Fender Rumble 100 Basslite mod?

[Akiyama]

You won’t know which until it arrives and you unbox it. (Schrödinger’s Rumble!) I wouldn’t expect a noticeable difference in tone but who knows? Not me.

The amp is destined to play “philosopher’s rock”.

 

[Bassamatic]

Seems like I knew there was a rumble club. I picked this one up cheap to use at church. My Markbass 12” combo’s fan was too loud. Someone kept complaining lol. This Rumble is quiet as a mouse.

I have never heard the fan on my MB 12" combo! Might need a new fan!

 

[John D Harris]

My replacement Rumble 100 should be coming soon. Will it the 8 ohm unit or the 4 ohm unit? Is there an audible difference between the two? The pre/post EQ DI is an advantage of the 4 ohm unit.

They probably designed them to sound as close to the same as possible.

I don't know if the Pre/Post switch has anything to do with the impedance of the driver (if some of the newer models are also 8 Ohm).

 

[John D Harris]

Not true, the 8 ohm speaker

I apologize for muddying the water.

I thought I remembered someone saying this earlier in the thread, but I'm probably just confused.

I was aware that most SS amps do not care if the impedance it's driving is higher, it is the minimum impedance that you have to be concerned with.

So I could put an 8 Ohm driver in mine (replacing the 4 Ohm OEM), but if the efficiency of the driver is the same as the original the output level will be lower.
If the 4 Ohm OEM was 99dB/1W, I'd need an 8 Ohm driver that was ~102dB/1W to be as loud (assuming it has the same ballpark power handling) or I would need an external 8 Ohm cabinet.

Thank you for your feedback!

 

[agedhorse]

I apologize for muddying the water.

I thought I remembered someone saying this earlier in the thread, but I'm probably just confused.

I was aware that most SS amps do not care if the impedance it's driving is higher, it is the minimum impedance that you have to be concerned with.

So I could put an 8 Ohm driver in mine (replacing the 4 Ohm OEM), but if the efficiency of the driver is the same as the original the output level will be lower.
If the 4 Ohm OEM was 99dB/1W, I'd need an 8 Ohm driver that was ~102dB/1W to be as loud (assuming it has the same ballpark power handling) or I would need an external 8 Ohm cabinet.

Thank you for your feedback!

The 4 ohm OEM driver is nowhere near 99dB/1W/1M, it's around 96dB/1W/1M which is why I said that you wouldn't be losing any SPL because most 8 ohm versions of a driver are between 1 and 2dB more sensitive and the Basslite (8 ohm) is more sensitive still.

IMO and IME, the 8 ohm version is a better choice, ESPECIALLY if @theos combo is equipped as an 8 ohm minimum impedance amplifier.

 

[John D Harris]

The 4 ohm OEM driver is nowhere near 99dB/1W/1M, it's around 96dB/1W/1M which is why I said that you wouldn't be losing any SPL because most 8 ohm versions of a driver are between 1 and 2dB more sensitive and the Basslite (8 ohm) is more sensitive still.

IMO and IME, the 8 ohm version is a better choice, ESPECIALLY if @theos combo is equipped as an 8 ohm minimum impedance amplifier.

Thank you!

 

[G-Dog]

... ... ... So I could put an 8 Ohm driver in mine (replacing the 4 Ohm OEM), ... ...

Hmmm, ... suppose you replaced the 4 ohm speaker in a Rumble 100 OEM combo having the temporary power supply mod and the Pre/Post Switch. Wouldn't it then probably output something significantly less than the original 100 watts, like maybe 50-ish to 70-ish? ​

If the ..., I'd need an ... to be as loud ... ... or I would need an external 8 Ohm cabinet. ... ... ...

Hmmm, ... and suppose you added an extension speaker connection to your originally 4 ohm 100 combo (now with 8 ohm speaker) and connected a 12" 8 ohm cab, giving you a 100 watt 2x12" stack. Depending on the specs of the two 8 ohm speakers, might that give more SPL than either the 8-ohm or 4-ohm OEM version of the combo (neither having had ext. speaker connections before)? ​

 

[agedhorse]

Hmmm, ... suppose you replaced the 4 ohm speaker in a Rumble 100 OEM combo having the temporary power supply mod and the Pre/Post Switch. Wouldn't it then probably output something significantly less than the original 100 watts, like maybe 50-ish to 70-ish? ​

Hmmm, ... and suppose you added an extension speaker connection to your originally 4 ohm 100 combo (now with 8 ohm speaker) and connected a 12" 8 ohm cab, giving you a 100 watt 2x12" stack. Depending on the specs of the two 8 ohm speakers, might that give more SPL than either the 8-ohm or 4-ohm OEM version of the combo (neither having had ext. speaker connections before)? ​

Without knowing the speaker’s sensitivity, there’s no way to come to know for sure, but maybe.

 

[John D Harris]

Without knowing the speaker’s sensitivity, there’s no way to come to know for sure, but maybe.

Not my mod thread, but I'm thinking about either leaving it stock or swapping for the Celestion BN12-300S (4) which has a 99dB sensitivity, the only thing that concerns me is the XMax of 2.5mm.
That Basslite's XMax is 5.2mm.
Do you think that should concern me (playing a BEADG bass guitar)?

