thanks Jamie for your honesty with this piece of kit, I'm just finding my way, and I appreciate your explanation, you give your views as to how it works for you... I find that leaves people that think they know it all something to think about, makes their ears prick up and listen,, thanks my friend, research in progress, I understood the message,, my call, respect, Andy Williamson

Jamie, I had a very similar experience to you. I also hesitated to buy a TX due to all the negative reviews, but was very glad I did get one. I have used Hartke gear for more than 20 years, including a HA3500 and LH500 for many hundreds of gigs. The TX is louder than both in my experience and I found it easy to get an identical tone to the LH. I've used it in some big rooms and even at a small festival with no bass through the PA. It held its own and I struggle to get it to peak even with a humbucker equipped Tele bass! Great video.

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like we had very similar experiences my friend. I bet the tele bass sounds great through the TX600!

Thanks for the review. The more I look around at reviews and articles, it seems that people have discovered how to dial in their volume and sound on this model.

Dude....seriously thank you. This review has helped me loads and I've gone out and bought one. Was tired of lugging around my bulky bass heads, and this will be a much lighter and hopefully better alternative. Thanks dude, great review

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

I’m glad it was a help Aaron. Thank you for commenting. Enjoy the amp - any questions, please shout up. :)

Thanks for the great review... and finally a solid explanation on the EQ section! I use this amp for a small year now and i'm completely happy with it. I also ran into some negative buzz, especially regarding the volume. However, the volume increase does not sound quite 'linear' over the entire sweep of the volume knob. The benefit of this is that you can dail it in much easier at a lower volume for home practice. But it sure does have enough for live situations and rehearsals. Overall a great amp.

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I hear you on the linear thing. With further use, I found the master volume to be much more linear when used at 4 ohms than 8.

I just bought one of these and this video helped tremendously. My apprehensions also came from all of the online reviews that stated it wasn't loud enough. They're bullshit. Love this amp (so far).

I enjoyed watching your video Jamie. I bought the TX 600 last yr I was hesitant because it is so light and I heard it wasn't loud. I love the LH 500 but it is very heavy but it delivers every time! I just set the LH 500 flat as same with the 1000. I took the chance and bought the TX 600 it looks so damn good and because of the headphone, aux, active & passive. Plus the cool lights when it's lit up! really couldn't pass those options up! your tips on the gain at 3:00 and then the master up to where needed is very helpful! Thank you very much!

@JamieMallender

3 жыл бұрын

No worries buddy! Thank you for watching. The whole point of my channel is to help wherever I can. I really appreciate you taking time to comment. All the best. :)

Thanks for the video. Your voice and attitude is so relax and honest!

Thanks Jamie, great review. I'm in exactly the same position, Hartke totally transformed my sound and playing about 10 years ago, I've had the LH500 for most of that time and I just feel it's my sound now. However, I have back problems and I've found the LH a bit fragile if I bang it about (I'm a bit clumsy lol!) so a Class D seemed the answer. I was looking at TC, Mesa etc as I thought this time I'm not going to worry about the price (I've got some inheritance money coming) but I always had a nagging doubt about losing my beloved Hartke sound. The TX600 looks like it's for me!. I'll be trying it out very soon (and its the cheapest amp I've looked at, so exactly as you said, price isn't everything!)

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Try it buddy! It’s my main amp now - I don’t really need anything else. I even sold some of the old heavy ones that I loved.

I've been using an LH1000 with two Hydrive cabs for years. The best sound I ever had since I sold all my Ampeg SVT's and cabs. The LH1000 was identical to the classic SVT, but the head weighs 35 pounds. I too watched alot of reviews of the new TX 600 because it weighs 7 lbs. But all the reviews said the sound quality was not as good as the LH series amps. You're the first to say it sounds just as good and is as loud as your LH500. I'll have to go to my local Guitar Center and try it out. I am in my 60's, so a 7 pound amp sounds perfect IF THE SOUND QUALITY has not been compromised. Good video Jamie.

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

You’ll love it. It’s an absolute world beater. :)

Great review!

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I’m still using it - the TX600 is still my main amp and I’m loving it.

@ajaxlepinski3285

5 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender - Right on! I'm a guitar player who was asked to fill on on bass, with a friend's band. I lugged my 30 kilo, Hi-Tone (Hiwatt DR103 clone) and 115 cabinet, to a gig a few weeks ago... great sounding amp (for guitar or bass) but man, is it heavy! Class D amps really are the way to go. Thanks again for posting!!!

Might have finally found my amp! Liked the Trace Elliot Elf and TC Electronic BH500 but this is much better.....

