Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 So... I just picked up a Hartke HA5500 head at a music store blow-out here in town. I was only able to try it out with the Hartke cabs there. One was the XL aluminium cab - then I tried it with a 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 You'll break it... JK. I have never been a fan of Hartke cabs, so I'd using just about anything else before I used one of theirs. They just don't sound right to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 You'll break it... OH NO!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 I'm sure that you're Avatar will sound fine with it. Of course their stuff is designed to go together, but by no means is there a rule saying you can;t use something else. Very few of us actually run the same manufacturer for heads & cabs. I have Aggie cabs...and an Aggie head, but I usually run them with a GK or Mesa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 i really dont like Hartke gear.... but it should sound good... just make sure you EQ it right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 i really dont like Hartke gear.... but it should sound good... just make sure you EQ it right... Actually, that's the one thing I dislike about this Hartke... the EQ. I was always under the impression that a fundamentally good sounding amp shouldn't need a 10-band EQ. Plus I'm always worried that I'll find the ULTIMATE setting and some clown will screw with the sliders and I'll spend days getting it back. I was willing to take the risk for the price though... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 I was always under the impression that a fundamentally good sounding amp shouldn't need a 10-band EQ. Plus I'm always worried that I'll find the ULTIMATE setting and some clown will screw with the sliders and I'll spend days getting it back. My Mesa has a great fundamentally good sound to it...and it has a separate 10 band EQ for each channel. I don't use it, but it's there. Once you get your sound, you'll know where they are. Unless it's a really weird amp, give me 30 seconds, and I'll be well on my way to having my tone from any amp. I know where all of the levels are for the most part... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pyralus Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 The 10 band EQ is there to really tweak your sound, it's something I always found attractive bout the Hartke amps. It'd be neat if my GK 800rb had one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 Actually, that's the one thing I dislike about this Hartke... the EQ.I was always under the impression that a fundamentally good sounding amp shouldn't need a 10-band EQ. Plus I'm always worried that I'll find the ULTIMATE setting and some clown will screw with the sliders and I'll spend days getting it back.I was willing to take the risk for the price though... :-) dont you have a switch to turn off the graphic EQ?? that sucks ass...... but, remember that, when using the EQ, you should make any massive changes on a knob --- take your time and make only slight changes, roll them up, down, so you know in what way each one affects your sound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 dont you have a switch to turn off the graphic EQ?? Yeah, I can switch the EQ out... it also has this bizarre-sounding compressor that I expect will spend most of its life switched off. When I finally hook it up to my cab, I'm basically going to see if I can get the best sound possible by keeping the EQ off, blending the two gain knobs and messing with the high/low-pass knobs. Then my next order of business is finding a way to get rid of that awful Hartke logo on the headshell - it's almost as bad as the 80's Peavey logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pickdust Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 I used a Hartke 3500 head with a Peavy 115 and 410 for quite a few years. The sound is ............well............mine and I have had absolutely no problem with the head from day one. Are there better heads?...probably! but for the money I think I got more than what I paid for. PD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Spark Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 That 10-band can be useful for adjusting to room acoustics when you're not going through a PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members James Hart Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 local guy gigs a Hartke head through an Eden 2x10. He always sounds great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 That 10-band can be useful for adjusting to room acoustics when you're not going through a PA. That's pretty much what I'm hoping I can use it for. I'm just really looking forward to playing it through my 212. To offer some background info, my main bass is nothing fancy... a stock Yamaha BBG5S. I'm currently in this hard-rock band, but I also pick up a few gigs backing up this acoustic delta-blues guy, and another modern R&B singer. I also write my own stuff outside those projects but I only play bass on recordings and get a *real* bassist to back me live (so I can play guitar and keys) so I don't really need the Hartke to deliver so much on my own material. Thanks for all the advice and comments so far... I think I like it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poomwah Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 buddy of mine has been using a carvin 3500 into a pair of custom built cabs loaded with carvin speakers, a 115 and 410. He's been running that rig for YEARS, in gigs of various sizes ranging from small shows at the eagles, to opening for Ted Nugent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members parsons Posted February 8, 2008 Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 Had a Hartke HA3500 running through a Fender 410 bassman for a while. I really liked the tone. My rack was then stolen when our van got broken into. I bought that head for 150 bucks and would but another if I could find one for under 200. I was just using a HA2000 today actually through an EBS 410. Sounded decent but needed more power. The HA2000 is only like 180 watts or something at 8ohms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 8, 2008 A lot of people talk about the HA3500 version. Is the HA5500 not very popular? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassred Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 I played a hartke 3500 through GK and a crate cab for yers, great sound, plenty of volume without any unwanted breakup. just my $.02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members willbill0587 Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 I like the Hartke kickback combos, they sound really good to me but I didn't like the 410 combo thing.I played a Trace through a Hartke cab, then a Marshall cab, and my cheaper Peavey smokes 'em both.They are good enough for Stu Hamm tho', well... they were until he moved to Peavey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members parsons Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 A lot of people talk about the HA3500 version.Is the HA5500 not very popular? I think the HA3500 might have been a more bang for the buck head. Most people would probably get something better for the money youd spend on the HA5500 which about 600 new. I bought my HA3500 for 150 used. It was mint minus a broken preamp potentiometer that Hartke was nice enough to send FREE of charge. Great customer service if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mike13 Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 Try and find a 7000. 2x350wts RMS.Great EQ and contor controls, choice of tube or ss pre amp,mine is 8 years old never missed a beat.Currently using a Harke 4x10 and a JBL sub,and I have used it thru all sorts of cabs with no problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dwalmz Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 I have a 5500 going into 2 Avatar cabs! One word........Thunderous! Hartke cabs are the weak point of the brand. Hopefully their new cabs and heads will dispel all the Hartke hate! I agree, I can't stand EQ sections on amps! I keep mine off and never use it. I like their new amps with just bass, mid and treble knobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 I have a 5500 going into 2 Avatar cabs! One word........Thunderous! Which Avatars are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tylytle Posted February 9, 2008 Members Share Posted February 9, 2008 I used to have that head. i really liked it. i used it through an Ampeg V4B Cabinet and it killed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PintoMusic Posted February 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 11, 2008 So I got to test the HA5500 out with my Avatar B212 cabinet. This head is loud... stupid loud... my cab is rated at 1000W @ 4-ohms and I was afraid I'd destroy it. It's also clean... embarassingly clean... all it did was remind me how much I suck. I couldn't dial in any overdrive... even with the preamps dimed... so I might have to get a SansAmp Bass DI or use my Boss SD-1 to get a little grind into this amp. What I was relieved to discover is that it didn't have to sound as bright and ringy as the demos I've seen online with guys like Stu Hamm and Les July. That could also have to do with the muddy stock pick-ups on my Yamaha BBG5S. It also don't look too bad matched to the Avatar cab: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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