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Post by GKon on Dec 10, 2015 15:31:21 GMT
Hi guys,
My local Sam Ash (large music retailer here in the States) has a brand new Hartke LH500 bass head for sale for $219. The typical price these days is $350, and originally it was in the $500 range.
Like I said, it's brand new, but it's been in the store for a while, so they are selling their older LH500's for $219, and the brand new ones for $350.
I played through it yesterday through a Hartke 4x10 with aluminum cone speakers, and it sounded FANTASTIC!!!!!! Mind you, I'll be playing through an old 80's era 1x15, but that doesn't bother me as I will eventually get a Hartke 4x10.
Features I LOVE about this, other than it sounds great: It has very few knobs. I don't want too many options. Volume, bright button on/off, low/mid/high 3 band EQ, limiter on/off, active and passive inputs. That's it. That's all I need.
There is a selector switch in the back that allows you to switch between 110v-220v. I love this because when I moved to Greece in '09 I sold all of my electronics because they only worked on 110v (Greece is 220v) and when I just moved back to NY from Greece, I left my head there because it only worked on 220v.
Anyone have personal experience with this head?? I've read many reviews, but am looking for personal opinion./info.
Thanks!
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Post by oddlyn on Dec 10, 2015 20:37:25 GMT
Yep, I've had one, never gigged with it, but I did use it for several fairly loud full band rehearsals. I actually traded it for my Ampeg pf500, which is a pretty close match to it (I just have a thing for Ampeg otherwise I'd have happily kept the Hartke!).
It's a very solid amp, simple to use as you say, (although do read up on how the eq works - it's a bit different to most). I'd definitely recommend it...and if I remember right it gets a lot of love on Talkbass.
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Post by GKon on Dec 10, 2015 22:12:48 GMT
Yep, I've had one, never gigged with it, but I did use it for several fairly loud full band rehearsals. I actually traded it for my Ampeg pf500, which is a pretty close match to it (I just have a thing for Ampeg otherwise I'd have happily kept the Hartke!). It's a very solid amp, simple to use as you say, (although do read up on how the eq works - it's a bit different to most). I'd definitely recommend it...and if I remember right it gets a lot of love on Talkbass. Thanks for the info, oddlyn. I appreciate it. When I did a search on Talkbass, I did see a lot of mention, but I also saw a lot of instances of problems with it failing. That concerns me a bit. Otherwise, I really like it. Let's see if I can pull the trigger.
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Post by oddlyn on Dec 10, 2015 23:18:41 GMT
I honestly can't remember much of my reading about it...I do recall changing out some tube was highly recommended. I guess the problem with places like TalkBass is that it's full of opinions and people aren't as inclined to post stuff about gear they're happy with, so for hundreds or maybe thousands of happy users who are too busy playing their working gear, what we tend to see is the one guy complaining because his is broken.
I found the same thing with my Ampeg pf500...apparently the first production run had a tendency to self-destruct, Ampeg got it sorted, but that memory is still out there when they get mentioned.
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Post by GKon on Dec 11, 2015 1:14:08 GMT
I honestly can't remember much of my reading about it...I do recall changing out some tube was highly recommended. I guess the problem with places like TalkBass is that it's full of opinions and people aren't as inclined to post stuff about gear they're happy with, so for hundreds or maybe thousands of happy users who are too busy playing their working gear, what we tend to see is the one guy complaining because his is broken. I found the same thing with my Ampeg pf500...apparently the first production run had a tendency to self-destruct, Ampeg got it sorted, but that memory is still out there when they get mentioned. You make a good point. I called Sam Ash today to see if I could put it on lay-away. I'd give them $20 and then pay it off bit by bit. The person on the phone told me that they usually don't do that for b-stock items. I'm going to go in when one of the guitar/bass managers that I know is there and see if I can change their mind
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 9:37:14 GMT
I wish Thomann would do the "pay off" method man would I be buying some serious stuff
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Post by GKon on Dec 11, 2015 16:17:40 GMT
I wish Thomann would do the "pay off" method man would I be buying some serious stuff You and me both!
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