I have just done a A/B test with an LH 1000 and a TX 600, using pink noise, sine waves and of course basses. The preamps are identical, with only slight variations which will come down to variations the tolerance in pot values and preamp tubes. The only difference is the "Frequency" control, which on my TX I had slightly shy of noon to match the value of the LH (once again, pot tolerances). I also played the TX pre into the LH power amp and vice versa. The big difference is the power section. The LH has no volume pot on the power section, is it wide open all the time, so to run your TX like an LH, just dime the Master volume and use the Gain control for your volume knob. The way class D delivers power to the speakers is extremely different to how class AB does. The TX seems to have a hard limiter on the power at all times and delivers power in a very linear fashion, up to the limiter, whereas the LH has nothing restraining its full power without the limiter switched on, and is, therefore, much more dynamic on stage, and the power comes on much earlier, making it seem much louder in person. If you like the LH, the TX is the class D equivalent. It is not going to be as loud or be able to create the same transients through the speaker as the LH, but that is the nature of the beast. You gain "easy to load in and out", but you lose dynamic power on stage. Choose wisely.

I just got one of these. Anybody know how to change the tube on this? Nothing in the manual or online about it. I emailed Samson Industries and was told that they can't tell me due to "liability issues!"

I also bought one and love the sound. Warm and powerful sound. Simple to set. The volume with one RS 210 8 Ohm is okay. But it becomes really loud when the load is 4 Ohm. One very big inconvenient: the XLR direct out is pre everything. It is the pure signal from your bass with out compressor, gain or EQ. And you can’t change on this amp. How could they have done this? On stage I have to use the effect send out and us a separate DI box. Very poor. Therefore I recommend the LX 8500.

@JamieMallender

3 жыл бұрын

I agree that it would be nice to have the choice, pre or post. it doesnt bother me personally though because I have my own signature compressor and use a pedal di for my tone. The amp just makes it louder and doesn't colour the sound that much. so I just send a di to the desk and let the sound guy deal with that.

@Mike-li5uv

2 жыл бұрын

Jamie what pedal DI do you use? Thank you.

one big thing that people dont realize is that its very important to match the same ohms between the head and the cabinet . if you have a 4 ohm head and you plug into an 8 ohm cabinet then you're going to lose about 100 watts . so whatever the ohms are on the head then you want the same ohms on the cabinet

@JamieMallender

3 жыл бұрын

This is very true. I have a cabinet that is 4ohms so that if I need to gig with just one cab I can still get the full power out of the amp. I also have a smaller one which is switchable between 8 and 4. Although that can can’t take the amps full power, the tone is still better driving it at 4 ohms

@santanajackson6160

3 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender yeah I had a guy telling me to not get the hartke ha 5000 because it wasnt loud lol I couldnt help but to laugh at the dude and I was telling him that I played a ha 3500 through an ampeg 8 10 cabinet and that shit rocked the house and I was like so how can the ha 5000 not be loud when its got 150 more watts than what I had . so thats when I educated him about the ohms

Hi Jamie! When using the power amp in on the back (with another preamp for instance), is the master volume is still available or the power is a factory setting? (like tube amps)

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll try and check that for you at my gig tonight.

Hey bud! Great review! I'm trying to find a small, lightweight cab to match with this head, preferably a 210, but can't find one over 600w. What would you recommend as a cabinet for this Amp.

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

I use ScottDixon Cabs and Hartke HD cabs dude. The Scott Dixon ones are the lightest 600 watt cabs in the world and sound incredible. www.scottdixoninc.com/speaker-cabs

@wolframheldmaier727

3 жыл бұрын

When you connect a single box with 8 Ohm the output is about 350 Watts. So you will find suitable speakers

Thank You for this video

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

My pleasure. I love to promote really great gear. :)

@stagnacja1

5 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender do what you think . Take LH500 or TX300/600 ?

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

It depends how much power you require. I love my LH500 but I simply don’t need it now I’ve got the TX600. How big are your gigs?

@stagnacja1

5 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender home and small gigs. TX300 have very good prize but tx600 got good power . Im just worry about sound compare to Lh500

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

The TX600 sounds very similar to the LH500 but is much more versatile.

Jamie, can you please try to explain in your own words how this EQ works? Specially, the Shape pot. I tried the amp today, set the Shape at 12 ´o clock and turning the Frequency pot did change the tone. So the 12 o´ clock position isn´t actually "flat". This is part of what the manual says about the EQ. I really don´t like what it says. Not being able to set a flat tone is a bit annoying for me. "It is a little different than normal boost and cut hi-fi bass and treble controls as there is no theoretical “flat” setting. When the three knobs are at their center (12 o’clock) position, the response is set to a preset equalization curve that has been tailored for the bass guitar. The TX600 EQ controls are somewhat interactive, since electronically, the BASS control feeds the SHAPE control, which feeds the Treble control."

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Hi buddy. In truth, no amp really has ‘flat’ settings, only what we perceive as flat when everything is at 12. For many years Hartke has had this shaping system for mid frequencies because for a bass players sound - that’s where the magic is. It’s a much loved system that just got better on this amp. Think of it as a smiley face shape at one end of a graphic eq. The shape control allows you to change the height and width of that shape and the frequency control moves it along the frequency spectrum - along your imaginary graphic. So, if you can let go of the visual references you’re accustomed to and set it with your ears there isn’t a finer way to find that magic notch that’ll make sure you’re heard without being too loud.

