Author Topic: Hartke and Alembic? (Read 395 times)

bassment · « **on:** March 20, 2005, 11:59:37 AM »

Has anyone had any experiences with your Alembic and Hartke? Is the tone nice? Clarity? I'm considering a Hartke setup, so any input would be great!

bracheen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2005, 12:38:57 PM »

I'm happy with mine. I don't play out just at home but all is good. I have a HA4000 head with a 2.5XL cabinet. Mine is all solid state but I've heard plenty of the hybrids and they sounded good. There is a photo in the Bass Rig thread of my setup. It's not crystal clear like you might get with Eden or Glockenklang but bang for the buck it's not a bad choice. A good sampling would be Jack Bruce. He's using the 7000 with the 4x10XL & 1x15XL cabinets.

Sam

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2005, 02:13:56 PM »

James; I have a Harke rig that I've been meaning to sell and just haven't gotten around to it. The amp is a 7000 and I have two 410XL's. This was my main rig for several years in blues bands with my Alembic Essence. I also have two Musicman 115 cabs that I used with this rig from time to time. The 7000 has a built in crossover and I would use the 115 cabs to carry the low end in shows where I wanted to put out a lot of sound. The speakers in the 115's are kinda worn and they don't like running full range, but with the crossover they still do fine. If you are interested in this rig, I'll throw the 115's in as a bonus. What makes all this possible is that you are apparantly only a little over 4 hours from me. Email me if you are interested.

richbass939 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2005, 03:29:38 PM »

James,
16 years old and you already own a vintage Alembic Series I. Wow!! You are getting a great start in bass playing. Congrats and good luck to you in finding the perfect rig to play it through.
Rich

willie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2005, 01:26:09 PM »

I had 2 410 XL's and 2 1x15 Xls' 2 405 XL tweeter cabinets and a 7000 amp. Sold em all, (still have 1 of the 405 tweeter cabs in the garage), and replaced all them cabinets with 2 Eden 410 XLT's and have a much better sound now. Instead of the 7000 I use a Alembic F-1x, Alembic SF-2, DBX 160A compressor and Crown PB3 power amps. The Hartke's were OK in the early 80's when there weren't alot of companies making 4X10 cabinets. Now there is a much better selection of cabinets with 4 10's and compression horns. So you may want to look around, but thats just my opinion, but the best thing I did for my sound, (except for having Alembic basses built), was to sell that Hartke stuff.
Willie

slapbass · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2005, 05:02:32 PM »

I agree with Willie.

I ran Hartke amps and cabs at first. Then started playing outdoor festivals and the speakers wouldn't hold up. The 7000 was ok just need that tube feeling. Currently running a F-1x, Eden wt 800, Bass Pod xt pro into 2 410 Schroeder cabs for outdoors and 2 Goliath III for indoors. Just my opinion.

Dale

gare · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:09:27 AM »

James
What type of sound are you going for ? And what is your budget ? I'm sure with a little more info that people here on the list can offer many good opinions and options.
I've never owned Hartke gear, but in try outs in stores I wasn't hearing the sound I wanted. There are so many options its boggles the mind. Good luck in your tone quest !

Dale..those two Schroeders have got to sound BIG.

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:45:24 AM »

Dale; the 7000 does have a tube preamp.

bassment · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:35:32 PM »

Thanks for the input so far. I'm looking for a punchy sound, in your chest, but its gotta be clear and crisp, I hate muddy bass. I distribute my style kinda like, fingers-55%, slap-35%, tap-10%. The kind of music I play is a mix of funk, blues, and rock. My price range would be no higher than $1300, so thats kind of restricted. I'm pretty picky, so I'm having a hard time.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2005, 12:44:54 AM »

I understand you don't get many cold snaps in West VA, so my primary issue with Hartke--cones cracking during wild temperature swings--probably doesn't apply. That said, I'd still worry.
My recommendations are an '80s SWR SM-400 (~$400) and Mesa/Boogie 210 and 115 cabs (~$300 each), all prices being secondhand on a pretty good day. In my experience, the Mesas are heavy as all Hell, but unless they're abused none of the three components are prone to failure and they sound pretty good together with a good variety of tone.
Got a shot of that Series? I looked but you didn't come up.

slapbass · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2005, 05:43:23 AM »

Gare, Big isn't the word for that pair. I have never had any one say that they couldn't hear the bass on stage.

Ya Dave the 7000 has a tube preamp but just did have the clean tube sound of the Eden's tube preamp.

Anyway Bassment I only live about 2 hours from you If you want to come to the studio in here in C-ville. Or wait a week or two And I will be visiting my family in Beckley. Let me know. I never leave home without a rig and at least one bass.

Dale

slapbass · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2005, 05:44:20 AM »

Gare, Big isn't the word for that pair. I have never had any one say that they couldn't hear the bass on stage.

Ya Dave the 7000 has a tube preamp but just did have the clean tube sound of the Eden's tube preamp. In my opinion.

Anyway Bassment I only live about 2 hours from you If you want to come to the studio in here in C-ville. Or wait a week or two And I will be visiting my family in Beckley. Let me know. I never leave home without a rig and at least one bass.

Dale

willie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2005, 06:02:10 AM »

No cold snaps in W. VA? I visit Braxton County at least 4-5 times a year and I've seen it plenty cold. Played the Kanawah Palloza in 2000 and had to go through a blizzard to get there. James, sounds like you're after a similar sound as me. Crystal clear over the whole audio range and with enough power to knock the place down. Good luck finding it, I know it took me a while to put together a system that could do that, (and alot of $ too). I'll be down in W.VA around Memorial Day, maybe we can get together for an Alembic jam. The drummer from my band Strange Kreek lives down there. Drums,2 basses and no guitars, wow what a concept.
Willie

slapbass · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2005, 08:57:41 AM »

Willie,

Maybe we could get together for a Alebifest bass jam around that time in Ol' WV. My guitarist plays an alembic (featured custom April 01) He would might be interested in that. Let me know.

Dale

willie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2005, 10:20:30 AM »

Dale
Sounds good to me. An all Alembic jam, I guesss we won't have to worry about sound quality. Where are you located in W.VA. I'll check the featured custom archive to see your guitar players guitar. Are there any pictures of your bass or rig on this site?
Willie