Hartke LX8500
Professional music gear - detailed information and where to buy
Hartke
LX8500
Product Info
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
The LX8500 is a seriously impressive little head. It’s a great option for gigging bassists needing a compact, powerful amp with a touch of tube warmth – perfect for funk, modern rock, and even some heavier styles where you want a clean foundation. It's surprisingly versatile and well-built for the price point.
Product Description
- Hartke LX8500
- Bass Amp Head
- 12AX7 Class A tube preamp
- Power: 800W @ 4 ohms
- Jack active/passive input
- Controls: Drive
- Compressor
- Gain
- Bass
- Shape
- Frequency
- Treble
- Master
- Mute switch
- British switch (+ 6 dB)
- AUX input
- Headphone output
- XLR DI output with ground lift
- Tuner output
- FX loop
- 2 x Footswitch connection (TRS) for drive
- effects loop
- brite and frequency parameters
- Speaker connections: Speaker Twist and jack
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 355 x 270 x 73 mm
- Weight: 3.9 kg
PROS
- • Excellent clean headroom, surprisingly powerful for its size
- • 12AX7 preamp delivers a warm, musical tube character
- • Flexible EQ with 'Shape' control offers tonal sculpting options
- • Compact and lightweight for a head of this power class
CONS
- • FX loop isn't always the most transparent, coloration can be noticeable
- • Limited gain saturation compared to higher-end hybrid amps
- • Shape control can be a bit vague, requiring experimentation
Product Video
Key Features
Power (Watts)
800W @ 4 ohms
Preamp Tubes
1 x 12AX7
EQ Bands
5-band EQ + Shape
DI Output
XLR with ground lift
Speaker Output
Speaker Twist & Jack
Weight
3.9 kg
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Frequently Asked Questions
The 'Shape' control subtly alters the mid-range frequencies, providing a slight boost or cut to the overall character – it’s not a drastic EQ adjustment but adds a unique tonal flavor.
Yes, the XLR DI output is clean and well-balanced, making it perfectly usable for recording direct into an audio interface or mixing console.
The British switch adds a noticeable upper-midrange boost, emulating a classic British amp voicing – it adds more aggression and presence.
