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Bob Hartman

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Bob Hartman
Musical artist

Robert Hartman (born December 26, 1949, in Bryan, Ohio) is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of legendary Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs, record guitars and produce most of the albums. He officially returned to touring with Petra in 2003 until he decided to retire the band in late 2005.

Biography

Bob Hartman was born in Bryan, Ohio. He learned to play guitar when he was 13 years old, teaching himself from books and watching other people. He has said that one of his major influences was Joe Walsh, a member of "The James Gang" at the time.

Hartman converted to Christianity when he was a teenager. When he was 21, he joined a Christian band called Rapture with John DeGroff. During this time, he wrote some of the songs of the first Petra album. He also studied at Bowling Green State University, earning a B.A. in Psychology.

When Rapture broke up, DeGroff moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend Christian Training Center (a school based on a church there). Hartman was already jamming with guitarist Greg Hough and they both moved to Indiana to attend the same school. Upon meeting drummer Bill Glover there, they formed Petra. Hartman became the principal (and most of the time, the sole) songwriter of the band, writing the lyrics and music for almost all of their songs.

In 1995, he felt he needed to take a break from touring but remained as the band de facto leader, songwriter, and producer. He also continued to play guitars on all of the albums despite not being featured on the album pictures or promotional material of the subsequent four albums - No Doubt, Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus, God Fixation, and Double Take.

Amidst the struggles in the band, Hartman decided to officially return in 2001 for the release of the band's third praise album: Revival. In 2005, after much praying, he decided to retire the band after 33 years of ministry.

After Petra's retirement, Hartman started working with former Petra singer, John Schlitt, as II Guys from Petra in an album which was released in January 26, 2007 titled Vertical Expressions.

Personal life

Hartman is married to Kim Whisonant; they have one son. He enjoys playing tennis and is a self-taught computer programmer. He records and produces music at his in-house studio called House of Bob. He also makes guitars which can be bought through his website.

Equipment

GUITARS:

From “House Of Bob” guitar closet:

  • Ibanez Talaman (orange burst, white pickguard, Kent Armstrong Lipstick pickups, non-locking tremolo)
  • Fender American Standard Strat (black, white pickguard, stock single coil pickups, Roland synth pickup)
  • Gretsch Roundup (pink-yellow burst, stock pickups, Bigsby tremolo)
  • Zion Powerglide (blue, black pickguard, EMG SA front & middle pickups, EMG T rear pickup, Floyd Rose)
  • Hamer Mirage (koa body, Seymour Duncan Vintage Strat front & middle pickups, Rio Grande Muy Grande rear pickup, Wilkinson VSVG tremolo)

From “House Of Bob” garage sale:

  • Zion Radicaster (ash body, red pickguard, Dimarzio Virtual Vintage front & middle pickups, Joe Barden HB Two Tone rear pickup, Wilkinson VSVG tremolo)

From “Captured In Time & Space” live video (1985):

  • Zion Radicaster (white, black pickguard, active pickups, Floyd Rose)
  • BC Rich Stealth (red, one humbucker, non-locking tremolo)

From pictures of “The first gig with John Schlitt” tour (1986):

From “Whole World” video clip (1986):

  • Zion (see guitar closet)

From “On Fire Video Event” (1988):

  • Zion Radicaster (yellow, black pickguard, custom graphics, active pickups, Floyd Rose)
  • Ovation 12 strings acoustic with cutaway

From “Beyond Belief Video Album” (1990):

  • Zion Radicaster (amber flame maple top, active pickups, Floyd Rose)

From “Backstage Pass” video (1991):

  • Zion Radicaster (tobacco burst, black pickguard, active pickups, Floyd Rose)
  • Zion Radicaster (amber quilt maple top, active pickups, Floyd Rose)
  • Zion Radicaster (white, pearloid pickguard, active pickups, Floyd Rose)
  • Custom Hamer/Zion (blue, Joe Barden S middle pickup & HB rear pickup, Floyd Rose, reverse headstock)

From “Wake-Up Call Video Collection” (1993):

  • PRS unknown model (on "Just Reach Out" video)

From pictures of “Wake-Up Call” tour (1993):

  • Hamer Californian (red, tremolo, block inlays)

From “Farewell DVD” (2005):

  • Warmoth “Jekyll & Hyde” Les Paul (custom built by himself, mahogany body w/ flame maple top, Dimarzio Air Classic front pickup & Air Zone rear pickup, Schaller Floyd Rose, trapezoid inlays)

AMPLIFIERS:

From “Beyond Belief” album (1990):

From “Unseen Power” album (1991):

  • Kasha (unknown model)
  • Peavey (unknown model, I think it's a 5150)

From “Wake-Up Call” album (1993):

  • Peavey (unknown model, I think it's the same 5150)

From “No Doubt” album (1995):

  • Peavey (unknown model, I think it's the same 5150)

From “Farewell DVD” (2005):

  • Peavey 5150 (two channel head, 120 watts)

From “House Of Bob” guitar closet (used for the studio I think):

  • Marshall 1970 (three channel head, 100 watts)
  • Egnater Mica (four channel head, 100 watts)
  • unknown 4x12” Cabinet (loaded with Mesa Boogie speakers)

This information was gotten from Petra’s videos, CD booklets, pictures from Petra’s pages (www.houseofbob.com, www.guidetopetra.com, www.petrarocksmyworld.com & www.petrafiles.com) and a couple of E-Mails answered by Bob Hartman himself.

References

  • Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Petra". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 692–699. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.

External links

Petra
Albums
Other works
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