Boss Katana 110w Vs Fender Rumble 100w

[Dillion Hanahan]

Amp just broke, need to have new one by tomorrow 5pm. Still need to practice with new amp. Basically local shop options in price range are a Boss Katana 110W and a Fender Rumble 100W. Could return either after the gig if they don’t suit I’m just in a pinch right now. Looking for loudness here, don’t really need all the fancy stuff on the Katana but could be cool if I kept it.

 

[gtirard]

Amp just broke, need to have new one by tomorrow 5pm. Still need to practice with new amp. Basically local shop options in price range are a Boss Katana 110W and a Fender Rumble 100W. Could return either after the gig if they don’t suit I’m just in a pinch right now. Looking for loudness here, don’t really need all the fancy stuff on the Katana but could be cool if I kept it.

I don't about loudness but I would buy the Katana

 

[agedhorse]

A better choice would be to borrow or rent an amp and then buy something that is really suited to your needs.

 

[NeilJazz]

I have a Katana 210 and it is plenty loud for small/medium gigs.

 

[DuluthDank]

Better to rent, like AgedHorse said. But between those two I'd go with the Katana. The Rumble has one extremely prominent baked in sound that people love or hate (count me in the latter group). The Katana should have a lot more flexibility.

 

[Dillion Hanahan]

I got the rumble 100w. Katana is a better sounding overall amp with cooler features but I don’t think it would get through over the new symbols the drummer just got. (They are still in honeymoon phase and very loud on them)
This is only my opinion playing each for 20 mins. thank you everyone for your opinion. Will circle back after practice tonight and gig tomorrow, and eat crow or say it went well lol.

 

[Dillion Hanahan]

Would you say the

I have a Katana 210 and it is plenty loud for small/medium gigs.

100w would not compete with a full drum set?

 

[Davebass77]

A 100 or 110 watt amp combo doesn't seem like it would have enough power to compete with or be heard over a loud, cymbal-crashing drummer. I hope you've got FOH support to do the heavy lifting. Good luck.

 

[NeilJazz]

Would you say the

100w would not compete with a full drum set?

If the drummer hits hard, the 110w(60 watts RMS albeit it is Class AB) might not have enough oomph to overcome.

 

[agedhorse]

If the drummer hits hard, the 110w(60 watts RMS albeit it is Class AB) might not have enough oomph to overcome.

Doesn’t matter if it’s class AB or class D.

 

[Dillion Hanahan]

Doesn’t matter if it’s class AB or class D.

Any way you could explain the classes better if you have the time. From what I gathered it has to do with audio output(?) where an AB has a more curved sound output gain and Plateaus where a D class gets louder the more you turn it up? Or is that nonsense?

 

[Dillion Hanahan]

A 100 or 110 watt amp combo doesn't seem like it would have enough power to compete with or be heard over a loud, cymbal-crashing drummer. I hope you've got FOH support to do the heavy lifting. Good luck.

There are monitors to plug into but I needed to practice solo again tonight and tomorrow with Mr. Zildjan and the other 2 people tomorrow morning before the show. Tryna practice soon but clean clothes come first

 

[abarson]

Any way you could explain the classes better if you have the time. From what I gathered it has to do with audio output(?) where an AB has a more curved sound output gain and Plateaus where a D class gets louder the more you turn it up? Or is that nonsense?

All amps get louder the more you turn them up.
Class AB will almost always be heavier because it is less efficient and needs to dissipate more heat. Other than that, don't worry about the class, discern with your ears.
The Rumble 100 has the advantage of speaker area with a 12" vs 10", but in either case I don't believe the 100/110 watts is enough to sit with a drummer, unless he only plays with brushes.

 

[agedhorse]

Any way you could explain the classes better if you have the time. From what I gathered it has to do with audio output(?) where an AB has a more curved sound output gain and Plateaus where a D class gets louder the more you turn it up? Or is that nonsense?

Pretty much nonsense. An amp, class AB or class D sounds exactly as the designer intends (assuming the designer knows what they are doing).

 

[Mastiff_5]

In my experience a 100w non-tube amp isn’t gonna cut the mustard with a full band, particularly if the guitarist is pushing 50+ watts and likes to crank it. If what you are bought was a combo, then yeah, you should take it back and rent a bigger rig. If it’s an amplifier only (head unit, i.e., preamp + power section) and you were using a 100w already, then you are happy with that and ignore this. If there is decent PA, sound reinforcement, then just make sure you have a good DI (with pre, maybe).
Class D is digital switching, right? Such that a chipset manages the amplification, where a class AB is typical big, heavy, copper toroidal transformer?
Class D should be light, and many will handle a 2 ohm load, while traditional amps typically don’t.
When in doubt, listen to @agedhorse!

 

[agedhorse]

In my experience a 100w non-tube amp isn’t gonna cut the mustard with a full band, particularly if the guitarist is pushing 50+ watts and likes to crank it. If what you are bought was a combo, then yeah, you should take it back and rent a bigger rig. If it’s an amplifier only (head unit, i.e., preamp + power section) and you were using a 100w already, then you are happy with that and ignore this. If there is decent PA, sound reinforcement, then just make sure you have a good DI (with pre, maybe).
Class D is digital switching, right? Such that a chipset manages the amplification, where a class AB is typical big, heavy, copper toroidal transformer?
Class D should be light, and many will handle a 2 ohm load, while traditional amps typically don’t.
When in doubt, listen to @agedhorse!

Class D is not digital, the power supply may use a line frequency transformer which may be toroidal or EI (both of which are steel cores and copper wire), or it may be an SMPS which operates at higher than line frequency but still uses either a toroidal or square bobbin with a ferrite power core and copper wire.

Class AB is an analog linear amp, class D is an analog non-linear PWM amp, both are analog not digital.

 

[Mastiff_5]

@agedhorse - then does “class” not have to do with digital switching at all?

 

[agedhorse]

@agedhorse - then does “class” not have to do with digital switching at all?

Switching but not digital. All the information is analog, represented as differences in time based on the widths of each pulse in a series.

 

[RobertAuCoin]

Katana 210 is more than plenty loud, though. Also a bit heavier than any of the Rumbles, but manageable.

 

[NeilJazz]

Katana 210 is more than plenty loud, though. Also a bit heavier than any of the Rumbles, but manageable.

Agreed. It is more than enough for my needs since FOH(if available) does the heavy lifting. One thing that bothers me is there is no cab extension option.