Hartke VXL Bass Attack Pedal

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:10 am

Anyone out there using one of these? About 120 cheaper than a Sansamp and I think, better.
Crank the harmonics to about 9, Brite on 4, all other tone controls flat (5).
Then use the mix knob to have more bass signal than effect. (just left of centre)
You'd be hard pressed to tell you aren't playing through a valve (tube) amp.
I thought it was bad when I bought it, but 5 months on I've learnt to get a fantastic sound from it.
Sans Amp? Tried it, didn't like it!!!
Check it out, perfect for a Rick 4003.....

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:35 am

I'll hafta try that. I bought one awhile back & was sorta disappointed & simply put it back in the box.

I wasn't that impressed by the SansAmp either, though I hear the new programmable ones are cool.

Regardless, the price point on the Hartke is what sold me on it, I'll try your setting at practice this week!

anoukane · Post by **anoukane** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:33 am

You should try the Sansamp RBI. That mid knob really makes a difference!

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:49 am

If you have a parametric EQ, also try boosting the mid frequency, with a thin band Q, around about 1 - 1.5 KHz. Honk honk. Excellent for emulating Chris Squire's throaty bass sound on 'Siberian Khatru'
Or Farewell to Kings.
If you get boom, then fiddle with the bass eq around 80 - 100 Hz.
The secret for the Hartke pedal is loads of harmonics and blend the mix knob to taste. Mmmm YUMMY!!!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:55 am

I've never played one but I like the name ...

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:29 am

Very descriptive name. And the bottom end is HUGE!!!

frode · Post by **frode** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:36 am

I haven´t tried the pedal, but I use hartke amp 3500 together with VX410 and VX115. Love it. I´m thinking of getting the pedal as well.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:23 pm

I play through a Hartke 3500 with 4x10 cab. I could never get a good sound with the EQ. I only use the tube preamp on 8. No solid state. The Bass Attack pedal really makes it sound like a tube amp. Loads of thick punchy bottom. As I said earlier, use the mix knob to have more bass sound than effect, otherwise it ends up sounding like the ****** sterile sound you get with the Sansamp.
I play quite hard with my fingers, so I ended up turning the brite knob down to 4.
It only took me 5 months to figure it out.

I was going to buy an Orange tube bass amp, but I think for the time being I'll stick with my current equipment.

los_sentidos · Post by **los_sentidos** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:15 pm

Hola!

I use one of these. I use it to boost the bottom end at one point in a song and then I use it for that lovely distorted tone you can get. The only other effects bassists in original bands use around here is distortion and I think that they all use the Boss bass distortion one and it sounds very thin compared to this.

It's annoying how it seems to effect the signal when not in use but I've leant to use this live with my other effects now and it's all coming togeher.

I got given (yes for free by some random person in a pub) a boss bass flanger (she also gave us a boss octaver and a vintage boss guitar flanger!!!) and I use bass chorus and an eBow.