Hartke 2115

Nice combo amp. 200 watts at 4 ohms, 120 at 8 ohms. tube and solid state preamps, 10 band switchable eq, compressor. 2 speaker outputs on back. It DOES NOT have an effects loop. If it does, the right head isnt in the cabinet.
It really needs an effects loop. The regular 2000 heads have one. Why did they decide it didnt need one just because they put it in a combo amp?

Decent sounding amp. I got it for a practice amp. With a 200 watt head there's no way I'll put it on a stage unless I'm micing it. I know the 15 wont handle having hard rock played thru it with both preamps full up and the master on 7. Heck, it hates anything lower than an "E" being played thru it. Now the positives. It's a decent sounding practice amp for the home unless you replace the 15 with something else. I like the idea of the 2 preamps. That's cool. The 10 band eq is nice also. The compressor is a joke.

I bought mine from a pawn show with the tube side dead. One of the capacitors had a broken leg. Nothing major. I alswo replaced the tube when I was in it just because.
Reliability. It wont replace the Peavey combo amp I bought it to replace because of the speaker. The aluminum cone speaker cant handle the power or the lower frequencies.. Nice idea, but shit happens.

They were nice to deal with when everyone else's amps were dropping like flies. I havent blown the speaker yet. Then I'll find out for myself what they're like.

I bought it as a practice amp to replace my Peavey 115BW. It wont replace it. Here's why. The speaker blows chunks. It wont handle the power or the lower frequencies involved with today's music, be it rock or country or blues. Their 410XL cabinets are very nice. I use one with my SVT head. I bought this one for the cabinet. I'll probably put either a Peavey or an EV 15" in it as well as an SVT 3Pro amp.The Hartke's not bad...but it's not what I thought it would be.

good features, i've had this amp for a while, bought it new, plenty of power for most things, i've played in front of 800 people with it, plugged into a sound system of course, as far as the line out goes, just use the "effects send" outlet, it works the same.

sounds great, i've never had it higher than 5 for the master volume and 5 for each preamp, i play with a modified Rickenbacker and it sounds great, nice clean sound.

i've never had it mess up before, no problems at all

awesome value, nothing beats a hartke, ampegs are good, but hartke is great for the money, i wish it had an XLR out, but the "effects send" is good enough for me. you just need a 1/4 in. and a DI box. if you play with all the knobs and settings you can get a great sound

1998
The range of tones available is very wide and I can get a tone I like quite easily - however I don't mess with the settings too much.

I'd agree with another reviewer who said that the ocntrols are excellent BUT NO LINE-OUT - crazy!

I do use the compressor - it's a bit useless - but I have it on about 1.

I use this amp as my main weekly gigging amp in a medium loud rock 'n roll bnd - I never need to crank it beyond half way.

The sound is extremely loud and clear.

The two preamps are interesting. One a valve sound featuring a real valve the other a solid-state sound. Now I'm a dyed in the wool valve type guy (that's toobs for you yanks) but I (usually) set the solid state to about 7 and the valve sound to about 4. Incidentally setting both to 5 negates the whole idea - it's pointless! THe preamp settings are something I adjust depending on the venue, my mood, what I've been smoking etc.

The bass I use to gig with is my headless Steinberger Spirit - amazing guitar.

I don't want a lot of top or an overly bright sound - so I set Graphic to a mild smile but cut fairly viciously the middle slider - cuts any harshness.

I also set my low-pass filter at around 7 and my high pass filter at around 4.

The fan is VERY noisy - not a problem at performance levels but a little unsettling (especialy coming my silent Trace Elliot).

I should say I plug my guitar into a (home-made) preamp with the output into the passive channel.

When I bought it (secondhand in excellent condition) - the indicator light had disappeared into the case. I opened up the amp (really difficult!) and glued it into position and it has worked perfectly ever since. Opening up the amp enabled me to get a glimpse inside and the workmanship appears excellent.

The amp came with no cover - and Samson couldn't offer one - so I made my own out of tough plastic sheet - looks good, protects against rain during load-in and out and cost about flumpence.

But I use the amp weekly at gigs and it has proved extremely reliable - with no real backup.

I wasn't over-impressed with Samson - they seemed to know little and appeared confused over the impedance rating of the speaker etc.

I've been playing for about 30 years - started on guitar.

