Warning: Do not buy a Fender Rumble 350

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by BFunk

Why are you guys so willing to assume operator error rather than a defective product? Instead of assuming he does not know how to use the amp correctly, why not just ask him how he has used it? Then make a judgement.

Manufacturer has already made the call in this specific case. Plus balance of probabilities is on their side. The assumption numbers on knobs has meaning backs it too. If people figured that, it would really help a lot.

[IPYF]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Manufacturer has already made the call in this specific case. Plus balance of probabilities is on their side. The assumption numbers on knobs has meaning backs it too. If people figured that, it would really help a lot.

Are you suggesting that because the manufacturer wouldn't service the out of warranty product, that it can be assumed that they believe this is a case of user error?

I'd suggest they wouldn't be servicing it purely because it was out of warranty.

[tjh]

For starters, to the OP, welcome to TB and congrats on your first post here .. unfortunately, it may not be completely well received the way that you may have intended it ...

.. realizing that many folk in the music world may not be all that up to snuff on power ratings, speaker handling, impedance inssues, EQ affects on speakers, etc ... this Rumble 350 is a potential nightmare in the hands of someone that fits that category ... and yet, is designed and marketed almost specifically for someone in that exact position ...

Not having owned this particular unit, and rather than jumping on any bandwagon, I decided to take a look at the specs on this guy ... first of all, we have a combo amp that is rated (Mfg spec) at 350 watts .. into a pair of 10" speakers that are rated at 75 watts each (Mfg spec, taken from ZZounds site) ... there may be a potential red flag there, if you know how to read specs ... and this one isn't rocket science ... secondly, in an attempt to increase the output, they are filling the combo with a pair of 8 ohm speakers, which in turn operates the power unit of the combo at a 4 ohm load, which increases the distortion level it is operating at, and we know what distortion can potentially do in situations where cautious EQ'ing may not be practiced ... all this, into severly underrated speakers, is another good sized potential red flag .... then, just for good measure, Fender has decided to equip this model with they are calling (Fender's description) "KILLER OVERDRIVE ... to give you all the bite of overdrive while allowing the player to maintain a deep bottom end." .. 350 watts of it, into a pair of production grade 10's rated at 75 watts a piece ... nice touch! ..

.. with all that said, as someone previously pointed out, this appears from all angles to be a poorly designed combo for its potential target market ... the less experienced, cost concious buyer that may also be influenced by heavy brand name recognition.

.. if this combo had a couple of 4 or 16 ohm drivers in it, and ran at an 8 ohm load, with an extension jack for another 8 ohm cab, it would certainly make more sense ... problem is, this is a 4 ohm combo, no extension jack, and the majority of cabs in this Rumble series are also only offered in 4 ohms as well ...

.. seems to me like a series designed for the most knowledgable users to say the least ... I venture to say that is probably not who it is ending up in the hands of ... hence the problems such as the OP is having ... the specs I just found on the ZZounds site, were clearly marked, but this is not meant as a reflection on user error, but more a statement on my part of poor product design + target market = strong potential for problems ... JMHO

Edit to add: link to zZounds site where I got the specs from ... just an FYI, I checked the Fender site quiclkly, and did not see a rating for the speakers used on their site ...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2315700

[tabdog]

That's kind of what I said. But I said it
a lot quicker,,, lol

Tabdog

[Seathal]

When something breaks there will always be people who point at a bad handling. Not saying it's not possible, just saying most of the times the device may be poorly designed or produced.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by IPYF

Are you suggesting that because the manufacturer wouldn't service the out of warranty product, that it can be assumed that they believe this is a case of user error?

I'd suggest they wouldn't be servicing it purely because it was out of warranty.

Nope, the OP is saying:

The rep I spoke with said it is not defective or they would have a file on it being a recurring problem.

Originally Posted by Seathal

When something breaks there will always be people who point at a bad handling. Not saying it's not possible, just saying most of the times the device may be poorly designed or produced.

Most of the time is bad handling, even poorly specced stuff will tend to give audible warning before breaking totally.

[RickenBoogie]

All I asked the OP for, were more details. Hasn't returned thus far to answer. Without knowing all the details, I would have to assume a combination of poorly designed entry-level combo amp paired with a user with no grasp on the hows and whys of bass amp technology. Once again, this is why bass combo amps without the ability to add an ext cab should never be suggested to first time amp buyers.

[AuntieBeeb]

Originally Posted by Drunk Heffalump

Just as a point of order why would any manufacturer create a combo capable of eating it's own speaker(s) Head and cabs, maybe, but I SHOULD be able to dime my combo and have it survive, not that I'd want to but in case I ever did.
Something doesn't wash, and their lack of support occasionally translates into

"We know, don't care, wadda ya wanna buy now....?"

