New Bass Rig??????

[Malcspring1]

Hey folks.
New member here. I am a relatively new bassist, but I have played the drums for nearly 30 years, so I am well versed in the need for a solid rhythm section. In my time as a drummer I have played with some great bass players. I have always hankered to learn how to play it, so a few years ago I bought a Yamaha 5 string and a small Roland Cube combo to practice with. Well things have moved up a level. A very good friend of mine who I re-connected with a couple of years ago and who is a virtuoso bassist is giving me lessons. I am as keen as can be to the point where just before Christmas I ordered a Music Man Bongo with twin humbuckers. I just cannot wait as it is going to be my dream bass. The waiting time for it was 4-5 months and that time is nearly up. I am therefore looking for a backline to put the new bass through. When I ordered the bass the Music Man dealer who I am getting it from managed to get a Bongo sent so I could try it out before committing myself as it is a very expensive guitar. Well it played like a dream and I put it through a Hartke rig in the shop consisting of a 1x15 Hydrive cab and a LH500 amp. It sounded fab and that is what I am leaning towards, but should I get 500w Ampeg amp to go with the 1x15 Hydrive??? That is my quandry. I am pretty much sold on the cab, but I don't know about the amp.
My bass playing buddy has just upgraded his entire rig to 4 4x10 Hydrive cabs and he initially got a couple of 1000w Harke amps, but on getting them and setting the who rig up he found out that both amps were faulty and the customer service he got from Korg UK (Hartke's UK distributor) was lousy, so he decided to vote with his feet and go elsewhere for his amps. He kept the cabs as they are excellent. Well to cut a long story short he made the decision to but a couple of 1000w Ampeg amps (double the price of the Harke's), but he was willing to do it, so perhaps I should go down the same route? Get the Hartke 1x15 cab and go for an Ampeg 500w amp? I would be very interested to hear other peoples opinions as to what to do? Korg UK are sh*te, and I don't want to be in the same position as my bud.

[ubit]

I can't say about the Hartke cab as I've never heard it, but my experience has been owning a 2x10 Hartke combo a while back and I hated it. It was tinny and I could never get to like it. Not saying they are all like that mind.
As for the Ampeg, I couldn't recommend them enough. Just awesome.
I must say , in my opinion, going for multiples of tens moves more air than a fifteen plus gives more punch.
Whatever you decide, good luck and welcome to the bass club

[warwickhunt]

TBH there have 'probably' been more grumblings about the reliability of the Ampeg PF500 amps as opposed to the Hartke amps, that would have me having 2nd thoughts about the Ampeg as an amp choice!

However, you pays your money...

[doomed]

You'll probably find opinions swayed by personal experience, I also had next to no customer service from Korg uk when I bought a Hartke Kilo when they first came out, it went down very quick, less than 8hrs use over 2 months, the retailer arranged pick up from me and sent it to Korg who promptly led me a dance of false promises and bulls**t for 12 weeks. I know a lot of people like Hartke and have no problems but once bitten... The cabs always sound ok whenever I hear them though.

[bonzodog]

If you liked the sound in the shop using the LH500 then why not stick with that. It's been my main gigging amp for years and I'm very happy with it and it's never let me down.

[taunton-hobbit]

Indifferent customer service seems to go with the set....I've been pi*sed around by big name boutique builders (I'll spare their blushes) and by one-man 'specialist' builders/fixers....you pays your money....find a sound that you like, and go from there - I'm a great believer in high power amps, you need that headroom, imo.

[BassBunny]

I really think you need to get out and play through as much back line gear as you can. To decide on Hartke just because you played through one in a shop or a Hartke/Ampeg rig because that is what your friend has could be an expensive excercise.
If everyone liked the same gear we would all be playing P Basses through Ampeg Flip Tops and nothing else would exist. There is so much out there that the world is really your oyster.
If you are anywhere near Bass Direct, get in there and try what they have, (vast), and get some solid advice from Mark.

[xgsjx]

Doesn't Mr Hartke pop on here from time to time?
IIRC, about a year ago, a BCer had an issue with his Hartke amp & the dealer wasn't being helpful, Mr H stepped in & got things resolved. I myself was impressed by the customer service.

But like he above says, I'd try as many rigs out as you can.