 

[agedhorse]

Not my mod thread, but I'm thinking about either leaving it stock or swapping for the Celestion BN12-300S (4) which has a 99dB sensitivity, the only thing that concerns me is the XMax of 2.5mm.
That Basslite's XMax is 5.2mm.
Do you think that should concern me (playing a BEADG bass guitar)?

Xmax isn't going to make any difference at 100 watts. In fact, that lower Xmax MAY be part of why the sensitivity is that high.

 

[John D Harris]

Xmax isn't going to make any difference at 100 watts. In fact, that lower Xmax MAY be part of why the sensitivity is that high.

Great news!
Thanks again!

 

[theos]

Yeah, apparently the newer units use a 4 Ohm driver and slightly redesigned power amp section.

Both the older units and the newer require the impedances to match the provided OEM speaker (from what I understand).

This one was 8 ohm.

 

[theos]

Update on this... I tuned the new speaker a few degrees and drilled new holes. Filled the old holes with silicone just in case I ever go back to the original speaker. As of right now, I am not sure why I would ever go back. The Eminence was a huge upgrade. I can't put a finger on the issues I had with the original speaker other than it wasn't cutting it. I saw many people using this speaker as an upgrade and everyone had positive responses. I more or less took a chance and I am very happy with the difference. Much cleaner sounding all around and seems to have more bottom end and volume. The bottom end could just be clarity.

 

[BassHole1]

Update on this... I tuned the new speaker a few degrees and drilled new holes. Filled the old holes with silicone just in case I ever go back to the original speaker. As of right now, I am not sure why I would ever go back. The Eminence was a huge upgrade. I can't put a finger on the issues I had with the original speaker other than it wasn't cutting it. I saw many people using this speaker as an upgrade and everyone had positive responses. I more or less took a chance and I am very happy with the difference. Much cleaner sounding all around and seems to have more bottom end and volume. The bottom end could just be clarity.

I have a Rumble 100 and I am considering a speaker upgrade. Which mode Eminence did you get? Did you do any other mods like fill/foam inside? Thanks.

 

[theos]

I have a Rumble 100 and I am considering a speaker upgrade. Which mode Eminence did you get? Did you do any other mods like fill/foam inside? Thanks.

Eminence Basslite S2012 Neo 12“ Bass Guitar Speaker

I got it through parts express for $140.93 total. Make sure you check with them for discount codes.

Here’s my 2 cents after having it for a while. It’s a good sounding setup. From memory I think it sounds better. I tried lining it with foam but didn’t like the results so I removed all I could. It was stuck good. If I were to try anything else, I’d try polyfill or whatever it’s called. I’m using it at a small church so I don’t really crank it but it handled my Modulus Q5 with ease.

 

[John D Harris]

I have a Rumble 100 and I am considering a speaker upgrade. Which mode Eminence did you get? Did you do any other mods like fill/foam inside? Thanks.

Is the OEM driver in your R100c 8 Ohm or 4 Ohm?

It matters.

You can't use a 4 Ohm driver if the original was 8 Ohm without risking damage to the amp.

I would try a partial lining and see how it sounds before trying more, like part of the rear surface, one side, and the bottom.

 

[G-Dog]

I have a Rumble 100 and I am considering a speaker upgrade. Which mode Eminence did you get? Did you do any other mods like fill/foam inside? Thanks.

... ... I would try a partial lining and see how it sounds before trying more, like part of the rear surface, one side, and the bottom.

Or you could just put a sock on it. The ports, that is. Just a bit of soft material to siften the air flow through the pots can give you a preview of what adding some internal acoustic lining can do for the tone.

 

[theos]

Is the OEM driver in your R100c 8 Ohm or 4 Ohm?

It matters.

You can't use a 4 Ohm driver if the original was 8 Ohm without risking damage to the amp.

I would try a partial lining and see how it sounds before trying more, like part of the rear surface, one side, and the bottom.

They are 8 ohm. So yes, considering this amp doesn’t have an external speaker option, you probably should go back with an 8 ohm. If it had the external speaker option, you could drop it to 4 ohms and not use the external speaker option… giving you full power to the single driver.

 

[agedhorse]

Or you could just put a sock on it. The ports, that is. Just a bit of soft material to siften the air flow through the pots can give you a preview of what adding some internal acoustic lining can do for the tone.

Adding acoustic treatment to the inside of the cabinet more greatly changes the high mid resonance within the cabinet. Adding it can be a positive or negative depending on your tastes and needs.

 

[G-Dog]

I have a Rumble 100 and I am considering a speaker upgrade. Which mode Eminence did you get? Did you do any other mods like fill/foam inside? Thanks.

Is the OEM driver in your R100c 8 Ohm or 4 Ohm?

It matters.

You can't use a 4 Ohm driver if the original was 8 Ohm without risking damage to the amp.

I would try a partial lining and see how it sounds before trying more, like part of the rear surface, one side, and the bottom.

They are 8 ohm. So yes, considering this amp doesn’t have an external speaker option, you probably should go back with an 8 ohm. If it had the external speaker option, you could drop it to 4 ohms and not use the external speaker option… giving you full power to the single driver.

Not all V3 Rumble 100 combos have 8 ohm speakers! Many newer ones have a 4 ohm speaker and a Pre/Post button at the XLR Out, which the original V3 R100s do not have.

@BassHole1, you need to be sure which one you have. Generally, the ones with the Pre/Post button have a 4 ohm speaker and the ones without have an 8 ohm.