The Hartke LH500 Bass is a Hartke amplifier, currently around $517.49. Close alternatives include the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 115 Combo and the Gallien-Krueger GK Fusion 112 Bass Combo. It pairs well with the Carl Martin Crunch Drive and the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive.
Hartke LH500 Bass
Hartke · amplifier
The Hartke LH500 is a 500-watt tube-preamp bass amplifier head from Hartke, combining a 12AX7 tube preamp stage with a 500W solid-state power amplifier. The LH500 provides tube preamp warmth and harmonic character over the clean, punchy Hartke solid-state power section for stage-capable bass amplification at medium-to-large venue volumes. It is the mid-power version of the LH series, positioned between smaller Hartke heads and the flagship LH1000.
- preamp
- warmth
- harmonic
- punchy
- gigging
- organic
- hybrid
- mid
Good for
- Live
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Hartke LH500 Bass is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Hartke LH500 Bass
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
20% matchRun Carl Martin Crunch Drive into that high headroom platform and it finally gets some crunchy
Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive
Fulltone
18% matchFulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive's fuzzy fills in what this high headroom tone doesn't make on its own
Colorsound Overdriver
pedal
18% matchColorsound Overdriver's bright balances out the warm tone
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
10% matchPut Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter after Hartke LH500 Bass in the signal chain, clear of Hartke LH500 Bass's own gain stage
Boss BC-1X
Boss
8% matchBoss BC-1X leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
6% matchPut Strymon El Capistan in Hartke LH500 Bass's effects loop, clear of Hartke LH500 Bass's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
6% matchPut Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 in Hartke LH500 Bass's effects loop, clear of Hartke LH500 Bass's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
tonal matchHartke LH500 Bass leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature wants
Boutique & premium upgrades
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
70% similarityShared character: punch, solid_state, punchy
Gallien-Krueger GK Fusion 2x12 Bass Combo Amp
Gallien Krueger
63% similarityShared character: solid_state, punchy, gig
Hartke LH1000 Bass Head
Hartke
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S
Gallien Krueger
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Ampeg All-tube SVT
Ampeg
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 Bass Head
Mesa Boogie
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 115 Combo
Gallien Krueger
68% similarityShared character: punch, solid_state, gig
Gallien-Krueger GK Fusion 112 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
63% similarityShared character: solid_state, punchy, gig
Gallien-Krueger MB-210 II Bass combo 350 watts
Gallien Krueger
62% similarityShared character: punch, punchy, gig
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 2x10 Combo Bass Amp
Gallien Krueger
60% similarityShared character: punch, punchy, gig
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 800s
Gallien Krueger
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 1200s
Gallien Krueger
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Hartke LH500 Bass (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Hartke LH500 Bass?+
The closest matches in character are the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 115 Combo, the Gallien-Krueger GK Fusion 112 Bass Combo, the Gallien-Krueger MB-210 II Bass combo 350 watts. Boutique upgrades: Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210, Gallien-Krueger GK Fusion 2x12 Bass Combo Amp, Hartke LH1000 Bass Head.
What pairs well with the Hartke LH500 Bass?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive, Colorsound Overdriver — Run Carl Martin Crunch Drive into that high headroom platform and it finally gets some crunchy.
How much does the Hartke LH500 Bass cost?+
Around $517.49 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).