Hartke BA2000 Head

I bought mine 2nd hand 6 years ago. Fairly standard features I guess, passive/active inputs, 10 band eq plus seperate treble and bass knobs (which I find particularly useful for changing tones between songs.. I set the eq at first then boost treble if about to play slap or increase the bass if it's gonna be heavy...). I like the twin preamps (solidstate and tube). Powerwise, it can pump out some sound.. Nothing spectacular but hey it's a bass amp.

I have played a variety of basses and music styles through this amp and with a little tweaking of eqs had the exact sound i want. I have played musicals, jazz, funk, rock, ska, heavy rock even concert band music with it. No probs there. Simply boost the treble for slap, crank the bass for rock...
I have played fretless yamaha 4 string, ibanez 4 string, gibson ripper (4 string bass same as Gene Simmons:)), yamaha 6 string, and several others here and there.. Again handles all basses well..

No product is fault free. my amp included.

Two years ago it decided to stop working during a practice (days out from a serious gig) then realised it would work fine if not placed on top of the cabs.. so simply didn't put it on top for 6 months or so.. forgot about it the other day, put it on top and it was sweet as (mind you it was with just 1x410 not 1x410+1x15).

Another time it just wouldn't make any noise. Took the cover off, tightened a few things, checked it out, put it back together and voila! No probs

Has gigged and practiced well for 6 years. Have gigged without a backup but as with everything prefer to have a spare, just in case.

Never dealt with them. Done any repairs myself..

I have been playing bass for 10 years, have had several basses and several cabs, 1 combo and this. Says a lot really, I have sold everything else when money got tight but kept this... These a relatively rare in NZ so I probably would get something else if it were stolen/lost unless I could find another one (or maybe the next model up).
I have played through a number of other amps, many of which have significant limitations, the thing I like is it's versatility.

I recommend Hartke to anyone, this head (or even a bigger one) through a 410 cab (hartke preferably) has plenty of bass and treble for most situations, add a 115 cab if you want more volume and/or bass..

I bought this one new from AMA (online) in 2005. The features are right-on. Tube and solid state adjustments, two contour shaping knobs, compression knob, and 10-band eq are the highlights of this puppy. There are other features, but they are pretty standard (passive/active inputs, volume, eq on/off, FX send/receive, two 8ohm speaker outputs, on/off switch, etc.). This model does not have a DI out, although the FX send doubles as a line out (1/4" jack, 4dcb output). I wound up getting the Hartke VXL bass attack pedal for the XLR out and other preamp features.

I play rock, and this is perfect for it. I gigged with it at a bar last night and had people up swinging with the thump this thing created during each set.

I play a Ibanez SRX 500, and a homemade jazz bass as a back up. The amp articulates each instrument just fine. I still have a lot of work to do to figure out the sounds this thing can create, but we play everything from vintage to modern rock and I've had no problems dialing in these tones. It isn't noisy and it didn't pick up the 60 cycle hum amps tend to put out in close-quarter bar gigs.

This thing is pretty solid and, as mentioned in other reviews, if the tube preamp goes out I can still use the solid state option. My band has an awesome sound system anyway, so no need for a back-up with all considered.

I highly expect this unit to last a while. I would be surprised if Hartke puts out a lemon in this case. I'd give it a 10, but 9 since it passed its initial test during a 4.5 hour bar gig (4 sets of pounding) with more tests to go.

Haven't had to use it.

Don't let the 200 watts fool you. This head is great in covering the low frequency spectrum and it brings out so much of it that it seems like it is much louder than the 200W @ 4ohm rating. Even operating at 8ohm (125w), it does nicely with headroom. It's a nice bar room brawler, if that's what you are looking for.

This is a (as far as i can tell) new Hartke bass Head with 2 imputs - passive and active, a tube and solid state pre-amp - both of which have their own level controls, a whole load of EQ bands as well as an onboard compressor, high and low frequency controls, a master volume (obviously), an FX send and return and two outputs for speaker cabinets - rated at 8 Ohms.

You can get virtualy and tone you like out of this thing. At present i'm playing in a modern ska band, as well as a pub rock covers outfit and it does both very well, from a funky high-end tone for ska, to all out rock bottom end !

It runs at 200w and i find thats more than enough for pubs, clubs and rehearsing, with plenty of overhead, and no distortion or loss of tonal shape.

I'm using a through-neck Peavey C-4 (UK budget version of Cirrus) and a Peavey TXF 4x10 cabinet rated at 350w and 8 Ohms - giving me plenty of overhead to stretch my legs at gigs.

Its perfect for any style i've ever tried it with (and i've tried a lot) and the tone really does shine through no matter what you do to it. Aside from the cooling fan, its virtually noise free and i'm comfortable that i'll be able to get any sound i like out of it

I've had it for about 6 months now, with plenty of gigging, rehearsals and home practice i'm certain it'll last for many a year to come (jinxed!) Its solid and not easliy dentable and i wouldn't see the point in having a back-up around with this baby behind me

I've been playing bass for 3 years now, previosly using a Laney HCM60 combo (which also was very good band for buck.

This was my second bass amp, bought for this purpose - to gig and have 'stage volume' with. Its certainly not let me down in that respect, and it sounds amazing at recording levels too.

