Fender Rumble 100 connectivity issues.

[bullshark]

Hi, getting back into bass, I just bought this little unit for practice session. Gotta say, love the sound and weight of the unit, punches way above it's pay grade.

But I don't understand the connectivity at all.

There's a DI out on the unit, normally it is to send a line level output to the house while you use the box itself for stage monitoring. But the signal level of the DI is affected by the volume knob on the amp???

On the opposite end, there's an FX loop circuit, but THAT circuit bypass the volume knob, so presumably the power amp, altogether? So either it is sending the full power to the FX, or it isn't so the more volume you run, the less effect you have in your signal?

So either Fender were asleep at the wheel when they designed this, or there is something I am missing. If so, somebody maybe would be able to explain to me because, the way I understand it so far, both the DI and FX loop are unusable?

 

[agedhorse]

It’s just the way they designed it. Not unusable but maybe not as convenient as pre master volume.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

The newest versions of the Rumbles have a Pre/Post switch on the DI.

 

[bullshark]

The newest versions of the Rumbles have a Pre/Post switch on the DI.

Thank's, somebody woke up at Fender , but mine doesn't have that unfortunately. Still, I fail to see a situation where having the DI post volume would be useful at all.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Thank's, somebody woke up at Fender , but mine doesn't have that unfortunately. Still, I fail to see a situation where having the DI post volume would be useful at all.

Earlier models didn't have that. As far as the usefulness, I haven't had the need for it yet, but I think on most amps the Pre/Post is for the preamp before the volume so the stage volume from the amp has nothing to do with what gets sent to the FOH, except for the tonal settings. Perhaps that is not the case with Rumbles. I don't know.

I do know that you can daisy chain 2 Rumble combos together, by going from the send on the first combo (which controls both), to the return on the 2nd one where only the power amp section on the second powers the cab. The top cab's preamp (all controls including volume) then control both. So I'm not sure how the wiring schematics are.

 

[bullshark]

I do know that you can daisy chain 2 Rumble combos together, by going from the send on the first combo (which controls both), to the return on the 2nd one where only the power amp section on the second powers the cab. The top cab's preamp (all controls including volume) then control both. So I'm not sure how the wiring schematics are.

Ah, that explain their thinking in wiring the FX loop the way they did. Unfortunately, that prevent the use of the FX return as an in from an outboard preamp since you then loose all abilities to control the volume of the unit.
Also, not sure how wise it is to vary the level of the FX send any time you touch the volume of the cab.
thank's.

 

[mikezimmerman]

Maybe I'm missing something, but there doesn't appear to be a Mute switch on the Rumble. Without a Mute switch, the only way to mute the output through the DI--if you needed to unplug the bass, for instance--would be having a Master volume that also controlled the DI.

But a Mute switch that also muted the DI would be better.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I

Ah, that explain their thinking in wiring the FX loop the way they did. Unfortunately, that prevent the use of the FX return as an in from an outboard preamp since you then loose all abilities to control the volume of the unit.
Also, not sure how wise it is to vary the level of the FX send any time you touch the volume of the cab.
thank's.

I don't use a second Rumble 100 combo...yet. But I plan to add one to my current 100.

I don't use the effects send/return on the Rumble for my effects. I use a Zoom 1X FOUR multi-effects pedal into a Xenyx 4 channel mixer for home recording and the "Main Out" on the little mixer goes directly into the Rumble 100's instrument input jack.

This pedal/mixing board is sitting loosely in either my homemade, living room (antique magazine rack/endtable) mixing "rack" or velcroed to the top of my Rumble 100.

In my "rack" (just sitting on it at an angle)...and using headphones...

Or velcroed to the top of my Rumble. You can see the patch cable going from the "Main Out" of the mixer into the Rumble's input jack.

 

[bullshark]

Maybe I'm missing something, but there doesn't appear to be a Mute switch on the Rumble. Without a Mute switch, the only way to mute the output through the DI--if you needed to unplug the bass, for instance--would be having a Master volume that also controlled the DI.

