Hartke VX3500 410 Combo

I've had a VX3500 for about 4 years now. Play styles from 80's metal to funk and post metal.
The EQ gives me enough variety of tones, but i generally just use a little compression, get a good EQ mix, and change the tones as I need from my Bass.
Has PLENTY of power. If anything it has too much. When practicing on my own i'm flat out getting the volume to Level 1 before everything in the house starts rattling!
For gigging its awesome. It can get a good clean Bass sound through a decent sized venue without trouble. Havn't needed to turn it up past 7 yet. And havn't heard it distort.
Is great to be able to remove the head unit too, in case i ever wanted to upgrade to aluminimum cone speakers.
But no complaint on the features, has everything I need.
Plus the options for connecting to an external PA, and output to desk and external effects are good to have.
Just one thing though, its an awkward, heavy bitch to carry! You'll need someone on hand to move it without screwing your back.

Using the unit with a mixture of Ibanez Basses.
Can find a sound to suit whatever style i play through it.
From punchy and poppy to flat and deep and dead.
The misture of solid state an dtube amps is cool too. Surprising what a differnence each can make.
Never heard it distort.
Can get a bit of fuzz if the EQ's not right though. I was playing with the EQ and got a sound i really liked for some moody post metal stuff, but there was residual fuzzcause 2 of the bands were peaked.
Set all the bands down a band and retained the sound but lost the fuzz.

Hasn't failed me yet, thankfully, as I have no backup anymore.
(My piece of crap Ashton does'nt count)

Never had to deal with them.
But i'd just take it to my local repair guy anyway.

Tried a heap (well about 6) of other amp/cabs, combos and seperate setups, and for value for money the Hartke just killed it.
Having a removable head unit sold me though.
If i lost it somehow I'd definetely look at getting another one.
But overall, in its price range, it can't be beaten.

I've had this amp from new for about a year.

I has a pretty basic Crate amp before which never really cut the mustard. I did a lot of internet research on this amp (including here) and settled on it. I think the features of this amp have been covered to death by other posts it's fair to say it has everything I need.

I just want to plug and play and this is the amp for that.Took me a few goes to get my sound at gigs but it sounds great now. I regularly get compliments for the overall bass sound (not my playing I may add!)

Got to make a comment about weight/size. This is a beast but you just get used to it and learn how to load it. Considering putting bigger wheels on it as the ones it comoes with are not great but I've never quite got round to it.

I play a Yamaha RBX270 which is not a sophisticated instrument but does the job.

I play in 2 bands. One is 50's Rock'n'Roll and the other is party/cover. I only have to tweak the sound a tiny bit for each set. This is where the high/low filters help me smooth the sound a bit for the covers. Also I use a little bit of compression on the quieter songs which works just great. Finally when I want a really meaty sound towards the end of the gigs for the rowdy numbers I push the valve pre-amp up a bit and this gives a really great growl.

This is the only negative. The amp kept blowing internal fuses and then finally gave up the ghost (fortunately only at rehearsal). It was in warranty so I returned it to the store and they fixed it. Been fine now but anyone who gigs regulalry knows you just need 100% confidence on your gear at gigs. Now when I gig away from home I take my little Trace just as a backup.

Apparently it was a dry joint whatever that is. Shame really as I would have given a high score on this but can't.

Not had to use it as shop fixed my amp.

Great amp. Love the sound learnt to live with the weight. If it were lost or stolen I'd consider looking at a Mark Bass as they are dead light but expensive but would not hesitate to replace it.

2 Preamps, 10 band EQ, Compressor, and High/Low pass filters...not to mention an effects loop and balanced DI...I just can't ask for any more.

This is one of the most versatile sounding amps I've ever heard. The tone variations are almost endless.

This amp has been through countless rehearsals, bands, and dozens of gigs, and it has never let me down. Totally roadworthy!

If my beauty every died, I would go right out and buy another one. The portability, price, tone and over competency of this amp is fantastic. Hartke for life, man.

