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Fender Rumble 350 combo - not suitable for rehearsal

#21
If a 350-watt combo isn't getting it done in rehearsal, either there's something seriously wrong with the amp, your settings, or most likely, your band is just practicing way too loud.

I run a 150-watt Line6 LowDown in full band rehearsals with acoustic drums, electric guitars, keys and vox, never turn Master Volume past 5 and everyone hears me just fine.
 
#22
I had a hard time being heard with my SWR 210C combo till i boosted my mids....makes all the difference in the world. never would have guessed till i read a few threads on this trusty ol' TB site and gave it a try. you might find you purchased that new amp and didnt need to. add that to growlerbox's suggestion of raising or tilting your cab. bliss.
 
#23
The Fender Rumble 350 can sound loud enough if the lows are not boosted (a cut is always helpful) and the mids are fairly boosted. Try tilting the cab towards your ears and do not boost the low end (below 150hz anywhere on your signal chain. A cut in the low end maybe necessary.

The factor everyone is seeming to miss is acoustics. Some rooms are not useful in radiating bass tones and it can get even worse if you putting a drum set, a half stack guitarist, and a small PA system in one small 14' x 14' room.
 
#24
The “room” stuff is true. Depending on the size of the room, EVERYBODY should downsize on the speakers and volume to accommodate. I purposely picked out a small PA for rehearsal, a Kustom Profile 200, which is 100w per side with dual 6” woofers + horn in each speaker. Don’t laugh, our vocals are clear and we’re having ZERO feedback problems. 330 bucks for the whole PA, including a 3 year replacement warranty!
My guitar player uses a 12” powered Tech21 cab with a POD and with my 12” cab, we’ve been having very good sounding rehearsals.
 
#25
Another thing against the 350 is it only has a 4 band EQ. It's hard to get a good sound from just that IMHO. If you put in an EQ stomp box the 350 would likely give a better sound. I agree that raising it up and a slight tilt back would help too. Plenty of watts, just need set up right. I still wouldn't gig with it. SG
 
#26
ButtUglyJeff said:
I have been underwhelmed by this combo, every time I try it. I'm a fanboy and have been wanting to like this model for a long time. I'll go on the record in saying this might not be loud enough, especially in this configuration. I'd like the odds of the 150 combo holding up.

Better yet, I'd suggest scrapping this unit and find the older Fender Bassman 250 combo. I like the cones in this 2X10 better, plus you'll have the option of adding a second cabinet...
Click to expand...

I had the Bassman 250 2x10 combo and it had plenty of output. It would not accept an extension cabinet though unless you disconnected the internal 2x10's.
 
#27
I know it's an old thread, sorry, but i had to give my support to the Rumble 350 combo. I've done a few recent gigs with a new band (rock covers) and live on stage it stays on about 2. Mind you it does go DI into the desk and the amp becomes my bass monitor. I get the amp up on two milk crates so it's at chest level. The volume and tone I get from just those two 10's is awesome. Then again I'm running active pickups in a Warwick.
 
#29
my rumble 150 keeps up well to a drummer and guitarist with a 1/2 stack doing 80's hair and classic rock. I never had to turn it past 4, and we were plenty loud.

I think you guys must either be trying to deafen yourselves or there is something wrong with the amp or a dead battery in your bass if it is active!
 
#31
glenb73 said:
Now, I'm going back to the head/cab route , and keeping this is as an (expensive) practice amp for home.
Just figured I'd share my 2 cents in case anyone else was thinking of using a 350watt 2x10 combo for rehearsals/gigs. For me, it just didn't work out.
Click to expand...

The head/cab route won't work any better, if the cab is a lone 210. I just didn't follow the logic there.

My fantasy is of a 210 that gets it done too, be it a combo, head/cab, whatever. Don't think we're quite there yet. For the bands I've been in anyway. Yeah, everybody's the God of Thunder until the drummer starts laying it down...

--Bomb :bassist:
 
#32
GrowlerBox said:
Also worth having a look at your EQ -- possibly boosting mids in the rehearsal setting will help, as will tilting the combo back or elevating it.
Click to expand...

What he said. Cut some lows, add some mids. There’s no way that amp should not be heard in small room. Everybody should adjust their volume to the un-mic’d drummer.
I’m using an Ampeg PF350 into a single 8-ohm Avatar SB112 (250 watts) and have more than enough for rehearsals. Too much volume/too many speakers produces “cancellation”.
I believe that’s what you are experiencing. Guitar players are usually the culprit. Then the singer will jack up their volume so they don’t have to scream, then all hell breaks loose. :hmm:
 
#33
Adam Bomb said:
The head/cab route won't work any better, if the cab is a lone 210. I just didn't follow the logic there.

My fantasy is of a 210 that gets it done too, be it a combo, head/cab, whatever. Don't think we're quite there yet. For the bands I've been in anyway. Yeah, everybody's the God of Thunder until the drummer starts laying it down...

--Bomb :bassist:
Click to expand...

The logic does make sense - a 210 combo amp is a compromise between volume and tone. Combos are usually too small to get adequate tone/volume going and the speakers are generally cheaper than the stand alone cabs to get to a price point. For the cheaper combos, there is a lot of truth. However, the more expensive combos are usually better in every category.

If you are looking for a 210 that can really pound, the DNA 210 is killer. It gets over a loud drummer easily and can take a massive amount of wattage and pounding without farting out.

For those making the Fender Rumble combos work for you - you guys are playing with decent bands, you are not boosting the lows crazily, and your guitar players are not trying to be "bass players". You are very lucky!
 
#34
Gearhead17 said:
....For those making the Fender Rumble combos work for you - you guys are playing with decent bands, you are not boosting the lows crazily, and your guitar players are not trying to be "bass players". You are very lucky!
Click to expand...

Exactly! As a general rule, if the drummer can't hear the bass drum unmiked then your stage volume (or rehearsal volume) is too loud.
 
#35
I use a Rumble SIXTY.

That is NOT a misprint.

SIXTY.

ONE TEN INCH SPEAKER.

I bought it just to "get by" for a while, and it has always given me enough volume for stage and rehearsal. I also DI into the mains, of course, but that Rumble 60 is a great little combo amp.
 
#37
I have a little more to add on the topic. I played two gigs yesterday. The first one was a christmas party in a massive open warehouse. The band was a 4 piece blues/rock band. The guitarist/singer has a 10 year old bass student who was at the party and brought his squire jazz bass along to play a song with the band.

I had the amp volume on about 2 and it was more than loud enough. I have a Warwick with active MEC single coils. The student's squire had to have the amp volume set on about 8 to get the same as my bass on 2.

I figured that those who say this thing isn't loud enough should consider their bass and it's electronics.
 
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#39
Here's an idea that hasn't been covered yet, and something that I've been doing for about 25 years. I use an ear plug, made of foam and rated at a 30db cut. If you cut them in half length wise it makes it a 15db cut effectively. You're no longer bothered by loud guitars and piercing cymbals, and you can actually hear your bass better IMO.
If the drummer is on my right, the plug goes in my right ear, and vice versa if he's on the left side. Give it a try. It can also help save your hearing.

BTW, your 350W 2x10 should be enough if you have it placed correctly and if you stand in the right spot. A general rule of thumb for all band members is that, if you can hear yourself really well, with the tone you like, then you are too loud and probably louder than the others too.

Just my $.02.
 

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