I have a 1963 Fender Precision, a 1964 Hofner Beatle bass and a Acoustic Black Widow.

the amp sounds exc with all.

I would certainly consider getting another.

Features are discussed elsewhere. But, the combo is a basic 200 watt 1x15 configuration with compression, equalization, contour controls, solid state and tube preamps, single active or passive inputs. In short, the amp has more than most any 200 watt amp out there in the number and fexibility of features. With this setup, you could dial in anything from a traditional classic rock sound, to funk, to hard rock, and anything in between.

Reading what some of the other reviews state about this amp, I must have a different model or something. As stated above, this amp simply kicks ass. It sounds wonderful at any level. I dubbed mine "the beast" ten minutes after I got it. I plugged it in in my study, turned the volume to about 4, hit a note and all the pictures on the wall came crashing down. This from a 200 watt amp. Although I'm a guitarist who likes to fool around on bass, the last four bass players in my various bands have all opted for this amp for gigs. Once they plugged in at practice ALL of them felt the amp was better than anything, sound-wise, they had (and all have pretty impressive setups - big fridge looking stacks and poweramps). The PA guys we use are constantly amazed by this thing. The projection is awesome. Where ever I am on stage I can hear the bass, clean and clear. This is something considering I play with one of the loudest drummers in existance. Hardly anyone believes this is a 200 watt amp. The EQ and contour controls allow you to dial in any sound possible. The tube/solid state thing is something I haven't quite figured out since they both sound the same to me virtually at any level. BTW: The setting on these must EQUAL 10. So, I typically split them down the middle setting both at 5.

I'll put this rating at 10 since everyone else has ragged the amp. I've been having mine for about 4-5 years now and I've not had a single cause to rag it. And I bought it used - although I doubt the guy I got it from did much with it professionally. Overall, it has held up better than any guitar amp I've ever owned. Although, to be honest, I don't use mine personally as a gigging amp. BUT, all my bass players over the past 4-5 years HAVE used this amp for both practice (they don't have to lug their Frankenstein rigs to my house) and for gigging (because all feel it is better than what they have, sound-wise). So far, not a single problem. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe they changed the speakers to the better coned ones over the recent past. I don't know, but I've not had any problems (knock on wood). The dura-tuff carpet is fine (although it always smells like smoke) as is everything else.

No need to contact them.

I love this amp. It sounds great. I've been playing guitar for over 25 years - most at least semi-professionally, and fooling around on bass for much of that time - and this amp is a champ. I've not had any problems with it whatsoever. It seems to me that some might be setting the preamps too high - if they exceed 10 when summed, then you WILL blow the speaker. I've used a Carvin LB76 and an Ibanez EDA 900 (Ergodyne) with this amp and both sound great. Additionally, past bass players in my bands have run a variety of basses through it including another Ergodyne (the earlier ones), a Fender P, a Warwick, and a Peavey, and all sound great, fill a room (even large venues) and cut through the drums nicely. I never have a problem with the fairly low wattage, which is saying something, andthe tone shaping tools are impressive for a 200 watt amp. Great product in my opinion.

I love the amp, there are two preamps - solid state and tube. You can adjust the mix between the two, and it sounds great. Nice eq, but no line out. Kinda dopey on a bass amp, considering every sound man on the planet wants a direct line. Needs new tubes about once every 18 months to sound the best.

I always played a Fender P-bass through this amp, and it always sounded great, until the speaker blew anyway. It has nice punch from the amp's compressor, and for medium sized clubs, I've never put the volume past 2.

This amp is a piece of S*#t as far as reliability. Within two weeks, the hi-gain input jack broke because it's made out of cheap plastic. Then within 6 months the cheap carpet began to fall off of the outside of the enclosure, which started the particle board to disintegrate. The tubes wear out way too quickly, on the average of every 18 months.

I called the number a few times, but the answering system doesn't address the customer, and they have crap hours of operation.

