Hartke LH-1000

Even though I have heard many times that other brands work better when handling low tunings, this amp head delivers an extreme amount of low end. I play modern Metal, with a 5 string bass that is tuned down to drop A, and my old Peavey amp could not do the job (sounded amazing for the rest pf the strings actually but it didn't for the thicker one) so I started researching a lot how to get an affordable and effective full bass stack system.

And here it is, combined with two Hartke cabs, HX410 HyDrive and HX115 HyDrive, it delivers an outstanding efficiency and power for the purpose I needed. About volume.... 1000 WATTS!!! No more words needed. Its Brite button thing bright the sound of your bass and its Limiter function works more as a Compressor than a Limiter, which is great either way.

On the bad side of it, I would say that 3 EQ knobs are just fine, but a couple more would have created a huge machine.

If you're looking for the specifications mentioned above, and don't want to spent a few salaries with it, this is a perfect choice. Period.

I use this as my main gigging rig along with a Hartke HyDrive 410. It's the right size for any venue, from small to large-mid sized (around 500 people), even with minimal to no PA support. With 1000W it will always have headroom for even the loudest guitar player and drummer in your band.

The amp is very transparent, so you can "only" dial from very clean tone to slightly warm. If you want an Orange sound, it's the wrong head for you. But if you have a specific tone you like, and it's already dialed in your pre-amp/pedalboard, this is the last amp you'll ever need. The controls are extremely simple, and you are guaranteed to spend under 5min. to dial the ideal tone you want. The only peculiarity worth mentioning is the odd EQ: flat is around 2-10-0 to 2-10-2 (allowing for tolerances). Out of the factory the LH line has a remarkable mids scoop, that Hartke likes. Nothing that getting used to can't cope with.

This thing is a NIGHTMARE!. Where do I even begin at the trouble this thing caused me!, to explain how much hassle this thing is in full?, I'm going to need to make you out a LIST, I'm seroiuse, theres that many problems with these things, they shouldn't really be alowed to sell them full stop. First off the main attraction with this amp head, is that its 1000 watts power rating, no more power issues on stage, but when you push it past two thirds, (using compatible speaker cabinets of course, 8 Ohms, 1x15" 500 Watts, and 4x10" 1000 watts), the sound breaks up and farts something awful, not a good rock distortion, but like a "that speaker sounds busted man" break up sort of farty, split cone kind of sound. Bottom line?, this thing can't turn out 1000 watts as advertised and keep stable, it overloads 'way' before that at around the 700 mark, the maximum this thing can do without breaking up, is 700 watts before its just too much. I wanted to SUE Hartke over what this thing put me through, if it said 1000, I expect it to be able to do this competantly, by the time I managed to figure all this mess out, it was far too late to send the amp back for a refund.