This thing is great. Having a built in head makes one less piece of gear to haul around. I agree with others though. Removable casters would be a great addition. The option to have the same combo with the XL aluminum speakers would be super cool. Dollar for dollar, the combo is killer. Especially if you get a good deal on a used one like I did.

I have been a faithful Hartke user for 10 years. I love the Kickbacks too. Unbeatable versatility in tone. Compare it to anything within one and a half times it's price and it will be at least as good. This is enough cabinet for a 300+ person gig at level 4 or 5. I play on a (fretless) Jazz bass, running passive EMG's and a Leo Quan bridge usually. My others include an Ibanez AEB10-E acoustic/electric with Fishman's, Fender P-Bass with Seymour-Duncan's, Ibanez BTB450QM all stock and a 1959 Hagstrom.

Had to re-cone a speaker once in like 2 years. I play on it nearly every day, so that's not too bad.

I'll let you know if I ever need it!

Been playing 15 years. I started playing guitar and took lessons for 2 years. I hated chords, so I switched to bass. Right now I have this and a Kickback 12. I am a die-hard 4 stringer, so I don't need 15's.
If this were stolen, I'd go vigilante!
I love the fact it serves all of my needs well.

2007, using it with my rickenbacker and sansamp di.

Oh boy - its lovely! It really cracks!!

Thats the sticking point.
I've only had it for 2 months and the valve has blown already. Luckily i could still use the solid state channel. I've had it repaired, but have ben told to expect it to go regularly because of the low cost internals.
It cost me ??65 quid to get it fixed.
I'm gentle with it, only turn up to 5-6, & NEVER over power it.

Didn't bother with the hassle of sending it back due to the fact i live on an island and i would have to cover the shipping costs(??100+) and the fact that i use it twice weekly.- but Hartke did respond immediately to my emails with an offer of warranty work, so no worries there!

Compared it with an Ampeg and is just as good,

I'm not sure when my combo was made, but this seems like the older model. The newer one has the silver facing on the amp head, as well as on the speaker frames-mine is pretty much all black. I've had some pretty huge and expensive rigs in the past, and this thing performs just as well, A LOT more easily and less complicated. I play everything, from 80's arena rock covers, to experimental or progressive, and so on. I think this is a one-channel amp, but has a passive and an active input jack. It's got an effects loop in the back, and I can't remember if there's a headphone jack. I only wish my combo had REMOVABLE castors, along with something to protect the face of the amp head during transport. Castors tend to kill a portion of your sound on some stages, and a couple of the shafts were busted off right down to the pots, during a gig's teardown. I use just about every feature, except for the effects loop. I use this amp for everything, basically. I was looking for a solid, powerful, and portable bass rig that not only sounded good, but did well going direct, too. I can get the same sound at a gig, that I do at practice-woohooOOO! The 350 watts (a full 350) rated at 4 ohms is PLENTY loud for most gigs. THe most I've ever turned it up to, was 5, and that's for a BIG club. I love the extra eq features (the basic eq is a ten-band), like the amp blending and contour knobs, as I'll tell about these next. I just want removable castors and a cover for the amp face.

I am currently using two Fender Jazz 24's, and two Ibanezes-a modified fretless SR506 and a BTB 405QM. The sounds you can get here can be used for any kind of music, if you ask me. I have yet to hear any noise from the amp itself, as my Fenders make the noise from their single coil pickups. There are, literally, limitless tonal possibilities from all the eq shaping. You get the ten-band eq to start off with (NICE), a compressor that is very useful (and I HATE compressors), amp "type" blending knobs (solid-state and tube), and low/high contour knobs. Tne amp knobs are very accurate-the "solid state" knob gives you more of a polished, modern sound, and the "tube" knob gives you overall (SVT-like) big room-filling warmth to make you bass sound huge. I use a little of both, and with my eq set, the low and high-pass contour knobs really help to make the overall sound that much more articulated-nothing seems to get muddy! My Fenders just scream, and my Ibanezes sound BIG. I like a sound in between Dave Ellefson and Duff McKagan for pick-style, and a sound in between Stu Hamm and John Entwistle for finger playing.

