Help please. My Hartke HA3500 is sick

[zombie1965]

Sorry that this doesn't help you but I have the same head and have difficulty getting a good sound out of it. Could you please tell me how you have the controls set? Thanks.

Sure, but first good tone in en the ear of the beholder. I like the sound that I get but you might not.

Check out these with decent headphones/speakers, if you like i will do my best to tell you how I achieve it. Please do bare in mind that this is just captured from video cameras so, low end is a little vacant, as camera mics don't do it justice.




Incidentally I have noticed I was carrying my issue with the crackle even as far back as this gig, it rears it head in the white stripes cover (second video) for just for a few seconds around the 4:04 minute mark and again a lil' later around 5:03 ........ this was mid summer last year.

 

[madbass6]

This makes no sense. A 10 to 12 year amp is not a candidate for replacement unless there is a major problem, and maybe not then if it's repairable. My 1967 Bassman has had the caps replaced and that's about it. There are tons of 20+ year old amps working fine.

Yes some 30+ yr old amps work just fine too!
but not that 12 yr old one .

 

[Pilgrim]

Yes some 30+ yr old amps work just fine too!
but not that 12 yr old one .

Then fix it, don't replace it. Less expensive and if you like the amp you're not rolling the dice on a replacement.

Nobody repairs anything any more - their impulse is to replace it. With some electronics this makes sense, but not with something as expensive and repairable as an amp.

Heck, I removed and cleaned the contacts in the window switches on my Audi instead of paying $40 each to replace them.

 

[tbirdsp]

(not gonna be much help here) - I have a 3500 I've owned since 1993. Last few times I used it it was cutting out on me. Haven't taken the time/effort to sort it out. I have several other newer/lighter heads so just not worth it to me at this point. I always did like the sound of that amp though.

Sorry, but I just have to say this - if you are trying to do it like the original, you are playing the line to "Seven Nation Army" wrong (rhythmically).

 

[zombie1965]

(not gonna be much help here) - I have a 3500 I've owned since 1993. Last few times I used it it was cutting out on me. Haven't taken the time/effort to sort it out. I have several other newer/lighter heads so just not worth it to me at this point. I always did like the sound of that amp though.

Sorry, but I just have to say this - if you are trying to do it like the original, you are playing the line to "Seven Nation Army" wrong (rhythmically).

No such thing as wrong my friend, If you listen in context, we blend from "steady as she goes" into "seven nation army", we raise the tempo of both to suit us, although i will admit that listening back, perhaps that night it was a little fast. The first part of our cover of seven nation army is set by the rhythm of steady as she goes, the second verse is more in keeping with the original and the last verse is thrown into a completely different feel. Its all intentional.

After near 20 years of playing in covers bands (and original) I would have topped myself by now if I couldn't throw things about a bit.

Heres another band i was involved with a few years ago....

 

[BrianVengeance]

Just as a public service announcement, if you are going to fiddle inside your amp then please, please, PLEASE take care to do so safely. You definitely don't want to have it plugged in to your mains when poking about, and beware of the large filter caps as they can / do contain lethal voltages. Properly discharging them can literally be a life saver, and making the drive to your closest tech, however far away, will be far less expensive than a nasty, potentially fatal, shock.

A good first step to troubleshooting is to try and isolate the issue until you can reproduced it pretty much on demand. Not always possible, but if you can rule anything out, you'll be closer to a solution.

As others have mentioned, corrosion can build up over time so cleaning contact points and exercising jacks / pots can help with any crackling due to bad contact. It doesn't seem like this may be the issue, but still good to do every now and then.

With this out of the way and the function of these parts confirmed, I would move on to a visual inspection of the board itself. Things to look for would be: gunk buildup, discoloration / darkening from heat, bubbled capacitors and weak / broken solder joints. You'll probably have to pop out the board to do the latter, but in general, a good solder will look like a little hershey's kiss.

If the knobs, jacks and sliders all work as expected and there are no visible issues, you likely have a failing or failed component somewhere else in your signal path. Capacitors, especially electrolytics (they look like silos or large cylinders, typically with a stripe down one side), will fail over time given exposure to heat and low humidity. Duty cycles can be dozens of years, but it wouldn't be out of ordinary for one to fail after 10-12 years. Those can be a pretty cheap and easy swap out if you can find the offending part.

Another easy SWAG fix would be to replace any socketed chips on the board, and a lot of times it doesn't hurt to put an iron to the solder joints to reflow them, even if they look fine.

Again, some of these suggestions fall into the "if you aren't sure, then don't do it" category, so do be careful and best of luck!

 

[agedhorse]

Internet suggestions of how to fix your amp are rarely accurate, and full of mythological BS. That's why these guys are telling others how to "fix" their amps rather than actually making a living doing as they preach.

 

[tbirdsp]

No such thing as wrong my friend, If you listen in context, we blend from "steady as she goes" into "seven nation army", we raise the tempo of both to suit us, although i will admit that listening back, perhaps that night it was a little fast. The first part of our cover of seven nation army is set by the rhythm of steady as she goes, the second verse is more in keeping with the original and the last verse is thrown into a completely different feel. Its all intentional.

