SB15 Review

The new SB-15 "Bass Gig Pack" from Hartke contains everything you need to get up and running as a bassist. The pack includes the new SB-15 4-string electric bass, our B15 Combo amp (new from the popular B Series) a gig bag, strap and cable.

Features:	5.5
Sound:	8
Action:	5.5
Reliability:	7.5
Impression:	7
Overall rating:	6.7
Users rating:	7.9
Comments:	7

overall: 5.4

Featured review by: kydoodlebob, on december 24, 2007

Purchased from: Sam Ash

Features: This bass includes the guitar, a Hartke B150 amp, a strap, a cable, and a gig bag. To start out with the guitar is great, one problem with mine is that it is bowed. The strap broke within 3 months. The cable is so horrible that I had to buy a new one the day I got it. the bag is pretty good. The amp has very good sound, I give that a 10. But since the other stuff wasn't very good, I have to give this a 3. // 3

Sound: The style of this is pretty much anything. Well of course it is not a jazz bass but it can sound like one witht he Switch of pickups knobs. Never turn everything on this amp up, it will either blow out your ear and the amp, make you deaf or make the amp useless. But other than that it has a great sound. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar itself was actually pretty good. I give the factory rating a 1. I do this becasue my bass was bowed. It really makes a difference when you are trying to hit those high notes really fast.Also when I got it it the tops by the tuning knobs was beat-up from the packaging. The flaws on this guitar are only that you need to polish it quite often because of the black finish. // 4

Reliability & Durability: This guitar will probably withstand a live show, but as a backup plan. After a while I would most definantley get a replacement. It is only a beginner bass, get rid of the bass, but keep the amp for practice. Other things are the easily chippeing off finish, I hit a wall not very hard with thiss and guess what, a chip the size of two pencil-erasers (the ones on the top of the pencil). // 7

Impression: I play whatever I find with good bass, and yes I can pretty much use it for that. I wish I had known how bad the cable and strap are. I would have definantly bought another. I would most definanly not buy it if it was stolen, I would go for a non-beginner bass. I love the amp, and the sound of it. I hate how it is beat up, and I hate how it is bowed. I would compare it to the Squier beginner bass, I would definantly buy the Squier because it is not black and the sound is way better. I would definantly choose the Squier. // 5

overall: 8

Reviewed by: danny oi, on february 16, 2007

Features: Beginners, experienced, anyone who plays bass will like this one. The SB15 package is an awesome buy. Looking for good sound, good feel and a light guitar then look no further. It has a sleek shape and is a simple set-up with all Hartke's own hardware all over. It is good for beginners with it's light body and nice shape for sitting down with andf pratising. And it's good for experienced players with it's good sound and good size fretboard. It has the standard 24 frets and is a good size for people with fat or thin bass pluckers! Solid neck and headstock and has a shiny black finish. It normally comesm in a package with a 15 watt Hartke amp, lead and strap. The only thing is they're kinda rare so you'll have trouble finding them in shops but over the net should be a doddle. Cheap, fun to play and good for gigging, any bass player must at least try this baby! // 8

Sound: This is good for any style, for punk, metal, jazz and funk. Whatever you play this bass can handle it. I use a Hartke bass amp but it still sounds excellent through a guitar amp. Also the pick ups don't pick up all the fuzz so you get a good sound and feel out of it. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The pickups and hardware are all set up like a normal bass guitar but are easily adjusted, and the bridge is put so the strings are just the right height above the fretboard. I got mine second hand, so the wiring wasn't amazing, but new I suspect it'll be done well. The only major flaw is it's so light if you turn around it could fly anywhere, so hold tight. // 7

Reliability & Durability: This bass has been used in many gigs before I had it and a few with me and it's handeled it fine, when played through a quality amp. The strap buttons are too close together mind, and I'm in a punk band so I'm jumping around the floor so I need straplocks which is a good idea. The paintjob has lasted for 3 years withoput scratching so there's no worries there. I would definitley depend on it as long it was in good hands and probably with strap locks. I've never had to change or fix the pick-ups but with it being second hand, I've needed to solder the input a couple of times. // 8

Impression: This is a good match for any bass player Who does any style really, I've been playing it for 2 years now and it has served me well. If it was stolen I'd get it again if was in most shops but it isn't so that depends how much it is over the internet, my favourite feature has to be the lightness and how easy it is to play, you can move your fingers over the fretboard so smoothly and jump around like a nutter at the same time. // 9

Comments

[Bullet-Rule]

I bought this bass about 6 months ago as a beginners' bass and i have had absolutely no problems with it. It is damn light so its great for moving on stage and the finish is nice. The hardware is fine and i've had no trouble with anything yet. Its a very attractive bass and i'd recommend this for any beginner!

[bluesychris]

Well I play a 6 string not bass but I have this guitar pack beause i think that experimenting with other types of guitar is really usefull, Its never failed to produce what I need it to I give it 9/10

[Belgian Bastard]

I own this bass(and amp, both in the same set) and I love it.
I got it second hand, and I never had any trouble with it.

[rockergeek0321]

I owned this bass. It is great for beginners and overall pretty solid sounding and looking. I had a nick in the finish by the time I traded it in and that was it.

[sethring]

I got this bass, (second hand)and is my first bass, its great for a first but your bound to replace it within a year or two of playing bass, amp is a bit screwed, gonna take it somewhere to get looked at. All in all, i would give the bass a 8/10 the amp a 6/10...and replace the cord IMMEDIATELY. Its a pretty feel good bass all in all =]

[killyerscene]

My strap broke, the cable needed replacing and its tricky to get the EQs on the amp right to prevent fuzzy buzzes... other than that, been playing it for almost 2 years and no complaints... great for rockin out with a buddy, dunno about shows though...

[ashenbassist]

This was my first bass, 14th birthday present, it worked for learning on definately, but after a year i felt the need to progress and so i bought an LTD B-2005, realy sick bass. The Hartke became my beater bass for travelling ect. Then in Woodshop in grade twelve we had the opportunity to re-finish an old piece of furniture...

With an iron i ripped out the frets and used epoxy and lots of spray-gloss to get a glassy fretboard, sanded off the black on the top face of the bass and threw on a nice walnut and maple striped wood veneer and then busted out a nice fade in on the edges of the bass. This thing is sick with some nice light guage flats or round wounds!
need some new pickups soon though.
as for the pack, the amp blow chunks but is nice for travelling and the headphone preamp is surprisingly great. Everything else is garbage, totally useless.