But a Mute switch that also muted the DI would be better.

Personally, I use my tuner as a mute.
But evidently, Fender tried to save money on switches and jack by combining functions, the result of which isn't too happy.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Maybe I'm missing something, but there doesn't appear to be a Mute switch on the Rumble. Without a Mute switch, the only way to mute the output through the DI--if you needed to unplug the bass, for instance--would be having a Master volume that also controlled the DI.

But a Mute switch that also muted the DI would be better.

If you set the Overdrive settings to "0", the activation button acts as a mute switch.

 

[abarson]

The newest versions of the Rumbles have a Pre/Post switch on the DI.

Your information is partially correct. Only the Rumble 500 and Studio versions provide selection of pre/post preamp for the DI. The Rumble 40 through the 200 do not have this option.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Your information is partially correct. Only the Rumble 500 and Studio versions provide selection of pre/post preamp for the DI. The Rumble 40 through the 200 do not have this option.

Hmmm...that is a photo I took of the back of my Rumble 100 (V3).

 

[Jogobass]

The master volume is an effective mute for the amp. At least it prevents the pop through the speaker. You can also turn the overdrive level all the way down and use the overdrive button as a mute switch because who needs overdrive anyway

 

[LowendG]

Thank's, somebody woke up at Fender , but mine doesn't have that unfortunately. Still, I fail to see a situation where having the DI post volume would be useful at all.

Always found it a bit of a head-scratcher. I don't own one so I'm not used to their architecture, but I've encountered Rumble 100s in lots of backline, and my understanding was the DI "line out" was "post-everything", which seemed kinda weird if you ask me. So I'd just keep everything at what I imagined to be "flat" and try and not turn up the master much if I could help it. But I'd find the settings all over the place from bassists using the rig before me, so who knows what FOH was getting. Definitely a deal breaker for me if that's how they operate.

 

[agedhorse]

The newest versions of the Rumbles have a Pre/Post switch on the DI.

The Rumble 100 does not, ground lift only.

 

[bullshark]

The Rumble 100 does not, ground lift only.

View attachment 7104246

Addendum from Fender:

ADDENDUM / TECHNICAL NOTE
Due to ongoing supply issues, some units may be built with an
alternate power supply and amplifier module. This will not change
the audio performance of the product; however, these units
require a 4-ohm speaker rather than the original 8-ohm specifica-
tion. Should replacement of a speaker ever be required, qualified
service personnel should note the impedance rating (8 ohms or 4
ohms) indicated on the speaker itself and use a replacement with
the same impedance rating.
Additionally, units built with the alternate power module include
the added pre/post switch that lets the user set the XLR output to
provide pre- (direct) or post-preamp/EQ signal.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

The Rumble 100 does not, ground lift only.

View attachment 7104246

This pic below is a photo I took of the back of my Fender Rumble 100. My Fender Rumble 100, not some pic found online.

And yes, it functions as it's supposed to...

 

[agedhorse]

That's not the standard model, it's a temporary alternate build.

The vast majority have just a ground lift switch, to assume otherwise is wrong. You may get lucky and receive an alternate build but unless something changes permanently, it's unlikely.

It's possible that this addition of a pre-post switch will evolve into running change on the Rumble 100-500 models (if it was them, I would certainly do this), but buyer beware that there are plenty of the original versions in stock at retailers.

 

[Kansas]

Your 100 is a fine stage monitor. Just get a DI thru pedal w cab sim, like a used Sans Amp Bass Driver and you are covered for FOH.

 

[bullshark]

Your 100 is a fine stage monitor. Just get a DI thru pedal w cab sim, like a used Sans Amp Bass Driver and you are covered for FOH.

That's what I did. But it left me wondering what that DI was for...

And then I wanted to hear what it would sound like with the Sansamp signal going to the amp. So, as per instruction in the Sansamp manual, hooked the 1/4" out into the FX return as to bypass the Rumble pre and... it doesn't work either since the FX loop is after the volume control.