After near 20 years of playing in covers bands (and original) I would have topped myself by now if I couldn't throw things about a bit.

OK - I did say "If you are trying to do it like the original" - You are correct - I listened to it in context and it makes sense. Steady as she Goes was a little fast so I didn't recognize it at first (just listening to a snippet). That 7 Nation Army riff is so iconic it sounded weird to hear it without the triplet feel. I will add - the band is good - especially the vocals.
Hope you get your 3500 sorted out - it really is one of my favorite amps.

 

[zombie1965]

OK - I did say "If you are trying to do it like the original" - You are correct - I listened to it in context and it makes sense. Steady as she Goes was a little fast so I didn't recognize it at first (just listening to a snippet). That 7 Nation Army riff is so iconic it sounded weird to hear it without the triplet feel. I will add - the band is good - especially the vocals.
Hope you get your 3500 sorted out - it really is one of my favorite amps.

Thanks very much, yes, it is a little different, and yeah way to quick that night, unfortunately one of our quandaries is rushing to squeeze more into the set (we always seem to have to cut short) and we do like to meld songs together so sometimes a bit of trickery has to happen to get it to work, hence abandoning the swing feel.

Thanks for the well wishes, to be honest I'm gutted my 3500 is playing up. I do have a back up, a Peavey Mark VI, although its a bit under powered (150w into 4 ohm) and to be honest a bit sterile for my tastes. It might have to get me through a couple of weekends though.

 

[CodyGBass]

Sure, but first good tone in en the ear of the beholder. I like the sound that I get but you might not.

Check out these with decent headphones/speakers, if you like i will do my best to tell you how I achieve it. Please do bare in mind that this is just captured from video cameras so, low end is a little vacant, as camera mics don't do it justice.




Incidentally I have noticed I was carrying my issue with the crackle even as far back as this gig, it rears it head in the white stripes cover (second video) for just for a few seconds around the 4:04 minute mark and again a lil' later around 5:03 ........ this was mid summer last year.

Yeah that bass sounds killer. Could you please tell me how you got that sound? Btw your bands sounds pretty good. Thanks again.

 

[zombie1965]

Yeah that bass sounds killer. Could you please tell me how you got that sound? Btw your bands sounds pretty good. Thanks again.

Ok. cool. so what kind off bass are you using? and what speaker? and lastly do you have any fx pedals in front of your input jack?

I am using a Hartke transporter 4x10 cab in that video, its Hartke's cheapest cab but it sounds ok.

The natural wood bass I use is a passive single coil Ibanez Blazer, its renown for having awesome high output pickups I set the tone and volume wide open. But my MIM fender P bass deluxe sounds just as good just less growl.

The Red/amber Bass is an Ibanez SRX500 and is Active with Humbucker style pick ups. I dial this bass towards the bridge pick up ( 70% ish) and set fairly flat on its EQ (center indents when the knobs are turned) with volume wide open.

I set my Tube pre at 6 ish
I set my Solid state pre to 3-4 ish (sometimes I raise these proportionately if I need more volume but i never go above 7 on the tube and 5 on the solid state as the pre starts to sound bad)

set your compressor to where your hardest notes are just starting to turn the led red. usually with my basses and style its between 3 and 4

My graphic EQ is set like this: remember on a bass the mids are more in the 250- 500hz region. Leave space in mix for guitar and vocals by cutting the 1 -2khz.

30 hz 2 notch below 0
64 hz 1 notch below 0
125 hz on 0
250 hz 1 above 0
500 hz on 0
1 khz is cut 2.5 below 0
2khz is 1 below
3khz is on 0
5khz is on 1.5 above 0
8khz is 1 above 0

I use the low and high pass to set my sound to the room....
set both to 0 and play a bit and listen if you need more bottom end turn the low pass up a bit, if your to boomy turn it down a bit.
Same for high pass... If you are to shrill and have to much bite, loose some high pass, for more bite turn it up a bit

Master volume to suite room size

That's it realy. remember a room can completely change your sound, so fiddle around. Hartkes sound great if you keep the pre amps down a touch and dont over do the EQ

In a small room with lots of soft furnishings, pull the low pass down quite a bit
In a room with a hollow wooden stage Drop the low pass down

Most importantly listen from a few meters back to get an idea of your overall sound.

 

[CodyGBass]

Ok. cool. so what kind off bass are you using? and what speaker? and lastly do you have any fx pedals in front of your input jack?

I am using a Hartke transporter 4x10 cab in that video, its Hartke's cheapest cab but it sounds ok.

The natural wood bass I use is a passive single coil Ibanez Blazer, its renown for having awesome high output pickups I set the tone and volume wide open. But my MIM fender P bass deluxe sounds just as good just less growl.

The Red/amber Bass is an Ibanez SRX500 and is Active with Humbucker style pick ups. I dial this bass to mainly use the neck pick up and fairly flat on its EQ with wide open volume.

