New amp inbound...

Well, my AMP BH-420 (made in the 80s, designed by former Acoustic guys who later started SWR and Eden, basis for the Thunderfunk amp design, etc) died again, and I've lost my faith in it.

So I just ordered a Hartke LH500 head from Sweetwater for $350 shipped. 500 watts, tube front end supposedly modeled after the Fender Bassman into a solid state power amp. Great reviews, including Martini here, and they seem to dig them over at TalkBass.

I'll let you know how it works for me!

Tim

Sorry your amp died, but the new one sounds cool. What speaker(s) will you be using with it? CS

I hate when that happens ... Congrats on the new Hartke!

mud

I thought you'd just gig that powerblock when the time came--though serious power bass amps get lighter and cheaper every year.

New Amp Day for Tim..YAAAAAAY!!!!

I feel sorry for your loss Tim, my thoughts goes to the bass (which maybe is a long-scale SX this time?).
:grin:

Is it one of those superlight, transformerless heads?

Sorry your amp died, but the new one sounds cool. What speaker(s) will you be using with it? CS

I have a no-name 2x10 cab that I recently put new Eminence Legend BP102 speakers into, and I'm thinking (if the job I just interviewed for comes through) of getting myself another 2x10, probably an Avatar with neo speakers, thinking I can go with both for gigs in bigger spaces (and outdoors).

I thought you'd just gig that powerblock when the time came--though serious power bass amps get lighter and cheaper every year.

Been gigging the PowerBlock for the last week, and it's been hanging in there!

I feel sorry for your loss Tim, my thoughts goes to the bass (which maybe is a long-scale SX this time?).
:grin:

I'm very happy with Hoss, my short-scale Tele bass, thank you!

Is it one of those superlight, transformerless heads?

No, the Hartke is actually a fairly heavy amp, but if it really sounds like a Bassman, I'll be very happy...

Tim

I have a no-name 2x10 cab that I recently put new Eminence Legend BP102 speakers into, and I'm thinking (if the job I just interviewed for comes through) of getting myself another 2x10, probably an Avatar with neo speakers, thinking I can go with both for gigs in bigger spaces (and outdoors).
Sounds like a plan. :-) I've got a 2x10 Avatar cab I bought used and it sounds great. (IMO anyway.) ;-)

No, the Hartke is actually a fairly heavy amp, but if it really sounds like a Bassman, I'll be very happy...
A 500 watt Bassman?! Yeah, I'd be happy, too! :-) CS

I think you'll like the Hartke Tim, its got a hard act to follow in your old amp, they were real tone monsters.
Its no slouch itself though, good luck with it.

You'll like the Hartke - a lot. It's a great sounding amp!

Have you thought about sending your old BH-420 to Dave Funk for a re-tweak ? IIRC he takes 'em in for reworking. If anyone can rehab the beast - he'd be the guy. Might not be super cheap - but his work I think you can trust.

When you get to that next cab.. take a serious think about the Avatar SB-112 - I've had both the B210 and SB112 (not to mention the b115, B212 in 3 generations of drivers) I never did get to live with a B410 but so far the SB112 is the best of the bunch. it's the one I still own ...

12's are the new 10's!

No, the Hartke is actually a fairly heavy amp, but if it really sounds like a Bassman, I'll be very happy...

Tim

Let us know if it does indeed sound like a Bassman.

A 500 watt Bassman?! Yeah, I'd be happy, too! :-) CS

When I played a Mesa 400+, my first impression was "giant blackface Bassman." I'd like to have one of those amps and a couple of pack-mules to haul it around for me.

Let us know if it does indeed sound like a Bassman.


my take is more like a Showman Amp, set for clean. There is a wonderful scooped thing that the Showman does clean and the LH-500 seems to have captured a lot of that vibe. Crisp and fat all at the same time.

The amp does not work in quite the same fashion. The tone stack is not alt all the same - at least based on my testing - it's the vibe they got and Hartke made is way simpler to work with. IMO - this is one of the best new amps I've heard in a long time. Should these prove to be long lasting - and I have no reason to doubt they will be - this amp will be a classic.

Well, my AMP BH-420 (made in the 80s, designed by former Acoustic guys who later started SWR and Eden, basis for the Thunderfunk amp design, etc) died again, and I've lost my faith in it.

Condolences on your loss. I know you loved that amp.

So how are the Eminence Legend BP102s working out? I, too, have a no-name cab with no-name speakers I'd like to upgrade.

Thanks for the info 4mal.

Have you thought about sending your old BH-420 to Dave Funk for a re-tweak ? IIRC he takes 'em in for reworking. If anyone can rehab the beast - he'd be the guy. Might not be super cheap - but his work I think you can trust.

Actually, I was pondering doing that, and with the nudge from you, I went ahead and sent Dave Funk an email. If he can bring it back to life for under a couple hundred bucks, it'll be worth it!

Condolences on your loss. I know you loved that amp.

So how are the Eminence Legend BP102s working out? I, too, have a no-name cab with no-name speakers I'd like to upgrade.

So far, so good!

Tim

When I played a Mesa 400+, my first impression was "giant blackface Bassman." I'd like to have one of those amps and a couple of pack-mules to haul it around for me.

Had one of those for a couple of years, absolutely loved it to death. Nice and portable too.....for an all valve amp. I still have an SVT2PRO: Back killer::roll:

Nuther vote for the Avatar 12s.

I feel the attack response is almost as quick as 10s.

Also cops some of that 15 bottom, without the big boom.

I have a pair of the rat fur covered cabs, powered by an Ampeg V4BH.

Did the mods;
T Nuts for the speaker mounting,
removed the rat fur from under the speaker rim,
12 ga. wiring, and Switchcraft jacks.

I don't use the horn. Not a slap n popper.

Jamie

Well, I gigged the Hartke amp today, and I gotta say...

IT ROCKS!

:mrgreen:

It sounds exactly how I want my bass to sound, and is plenty loud enough. I used to gig an SF Bassman, and yep, it definitely cops that tone.

Thanks, martini and 4mal, your reviews led me to it, and I couldn't be happier!

I've contacted Dave Funk about fixing my AMP BH-420, and he's willing. I'll probably send it out in a month or so (cash is tight right now)...

Thanks again!

Tim

Well, I gigged the Hartke amp today, and I gotta say...

IT ROCKS!

Nice catch, and congrats!

Well, that's the important part, that it does the job.

Nice one Tim, I knew you'd be into it.
I used mine through my seven year old Ampeg BSE410HLF last night...couldn't be happier with the sound I had.
It kicks my Guitarists Arse too!:twisted:

Yep - I could see me gigging one of those easily. In my electric venture, 'The Fender Benders' - it would fit right in. Sad to say - probably better than my Eden though I'm not giving that up any time soon. I'm up against a Carr Rambler and a Hot Rod Deluxe set clean (thank the lord - I hate the distortion sound on those amps...) so the Fender vibe would fit right in...

Hope it works out with the 420 too.

In my experience its always been: Nooooo my poor-oh look, its shiny and new!

That new amp sounds like it'll be a beast, looking forward to a review.