The Hartke Bass Attack 2 is an analog bass preamp and direct box built around Hartke's Shape EQ circuit and an overdrive effect. Hartke describes it as combining the company's "legendary Shape EQ, Contour and Overdrive effect" in a single stompbox, giving bass players tone shaping and a direct output for a mixing console in one enclosure1. It sits in the preamp family, and its overdrive side reaches from what Hartke calls "subtle tube emulation to grungy fuzz," which places it near the edges of overdrive and fuzz territory for bass1.
Status
The Bass Attack 2 is discontinued. Hartke's product page marks it as "Discontinued" and states the item is unavailable for order1. Players hunting one will be looking at secondhand or leftover dealer stock.
What it does to your sound
The pedal's core is Hartke's Shape circuit, which activates a specialized preset EQ curve that can be customized with the Shape Frequency and Amount knobs1. Around that sit a Bass and a Treble knob for extra color, plus a dedicated Contour switch1. The overdrive circuit, in Hartke's words, gives bass players "creative control over effects ranging from subtle tube emulation to grungy fuzz"1.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shape Frequency and Amount | Customize the specialized preset EQ curve of the Shape circuit1 |
| Bass and Treble | Add a little extra color to the tone1 |
| Contour switch | Dedicated switch for extra tone shaping1 |
| Tone | Sets the amount of high-frequency growl1 |
| Mix | Blends the distorted and dry signals1 |
| Pre/Post switch | Adjusts the direct output so you can change your stage sound without affecting the mix sent from the XLR to FOH1 |
The Mix knob makes the overdrive work as a parallel blend, so the dry bass stays underneath the distorted signal rather than being replaced by it1. The Pre/Post switch on the direct output is aimed at players running a stage amp and a PA at once: you can dial your backline sound without changing what the front-of-house engineer receives1.
Power and outputs
Power is flexible for a pedal of this kind. It runs on two AA batteries, on an AC adapter sold separately, or on a mixer's phantom power through its XLR jack1.
The AC adapter is not included in the box; Hartke lists it as sold separately1.
The output section is built for stage use. There is a 1/4" parallel output for dry signals, a 1/4" effect output for your amp, and a balanced XLR direct output for a mixing console1. Hartke describes the output stage as ultra-clean and flexible1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Hartke Bass Attack 2 discontinued?
Yes. Hartke's own product page lists the Bass Attack 2 as discontinued, and the item is marked unavailable for order. Players looking for this kind of pedal will need to find it secondhand or through remaining stock at dealers, since the maker is no longer selling it new.
Can the Hartke Bass Attack 2 run on phantom power?
Yes. Hartke says the Bass Attack 2 can operate off a mixer's phantom power through its balanced XLR jack. That means when you are plugged into a mixing console at a gig or in the studio, the console can power the pedal over the XLR cable, alongside the other power options.
Does the Hartke Bass Attack 2 take batteries?
Yes. The pedal runs on two AA batteries. Hartke also lists an AC adapter, sold separately, and phantom power via the XLR jack as alternative power sources, so there are three ways to power it in total.
Is the Hartke Bass Attack 2 analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the Bass Attack 2 lists its circuit type as analog, which matches its role as a straightforward preamp and direct box rather than a digital modeling unit.
Sources (2)
- Bass Attack 2, Hartke
- Bass Attack 2 by Hartke, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026