Will Fender Rumble 350 Have The Firepower?

OldFenderPlayer · #1 04-25-2011, 10:44 AM

Last week I sold my much-loved Polytone Mini-Brute to a jazz guitar player, which gave me the cash to buy a new practice amp. I ended up getting a deal on a new Fender Rumble 350 (350 watts and 2x10" plus tweeter).

If you have used this amp, does it have the firepower for a gig in a large, live room?

This weekend I'm subbing with my old band (vocals, 2 guitars, keys, bass and drums) but I won't have the chance to use the new amp at a rehearsal. The band liked my old rig - Ampeg SVT solid state head and SWR 6x10 cabinet. I've played the room before and its really live.

Should the Rumble 350 cut through or would you fall back and use the Ampeg-SWR rig?

Its a 4-hour drive to the gig plus an overnight stay, so the less gear I take, the better.

bombpop14 · #2 04-25-2011, 10:54 AM

The 2x10 probably won't cut it....

tdub0199 · #3 04-25-2011, 10:58 AM

Will you be running through the P.A.?

OldFenderPlayer · #4 04-25-2011, 11:31 AM

No I won't be through the PA - they will use a small Mackie board and all the inputs are taken. They are used to my "big rig" that didn't require any PA support in most situations.

RickenBoogie · #5 04-25-2011, 11:49 AM

Then, I'd take the big rig to be safe. A 210 alone would never cut it for me, and I don't play in a "loud" band.

Bass_Pounder · #6 04-25-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldFenderPlayer

No I won't be through the PA - they will use a small Mackie board and all the inputs are taken. They are used to my "big rig" that didn't require any PA support in most situations.

I think you answered your own question then..............

Do you really think you could carry the gig on 1/3 of what you did before ??

Wattage don't really mean alot - there is only so much air a 2X10 can move.

glenb73 · #7 04-25-2011, 12:26 PM

The Rumble 350 won't cut it, I can tell you from experience...The 2x10 speakers don't have enough juice. I had to turn mine up to full volume just to be heard but then the amp sounded like it was about to explode. It's a cool amp for home practice and quiet jams, but for a full band, it's not suitable.

BassmanPaul · #8 04-25-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldFenderPlayer

buy a new practice amp.

your post says it all! You don't use a practice amp to gig with!

**cheezewiz** · #9 04-25-2011, 02:41 PM

Agreed. While Fender makes some really nice bass stuff, I can't imagine a gig with a Rumble series amp of any sort without PA support.

selftitled907 · #10 04-25-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

your post says it all! You don't use a practice amp to gig with!

+1

VincentGrim · #11 04-26-2011, 12:39 AM

My first amp ((well, second, my firrrst one didn't last longer than a week)) was a Rumble 100 2/10, which I played in a punk band with for a while before upgrading to my current GK halfstack...It got PA support at auditoriums and stuff, but in our normal shows ((them being 50+ kids crammed in a basement)) it performed fine.
That being said, I was competing with one guitar player with a 50watt 2x12 stack and a drummer, I played a p-bass with it's pickup wired direct out, I dial in lots of mids, played pretty hard, and don't bother with amps that can't handle having their volume knobs cranked at least to around 80%, which the old Rumble 210 certainly could.
I'm heavily considering getting the 350. The old 100 sounded great and if the 350 is the same amp but with more power, I'd say it has the bawls depending on your situation and play style.