This is a very reliable rig-one solid package. I said before, that there needs to be something to protect the amp's face.

Samson was very helpful in getting me replacement parts-free of charge, as well as very quick shipping. I talked to Larry Hartke, and he got me the rest of the parts that Samson didn't have in stock. Larry is very cool and friendly, and though getting stuff from him takes a little bit (he's got every bassist calling, now that his cell number is in a few bass magazines), I got my parts, along with a Hartke catalog, an autographed pic, a letter of thanks, AND a free set of strings. Samson and Hartke are very helpful-KUDOS all the way.

I've been playing for almost 11 years, and besides my four basses, this rig is pretty much it. I had some monstrously huge and pricey stuff in the past, but the portability and workhorse qualities FAR surpass big and unnecessary cabs, as well as separate amps. This is the only speaker cabinet combo that doesn't distort, along with my previous SWR and Flite cabs. Actually, my Hartke sound BETTER than my SWR stuff. I'd cry if my combo was stolen. Removable castors and an amp faceplate, please-okay? Overall, I'm very satisfied.

Bought new in 2004, features as described above

Used with a Fender P with SD SCPB2 pickups, flatwound strings through the passive line. Music Man SUB with pressure wound strings through the active line.Used to play anything from 60's pop, rhythm'n'blues, blues rock, Nazareth, the Oo, SRV. I just like making noise. Wacko range of sounds, from really dead, like Spencer Davis, to really top and scream, like Flea on crack. No distortion at level 7, can't turn it up any higher. I prefer the sound from these cones as opposed to the aluminium ones Hartke usually use.

It gets gigged and rehearsed, dragged all over the place.Thank God for castors. I don't own a backup amp, and don't have space for one in my car, but I don't believe I'll need one. It has this air of quiet competence, you see......................

Company very helpful cos mine came without a manual. They sent me a download of the manual, settings suggested for various tones, and schematic diagrams. They also emailed me to make sure I'd received all that lot.

I like a fuss free set up. This combo is fuss free: an idiot could find the tone he wants in ten seconds. If it was stolen, I'd find the bloke that nicked it and marry him to my mother in law. Compared to Ashdown MAG, Laney head and cab, and a 3500 and 4x10 with aluminium cones. This rocks. I needed this twenty years ago.

Tube and soild state activation knobs, 10 band EQ with bypass, Hi and Low knobs, headphone jack, active and passive inputs, effect send and return, mic input, mated, 350 watts, very powerful.

I use a wimpy Ibanez GSR-190 fourstring and a killer Warwick Vampyre fivestring. Handles low B amazingly with blaring vocals. Holds up a mean speed demon death metal style. Volume 2 rumbles my house and six takes care of shows.

Only had it a week.

Haven't yet.

I use a BP200 DigiTech multi effect processor with monster bass cables. If it were stolen or lost i would hunt down the person and harvest their soul. I love the sound and the power, first amp over 10w so im not sure how it ranks up, but it sounds better than when i play in the store so...

The Hartke VX3500 combo is the HA3500 head and VX410 cabinet mated mated and sold together. Read the reviews for those for information about their features.

I should note that this VX410 cabinet is slightly different then the separate VX410: it is wired in 4 ohm, instead of 8, so the HA3500 can put out its full 350W.

The sound is very good. I use it with a 4-string Cort Curbow and a 5-string Cort Action bass. It handles the low-B of the 5 very well. The amp and cabinet are suitable for a wide range of sounds.

I've only had it a week so I don't know yet.

Haven't dealt with Hartke(hope I don't have to because I hear their customer service is shit).

This is a really good setup for the money. It's $50 cheaper then buying the amp and cab separetely. I'm impressed with it's features and sound.