[mrtcat]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1458428609' post='3007622']
Doesn't Mr Hartke pop on here from time to time?
IIRC, about a year ago, a BCer had an issue with his Hartke amp & the dealer wasn't being helpful, Mr H stepped in & got things resolved. I myself was impressed by the customer service.

But like he above says, I'd try as many rigs out as you can.
[/quote]

That was me with a faulty Hartke kilo. The UK Hartke representative got involved when it went wrong 1St time and arranged a repair. Unfortunately it almost immediately went wrong again and he just didn't return any calls or emails. It was a known fault with the amp and Hartke just washed their hands of it so I ended up £750 out of pocket with an amp that never worked again. I'd never buy anything from Hartke in a million years now. I even emailed Larry Hartke and he didn't respond.

[Phil Starr]

I'd go for the advice of trying other stuff out, and using the advice of your buddy if he's willing to go out with you when you try. If you like the Hartke then you shouldn't just dismiss it. I have a couple of Hartke's and they are OK without being outstanding in terms of build quality. Very happy with the sound though.

The thing is sometimes a bass amp just suits the acoustics of a room well. The shopkeeper might have used the Hartke because it sounded good in his shop. Make the Hartke the rig to beat and compare other rigs with it.

If Korg are a problem then it might be worth thinking of buying used. A troublesome guarantee is worthless and a good used model will save you money. There's nothing inside the LH or HA series amps that a reliable tech can't fix so if you do have problems (I've only had one in six years) then you can get it fixed easily enough without unreliable distributors.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Phil Starr

[xgsjx]

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1458463557' post='3007692']
That was me with a faulty Hartke kilo. The UK Hartke representative got involved when it went wrong 1St time and arranged a repair. Unfortunately it almost immediately went wrong again and he just didn't return any calls or emails. It was a known fault with the amp and Hartke just washed their hands of it so I ended up £750 out of pocket with an amp that never worked again. I'd never buy anything from Hartke in a million years now. I even emailed Larry Hartke and he didn't respond.
[/quote]
That's a shame. When he responded on here, he sounded genuinely concerned & it all seemed like it went well. Disappointing to hear how it ended though.

[lefrash]

I had a pf350 which didn't blow me away and then broke. I also owned a lh500 which is a great amp. Mine did break but cost peanuts to fix. The lh500 is mega clean... Clinically. That might suit but might not. I loved it, and I reckon your two humbuckers will too.

[Lozz196]

Gut feeling is if you really liked the LH500/Hydrive 115 combo, get that. And possibly for bigger gigs have a second 115. Phil Starr does make a good point though, sometimes certain rigs do lend themselves to specific rooms. There is alos the point that what sounds great soloed isn`t always the best in the mix so to speak, but this is all a learning curve/Basschat GAS Excuse . I`d say start off with the LH500/Hydrive 115 that you liked so much.

[Musashimonkey]

I've iwned the Hydrive 115 combo and it's a great amp. Plenty loud and versatile tone. Enough there to keep you going for a while for sure. Good price too for what you get.

[artisan]

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1458463557' post='3007692']


That was me with a faulty Hartke kilo. The UK Hartke representative got involved when it went wrong 1St time and arranged a repair. Unfortunately it almost immediately went wrong again and he just didn't return any calls or emails. It was a known fault with the amp and Hartke just washed their hands of it so I ended up £750 out of pocket with an amp that never worked again. I'd never buy anything from Hartke in a million years now. I even emailed Larry Hartke and he didn't respond.
[/quote]
Snap
I bought a Hartke Kilo last year,that failed twice in quick succession,the second time leaving without an amp for an upcoming gig.
I too emailed Larry Hartke three times,he never replied.
Fortunately GAK were brilliant & allowed me the full price I paid in exchange for something else.
I went for a Galien Krueger MB800 Fusion & couldn't be happier with it,superb amp.
I'll never ever buy any Hartke gear ever again.

[mrtcat]

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1458558884' post='3008501']
Snap
I bought a Hartke Kilo last year,that failed twice in quick succession,the second time leaving without an amp for an upcoming gig.
I too emailed Larry Hartke three times,he never replied.
Fortunately GAK were brilliant & allowed me the full price I paid in exchange for something else.
I went for a Galien Krueger MB800 Fusion & couldn't be happier with it,superb amp.
I'll never ever buy any Hartke gear ever again.
[/quote]

Haha I now have an MB 800 Fusion too and love it. Credit to GAK though as that's exactly what the retailer I used should have done, you're not the first to mention how good they are to deal with either.