I will never buy another Hartke product. I have a 35 year old Acoustic head and cabinet that needed a fuse replaced...once.

compression and equalizer work good

metal and rock sound awesome (with a different cabinet). I replaced the speaker with a JVC 15" and it sounds very loud. With a piggybacked cabinet it is extremely loud. (2X 15")

The speaker blew in 2 days. The magnet is very small and light for being rated for 200 watts. Also I noticed that it was stamped clearly 4 ohm, and the manual states very plainly that an 8 ohm speaker should be used. The metal grill was dented and rattled. The carpet covering is cheesy. The particle board sucks also.

they seemed nice enough, they did say it was OK to remove the blown speaker and send it and not the entire unit. A 2 week turnaround time sucks though

kustom 200 (1976) never a problem
wish I had bought a Peavey or a Gallien

I've had this amp for 4 years now and the speakers been dying for 2. The head and cabinet themselves are great. IT has a built in compressor, tube and solid state preamps, 10 band eg and hi-low contour.Also active/passive inputs and an extra extension speaker out. The head is fan cooled and has been extremely reliable. I use this to gig with occasionaly, but mostly for practice. I also use it for more bottom end in my guitar rig.

I use a Charvel, and a Fender P bass with it. I can get a wide assortment of sounds out of it with no effects. I've had it long enough to know the sounds I like to hear from it. I play Death Metal and Praise and Worship. How's that for a wide spectrum? The church music it does well. Due to the speaker, its not real good for fast detuned stuff. It rattles bad when turned down to C. It didn't when I first got it but after 2 years its been getting looser and looser. So my rating is 4 due to speaker. That's half the reason I bought it, the "indestructable" speaker.

I used to gig with it with no back up. Now I just don't gig with it, period. It's never beeb cranked past 6, and now never past 2. The speaker is pretty much junk. The rest of it is excellent. That aluminum speaker is what sold me on it however. Also it has a 2 rack space amp in the top of the cabinet which is nice. Why's that nice you might ask? Because it might be seeing a new 1 rack guitar amp and 1 rack preamp installed in the slots. And a new baffle board so I can run a 12" speaker. We'll see how this works.

I didn't bother to deal with them after my warrentee expired. The dealer quoted $325 for speaker and I said no thank you.

I've been playing it for 4 years and own a lot of gear. (Too much my wife says...) It it disapeared I'd have the satisfaction of knowing however stole it would be replacing the speaker SOON. I actually like the amp and I'm not a big fan of 15s. I like 4-10s better. But nontheless it sounded good until the speaker started crapping out. I've had a couple different Crates, Peaveys, ect. but I decided I wanted a small portable combo that sounded nice, so I traded some gear to get this. I've since decided to get a 2-10 cabinet, yank the head out and put it in a 3 rack box with a decent preamp. Then I'll put some guitar (6 string) gear in the 2 rack spaces I'll have on topo of the 2115 combo, add a new baffle board and have a nice guitar combo. I might even get the 15' repaired, but not likely so happen any time soon. I don't know I guess I still like 10s a lot better. By the way, I'm not buying a Harke enclosure, I'm soured on their speakers.Live and learn.

Bought the combo in '95. It features a 200 watt amp at 4 ohms, 1 XL15" Hartke Aluminum cone speaker, 10 band EQ, two pre-amps, a solid state and tube, compressor, a High and Low pass tone knobs, master volume control and inputs for passive or active pickups. I also use an external 210 transporter cabinet 210TP, 2 10" Hartke Speakers. The tone range is almost unlimited. Has great bottom and great highs at the same time.
The main feature I really like about this combo is, it is light-weight. I lugged around a Peavey 2-15 cabinet and head for years. Had to have a truck or trailer and another guy to help pick it up. This combo will fit in the back seat of my car and I can handle it myself!
The amp does not have a line out option. However I got the combo for the sound and response of the aluminum speakers not the sound of the amp. This is sometimes hard to get across to the sound man!
I play small to medium bars and nightclubs every weekend, Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday Jam Session. I have all the power I need. There are occasions when the extra 210TP cabinet is too much so i just use the combo with the built in 8ohm XL15" speaker. At 8ohms i still get 160 watts of power!