If it were stolen i'd check my insurance and definatley buy this amp again (or if i could fiddle the insurance company - get the lager and more expensive BA3500 model)

I can't really ever see me needing another amp again unless i hit the big time and take on stadiums ! And even then i be hanging on to this little baby

Amp was bought brand new. This is an extremely versatile amp with tube and solid blend it can do it all. It has 10 band EQ which is nice, but no direct out! Effects loops are there, but no headphone jack either. It's got a compressor which is great for slapping and plenty of blending knobs to achieve that perfect sound.

I use an Ibanez five string GS205 and it sounds very warm. My pick ups are passive, but it has a seperate input for active ones. It's really very quiet. In fact the only really noise you should hear when it's turned on is the cooling fan which is a life-saving feature. This is a great amp and i've cranked it almost all the way with no distortion.

I would gig without a backup because it is brand new. It's also got circuitry protection on it to prevent that crackle sound when you turn it off. No servicing yet, although I imagine somewhere down the line I'll have to replace the tube. Even if the tube breaks down though you can just crank up the solid state knob.

I've been playing 8 years mostly guitar, but more recently bass. I did a whole lot of research before buying my gear because the bass it really so different than the guitar. I would buy again because it's a decent price and it's pretty loud. I run it through an 8ohm cab that is and ampeg 15 inch. It sounds very warm. A direct out and headphone jacks would be nice, but I think things sound better miked anyways. This amp seems to be well suited for live play.

This amp was new when I got it a year ago. As far as features, I wish it had a DI output...and I'd recommend the 3500 model for that feature (and the LED for the compressor) and the extra power...but for small to medium gigs this amp has enough power. To get maximum power you need 4 ohms worth of speakers...either one 4 ohm cab or two 8 ohm cabs...but it has enough power if all you have is a single 8 ohm cab. It has enough flexibility with the EQ, to sound good in any room with any decent cab. I use a Hartke 1X15, and have the same config Fender cab (Fender cab sounds a bit better--more meat--more headroom). It also sounds tasty and tight thru a 4X10 Carvin cab.

Played with a 5 string Samick bass and Fender J-Bass...classic rock pop & funk styles, and it sounds good no matter what you put through it...can be a little hissy, but no more than any other amp. To a degree, the number of EQ bands is overkill. Six bands would've been enough, but better to have to many than not enough.

Been playing through this amp for about a year and unlike my Fender combo, it has not failed at a gig -- although once it would not come up and had to use a back-up amp. Never figured out what happened, but it was fine the next day. Replaced the cheapo stock pre-amp tube with a NOS RCA and the tube input sounds warm yet punchy...it wasn't that bad with the original tube, just a little "sterile" for tube sound.

Never had to deal with the company

Been playing over 20 years. For bass, I have two backups...a vintage bassman head, and Fender BXR combo -- which is junk compared to the Hartke. If I were to buy it again, I'd buy the next higher up model for the added features and power. I worry about the plastic EQ tips breaking off...and once a knob fell off (but I found it). For extra heavy road use, it needs to go into an SKB or Anvil case (use the supplied rack mounts and take off the rubber corners).

It has every thing you would need. It really has a tube for the one of the preamps, it also has solid state for the other preamp. You can mix them together for a custom sound. If you put both together at equal levels it is twice as loud as alone.
it takes awhile to find your sound with the EQ

it sounds great with my ibanez p bass. i play everything but mostly punk. its clean unless you set everything to 10, but other than that it sounds great. i'am playing with one 15 fender cab. it sounds great, but with 4 10's it sounds awsome

I haven't had a problem yet. i bought of my freind. he needed more?! I sold my backup amp a fender don't get me wrong i liked the way it sounded but it was only 100 watts. i haven't hade to replace the tube yet, but yet again i haven't had it that long

I've been playing for 1/2 year. This sounds better than the fender!
If it were stolen i would buy another hartke product. i love everthing about, but to many buttons

This is a 2001 edition Hartke bass head. Its 200 watts into 4ohms or 120 in to 8. There is an awesome 10 band active eq (which can be bypassed) 2 band shaping, compressor, split tube/solid state preamp (blendable) fx loop (doubles as line out) and two speaker outs. Cant complain for the money but wouldn't mind XLR speaker outs and a DI out if we're in dreamland

I play funk, rock, metal and ska and it sounds great doing all of them. The EQ is amazing, and the compressor is set beautifully. I run a 2x15 cab and still the high end is wonderful. There is no distortion on the sound even at ear splitting volumes. As good as an ampeg svt3, simple as that

Had it a few months, nothings broken, scratched, faulty etc. Comes with rubber feet and corner guards, can also be rack mounted. Cant see a problem arising. I gg without backup

5 year warranty for gigging on all parts bar accidental damage. Dealers are not hard to come by.Have not had to try and use C/S.

I've had this amp a few months and been playing a few years. I would buy this amp again if it was stolen. I have recomended it to every bassist I know. For studio work it could do with a balanced DI but really for 325 pounds (450 dollars ish) you cannot expect it to be any more than it is. It has the best tones I've ever heard, and is very versatile. It wors best through Hartke cabs, but my laney 2x15 is good too. Against Trace Elliot, Mesa, SWR and Ampeg it holds its own, and is a fraction of the price. Against products in the same price range, its in its own league. If you want a cheapish head that does everything at any volume live, get this amp!