Bassman/Rumble combinations

[G-Dog]

. . . . before you settle for Rumble neos.

Rumble neos were only made between 2010 - 14. And, from what little I heard of them, and much more I've read of them, they were not the "settling" kind. Very good speakers and cabs, rarely come up for sale 'cause they are keepers.

I love the sound of my Rumble 500's 2x10s. I'd been a 15" fan 'til then. Lot of the Rumble Club members prefers their 1x15, though. Different strokes.

 

[sissy kathy]

I would use the Rumble head with the bassman cab. The Bassman head with the Rumble cab would take the Rumble family tone (pretty bass-rich) over the top (too bassy) due to the relatively low damping factor of the Basman tube amp. OTOH, maybe that's what you are looking for...

Isn't that the high damping in the Rumble due to the confined space of the cab? I notice more of a difference between cabs than I do between heads.

 

[AstroSonic]

Isn't that the high damping in the Rumble due to the confined space of the cab? I notice more of a difference between cabs than I do between heads.

The rumble cabs are voiced for a 'full, warm' bass tone - the cabs are somewhat underdamped. The bassman heads have a relatively low damping factor, typical of tubes. The difference in bass tone between solid state (or 'digital') and tube heads should be prety obvious. IME, the bassman cabs are more articulate than the Rumble cabs.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

The rumble cabs are voiced for a 'full, warm' bass tone - the cabs are somewhat underdamped. The bassman heads have a relatively low damping factor, typical of tubes. The difference in bass tone between solid state (or 'digital') and tube heads should be prety obvious. IME, the bassman cabs are more articulate than the Rumble cabs.

The Bassman 500 being discussed in this thread is a class D amp with a tube preamp which I assume would have the same damping rating as the Rumble 500 as they share the same power section.

 

[pht2356]

Bassman head and cab will cost more now but will be worth more in the future. I have a gk mb210 combo and added a jack so that it can be used as a combo or cab. I'm sure you could do the same with a rumble. Ps don't understate the value of aesthetics and your playing, i truly believe if you are excited with your rig it makes s difference;subtle but there.

 

[pht2356]

The one on the right is the 210 combo being utilized as a cab. Gives you more options and sure you could do some with a rumble combo

 

[flatwound62p]

I have a Super Bassman and a Neo 115 cab and a Rumble 500 head for backup and lazy days. When I've cranked the Rumble on the Neo 115 it tends make a slow motion getaway in whatever direction it feels like, probably due to the feather weight. This prevents me leaving a beer on the rig and is therefore totally unacceptable drool Needs to be lightly gaffed down. The Rumble cabs have the magnet system that prevents it.
I saw a guy rocking a Rumble 500 head and pair of Rumble 115 cabs at a club gig a few months back. Sounded astoundingly good to me.

 

[nilorius]

The best for you would be try out all possible variations you are interested in.

 

[DoctorZee]

The best for you would be try out all possible variations you are interested in.

Yes absolutely. I'm not sure how people actually accomplish this, though. I feel like the stores I know are full of combo amps and little else. And mostly just Markbass, Rumbles, Ampegs, and Hartkes. I have gotten to try out most of the component parts in my equation, but not the exact combinations.

 

[nilorius]

Yes absolutely. I'm not sure how people actually accomplish this, though. I feel like the stores I know are full of combo amps and little else. And mostly just Markbass, Rumbles, Ampegs, and Hartkes. I have gotten to try out most of the component parts in my equation, but not the exact combinations.

You should try only those in which you are interested most.

 

[AstroSonic]

The Bassman 500 being discussed in this thread is a class D amp with a tube preamp which I assume would have the same damping rating as the Rumble 500 as they share the same power section.

The damping factor of an amp is largely determined by the output stage. Tubes in the preamp may impart some tube sonic characteristics, but will have little or no impact on the damping factor. A hybrid amp with tubes in the preamp will have a damping factor similar to other solid state (or digital) amps. A solid state amp may be intentionally voiced to sound like a tube amp. To my ears, this has yet to be entirely successful.

 

[AstroSonic]

The Bassman 500 being discussed in this thread is a class D amp with a tube preamp which I assume would have the same damping rating as the Rumble 500 as they share the same power section.

