it only weighs 3.5 lbs. Then when I plugged mine in for the first time the first thing that came out of my mouth was "Holy {censored}!" I plugged it into an Ampeg 810 and couldn't turn the volume past about 10 oclock before {censored} started falling off the walls. Tone? It has a 12 AX7 tube preamp that is mixable with the solid state preamp. It is sex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dwalmz Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 The LH500 is $349. Get 2 Avatars and be done. Having said that, I owned the 5500 for several years and never had an issue with it. Very reliable and loud. I just sold it and bought a Shuttle 6.0 ($699 though). If you have to have the eq section, the 3500c is a good buy. The newer LH500 gives 150 extra watts. I demo'd it and that amp kills for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dwalmz Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 DB, I definitely agree with Thrustin on this one. Number one, when you pick it up, you are like "No way this could sound good." as it only weighs 3.5 lbs. Then when I plugged mine in for the first time the first thing that came out of my mouth was "Holy {censored}!" I plugged it into an Ampeg 810 and couldn't turn the volume past about 10 oclock before {censored} started falling off the walls. Tone? It has a 12 AX7 tube preamp that is mixable with the solid state preamp. It is sex.Definitely a nice amp but bear in mind the $699 price tag if you're on a budget. The LH500 isn't that heavy. If I wasn't in the market for a micro amp, I would have bought the Hartke on the spot and saved myself $350 dollars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffBass Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 Here's a much superior head at the same price of 399.00. http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=BX500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dwalmz Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 Here's a much superior head at the same price of 399.00. http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=BX500That amp is still being revised as it had issues out the box. Less and less issues are being reported though. Definitely a nice head for the money! GK has the MB500 for $499 and has also been revised (up to A5 (5th revision)) due to issues out the box! Both are very loud 500w! The GK doesn't have the eq section the Carvin has. Just want to give full disclosure if you're considering these amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluedogaudio Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 I wouldn't waste your money on a Hartke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 I had a 3500 years ago but never used it live. For that money, have you considered the Peavey Tour 450? http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Tour-450-Bass-Head-?sku=480314 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffBass Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 That amp is still being revised as it had issues out the box. Less and less issues are being reported though. Definitely a nice head for the money! GK has the MB500 for $499 and has also been revised (up to A5 (5th revision)) due to issues out the box! Both are very loud 500w! The GK doesn't have the eq section the Carvin has. Just want to give full disclosure if you're considering these amps. Everything I've read says Carvin dealt with these issues and they're no longer making changes to the amp. It's also the reason why I never recommended the amp when it first came out. Early bugs, as reported in detail over at TALKBASS. Same kind of problems other manufacturers had with the new micro technology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joossens Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 I love how you find people at forums making negative comments about amps that they probably never owned let alone played. This discussion of the Hartke HA3500 is a a perfect example. On the one hand this is an amp that's been owned and used for years by Stu Hamm. Maybe you've heard of him. He's a famous session musician whose played with Steve Vai, Framk Gambale, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson etc, etc. Stu Hamm also has a Fender Signature amp in his name. So I'd say his opinion actually counts for something. Victor Wooten is an another Hartke amp owner. Again there's an opinion that actually counts. Then you have a bunch of NOBODY'S at this forum trashing this amp and Hartke amps in general. I'd say the ones who can't get a good sound out of this amp and other Hartke amps couldn't get a decent sound out of ANY amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 I love how you find people at forums making negative comments about amps that they probably never owned let alone played. This discussion of the Hartke HA3500 is a a perfect example. On the one hand this is an amp that's been owned and used for years by Stu Hamm. Maybe you've heard of him. He's a famous session musician whose played with Steve Vai, Framk Gambale, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson etc, etc. Stu Hamm also has a Fender Signature amp in his name. So I'd say his opinion actually counts for something. Victor Wooten is an another Hartke amp owner. Again there's an opinion that actually counts. Then you have a bunch of NOBODY'S at this forum trashing this amp and Hartke amps in general. I'd say the ones who can't get a good sound out of this amp and other Hartke amps couldn't get a decent sound out of ANY amp. I love even more how n00bs bump 2 year old threads without realizing it. Really, who cares what Stu Hamm or Victor Wooten use? Wooten was a long time Ampeg user. Besides, their studio & live tones are probably DI...without Hartke equipment in them at all. So it's a complete moot point. It's just for show. Do you think that KISS actually uses 50 4X12 cabinets? None of them are loaded with speakers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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