Upgrade Fender Rumble for GK?

grass132456 · #1 09-14-2011, 02:16 PM

So I'm 16 and have been playing bass for 2 years or so now. I gig sometimes for 40 people or so. Other times I gig up to 200 people and I am wondering if a Fender Rumble 75 will do it. I have used the Rumble for 200 people, but I have to turn up the sound almost all the way, and turn up the knob for my active Fender. It was pretty loud at that time, but if I touch a string, the amp would blast out the notes. Any lower volume and it would not be heard. Should I upgrade the Rumble 75 to GK 1x15?

thumpbass1 · #2 09-14-2011, 06:16 PM

What GK model are you looking at? My advice would be to buy as much wattage as you can afford, preferably at least 150 -200 watts on tap, and have at least a single 15 or two 10 inch speaker compliment in a combo or head and separate cab format. Going for used gear can stretch your budget further, and you might be able to afford a fairly decent head and cab style of rig and not just be limited to a combo amp.

dougjwray · #3 09-14-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

What GK model are you looking at? My advice would be to buy as much wattage as you can afford, preferably at least 150 -200 watts on tap, and have at least a single 15 or two 10 inch speaker compliment in a combo or head and separate cab format. Going for used gear can stretch your budget further, and you might be able to afford a fairly decent head and cab style of rig and not just be limited to a combo amp.

+1
What is your budget? You could find, say, a used GK 800RB for around $300 and pair it with almost any used cabinet (1x15 or 2x10 might be good, as Thumpbass says) and sound great. If your budget is small, you might try to find a used Peavey cabinet, to name one. The GK head will pretty much make any cabinet sound good. (The 800RB is two amps in one, so that you can biamp; but if were you, I would simply plug its 300-watt section into a cab.)
Good luck!

scottfeldstein · #4 09-14-2011, 06:30 PM

I love me some GK, but get a separate head and cab. 500w minimum. The cab should be a 15 or 2x10 or 2x12 minimum. You can always get a second cab to double your pleasure later. The only combo amp that might be a significant step up for you would be the MB212. A lesser model won't be much better than what you have now. And even if you do get that one, that's it. It's pretty limited if you're looking to expand it (and there are plenty of scenarios where you might want that.)

grass132456 · #5 09-14-2011, 06:33 PM

I am looking at this one: Gallien-Krueger MB115 1x15 200W Ultralight Bass Combo Amp and more Bass Amplifiers at GuitarCenter.com.

The Ultralight amp.
Just wondering, I should upgrade this amp first before my bass right? I have a Fender P bass Special, the one with a P-J combo. And I want to upgrade to a Custom Carvin LB70.

dougjwray · #6 09-14-2011, 06:37 PM

These are fantastic, too, and surprisingly loud. They will easily run two 1x15 cabinets; I did that for years.

Daddys.com - Amps - Bass Heads - Gk 400rb

thumpbass1 · #7 09-15-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grass132456

I am looking at this one: Gallien-Krueger MB115 1x15 200W Ultralight Bass Combo Amp and more Bass Amplifiers at GuitarCenter.com.

The Ultralight amp.
Just wondering, I should upgrade this amp first before my bass right? I have a Fender P bass Special, the one with a P-J combo. And I want to upgrade to a Custom Carvin LB70.

If you live in a place where the local music gear retailers might have one on stock go check one out if you can. As for your bass itself, I'd gig it with no problems, it's the amp side of your gear chain that needs upgrading for now imo. You can always buy that dream bass at another point in time. As for wattage, I've gigged for a few decades with no amp head I ever owned or used as a rented back-line, pushing more than around 150-300 watts, give or take, available power. My first combo amp, an early 70's Traynor Bassmate is an exception. It was a highly underpowered single 15 all tube combo. I also began playing bass in a time where most amps were more honestly rated by their makers. I also usually played through large efficient speaker cabs. I had no trouble being heard on a big gig for the most of those gigs. If I needed more out front, it was p.a. assist time. None the less I understand your need for an amp rig you can grow with, that can handle a sizable enough venue on an inside or outside stage without p.a. assistance on most gigs.

I love the notion of today's high powered combo amps: however the laws of physics and acoustical science also come into play with any combo amp, as there is only so much power that one can push through the available speaker compliment of any given combo amp. So look for a combo, if that's the way you want to go, that has decent wattage at whatever ohms it runs at as a combo, but can take an extension speaker cab when needed, and has some sort of decent line out if you ever should need p.a. assistance.

scottfeldstein · #8 09-15-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

As for your bass itself, I'd gig it with no problems, it's the amp side of your gear chain that needs upgrading for now imo. You can always buy that dream bass at another point in time.

I agree. Get a good amp first. I did. My bass, the SR300, I bought new for $250. My amp rig (when it's complete) will end up costing me around $1300.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

the laws of physics and acoustical science also come into play with any combo amp, as there is only so much power that one can push through the available speaker compliment of any given combo amp. So look for a combo, if that's the way you want to go, that has decent wattage at whatever ohms it runs at as a combo, but can take an extension speaker cab when needed, and has some sort of decent line out if you ever should need p.a. assistance.

