Fender rumble 150 vs 350?

[Gearhead17]

The volume of a combo amp - it's going to throw you for a loop. The volume of the drummer, guitarists, outdoor/indoor, and what you exactly want to hear on stage from your monitor setup is going to change show to show. Your combo may work fine in certain rooms while sounding like a boom box in other rooms.

The other problem: combos are generally small for the sake of small. To get a decent bass tone, you need a certain size speaker box to get there. Combo amps cut corners so the customer is happier. This works fine for relatively quieter band setups, good volume practices and playing solo. Combos are generally limited in volume - for many people it does not matter. For semi-loud bands and decent to large stages, combos will usually not cut it.

I suggest getting a head and cab since you can easily change each piece out if you want a better/different/louder tone. 350 watts into an Avatar 210 will sound fuller, louder and fill a stage up much better than the 210 Fender Rumble combo. I used an Avatar 210 for many practices - no problem hearing myself. I had to reduce some low end, but it worked great at higher volumes too.

In all seriousness, I just want to help you find the RIGHT gear NOW. I don't want to see you toss your money out the window. I have spent too much on gear that did not cut it.

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Here is an example of what you should target. This is from the Chicago land area, but look for deals like these.

 

[Downunderwonder]

A buddy had a 350 combo. I borrowed it a few times. Usual story with 2x10, keeps up with drums so long as they aren't being smashed. I would think it should be fine in church but I've not been to a rock church.

The budget should get a head and cab with at least as much poke but capacity to add another cab and raise the roof.

 

[Liverspot]

I snagged a Fender Rumble 150 off Kijiji for $80, it is showroom mint. Works great, and sounds just fine going through my Fender 410 Pro slant cab. To be honest, i play this stack so much more than my Ampeg PF500 going through my Peavey Black Widow 15" cab.
Call me a noob, but there is something i really like about the fender tone.

 

[Liverspot]

I would also mention that the footswitchable overdrive is, well.........meh. If you dont use distortion much, or are not fussy about it, it will do the trick. I ended up getting a Boss Bass Distortion with a Monte Allums mod, and it sounds terrific.

 

[Linnin]

I snagged a Fender Rumble 150 off Kijiji for $80, it is showroom mint. Works great, and sounds just fine going through my Fender 410 Pro slant cab. To be honest, i play this stack so much more than my Ampeg PF500 going through my Peavey Black Widow 15" cab.
Call me a noob, but there is something i really like about the fender tone.

Bingo-Zingo Baby!

 

[Ben Noblit]

I'd avoid Rumble cabinets/combos if I were you. They're not very well built. Look used on Craigslist, get yourself a head and a 410 or so.

 

[Linnin]

I'd avoid Rumble cabinets/combos if I were you. They're not very well built. Look used on Craigslist, get yourself a head and a 410 or so.

That's just so much anti-Fender hate speech. Ignore it. The truth is Fender Rumbles are well regarded; reliable, and well built. Nothing, but nothing, can beat them in their price range.

 

[Ben Noblit]

That's just so much anti-Fender hate speech. Ignore it. The truth is Fender Rumbles are well regarded; reliable, and well built. Nothing, but nothing, can beat them in their price range.

I've seen enough Rumbles come through the shop to be confident in what I'm saying. Rumble cabinets are NOT well built. I don't hate on anything that I don't personally know deserves it. Try not to subscribe to fanboyism, or haterboyism (?) for that matter, it'll cloud your ability to make reasoned assessments.