Hartke AC150 Acoustic Ribbon Amp - Total Sonic

manual on how best to set up the amp, I
slightly increased the levels of the Treble
and Bass controls on channel one, then
further sculpted the sound with the fiveband
EQ. I found the level controls to be
quite sensitive, and with modest
adjustments I was able to shape the
sound significantly. The onboard reverbs,
choruses, and echoes were similarly
sensitive—a dash of digital spring reverb
sounded great, but it was easy to turn
the knob too far and end up with a
saturated sound.
Putting the Hartke through its paces,
I was consistently impressed by its
transparent, well-balanced sound and
ultraclear trebles. I noticed that the
Hartke lacked some of the compression
that I occasionally use on other amplifiers
to add a little punch to individual notes.
When I added a vocal mic to the
second channel, the vocals sounded rich
and clear, and the signals for guitar and
voice were both distinct and easy to
balance. Strumming and singing at the
same time was one of my favorite
applications for the AC150, so much so
that I was drawn back to it many times
just to practice my songs. While this is an
excellent amp for singer-songwriters, it’s
important to note that at 48 pounds, it
does take some effort to haul.
I was curious to see how the 150
would cut through the mix with drums
and electric bass added to the equation,
so I brought it to band practice. When I
cranked the Master Volume I got a little
feedback yelp, so I reached for the notch
filter. The first knob allowed me to
isolate the offending frequency, and the
second let me roll back just enough to
lose the feedback, but not the entire
frequency range. With the feedback
effectively clipped, I was able to turn up
to full volume, and as we played through
our set, the AC150 came through the
mix loud and clear.
THE WRAP
The Hartke AC150 Acoustic Ribbon
amplifier was a pleasure to play through
and is well suited for a variety of
applications—whether you want to
practice at home, play a coffeehouse as a
singer-songwriter, or take the stage with
a band. And with ample wattage, an
excellent speaker complement, and
plentiful features, it offers honest tonal
reproduction at a moderate price—
making it an acoustic amplifier option
worth considering, no matter what your
style.
From Acoustic Guitar, September 2007, issue 177, © 2007 String Letter
Publishing, David A. Lusterman, Publisher. All rights reserved. For more
information on Acoustic Guitar, contact String Letter Publishing, Inc.,
255 West End Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901; telephone (415) 485-6946;
fax (415) 485-0831; www.acousticguitar.com.
GOT A QUESTION or comment for Acoustic Guitar’s editors? Please send us an e-mail at
editors.ag@stringletter.com or snail-mail Acoustic Guitar Editorial, PO Box 767, San
Anselmo, CA 94979. We regularly print reader letters in our Mailbag column and reader
questions and tips in Q&A.
TO SUBSCRIBE to Acoustic Guitar magazine, call (800) 827-6837 or visit us online at
www.acousticguitar.com. As a subscriber, you enjoy the convenience of home delivery
and you never miss an issue. Sign up or renew your own subscription now and you can also
purchase a gift subscription for a friend. All subscribers are eligible to receive our free
monthly online newsletter, Acoustic Guitar Notes.
TO ADVERTISE in Acoustic Guitar, the only publication of its kind read by 150,000 guitar
players and makers every month, call Brannan Willson at (415) 485-6946, ext. 616, or e-mail
him at brannan@stringletter.com.
AG SUBSCRIBERS Take care of all your subscription needs at our online Subscriber
Services page (www.acousticguitar.com): pay your bill, renew, give a gift, change your
address, and get answers to any questions you may have about your subscription.
RETAILERS To find out how you can carry Acoustic Guitar magazine in your store,
contact Retail Vision at (800) 381-1288.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR (ISSN 1049-9261) is published monthly by String Letter Publishing,
Inc., 255 West End Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901. Periodicals postage paid at San Anselmo
and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.
September 2007