I play a Fender Jazz, Mexican, that has been upgraded. I replaced the pickups with Music Man pickups, installed a string through body bridge, Fender tunning keys and American volumne and tone pots. I use Roto Sound Swing66 105-45 strings. I use a Boss ME-6B processor, but about half the time I have the Boss in By-Pass mode. The combo has a great sound without any processor. There is absolutly no noise if the electricity in the club is wired right. I keep the master volume from 2 to 5. I have never had to go higher. When I play slap style, I get great highs along with a good bottom end sound and when I need that bottom for country or rock, its there. With the EQ I can get any sound that I want but its kind of hard to do on the Fly, the four count between songs, so that is why I use the Boss ME-6b.
I have used a Peavey 215 cabinet and the Peavey CS300 Bass head in the past, solid state and HEAVY. One night the Rig went out and I did not know if it was the Head or the Speakers. I took the rig in to get it checked out and they keep it until the next Saturday. I had to do something fast so I borrowed a 250 watt Peavey Guitar head and a Hartke 210TP cabinet. I was blown away by the bottom end of this little cabinet. When I got the Peavey back I tried both cabinets seperately. Same Amp, settings and bass, the Hartke had a better bottom end than the Peavey 215.

I have gigged with this unit since 95 without a backup. I am hard on amps and equipment but these aluminum cone speakers are tough. I have blown paper cones but not these. I play 10 to 15 hours a week on stage and then practice with absolutely no problems what so ever. I think the thing to remember is that Hartke makes two different types os aluminum speakers, the XL series and the regular ones. (They do not say XL on them) The XL series are heavy duty bass speakers. Insist on the XL series.

Have never had any problems so I have no knowledge in this area.

I have been playing over 35 years. Actually getting paid for the last 25. If this combo was stolen I would replace it with another just like it.
We were setup in my jam house one afternoon and we decided to hook up the drummers electronic drum kit, Alesis D4 Drum brain, to my bass combo. He started out at a lower setting and before he was done he had it cranked. He tried to rattle my amp and could not. When he was done he said that it is a shame that Hartke did not make Mains because they are the only speakers he ever played that he could not rattle! If you are looking for a light weight heavy duty setup, give this combo a try.

The Hartke 2115 is a 200 watt, bass amp combo with a 1x15 aluminum cone speaker. It has plenty of sound tailoring options including solidstate and tube preamps, graphic and rotary EQ as well as a compressor. And it even comes with a speaker cable to transfer the signal from the head to the speaker! Imagine that!(Read the Customer Support section and you'll see why I mention this).

The Hartke 2115 Combo is a very versatile bass amp, when it works. The onboard compressor is useless though (If you need a compressor for your bass I'd recommend an Alesis Nano Comp).

After having the amp for a while the speaker died instantly in the middle of a gig. I bought this amp because I thought that the aluminum speaker cone would be indestructable. I was wrong. I have never even turned the amp up more than half way and the speaker still died! I've always had the High Pass Filter on as well so I certainly haven't abused the speaker in any way.

I originally thought that the speaker cable had shorted out because the speaker gave no indication that it was about to fail (I guess I was trying to be optimistic). So I called Samson (Hartke's "parent company") for a replacement. The brainiac at Samson actually laughed at me and tried to tell me that their "2115 combo doesn't come with a speaker cable". I guess he thought the sound traveled from the amp to the speaker magically because he just continued to laugh when I asked him if that's what he thought. A couple of expletives later and I was talking to his boss who also had a hard time understanding that yes, a cable is supplied with the 2115 Combo and is required to transfer the signal from the amp to the speaker. He finally figured it out but refused to send me a cable. He expected me to ship the amp to an authorized service center which would have cost me quite a bit. I had to argue with this dimwit as well and he eventually offered to send me a UPS call tag, in other words he offered to pay for the shipping. Now a speaker cable is something that I can replace in the privacy of my own home without cost to myself or Samson. I tried to explain this to him, but he could understand the economics ot the situation. So I threatened to call his boss and was soon talking to... his boss. His boss agreed to send me the cable as long as I agreed not to hold them responsible for any damage to the amp or injury to myself that I would surely cause. So they laughed at me, argued with me and finally sent the cable. But guess what? The problem wasn't a short in the cable, it was the aluminum cone speaker that died without warning.

I've been very happy with the sound of the head and the speaker in the 2115, but sound doesn't mean much when the quality of the product is so poor that the the product stops making sound. I've taken excellent care of this amp and there is NO REASON FOR THE SPEAKER TO HAVE DIED! I also have a Behringer (Samson) Composer Compressor that died on me. Luckily it was still under waranty and they fixed it without a hassle, but after all of this; meaning two dead Samson products, having to argue with Samson and havin been laughed at by Samson...
I will NEVER buy another Samson (Behringer, Hartke) product again!