I was thinking the Bassman 300 for whatever reason (not enough coffee?). The Bassman 500 is, as you pointed out, a class D head with tubes in the preamp, so the Rumble 500 and bassman 500 should have similar damping factors, and sound pretty similar through the same cabs. The Bassman cabs have bass that is distinctly tighter and more articulate than the Rumble cabs, so the cab selection will be the major factor determining the tone of these rigs. The OP needs to audition them and choose. Bummer about the Bassman 500 head being discontinued, as it was innovative, and had a more traditional form factor (it looked like a head).

 

[Backdrop]

The Rumble 500 was discontinued. Not the Bassman.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

I was thinking the Bassman 300 for whatever reason (not enough coffee?). The Bassman 500 is, as you pointed out, a class D head with tubes in the preamp, so the Rumble 500 and bassman 500 should have similar damping factors, and sound pretty similar through the same cabs. The Bassman cabs have bass that is distinctly tighter and more articulate than the Rumble cabs, so the cab selection will be the major factor determining the tone of these rigs. The OP needs to audition them and choose. Bummer about the Bassman 500 head being discontinued, as it was innovative, and had a more traditional form factor (it looked like a head).

The Bassman 500 is still in production, the Rumble 500 head has been discontinued and replaced with the Rumble HD 800. Thank you for bringing up the topic of damping, it's an interesting factor in amplification that I was unaware of. Now I'm on the hunt for the damping rating for my SB300 and 100T. Maybe its listed in the rating info in the manuals, or at least find the output impedance and I could do some math.

 

[AstroSonic]

The Bassman 500 is still in production, the Rumble 500 head has been discontinued and replaced with the Rumble HD 800. Thank you for bringing up the topic of damping, it's an interesting factor in amplification that I was unaware of. Now I'm on the hunt for the damping rating for my SB300 and 100T. Maybe its listed in the rating info in the manuals, or at least find the output impedance and I could do some math.

The damping factor of a tube push-pull, class AB output stage is generally well below 50 and typically less than half that. Class D heads can have damping factors of several hundred. With these, the bass tone you get is essentially the tone of the cab. With tubes, the the alignment is shifted a little (Qe is increased), usually producing a more bass rich tone. If the cab is already designed for a bass-rich tone (like the Rumble cabs), this could result in too much of a good thing, with a very bassy tone with poor articulation. Not that there arent times when this might be just what a player is looking for. It's all about personal preferences.

 

[DoctorZee]

The damping factor of a tube push-pull, class AB output stage is generally well below 50 and typically less than half that. Class D heads can have damping factors of several hundred. With these, the bass tone you get is essentially the tone of the cab. With tubes, the the alignment is shifted a little (Qe is increased), usually producing a more bass rich tone. If the cab is already designed for a bass-rich tone (like the Rumble cabs), this could result in too much of a good thing, with a very bassy tone with poor articulation. Not that there arent times when this might be just what a player is looking for. It's all about personal preferences.

But we are talking about the Bassman 500 which has a Class D output, so this is all irrelevant, right?

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

But we are talking about the Bassman 500 which has a Class D output, so this is all irrelevant, right?

Pretty much. Can't speak for anyone else, but I've learned plenty from tangential discussions that occur in any given thread

 

[DoctorZee]

Pretty much. Can't speak for anyone else, but I've learned plenty from tangential discussions that occur in any given thread

Sure, sure, but I wanted to make sure I was understanding right.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

Sure, sure, but I wanted to make sure I was understanding right.

I hear ya, I wanted to make sure I was getting it as well. If I'm understanding the relevant information provided by @AstroSonic in regards to damping is that the Rumble and Bassman cabs were voiced to match the damping figures of the Rumble and all-tube Bassman amps. As stated by others here, the Rumble cabs tend to have more thump and the Bassman cabs are more articulate which makes sense if they are meant to balance the effects of the damping figures of their corresponding amps. Seeing that the Bassman 500 has the same power section as the Rumble 500, and presumably same damping figure, one would probably choose to match it with Rumble cabs instead of Bassman cabs that may not deliver the bottom one is generally looking for.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

By the way, an aesthetically appealing rig is a double edged sword. When I'm working from home or picking up after my kids I'm constantly catching myself staring at my biggest distraction