About to order my first amp - try and stop me!

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello Chaps,

Short version:

• The cheap Chinese practice amp which I bought 5 years ago when I started playing bass again is dying.
• I want a proper-sized amp to replace it.
  
• My bandmate pointed me at Fender Rumble amps as being clean, middle-of-the-road, affordable, etc.
• I want a "low gain, high volume" amp to use with my Helix.
  
• I spent a lot of time asking questions on the Rumble Club thread (thanks guys! ).
• I decided I want to buy Rumble 500.
• Money will be in place for that in the next few days.

So - it's a big purchase. I obviously don't want to make an expensive mistake, but I've done my research and I'm pretty sure I'm not doing that.

Today I'm worrying about ordering an amp online without testing it or comparing it to others. I know lots of you think this is a necessity.

But:

• I don't want an amp with tonal "character" - just something loud (and preferably "characterless") that I can use with the Helix.
• I just checked the stock in the only shop I can reasonably get to, and the closest they can get is a Rumble 100 - nothing bigger.

So: I recognize that it would be better for me to spend 3 hours travelling around testing all the amps in my price range and in an ideal world I would, but I'm happy not to do that given that my usual supplier has a 30 day returns policy, which I'll use if I have to.

Are there any other things I should be thinking about before I pull the trigger on an online purchase, as opposed to delaying until I can do the trip round the shops (end of Jan at the earliest, probably).

With thanks for any ideas / suggestions in advance.

The only thing I can think of with regard to Rumble amps where you may have a rub is Rumbles IMO, as well as reading other posts on TB is Rumbles are not tonal color neutral and adjustment is slight. This may not be an issue for you as you may like it, but I would highly recommend heading to your local with your Helix a check it out before ordering.

 

[gtirard]

Don't buy a Rumble before truying it. I see a lot of praise for it, and I respect that, it sure offers a lot of bang for the buck, but I don't like the baked in tone, at all, so you might also not like it. And when you don't like the tone, all the rest really doesn't matter. But if you've tried it and like it, go ahead.

 

[retslock]

I’ve never tried the 500 watt Rumble combo but I have the 500 watt Rumble head running through a 2 x 12 cabinet and I’m very happy with it.

 

[FRoss6788]

If you don't mind buying used gear, there's a nice SWR Red Head combo at Andertons for £499.

I had one of those and loved it for a while. Very heavy and I wouldn't recommend it now due to service issues. Good luck finding parts if you need anything done to it.
Ask me how I know...

 

[WestyBassBob]

Hello Chaps,

Short version:

• The cheap Chinese practice amp which I bought 5 years ago when I started playing bass again is dying.
• I want a proper-sized amp to replace it.
  
• My bandmate pointed me at Fender Rumble amps as being clean, middle-of-the-road, affordable, etc.
• I want a "low gain, high volume" amp to use with my Helix.
  
• I spent a lot of time asking questions on the Rumble Club thread (thanks guys! ).
• I decided I want to buy Rumble 500.
• Money will be in place for that in the next few days.

So - it's a big purchase. I obviously don't want to make an expensive mistake, but I've done my research and I'm pretty sure I'm not doing that.

Today I'm worrying about ordering an amp online without testing it or comparing it to others. I know lots of you think this is a necessity.

But:

• I don't want an amp with tonal "character" - just something loud (and preferably "characterless") that I can use with the Helix.
• I just checked the stock in the only shop I can reasonably get to, and the closest they can get is a Rumble 100 - nothing bigger.

So: I recognize that it would be better for me to spend 3 hours travelling around testing all the amps in my price range and in an ideal world I would, but I'm happy not to do that given that my usual supplier has a 30 day returns policy, which I'll use if I have to.

Are there any other things I should be thinking about before I pull the trigger on an online purchase, as opposed to delaying until I can do the trip round the shops (end of Jan at the earliest, probably).

With thanks for any ideas / suggestions in advance.

I find the Hartke amps sold by Sweetwater to be an excellent value. As you said they are dry and don’t impart much in the way of tone.

 

[Boneless]

Fender Rumbles are far from neutral. I'd say you should go to a local shop, any shop with a decent selection, and try all the combos within your budget till you find one that "speaks" to you. I quite hated the Rumble 1x15" combo I played a few times (too scooped, and overpowering lows).
Ashdown is a brand that sees little love these days but their amps are solid. Also Laney actually makes some interesting gear.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Your gonna be fine with the rumble.
Its a quality amp from an established manufacturer with a warranty, if your buying new.
Of course, I might have steered you to consider the Ampeg rocket .
But thats just me.

 

[FRoss6788]

David Pastorious who's playing with Pat Travers has this set up (looks Rumble-ish to me) -
View attachment 5280217

Weird he would choose that amp because they, apparently, sound like cardboard...

 

[FRoss6788]

None of the other amps mentioned here in this thread are tone neutral either, just what the poster prefers over the Fender, keep that in mind.

