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Pros:
- 7 band graphic EQ paired with Bass, Mid and Treble controls
- Powerful sound with unique characteristics
- Extremely durable, dense and well-built
Cons:
- Not very portable due to its weight
- Does not have the Direct Out
When you spend enough time in music industry (regardless of what instrument you play and what kind of equipment you use), you learn to appreciate the things that do not necessarily shine. Sometimes the units hidden in the back rows do the most and give you the best possible performance. What I am trying to imply here is that lesser-known brands do set a high bar and can easily compete with huge corporations and companies. They work hard to deliver quality so that they can stand out among the names that are seen everywhere. One of such amplifiers is Hartke HD75. You may or may have not heard of it, but that does not change the fact that this bad boy is one of the best bass amplifiers out there. It packs some bells and whistles, as well as traditional features to deliver the most prominent low-end tones. Let’s continue our quest and find out, why is Hartke HD75 able to compete so well on the market.
Features
The quality of each and every amplifier is, of course, hugely defined by the components it is built with. When a combo is comprised with high-tech constituents, everything works out perfectly. Hartke HD75 does not follow the traditional path, but rather it chooses the innovative way of doing things. The design of its speaker is a great example of this pattern. A single 12” Hydrive Series speaker with 1” tweeter consists of an outside paper cone and an inside aluminum cone. The exterior adds warmth and sweetness, while the interior creates an interesting zing that suits your bass so perfectly. What is more, Hartke HD75 can output 75 watts, which makes it powerful enough to rock small stages. Its input is designed in a way that can respond to both active and passive circuitries of your instrument. This bad boy has a 7 band EQ, which provides you with an outstanding level of tone control. This way you can nail each and every frequency and be the true boss of your sound. If you want to add a touch of versatility to your performance, you can incorporate the effects pedals into the rig using the effects loop. But one of the most distinctive features is the limiter, which protects the speaker and the circuitry in general from overloading. This makes Hartke HD75 even more durable. Apart from these features, let’s touch up on some sockets and connections. This combo has a single input for your bass, an auxiliary input for external audio sources, send and return jacks for the effects loop, as well as a headphone output for home practices.
Controls
As you take a look at Hartke HD75, you might think that the amount of the knobs you see is too small. You notice couple of encoders and that’s it, which makes you think that the available controls are not enough. However, as you check everything more attentively, you discover that you have way more than you need on your hands. Let’s continue and find out, what I am trying to say.
The front panel features four main knobs and a slider. Volume modifies the level of the overall output and allows you to balance out your signal and avoid any undesirable noise. Then we have Bass, Mid and Treble knobs, which modify the response of low, mid or high frequencies, respectively. They can either boost or attenuate the selected frequency range and give you a great deal of control over your tone. Next we have the graphic equalizer, which is equipped with sliders. They enable you to boost or cut the selected frequency bands by 12dB. This provides you with precision and the ability to adjust the characteristics of your tone meticulously. And of course we have the power switch that is mounted on the rare panel of the unit. As you can see, tweaking your sound could not get any easier. This amplifier gives you the perfect amount of control without overcomplicating your job and taking hours to figure out how everything works.
Hartke HD75 Sound
Hartke HD75 is pretty small in size, but do not let your eyes fool you. This small beast can easily handle coffeehouses and cafes, not to mention band rehearsals. This is a bit scary for such wattage, however, the built-in limiter ensures that you will not damage your amp even if you push it too hard. It also evens out your sound and eliminates the chance of unwanted noise. Hartke HD75 sounds pretty warm and sweet even before you start tweaking. But as you start messing around with the EQ, you receive a more defined tone. All frequencies have their own character and the ability to boost them all allows you to create a multi-dimensional sound. As you move on to the graphic equalizer, things get a bit risky. If you mess around too much, you might ruin your whole performance. But if you take it slow, I am sure you will find your perfect settings. One last thing I want to mention is that Hartke HD75 has just the right amount of attack and bite thanks to the aluminum interior. And that paper cone does its part of the magic as well. This combo enables you to create anything from vintage to modern and crank your bass up a notch.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, what truly matters is how your sound is affected by the amplifier. Nobody wants the unit that overpowers the natural characteristics of the instrument. Luckily, Hartke HD75 does the opposite, which means it accentuates the natural qualities of your bass and leaves its sound uncolored. It is a simple tool that makes everything better. What I love the most about it is its straightforward attitude towards the amplification. You have what you need and nothing else, which, for me, is the very definition of perfection. Good luck!
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