10" Combo - Rocket RB110, Rumble 40, Acoustic B50C

[darwin-bass]

Went to GC and demoed all three of these. I preferred the clarity of the Rumble over the Rocket, especially on the low notes. Tried the Acoustic on a whim and was very surprised. In fact I might just like its sound more than the Rumble.

I almost walked out with the Rumble but the Acoustic has me confused. My heart perceives the Acoustic as a cheap brand compared to Ampeg and Fender but that may be wrong.

The Rumble seems like the safer choice - There is a known speaker swap to make it even better and at 18 lbs it is the weight winner.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

All else being equal, (which arguably it isn't here) compare warranties.

 

[SJan3]

Why didn't you buy the Acoustic?

 

[darwin-bass]

Why didn't you buy the Acoustic?

I guess it just feels more risky.

 

[SJan3]

I guess it just feels more risky.

You're already talking about a speaker swap for a practice amp? In this price range you should get what sounds best to you and forget a speaker swap. JMHO

 

[darwin-bass]

You're already talking about a speaker swap for a practice amp? In this price range you should get what sounds best to you and forget a speaker swap. JMHO

Aw, where's the fun in that?

Joking aside, his isn't just a practice amp for me. It will be my only amp. I want it to truly sound good when used at bedroom levels. Bonus points if it is loud enough to work in an acoustic rehearsal.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Everyone likes something different, but I like my Rumble 40 so much that I bought a backup when Sweetwater recently had them priced at $150 + 10% off if you called in.

 

[SJan3]

Aw, where's the fun in that?

Joking aside, his isn't just a practice amp for me. It will be my only amp. I want it to truly sound good when used at bedroom levels. Bonus points if it is loud enough to work in an acoustic rehearsal.

That's fine but you'll likely be throwing away $$$ as the speaker in the combo is optimized for the enclosure. I'm not saying that there isn't a speaker out there that will work in the combo but the gains may be negligible. You'd be better off spending the extra money on a bigger combo.
A 12" combo is much more likely to cut an electric/acoustic gig.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you’re really concerned about blowing a new amp you need to look at other amps. Check out the PJB 77.

 

[DuluthDank]

If what you are looking for sonically is "clarity", I'm not sure these are the brands I'd be looking at. I went from a Rumble 40 to a GK MB110 for home practice, and the increase in clarity and my ability to hear the differences between my instruments was significant.

 

[brianrost]

My heart perceives the Acoustic as a cheap brand compared to Ampeg and Fender but that may be wrong.

It is a cheap brand. It's a Guitar Center/Musician's Friend house brand, the price set to be cheaper than Fender, Ampeg, Peavey, etc.

I've played the B50C quite a bit in a rehearsal room. It sounds good to me and the EQ is well voiced. The bottom end was solid but not muffled.

 

[DuluthDank]

I know that Ed Friedland recently ranked an Acoustic brand amp as one of his top amps new. Personally I think they look cheap and they seem way behind the times in a lot of ways in terms of R and D, but you may as well go with your ear in the end.

 

[SJan3]

It is a cheap brand. It's a Guitar Center/Musician's Friend house brand, the price set to be cheaper than Fender, Ampeg, Peavey, etc.

I've played the B50C quite a bit in a rehearsal room. It sounds good to me and the EQ is well voiced. The bottom end was solid but not muffled.

Markbass is a GC house brand and it is top shelf gear but you pay for it.

 

[darwin-bass]

Well, after much thought, I realized my preference for the Rumble is misdirected. I liked the sound of the Rumble because it added clarity to my instrument. But the PA I routinely play through is anything but clear (for bass) so the Rumble would give me a false sense of tone.

I decided to go with the Ampeg. Went back to GC to play it. This time I used one of their P basses and paid more attention. I preferred the sound of the Ampeg. It was thicker & warmer. Rumble sounded clanky in contrast. Ampeg had plenty of mids and highs.

New Ampeg RB110 will be here in a couple of days.

 

[60bass]

I've owned a Acoustic B50c for a couple of years and use it as a smallish practice amp and for testing basses on my repair bench. I like the tone and the distort circuit is decent. My only gripe is that the circuit tends to get pretty compressed when driven hard. I'm sure that's baked in so as to keep from blowing the speaker. I like better than the equivalent Rumble. Never tried an Ampeg as I'm not a fan of them. The Hartke combos are pretty decent too.

 

[SJan3]

Well, after much thought, I realized my preference for the Rumble is misdirected. I liked the sound of the Rumble because it added clarity to my instrument. But the PA I routinely play through is anything but clear (for bass) so the Rumble would give me a false sense of tone.

I decided to go with the Ampeg. Went back to GC to play it. This time I used one of their P basses and paid more attention. I preferred the sound of the Ampeg. It was thicker & warmer. Rumble sounded clanky in contrast. Ampeg had plenty of mids and highs.

New Ampeg RB110 will be here in a couple of days.

FWIW, I also prefer the Ampeg. I found the Rumble tiring.

 

[brianrost]

Markbass is a GC house brand and it is top shelf gear but you pay for it.

I guess you took my mention of GC as being derogatory to all of the GC/MF house brands.

I did write that I liked the B50c, didn't I?

 

[SJan3]

I guess you took my mention of GC as being derogatory to all of the GC/MF house brands.

I did write that I liked the B50c, didn't I?

So, what's your point?

 

[RustyStringer]

I thought that the Fender Rumble was the best "low-ish" cost amp that I liked...I had a 100 combo, but it was way more than I needed, so I sold it and I've just been playing through my THR10.
However, I recently plugged a Player Plus Jazz Bass into the Acoustic 100C and 50C, and holy crap man...I loved it. Those things have a great EQ on them, and easily get a fantastic slap tone.
I just can't decide between the 50 or the 100...but when I do, I'm buying an Acoustic over another Rumble.

 

[darwin-bass]

I thought that the Fender Rumble was the best "low-ish" cost amp that I liked...I had a 100 combo, but it was way more than I needed, so I sold it and I've just been playing through my THR10.
However, I recently plugged a Player Plus Jazz Bass into the Acoustic 100C and 50C, and holy crap man...I loved it. Those things have a great EQ on them, and easily get a fantastic slap tone.
I just can't decide between the 50 or the 100...but when I do, I'm buying an Acoustic over another Rumble.

I loved my Rumble V3 100 at first. Then I realized it was a one trick pony with every bass and every setting sounding much the same. Low, warm, fat, blurry. I grew tired of it quickly.