| Author | Message | ||
| chuckc
Member Username: chuckc Post Number: 82 Registered: 7-2004 |
Anyone out there using the Hartke Hydrive cabinets?? I've seen several videos on them and they seem pretty interesting but there isn't anyone here locally that stocks them to actually hear what they sound like first hand. Thinking about a 4 X 10 and 1 X 15 combo. I've been using an Ampeg SVT410HLF which has some great tone but is a beast to haul around. The Hartkes are supposed to be a lot lighter and will handle more wattage. Any users out there? | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 484 Registered: 9-2008 |
Don't know the HyDrive but I´m using EPIFANI 2x10" ported cab with neodimium speakers and they are amazingly light and wide tonewise. I was tired having to carry big setups around and decided to move from 4x10+1x15 rig as soon as I found this jewel being sold in Brazil. I suspect all new neodimium cabs have good specs, but this light cabinet (43 lbs) is tottaly awesome: 500W RMS (1000W peak) frequency range from 40Hz to 16KHz flat sensitivity 102dB(1W@1m) This mean it can be seriously loud and go beyond an Ampeg's 8x10 giant in a tiny package that fits rear seat in any car. And they offers you more options, including lower reaching cabs. This is a choice people should check next time will look for a new Cab. I supose other companies have their Neo Cabs too and you deserve to know them. No more back pain... | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2690 Registered: 10-2002 |
The bass player for our support band on Saturday had a full Hartke rig (1x15 2x10 and head) and it sounded very good with his vintage Jazz bass. I'm using a pair of EBS neo 2x12s (600w @ 4 ohms) and I couldn't be happier - they're very light but pack an astounding punch. Both powered from a QSC power amp, the lower cab is run from a fender TBP1 pre-amp and the upper cab from an ampeg svp-pro pre amp. Since I retubed the ampeg with JJ tubes, the overall tone can't be beat (IMHO). Graeme | ||
| zn_bassman
Intermediate Member Username: zn_bassman Post Number: 115 Registered: 4-2005 |
I've got a Hartke HyDrive 115 combo. I'm very happy with it except for one aspect: its outer shell and lining. It doesn't have wheels or side handles, the top handle seems like it might eventually rip out, and the vinyl covering has torn a little bit in a couple of places. It's a clumsy unit to carry, so use a cart or handtruck whenever possible. Or force your guitarist to help you carry it. Hartke seems to have invested more in the guts and less in the package, in order to keep the price down. Tonewise, I'm very glad I got it. I use it for both my Status Buzzard-2 and my Alembic Rogue, and I get great tones with both. The controls are very versatile - you can easily go from Jamerson to John Paul Jones to Jaco to Marcus Miller to modern dance music to metal, plus anything in between. You can get a clean sound or a bit of distortion, and I like the warmth and compression that can be added in varying doses. The controls take a bit of experimentation to learn properly, but it's well worth the time investment. The overall tone is open, warm, and full of character, without infringing on your bass's natural tone. I can get a very present, room-filling sound out of it, especially with the Status. Lots of tweaks can be made to help cut through the other instruments. I've gigged it stand-alone, miked, and cable-out through the PA. I play mostly rock, but I think it'll do well with any style. The kickback option is great, but be careful about the narrow base when the amp is in standard upright position - in a car or other circumstances, the amp can be pushed over into the kickback position, and there had better be a level floor under it when that happens. Mine fell out of an incline-parked vehicle that way, almost broke my leg in 2 places on its way down, and then tumbled head-over-base about 15 feet down another incline. No damage to the amp, and it's played perfectly ever since. That was about a year ago. | ||
| chuckc
Member Username: chuckc Post Number: 83 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well I broke down and got the 410 and 115 cabinets. They have removable rollers and some very nice recessed handles. The weight is amazing, together both cabinets weigh about 20lbs more than my Ampeg SVT410HLF by itself. Sound well the sound is very good with the Hartke LH1000 I'm running. The cabs are rated at 1500 watts @ 4 ohms and I'm putting about 1100 watts @ 4 ohms into them. Remarkably clean with some very nice lower frequencies. Thanks for the feedback I think I'm going to be very happy with this rig for a good while. | ||
| zn_bassman
Intermediate Member Username: zn_bassman Post Number: 116 Registered: 4-2005 |
Enjoy! |