 

[mikewalker]

 

[FRoss6788]

Fender Rumbles are far from neutral. I'd say you should go to a local shop, any shop with a decent selection, and try all the combos within your budget till you find one that "speaks" to you. I quite hated the Rumble 1x15" combo I played a few times (too scooped, and overpowering lows).
Ashdown is a brand that sees little love these days but their amps are solid. Also Laney actually makes some interesting gear.

I can't think of anything that I would consider neutral if you're running through the front end.

 

[KellyC]

Don’t buy a new amp! It will only make you smarter, wiser and more handsome.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Hello Chaps,

Short version:

• The cheap Chinese practice amp which I bought 5 years ago when I started playing bass again is dying.
• I want a proper-sized amp to replace it.
  
• My bandmate pointed me at Fender Rumble amps as being clean, middle-of-the-road, affordable, etc.
• I want a "low gain, high volume" amp to use with my Helix.
  
• I spent a lot of time asking questions on the Rumble Club thread (thanks guys! ).
• I decided I want to buy Rumble 500.
• Money will be in place for that in the next few days.

So - it's a big purchase. I obviously don't want to make an expensive mistake, but I've done my research and I'm pretty sure I'm not doing that.

Today I'm worrying about ordering an amp online without testing it or comparing it to others. I know lots of you think this is a necessity.

But:

• I don't want an amp with tonal "character" - just something loud (and preferably "characterless") that I can use with the Helix.
• I just checked the stock in the only shop I can reasonably get to, and the closest they can get is a Rumble 100 - nothing bigger.

So: I recognize that it would be better for me to spend 3 hours travelling around testing all the amps in my price range and in an ideal world I would, but I'm happy not to do that given that my usual supplier has a 30 day returns policy, which I'll use if I have to.

Are there any other things I should be thinking about before I pull the trigger on an online purchase, as opposed to delaying until I can do the trip round the shops (end of Jan at the earliest, probably).

With thanks for any ideas / suggestions in advance.

I wouldn't consider the Rumber line "characterless" Maybe if bypassing the preamp and going direct to the the power amp/return with your Helix.

 

[gtirard]

None of the other amps mentioned here in this thread are tone neutral either, just what the poster prefers over the Fender, keep that in mind.

If a neutral sound is the priority, which make sense for a Helix setup, the only combos that I know that are really uncolored are the GR Bass. Unfortunately most of them are very expensive, the most affordable is the GR Bass Cube 350 (15% more expensive than the Fender Rumble 500). That's what I would buy I wanted this kind of combo.

I like Ampeg combos but they're not neutral.

Markbass combos are not really neutral, but they don't have too much coloration, at least less than Fender and Ampeg combos - if you avoid using their special filters (VLE and VPF, aka "vintage" and "mid scooped").

 

[gtirard]

I wouldn't consider the Rumber line "characterless" Maybe if bypassing the preamp and going direct to the the power amp/return with your Helix.

That's a good idea, since the Rumble has an effect loop, the Helix could be plugged directly into the effect return. But I'm not sure it would result in a neutral combo: this setting should eliminate the coloration of the head, but the speakers may also have their own color.

Did anyone try this?

 

[Yahboy]

Hartke KB15 i been own sound more neutral than Rumble 200/150 V3 , Ampeg RB112 and Tech21 VT200. Work very well with effect pedal.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I bought a Rumble 500 last January after I managed to kill my beloved Shuttle 6.0/12T for the SECOND time (resurrected by Aged Horse both times, thank you, I am not worthy). It's been in the gigging lineup ever since. Actually kinda wish I'd gotten the 800 but that's just because I'm power mad! Bwahahahah!

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[ELG60]

Since you live in England, you may want to consider Barefaced bass cabinets. The 12" series is very transparent. You could pair it with the Rumble 500 head if you are set on that product. I'll leave my own personal biases out of the conversation for now.

I've determined, that for my preferences, a separate head/cabinet set-up makes more sense for me. The modular nature allows for much more versatility. However, individual factors could cause you to prefer a combo form factor.

 

[smoothbrain]

Don't do anything. Wait for the signal.

 

[neutron619]

The Fender Rumble 500 combo is a great gigging amp, but I would be looking at the Rumble 800. It's priced only a little higher but has a pre/post DI, low-power mode and weighs 29lbs verse the 500's 36.5lbs.

For my first direct reply:

At least one person on the Rumble thread said this too. The problem I run into is that a 500W amp is, as someone observed above, rather a lot for bedroom usage. Now - I am going to gig with it too, so there is a reason for having it (and the 100W church amp I was using last night was definitely straining to be heard) so some quantity of extra power will be useful. But 400W does seem a bit crazy TBH - even with the switch to attenuate it. Gonna go ask another question on the Rumble thread about that shortly.

Dunno. There is a case for it...