I set my Tube pre at 6 ish
I set my Solid state pre to 3-4 ish (sometimes I raise these proportionately if I need more volume but i never go above 7 on the tube and 5 on the solid state as the pre starts to sound bad)

Thanks I'm using an Ibanez GSR200 which is obviously nowhere near as good as your basses but I am only a beginner (1 and 1/2 years since I started) I don't know what brand the speaker cab is it just says Ebony at the bottom effects pedals wise I have a Boss ODB-3 which I stack on top of a Boss SD-1 but I don't use these much. I also have a Boss CE-2 Chorus which I use way more.

 

[zombie1965]

Thanks I'm using an Ibanez GSR200 which is obviously nowhere near as good as your basses but I am only a beginner (1 and 1/2 years since I started) I don't know what brand the speaker cab is it just says Ebony at the bottom effects pedals wise I have a Boss ODB-3 which I stack on top of a Boss SD-1 but I don't use these much. I also have a Boss CE-2 Chorus which I use way more.

Nothing wrong with the GSR's mate, good... no brilliant place to start my blazer is a "beginners bass" however it is an early 80's Made in Japan, so really good!. Boss pedals will easily do the job. the only thing I don't realy know about it the speaker. is it a 2x10 or 4x10 or 2x12 or 1x15?

BTW I added some more details above
Below is sound through a Bass Big muff skip to around 3:30

 

[Bob-I]

I honestly couldn't hear the issue, but if you've cleaned all the jacks and it's only happening on that one input, I might start looking at the circuit board for hairline cracks. You can use a heat gun and cold spray to simulate changes in temp. The problem with these intermittent problems is making it happen when you're working on it.

FYI, I agree the timing on 7 nation was off. You're playing 3 8th notes, not a triplet like it should be played. It just doesn't have that hesitant feel.

 

[zombie1965]

I honestly couldn't hear the issue, but if you've cleaned all the jacks and it's only happening on that one input, I might start looking at the circuit board for hairline cracks. You can use a heat gun and cold spray to simulate changes in temp. The problem with these intermittent problems is making it happen when you're working on it.

FYI, I agree the timing on 7 nation was off. You're playing 3 8th notes, not a triplet like it should be played. It just doesn't have that hesitant feel.

Unfortunately it started as just the passive jack. However its now happening intermittently whichever I use

Today I tried all the suggestions on cleaning an checking earth/ground etc.... Still have the problem.

I'm afraid its looking like a trip to the Amp Tech....

 

[CodyGBass]

Nothing wrong with the GSR's mate, good... no brilliant place to start my blazer is a "beginners bass" however it is an early 80's Made in Japan, so really good!. Boss pedals will easily do the job. the only thing I don't realy know about it the speaker. is it a 2x10 or 4x10 or 2x12 or 1x15?

BTW I added some more details above
Below is sound through a Bass Big muff skip to around 3:30

The amp goes through a single 410 cabinent.

 

[CodyGBass]

Ok. cool. so what kind off bass are you using? and what speaker? and lastly do you have any fx pedals in front of your input jack?

I am using a Hartke transporter 4x10 cab in that video, its Hartke's cheapest cab but it sounds ok.

The natural wood bass I use is a passive single coil Ibanez Blazer, its renown for having awesome high output pickups I set the tone and volume wide open. But my MIM fender P bass deluxe sounds just as good just less growl.

The Red/amber Bass is an Ibanez SRX500 and is Active with Humbucker style pick ups. I dial this bass towards the bridge pick up ( 70% ish) and set fairly flat on its EQ (center indents when the knobs are turned) with volume wide open.

I set my Tube pre at 6 ish
I set my Solid state pre to 3-4 ish (sometimes I raise these proportionately if I need more volume but i never go above 7 on the tube and 5 on the solid state as the pre starts to sound bad)

set your compressor to where your hardest notes are just starting to turn the led red. usually with my basses and style its between 3 and 4

My graphic EQ is set like this: remember on a bass the mids are more in the 250- 500hz region. Leave space in mix for guitar and vocals by cutting the 1 -2khz.

30 hz 2 notch below 0
64 hz 1 notch below 0
125 hz on 0
250 hz 1 above 0
500 hz on 0
1 khz is cut 2.5 below 0
2khz is 1 below
3khz is on 0
5khz is on 1.5 above 0
8khz is 1 above 0

I use the low and high pass to set my sound to the room....
set both to 0 and play a bit and listen if you need more bottom end turn the low pass up a bit, if your to boomy turn it down a bit.
Same for high pass... If you are to shrill and have to much bite, loose some high pass, for more bite turn it up a bit

Master volume to suite room size

That's it realy. remember a room can completely change your sound, so fiddle around. Hartkes sound great if you keep the pre amps down a touch and dont over do the EQ

In a small room with lots of soft furnishings, pull the low pass down quite a bit
In a room with a hollow wooden stage Drop the low pass down

Most importantly listen from a few meters back to get an idea of your overall sound.

Thanks soo much for your help.

 

[zombie1965]

******SOLVED******
It was the power connector (IEC socket) inside the amp was making a poor connection with the power leads. obviously the intermittent was due to the vibrations shaking the worn connector loose. Simple $5 fix