Clip LED

[hankSRay]

Well I just got back from practice with my new band and it was awsome, I was layin some sick basslines on my stingray. Anyways this was the first time I got to crank my new Hartke ha4000 up, when I first cranked up the volume i noticed my clip light goin crazy so I lowered it a bit. my question is, is it safe to play when the clipping light flashes? or should it not flash at all? I checked the owners manual but it only showed where the clip light was, never said ne thing about it being harmful or what, so if someone can give me a rundown on that id appreciate it. thanks

 

[spectorbassguy]

Well I just got back from practice with my new band and it was awsome, I was layin some sick basslines on my stingray. Anyways this was the first time I got to crank my new Hartke ha4000 up, when I first cranked up the volume i noticed my clip light goin crazy so I lowered it a bit. my question is, is it safe to play when the clipping light flashes? or should it not flash at all? I checked the owners manual but it only showed where the clip light was, never said ne thing about it being harmful or what, so if someone can give me a rundown on that id appreciate it. thanks

If the Hartke is anything like my ex-Ampeg SVT-3 Pro it is because you have the input gain too high. Try turning down the input gain and turning the master volume up. That should fix the clipping. And note that as discussed in prior threads, MM basses are wired HOT so your input gain may need to be at 25% or even less.

 

[spectorbassguy]

http://www.samsontech.com/products/relatedDocs/HA4000.jpg
After looking at the Hartke website, I'd offer a couple of suggestions also:
You probably need to use the input 1 as it is a lower signal.
The volume control MAY be your input gain and the intensity MAY be your master volume or vice versa. Play with those two settings and you'll be able to tell which one does what. Also remember that any boost you give in the bass freqs MAY cause your amp to clip at a lower volume. Good luck and have fun with that pup!

 

[prickly_pete]

My guess is that the clip led is for the preamp. Clipping the input stage (preamp) should not hurt anything; its what guitarists do everyday to get distortion. If the clip led is for the power section, then yes clipping can kill you speakers pretty quickly, and should be avoided.

 

[hankSRay]

well the all the manual says about the clip light is that its used when the signal reaches a point of distortion, yet when it comes on my sound is not distorted at all, just loud lol. I appreciate the advice guys, im slow with this amp stuff lol

 

[spectorbassguy]

I have to say that I don't like the setup of that Hartke amp. It appears that the "shape" and "intensity" knobs are just a variable EQ so why don't they just put it with the other EQ knobs?

 

[hankSRay]

yeah its a little funny, sounds great though and was pretty cheap. but i just hope i dont ruin it lol

 

[hankSRay]

well ive been readin through the manual and i came across them sayin that it is "nearly impossible to overload the input on your amp" so does that kinda mean what prickley pete said about clipping the preamp and not the power section? oh and another thing before when it was clippin i didnt hear any distortion, but it says in the manual is that the clip light goes on when "the output level raises to an unacceptable high distortion level" this amp stuff is complicated, anyone have any incite on this?

 

[prickly_pete]

well ive been readin through the manual and i came across them sayin that it is "nearly impossible to overload the input on your amp" so does that kinda mean what prickley pete said about clipping the preamp and not the power section? oh and another thing before when it was clippin i didnt hear any distortion, but it says in the manual is that the clip light goes on when "the output level raises to an unacceptable high distortion level" this amp stuff is complicated, anyone have any incite on this?

I glanced at the pdf manual. The description of the led indicates that it may be for the amplifier section, in which case if its lighting up it could be dangerous for your speakers. Also I noticed that that head does not have seperate pre and post volume controls; therefore, the volume is most certainly for the power amp, and the preamp volume is preset -- depending on which input you use. I would send Hartke an email, and ask them if the led is for the power section, and if momentary flashing is dangerous for the speakers.

 

[skabassist13]

if its like any ampeg, flashing in short bursts every now and then is ok. but prolonged flashing is a bad thing.