[Malcspring1]

Blimey,
Such wide and differing opinions. Love it. Thanks loads guys. Looks like I have some serious food for thought.

[discreet]

[quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1458418665' post='3007552']
...we would all be playing P Basses through Ampeg Flip Tops and nothing else would exist.
[/quote]

What a happy thought.

[Northy]

Wow!!

I am in the same boat as you Malc!
A drummer for more like 40 years turned bassist a few years back.

I too am looking for a gigging rig.


I already have
:

A GenzBenz 750GBE
2 x Aguilar 112GS

TC Electronics BH250 (Doesn't drive the Aguilar cabs as good as I thought it would.

TC Electronics BG250 for practice

Fender Rumble 30 at the girlfriend's house, her 10 yr daughter is a drummer, we jam

. It's better than the TC combo
Also my trusty old Peavey TNT 150 (With black widow) that I started with 4-5 years back.



I drummed for the band I am now playing bass with, we do our first gig with me as bassist next month!
Ooowww errrr it's like I was 16 again.



I am worried 2 x 12 won't be powerful enough.


The Genz is a beast though, it has so much to offer. I have looked at an Ampeg 6 x 10" to go with it
but think that won't do my back n balls any good ehh, don't have the luxury of crew these days.



Hey taunton-hobbit I come from Holmfirth and know the guys at Matamp! They said the couldn't compete with the Genz for bass.
Guitar amps are amazing from there however.

What's you guys thoughs? Not hijacking the post Malc, just an identical dilema

Best wishes to all x

[Malcspring1]

Nice one Northy.
A fellow Drummist who has moved over to the dark side? Brilliant;-) I am in Halifax, so we are almost neighbours. Sweet. I ordered my Bongo back in early December with a 4/5 month delivery, so it won't be long now. I run a small 20w Roland Cube practice amp at the mo, but I am going to get something that I can gig or take to rehearsals once I am good enough to join a band.

[Northy]

Flip me, I'm from Huddersfield (now living in Cheshire, far west near Welsh border) but go back every second third week! So that's cool. Started with a squier classic vibe, moved into a Yamaha TRB. Many others since, I'm 'all gear and no idea!!' Ha

It's great playing bass eh, I'm taking it serious but there just doesn't seem to be enough time. I work through the day and often evenings are busy so I have to fight for time with my bass.

Totally love the sound of Bongo's awesome bass.

Keep in touch

[mingsta]

First off, congrats on the incoming bongo it's a truly fantastic bass. Personally, I'd wait till you get the bass and then audition a number of different cabs and heads to find out what goes well with it. There's a lot of good amps and cabs out there so while you got on with the hartke kit, you might find there are others out there which will float your boat. I've got 1x15,2x12,2x10 Genz Benz cabs and for me the 2x12 was the best match with the bongo as it has the lows, mids and highs to keep pace with the Bongo's monster full range tone.

[Malcspring1]

Excellent mingsta. Thanks for the heads up. Yeah you are right. I played a Bongo back in December before I ordered one, although the one I auditioned had a single humbucker. Mine is a twin. so it should really kick some. My bass player buddy has just upgraded his backline to a monster. 4 4x10 Hydrive cabs and 2 1000w Ampeg amps. I can neither afford that type of set up, nor accommodate the size of the thing. I was looking for a single cab and an amp in order to rehearse with and also gig with. Small gigs with a 500w amp I would hope to be ok, but failing that DI it through the main pa. That is the plan anyway. We'll see.

[JapanAxe]

Malc and Northy, it's worth saying where you live as you will generally find Basschatters in your area who will be happy to show off their rigs and let you try them out. The more kit you try, the better idea you get of what you like and what you don't. Failing that, find something you fancy (used) on the Basschat market place, and if you don't get on with it you can sell it on without losing much on it.

[DeezerButler]

That is too bad, Hartke Service is so bad over by you all in the UK. Hartke Service over here in the US is absolutely fantastic. I bought a Hartke Kilo last April and did many shows with it last summer. It failed on me last December. They paid for all shipping and had my amp delivered back in about a weeks time.... and it sounds better than it did before!

I wonder if Larry Hartke is aware of the bad service in the UK?