Agreed. If you get a combo then keep an eye toward expandability. Me, I wouldn't. I made that mistake just a few months ago and ended up selling it all--combo amp and extension cab--and purchasing what I should have got in the first place: a 500w head and a pair of good cabs.

I sincerely doubt whether any 15" combo is going to be a significant step up from the combo you already have--no matter how many watts it's boasting. As has been pointed out, there's only so many watts a 15" speaker is going to take in the first place.

grass132456 · #9 09-15-2011, 05:35 PM

I don't have that much cash to spend and it's my mom's anyways... If I am looking for a head and cab? Should I start off small like the combo amp that is kinda separated - a 200 watt head and 1x15 cab?

How do they work like what if the head's wattage is larger than the cab's wattage or visa versa? Also, what kind of wires do I need to connect the head and cab?

scottfeldstein · #10 09-15-2011, 06:34 PM

Don't worry about matching wattage between the cab and the head. What you really want to make sure of is that you're getting an 8 Ohm cab. Most amp heads will deliver half their watts to a single 8 ohm cab, but deliver the full enchilada if you plug in a second 8 ohm cab. (In the wacky world of Ohms, 8 + 8 = 4 ohms.)

If you're worried about cost, shop used. 200w seems kind of skimpy to me, but maybe others feel differently. I'd try to get up to 500 if possible. As far as cabs, get whatever. A single 15 is fine to start with. Or 2x10s. You can always upgrade later, or add a second one.

You'll know what kind of cabling you need when you see the items you want to buy. Most modern amps have SpeakON style jacks. Older amps will have 1/4" jacks. Likewise with newer and older cabs. This is the least of your worries. Just get the cabling that the amp and cab need. It should be pretty obvious if they do one or the other or both.

dhsierra1 · #11 09-15-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grass132456

I don't have that much cash to spend and it's my mom's anyways...

definitely go used, lots of great gear out there. Some very good suggestions here. I'm a big GK fan as well, but other very good value makes would have to include Peavey and Hartke. Here in my town at one of the used music stores I saw the other day three Hartke 3500s, 300 watts into 4 ohms, for 220 clams, all in very good shape and no doubt w/cash you could knock the price down further.

If you're looking at used GK gear some good choices would be the 400RB ($150 to 200+), and the 800RB ( ca. $300+). I can't answer on the cabs because I use only DIY, can't help myself

**B-string** · #12 09-15-2011, 07:57 PM

The G-K would be a definite step up, the question is, a far enough step

scottfeldstein · #13 09-15-2011, 08:13 PM

In all seriousness, I think any head/cab rig is going to be a step up no matter the brand. 75w into a 15" isn't hard to beat

grass132456 · #14 09-16-2011, 12:48 PM

So I'm looking around Guitar Center for $300-500 heads and I got a few that might be good, but can you guys judge to which ones are the best for the money?

Peavey Headliner 600W Bass Amp Head - $350. 600 watts for 350? Seems nice but is it too much power for a 200 watt cab?
Markbass Little Mark 250 Bass Amp Head - $450. Heard Markbass are good but really expensive.
Gallien-Krueger MB500 500W Ultra Light Bass Amp Head - $500. The GK one.
Acoustic B600H 600W Bass Amp Head - $450. My bass teacher said that acoustic amps are not good. But...?

As for cabs? Should I just go for a good 1x15? Because I don't have that much space to fit a lot of cabs in the back of the car.
Which is better for a more of a growling sound. Fingerstyle, no slap. 1x15 or 2x10?

scottfeldstein · #15 09-16-2011, 12:58 PM

Stop worrying about whether an amp has "too many watts" for a cab. It just isn't a problem. As you turn the volume knob up, eventually you'll reach a point where the speaker is going to start farting like an elephant. At this point, of course, you turn it down. It's important to realize that this point is reached FAR sooner than the point where the amp is delivering too many watts. Basically, you're reaching maximum speaker excursion far before melting the driver with too many watts. How many watts a speaker handles just isn't a practical concern for the most part.

I'd get the GK. (In fact, I did.) But I'm sure any of those are going to be a step up from your current amp. Get an 8 ohm cab to go with it--a 15, a 2x10, whatever--and you'll be good to go. And you can add a second cab later if you want.

Well, maybe I'd avoid the Markbass. I'm sure it's quality gear, but 250w for $550 doesn't seem like a sweet spot for a guy building a rig on a budget like yours. If you can't afford the GK, get the Peavey. More watts is always good.

Joe Louvar · #16 09-16-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grass132456

Should I upgrade the Rumble 75 to GK 1x15?

+ Yes +

Get the GK MB115 - it's awesome.
200 Watts, 15” speaker, 35lbs, and only $400US new.

scottfeldstein · #17 09-16-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grass132456

As for cabs? Should I just go for a good 1x15? Because I don't have that much space to fit a lot of cabs in the back of the car.
Which is better for a more of a growling sound. Fingerstyle, no slap. 1x15 or 2x10?

Depends. 1x15 is pretty much the same as 2x10, or so most people say. Just make sure to EQ some of the really low frequencies out if you play really loud. Get whichever you like. But keep in mind you'll probably want a second one just like it if you do get a second cab. So if you get a 15, get another 15 down the road. not mix and match.