@joaco7777

5 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender But how different is it from a semi parametric EQ? Or is it the same? I understand how the Frequency pot moves what the Shape pot does. My doubt is what does the Shape pot exactly do and does it have a flat setting? Is it a notch in the counterclockwise direction and a bump in the clockwise direction? The manual states a -3dB/+11dB range...it seems so but I couldn't find a flat setting. Not that I really need it but I want to understand how this works. Also, how do the bass, shape and treble controls affect each other? Thanks for your previous answer!

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

It works like the Hartke shaping technology always has, - but redesigned and more advanced. You’re over complicating the way you perceive this. A flat setting in truth is bogus, but with everything in the 12 o’clock position the amp does sound like any other Hartke set the same. People would argue at length for instance, about the LH500’s flat sound - is it really flat or is it with the knobs set more like this....? There’s no need for it. You have massively more control over tone shaping than most amps give you - all you need is to trust those chaps on the side of your head.

I recently bought a used one and noticed the volume is louder using the passive input than the active input using an active bass. Did you experience this?

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

Yes buddy. The active input has a db cut to prevent active basses from overloading the front end of the amp. As passives are much quieter that input is louder.

@artriveros7659

4 жыл бұрын

Jamie Mallender Gotcha! I really appreciate the response Jamie. Makes sense. Just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something wrong with it. Thanks again mate.

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

No problem dude, anytime.

That amp looks huge for a class D head. It looks like it might not be much if any smaller than a 3500/5500. What’s up with the bulk?

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

It’s not really that big at all. It’s bigger than some class D amps but way smaller than the 3500. I carry it around in a small laptop bag. I’m a really small guy - maybe that just makes it look bigger. Lol. :)

@prestachuck2867

5 жыл бұрын

Jamie Mallender Ahhh scale..Hah hah! Great video btw.

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you. :)

I didn’t like it I feel the LH 500 is better you don’t have to keep turning knobs to get your sound I would rather have the weight and straight forward settings! Great review

@1thess523

5 жыл бұрын

I have the LH 500 and it doesn't have the low end I am looking for so I have to use a Tech 21 VT pedal, it's powerful but by itself for me it doesn't give me what i'm looking for. I was thinking of going to this head or maybe try another pedal because NEW YEAR NEW GEAR!

@JamieMallender

5 жыл бұрын

Everyone’s instrument and requirements are different. For me, I didn’t have any problem matching the same tone as I had on the LH500 with this head but also found the TX600 to be more versatile. I do find there’s plenty of low on offer but I don’t boost it a lot personally. I like more punch and definition than rumble - but it’s all down to personal taste of course.

I think gain should be referred to as trim for that’s what it is, while people are using it as gain, and that’s the problem. My GENZ BENZ amp has a gain or (trim) as it should be labeled, and a volume next to the trim, and in addition, a master volume. I adjust the level on the trim or gain to max without overdrive distortion . I adjust the volume with the volume pots. Why two volume pots? Why would I want to risk sending all 900 watts into my 2/10? If I set my master at half this won’t happen and if the first stage volume can’t give the necessary volume, then turn up the master! Plus my BENZ has two almost redundant channels, for different instruments.

@wolframheldmaier727

3 жыл бұрын

Funny stuff but in fact you don’t need three volumes. Gain set the preamp input and master set the poweramp output. That is all yo7 Ned.

Can the mids actually be boosted on this amp? I love my lh500 but can only get a flat midrange with cut only. Is this the same setup?

@JamieMallender

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Nick. The Mid Range EQ section on this amp is much more versatile than the LH500. I used one for many years and I loved it too but my EQ shaping had to come from my pedalboard. The TX600 has shape and frequency controls to give you a lot of options in that all important mid-range frequency.

@ChefBassBro010

3 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender Thank you Jamie!

Reading reviews so far everyone say's its not the wattage it claims

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

That’s entirely the point of my video Marty. It has a ridiculous amount of power. The people who don’t think so have misunderstood how to use it.

@mowler8042

4 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender I just watched How To Get The Most Out Of Your Hartke TX600 Bass Amplifier video I see. Hartke is not that common here in Canada (Traynor is) will have to see if I can find a store that sells the Hartke to go and try it...Had a Markbass that never seemed as loud as claimed. Found a very good demo with a young lady with pink hair playing sounds very nice.

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

This video has more dislikes than I normally get. I can only think that must be people who sold theirs cos they didn’t get it. I had a guy come up to me at a gig and ask how come my amp was so loud cos he’d sold his, he thought it was crap. I showed him and he was like, noooooooooo!

@mowler8042

4 жыл бұрын

@@JamieMallender Well maybe that is a mistake by Hartke making the controls confusing to some? I find that no matter what someone claims its the room that kills me. I've played in basmements, concrete huge rental jam rooms and not sounding muddy in the mix is really hard.

@JamieMallender

4 жыл бұрын

It’s the least complicated amp possible. It’s actually easier to use than most amps. The instructions take seconds to read. If manufacturers just kept on making the same front panel everyone already understands then no progresses would be made. People would rather be angry than read a few sentences of helpful wording.