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Ampeg Ba110 vs Fender Rumble 40
- Thread starter StringGirl
- Start date
slobake
resident ... something
My Fender Rumble 40w sounds better than my small Ampeg when I practice by myself. When I am with the band the Ampeg sounds better.
Interesting, do you think it is related to the frequencies that are exalted on each amp? Which ampeg do you use with your band?
Thanks for your answer slobake
slobake
resident ... something
Yes it could be the frequencies but I am not sure. We have worked hard on the church we play at with dampening and sound the sound system.Interesting, do you think it is related to the frequencies that are exalted on each amp? Which ampeg do you use with your band?
Thanks for your answer slobake
Believe or not I use an Ampeg ba108. It has an 8 inch speaker and I think it is 25 Watts. Most people around here would say that is too small an amp but it works for me.
Our drummer is sealed off in a little plexiglas house. We usually have keyboards and/or piano, one or two acoustic guitars, electric guitar sometimes and two or three singers.
We play in a small church and I run the amp into a DI and through the house. The amp is just for my backline. It breaks up nicely when I set it to the volume I need. Just a little dirt. The Rumble sounds cleaner. Our sound guy says he can't tell the difference between the two amps.
Don't know if you are familiar with the style of music we play. We play songs from Hillsong, Jesus Culture, originals and songs from other bands.
Yeah, also playing on a church, will give enough room for the waves to resonate.
For example, low E wavelength is around 8.5 meters
For example, low E wavelength is around 8.5 meters
slobake
resident ... something
Okay, you know a lot more about this than I do. I should be asking you.Yeah, also playing on a church, will give enough room for the waves to resonate.
For example, low E wavelength is around 8.5 meters
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
I think you're putting way too much thought into an amps reproduction of the notes. Educating yourself on the subject is great, but there is NO substitute for just plugging in and listening. Go try out amps at your local music store.
I don't think any "practice" amps are worth the money, really.
My experience comes from starting out on a 200 watt 115 Peavey combo. As I backtracked into trying out smaller amps and smaller cabs, I would notice less and less low end, and a more nasal induced tone.
As you move from tiny amps up through size, you hear more bass response, so the effect and perception is usually that it's "better".
If home practice is your main concern, I'd go even smaller and cheaper, and rely on a pair of isolated headphones. If small gigs are your goal, you should save your pennies and find something larger (in power and/or speaker size) that has the capability of keeping up with drums and guitar.
It took me about a year of saving my money until I could afford a more powerful amp, and a lot of willpower and patience to pass up every small combo just because it was in my budget.
I don't think any "practice" amps are worth the money, really.
My experience comes from starting out on a 200 watt 115 Peavey combo. As I backtracked into trying out smaller amps and smaller cabs, I would notice less and less low end, and a more nasal induced tone.
As you move from tiny amps up through size, you hear more bass response, so the effect and perception is usually that it's "better".
If home practice is your main concern, I'd go even smaller and cheaper, and rely on a pair of isolated headphones. If small gigs are your goal, you should save your pennies and find something larger (in power and/or speaker size) that has the capability of keeping up with drums and guitar.
It took me about a year of saving my money until I could afford a more powerful amp, and a lot of willpower and patience to pass up every small combo just because it was in my budget.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
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Have you had the opportunity to play through either amp? Do you care what they sound like? What are you looking for/what is better for you? You say you want to know which one can produce the lowest note, but do you care what that note sounds like?
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
My feelings have always been, have enough amp to easily handle a gig WITHOUT PA support. You can always turn the volume down, but it's dangerous to turn an amplifier up to max while trying to keep up.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
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- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
To answer your question from my perspective...both are very good practice amps. They both do what a good practice amp should do, which is provide a good sound at an acceptable volume, provide a headphone jack, and provide an aux in so you can play along. The Fender has an XLR out, which can be very handy if you want to use it through a PA (like if you were to play at church or something), while the Ampeg has the "tilt back" feature, which is really good to get the sound to your ears. I'd go with the Fender, because it's about half the weight of the Ampeg, and you can always get a wedge to tilt it.
slobake
resident ... something
Yup, I play through the small amp but I am saving my ducats for a Aguilar Tone Hammer and cab. I may not "need" it now but it would be nice to have an amp I could play anywhere.
Thats the best advice ever. I wanted to get one of those because it is almost pocket money...
I do like reading the cold facts because honestly you can not never try the amp with "real life conditions" on the store....
Thanks blubass
slobake
resident ... something
Yup, in the store, at my practice space and where I gig all sound different. The sound also changes when the church fills with people. Still always a good a idea to try something out first.
I have a 200 Watt GK with a 15" speaker. I used to like that amp but realized it sounded like mud when I played it in church. Now it mostly sits in the corner. As I have gotten more experience what sounds good to me has changed. The same thing has happened with basses.
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
I agree, and that's why I'm honest with the salesmen. I tell them, I'm buying this and returning it if it doesn't sound like it does now in the store, so give me this floor model, or whatever makes you comfortable knowing it's coming right back to you if I don't like it. Also, I'm probably going to swap the floor model for one NIB if I do decide to keep it. I have them tell me the return policy, and I spot check them about it as well.
It's worse since music stores have cut back. Manufactures keep pumping out new products, and music stores keep stocking less and less. Nature of the beast....
I have though, got really comfortable with what a particular store does to the tone of an amp. I can usually disect what I'm hearing, isolate something and say, okay that is an effect the store is having because other amps have done the same thing, then I get them home and they don't do that.
It must be a frequency that is getting too intense due to the dimensions of the church... a parametric eq should help.
slobake
resident ... something
If you can buy a Rocket 50 or 100 is the best SS combo for me.
Welcome to TalkBass @StringGirl!
I am a blatantly unabashed Fender fanboi. The Fender Rumble 40 has the advantage of having the very same front end as it's top of the line sibling - the Rumble 500. There's a ton of tone sculpting versatility to be had with the modern active four band EQ plus voicing options and one of the best built in overdrives available. There are three levels of built in compression: 1) the overdrive has it's own compression circuitry as does 2) the Vintage voicing option, and lastly 3) the Delta-Comp limiter between the pre and power amps. The cabinet is well designed and built of lightweight plywood. The combo weighs only 18 pounds. Some folks have bought the Rumble 40 on weight alone. The speaker is also well designed with a wide range. It is well built and durable. Handles a low B and drop tuned basses well. Fender Rumbles are known for their solid bottom end. It is not surprising that a large number of bass players choose the Rumble 40 for their personal practice amp even though they may play another brand of amp for performance.
I do not like ampeg.
In the end, just buy the one you like best and you will be fine.