I can only presume they do it on the assumption that most people won't drive the amp so hard as to knacker the components. (Not to imply that the OP is the cause of the problem in the case of this Fender amp!)

I know it sounds like a stupid thing to say, but if you put some Hawkwind into your CD player and crank the volume, your speakers are going to be worse for wear by the end of the album. Similarly if you try and get your car up to motorway speeds in 2nd, you'll soon be needing a new engine.

I think it might actually be one of those raee instances in which the manufacturers put some faith in their customers not to completely abuse their products.

(Again, not to imply that the OP has misused his amp in this case!)

[derrico1]

Re: why aren't combos failsafe:

Combo's amp sections might spec so that they *couldn't* damaged the speaker no matter what the eq/gain/master settings or the instrument input level. But in that case, the amp would be so anemic that the combo would be useless for any real-world gigging.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by mjac28

my Mesa has never been past 9:00 on either the volume or gain so I know what he means it sucks and the reps are robots for the most part they spit out what is written down for them to say.

I have owned 2 Mesa M9s and never has either past 10:00. Both died and one was brand new with all "factory flaws" fixed. These are $1600 amps. All brands have QC issues... Plus the OP's amp is out of warranty!

Also, to say all reps are robots is a bit of a blanket statement with no basis in truth IMO.

I would post "Don't buy a Mesa M3/6/9 as they are a P.O.S." but many owners have has zero issues.

[klejst]

Agreed no surprise there may be a few "bad apples" in a bunch, however I owned and used the Rumble 100 2x10 combo for a while years back and never had a problem with it. Of course I never turned the volume/bass up way past the point it really started to already distort.

[Red_Merkin]

Originally Posted by dedmeat42

They have defective speakers. I have owned mine for two years and the speakers have blown twice. First time the replaced the amp, now they will not help because the speakers have a 1 year warranty. I have never had this thing past 5. The rep I spoke with said it is not defective or they would have a file on it being a recurring problem. A quick search brings up a different response with tons of people stuck in the same boat. Now it is my personal mission to make sure nobody makes the same mistake I have. Hope this saves at least a few people some time and money. Thanks.

Hey, didn't I just see you on Reddit?

[HolmeBass]

I played through the same combo, Rumble 350 210 combo, at a little festival last year when it was on backline. Only a trio, but a fairly loud trio. The Rumble held its own, although I ended up wishing I had used my own rig instead, but properly EQ'ed it wasn't terrible. First thing I did: turn down the bass shelving EQ which was at about 4 o'clock! LOL. Then I was able to get a bunch more volume out of it.

[oerk]

Originally Posted by Red_Merkin

Hey, didn't I just see you on Reddit?

I think he just registered for this one post and is off to plaster his message all over the internet...

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by oerk

I think he just registered for this one post and is off to plaster his message all over the internet...

+1.

The OP is just whining that Fender won't fix his out of warranty amp. give me a break.

He has 1 total post on TB and this is it.

I am going to buy a Rumble 350 now.

[Mehve]

Do the rumbles use the fender tone stack? Knobs at 12 wouldn't help matters, if that was the case.

[bigsnaketex]

These are budget line amps..........come on folks, you really do get what you pay for.

I spent over $2000 on my Fender bass rig and it performs flawlessly. Sometimes it almost makes me weep it sounds so good.

But if I paid less than $500 for a combo, I would not expect the same results.

I drive a 2006 Ford Explorer to work each day - it has 220,000 miles on it. On the weekends, I get in the 2012 Mercedes 350E and it performs much differently so lets be real here.

[morgansterne]

Originally Posted by derrico1

Re: why aren't combos failsafe:

Combo's amp sections might spec so that they *couldn't* damaged the speaker no matter what the eq/gain/master settings or the instrument input level. But in that case, the amp would be so anemic that the combo would be useless for any real-world gigging.

or the speakers would have huge XMAX ability, wattage handling, and the combo would cost an extra four hundred dollars.

[DiabolusInMusic]

If it keeps blowing speakers the only thing that could cause it is user error. Unless the thing just magically spikes its own volume when playing and blows the speakers.

If the speaker sounded distorted but wasn't blown I would imagine something is failing inside of the amp but speakers do not blow on their own, cheap speaker or not. A tech would have immediately noticed the speaker was fine when replacing it, the speakers were blown.

And yeah, I am going to go with troll as well.

[Bass_Pounder]

If there was one thing I wish every player knew about their amps it would be this:

The volume knob position means absolutely nothing.

"5" does not mean 1/2 power !