ilovefuzz.com

Hey dudes

for basically the same price, I could get a Kustom KB200 head with an Ashdown 210 deep cab OR an older korean made Hartke HA3500 with a Behringer compressor in a rack.

I DO have a cab at my disposal already, it's just a Behringer 115, but it's decent with a nice bottom end. I would pair that up with the Hartke, which has a very clear and punchy sound, lots of hi-mid definition to it with a nice low end punch as well - they seem they could compliment each other greatly. However, I'm not familiar with the Kustom head at all and since I'm not a fan of graphic EQs (Hartke), the knobby Kustom might be better for me (could jive with the graphic EQ, it would just take me much more time to find the right sound I guess)

the output is a big difference too, with the Hartke putting out 350W (it's fucking LOUD) and the Kustom just 200W - but then again, I don't know Kustom amps, so I'm not sure how loud they are.

The amp would be used with the Elements set for Rat-ish sound to deliver agressive and punchy bass tones in a one guitar rock band. Any advice?

I don't know, I think Hartke is shit, because of the high mid thing it's shit for everything, bass, guitar, whatever...
But then again I believe it's especially the speakers that are crap, maybe the amps are okay, I'm not sure...
Kustom is cool though, for a not too expensive bass amp that you can play guitar with I'd really go for that one...
Or get a Gallien Krueger instead or maybe a Traynor or an Ampeg V4, they rock too...

I really liked my HA3500. The only major issue I had with it was that it would unleash a horrid digital shart every time either input was hit too hard.
It was really loud and really clean, but I wouldn't go back to using one now. I had it with a Hartke 410 for a while, then tried it with a Peavey 215 and actually liked it more with the 410, and I'm not even a fan of lotsa highs in bass toans. It just paired really well, where the 215 sounded like mud to me (although it sounds fine with my Peavey head)...
Save for the crappy input thing, it handled dirt pedals well and could be set so that it wasn't too shrill (or super SUPER shrill if desired).
The built-in compressor on it is useless, by the way.

It really depends on how you feel about the high mid presence. If you dig that tone, get the Hartke. If you can't, don't -- since its nearly impossible to dial it out.

I mean if I had the money, I'd go for an Ashdown head for sure, but that might be an option for other time

I sort of dig the sound, yeah... I mainly play with a pick, because I simply enjoy punchy bass tones I guess (when I have the chance, i do dial some high mids in anyway). When I played it, it felt right to me. And I would have a chance to try it with the band. I was just sort of interested in the Kustom, because I figured out it might be usable for guitar too and I liked the more simplistic approach of the controls (knobs = simple to me)

BTW I would get a Traynor or an Ampeg V4 or a Peavey or a Sunn etc., but I live in Europe, so that's not much of an option

to be honest, I can easily resell the Hartke if it somehow doesn't fit the needs or not even buy it if i try it in the band and think it's not good... so if i don't find a sweet deal on some vintage amp, i will probably go for it sounds like a decent choice to me
too bad Kustoms never got any recognition over here and are not really frequently seen used...

I fucking hate buying amps, honestly

still entertaining the Kustom, still not sure though. Going to make some further research and figure it out. Thanks for the comments!

Yeah buying used amps in Europe seems like a chore from what I've seen Solution: move to the States and buy a Sunn

How available is new Orange stuff where you're at though? My bassist just bought a 500w Terror Bass and I'm still kinda about it.

I really dug the old school GK 400RB.

Oh, and neither of those brands.

thing is i'm really shooting for used or good bargains etc I only started playing bass in a band until now i have been playing borrowed gear and now i'm trying to stand on my own feet. Which right now means buying sufficient stuff which won't be as nice as it could be, but won't make me regret the purchase

that being said, i still fucking loathe buying amps

oh and there is a lot of amps I'd buy on the UK ebay, but the brits have pretty much everything on personal pickup

Try German eBay maybe...
I also think a Gallien Krueger RB or Backline is a much better bet than the Hartke to be honest...

Those hartkes ain't bad, if you like how it sounds I'd pick it up.

Also obligatory ILF peavey shill, even in the UK I see a ton of decent old peavey gear. Played through a fair few of their old bass amps and never been disappointed.

Rat style distortion into a Hartke HA sounds like this:



Personally I love it. cuts through the rest of the band like a fucking razor, especially if you've got a little dry signal underneath the grind. Also keep in mind if an amp is too loud you can turn it down, if its too quiet you're fucked.

monkeydancer wrote:Those hartkes ain't bad, if you like how it sounds I'd pick it up.

Also obligatory ILF peavey shill, even in the UK I see a ton of decent old peavey gear. Played through a fair few of their old bass amps and never been disappointed.

I hear you, there's even an Ampeg for a godlike price... but they're all pickup only, no?

found an old Peavey Series 400 Bass with the matching cab sold locally here, but the dude isn't responding, so i'm waiting

played the Hartke today at work (the amp in question itself) and couldn't find a sound I'd really like what the fuck is wrong with me

The peavey is, sadly a no-go

however today at work, I found a super strong contender

I'm aware of the fact that it might look weak as shit to you guys, but this little bugger pack so much punch I was taken by it with the first tones I played through it


given I could get a super nice employee discount and I love the sound, I might end up getting it in the following weeks

GK are rad amps for that kind of super aggro tone.