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Combo Amp

T

the_canuck

May 18, 2009
39
0
#1
Well, I've finally found a place near me selling combo amps for a decent price, but now I have a decision to make. This will be my first combo amp over 30 Watts, so I'd like some input. I can choose between a Fender Rumble 100 210, or a Fender Bassman 100 Combo. Which would be the better buy, and why? Thanks :)
 
#2
Just a few general comments: You'll get very good info here from your question, but it will be easier to respond if you tell us a little about your needs and wants: genre of music, what kinds of venues you might be playing it, whether you work out regularly and have cantelope biceps and treetrunk thighs, whether you're interested in used gear, stuff like that.
 
#3
Alright, my genres of music that I will be playing are rock and metal mostly. For venues, small to medium gigs. I'm relatively strong, and the Rumble has wheels (forget the proper name, castors I think) and the Bassman is lighter. And I am willing to consider used gear.

As a matter of fact, I have just found a used Ampeg for a good price.

Here are my options everyone, all prices are in Canadian dollars:

New Fender Rumble 100 210, $414
New Fender Bassman 100, about the same, maybe a bit more
Barely used Ampeg BA115, 5 year warranty, $275

I am looking to buy my amp tomorrow, so opinions are appreciated :)
 
#4
the_canuck said:
Well, I've finally found a place near me selling combo amps for a decent price, but now I have a decision to make. This will be my first combo amp over 30 Watts, so I'd like some input. I can choose between a Fender Rumble 100 210, or a Fender Bassman 100 Combo. Which would be the better buy, and why? Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Agreed with Mr. Barker above, not sure what all you need or are looking for.

Here's a simple formula that helps me choose an amp, it may help you or make things much, much worse.

Generally speaking, start with your ears. Get what sounds the best to you at the volume that you need (are you in a band, etc?). We'll call that variable S, for sound.

Then make sure you can move it without cursing life. We'll call that variable W, for weight.

Finally, get something in your budget. Well call that variable C for carrots.

Now, just get S=W=C. It's that simple! :)

Of course, balancing those three variables can sometimes take a life-time, but that's what makes life interesting and TB fun. ;)
 
#5
With out knowing anything about your playing I would highly recomend NOT getting the rumble amps. They're terrible. Its somewhat like the squire of their bass amps, and not the decent newer squire stuff. Go with the bassman for sure.
 
#6
If you can try them all out, that would be best. As for me, I would forget about the Rumble and consider either the Bassman, or the Ampeg. Without doing a side by side comparison, I would choose the BA115.
 
#7
So it should be either the Ampeg BA115 or the Bassman 100 then? I'm also liking that I can get the Ampeg for $275, no taxes, but the Fender will be over $400 + taxes

I play rock and metal
My bass is a Fender P-Bass
I will be playing in a band with two guitarists and a drummer.
 
#9
dog1 said:
Yes, that is my opinion. But to me, Fender has never made a great bass amp. So without hearing the two, I would pick the Ampeg. I have heard the Rumble's though. They are terrible, IMO
Click to expand...

I have heard the Rumble 100 210 is better than the 100 115, but I have also heard from a few sources that the Rumbles just break, and the speakers are poor quality. I know that Ampeg is a trusted brand, and I think that I will go with the Ampeg, assuming nothing is wrong with it when I go to see it tomorrow.
 
#12
Hey, based on your second post I would go for the Ampeg. Not a bad price and excellent resell value.

No experience with the BA115, but I have used an ampeg BA210 quite a bit and really like it.

Just a word though, I remember quite a few threads awhile back about "hissing" from the BA115. IIRC that is corrected by simply unplugging the tweeter. Maybe someone with experience will chime in about that issue.
 
#13
I just bought an Ampeg BA115 and I am really happy with it. In guitar center I played it next to the fender bassman 100 and I did like the ampeg a little better, I picked it up used, like new, with a bass(yamaha rbx 170) all for 375$

I'm still playing with it but so far I cant get too much distortion out of it, which I think is a good thing. With the 'style' selector on 5 the volume knob all the way up and master knob set where you want your volume you can get a distorted tone great for grunge or classic rock but if you're playing really crunchy distorted metal you may want to consider a pedal.

RE. hiss: there is a hiss at super low volume or while your not playing but it doesn't affect the timbre of your playing.
 
#15
the_canuck said:
I can choose between a Fender Rumble 100 210, or a Fender Bassman 100 Combo. Which would be the better buy, and why? Thanks :)
Click to expand...
Whichever has the larger cabinet. Combos in general have much too small a cabinet for decent bass response, so get whichever is the largest. Watts are meaningless.
 
#16
I had an Ampeg BA115HP and traded it in for a Fender Bassman 250/210. Ampeg had great tone, but it never was a loud as I thought a 220 watt amp should be.

The Fender is a lot louder. Not sure 100 watts in going to give you the kick you want for a metal band.
 
#17
These posts tend to confirm the theory that if a smallish amp has a cute name it is, as I'm told they say in Texas, "all hat and no cattle."
 

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