Convince me why I should pick the Fender Rumble 500 combo over the GK MB212 combo?
Currently using Ampeg ba210v2 and growing tired of it...
Currently using Ampeg ba210v2 and growing tired of it...
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Fender Rumble 500 Combo v GK MB212 Combo
- Thread starter Hendo2511
- Start date
My two cents... I have a Rumble 500 combo that I REALLY like and have been gigging it for three-ish years. In that time I've "upgraded" twice to a separate head/cab setup (once to a PF-500 and PF410 and another time to an RB700ii and Neo 410), but returned each one and went back to the Rumble both times.
There are a few amps I've found that I like better (SVT-CL, Super Bassman, Mesa M6 carbine), but each is really heavy just for the head alone, not to mention expensive. The Rumble can't be beat in terms of price/weight/size. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.
There are a few amps I've found that I like better (SVT-CL, Super Bassman, Mesa M6 carbine), but each is really heavy just for the head alone, not to mention expensive. The Rumble can't be beat in terms of price/weight/size. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.
Yeah but you asked. The GK has a bit more going for it but yes, you pay more.
And I appreciate the input. So what makes the GK better than the Fender? Looking for someone who has used both.
Bigger, better speakers and a box that can handle them. Both really good amps though.
Fender Rumbles don’t have doors.
I never felt either of the two I bought were bad, but that they weren't worth the $600-$800 cost over what I already had. There are a few that I've found I would take in a heartbeat over the Rumble (SVT-CL, Super Bassman, Mesa Carbine M6, and Genzler Magellan), so ultimately I've just decided to hold out for one of those. But, in the meantime I'm perfectly happy with the Rumble and don't have have any plans to buy a new amp in the near future.
I'd save $300 and go Rumble. Or spend the same amount as the GK and add the Rumble 115 cab.
I'll chime in..
I own a Rumble 500 Head and 2 of the V3 210 cabs. I also own GK MB212II and MB115II combos.
Yes, there is a big price difference from the Rumble to the GK MB212. There is a lot of difference in the amps. The GK's are made in the USA and Rumbles in China. That figures in part of the price right there.
The GK 212 is 500w as a stand alone. The Rumble is 350w stand alone. To get the 500w out of the Rumble, you need an extension cab. To add a cabinet to the GK, you'll need to buy one of their powered extension cabs. (But I can tell you from my experience, you'll never need to get that powered extension cab.)
As far as sound. This will be the biggest reason to buy one over the other beside the cost factor. The GK has that more modern tone from the get go. The Rumble has more of an Old School Tone/warmer tone. And with that being said, I can get the GK to sound more Old School easier than I can get the Rumble to sound more modern.
In my case, I use the GK for gigging more than I do the Rumble. Simply because the combo is so much easier to move than the head and a cab or 2 cabs. And I think the GK cuts in a live band situation just a bit more than the Rumble does.
Both amp are great. Both have a place in my rotation. I could live with having just one or the other. But in the end, I think the GK has the edge for my gigging purposes. (I gigged the Rumble Head and 1 210 cab for almost 2 yrs before I got the second cab). And I had gotten the Rumble head and 210 cab because my first GK MB212II had blown a speaker (at the time I didn't know it was just a blown speaker) and I needed a amp ASAP for the gigs lined up, so I got the Rumble Head and cab. I have since repaired the GK and a friend bought from me and I bought a brand new GK MB212II about 5-6 months ago.
If money is not an issue, I'd go the GK because it can do the modern and old school tones pretty good and cuts in the band setting better. But on a budget, I'd do the Rumble and be just as happy. It sounds great too. But if sound is just the factor, then it comes down to the do you want old school/warm or modern/clean out the gate.
You can't lose from either one. But use your ears and/or wallet to decide.
I own a Rumble 500 Head and 2 of the V3 210 cabs. I also own GK MB212II and MB115II combos.
Yes, there is a big price difference from the Rumble to the GK MB212. There is a lot of difference in the amps. The GK's are made in the USA and Rumbles in China. That figures in part of the price right there.
The GK 212 is 500w as a stand alone. The Rumble is 350w stand alone. To get the 500w out of the Rumble, you need an extension cab. To add a cabinet to the GK, you'll need to buy one of their powered extension cabs. (But I can tell you from my experience, you'll never need to get that powered extension cab.)
As far as sound. This will be the biggest reason to buy one over the other beside the cost factor. The GK has that more modern tone from the get go. The Rumble has more of an Old School Tone/warmer tone. And with that being said, I can get the GK to sound more Old School easier than I can get the Rumble to sound more modern.
In my case, I use the GK for gigging more than I do the Rumble. Simply because the combo is so much easier to move than the head and a cab or 2 cabs. And I think the GK cuts in a live band situation just a bit more than the Rumble does.
Both amp are great. Both have a place in my rotation. I could live with having just one or the other. But in the end, I think the GK has the edge for my gigging purposes. (I gigged the Rumble Head and 1 210 cab for almost 2 yrs before I got the second cab). And I had gotten the Rumble head and 210 cab because my first GK MB212II had blown a speaker (at the time I didn't know it was just a blown speaker) and I needed a amp ASAP for the gigs lined up, so I got the Rumble Head and cab. I have since repaired the GK and a friend bought from me and I bought a brand new GK MB212II about 5-6 months ago.
If money is not an issue, I'd go the GK because it can do the modern and old school tones pretty good and cuts in the band setting better. But on a budget, I'd do the Rumble and be just as happy. It sounds great too. But if sound is just the factor, then it comes down to the do you want old school/warm or modern/clean out the gate.
You can't lose from either one. But use your ears and/or wallet to decide.
There is also the weight issue. The Rumble 500c is 4.5 lbs lighter than the GK. It may not sound that much, but might make a difference in the long run, depending on your situation. YMM, as always, V.
To a degree, yes. But I'm talking about the foundation of the amps themselves.
I play passive American Fenders. I have 3 main basses, 2 P's and a Jazz. One P has flats and one has Rounds. Jazz has rounds as well. All are stock except my 1995 P has a Fralin 5% overwound pickup in it and sports the rounds.
It’s also substantially lighter than the Rumble 500 head/210 cab combination. In fact, the Rumble 210 cab alone weighs 2.5 lbs more than the 500 combo.
The most important question no one has asked yet is why have you grown tired of an excellent amp like the BA-210? What do you think the Rumble or the GK is going to offer you that you cant get on the Ampeg? Sounds like GAS, or should I say AAS?
Have had the amp for around a year now and just can’t get comfortable with the tones I want. More specifically I’ve tinkered on a rumble and GK and they just give me that certain good feeling you hear. For example playing a low E on the ba compared to the rumble the rumble comes out on top. Little things like that really. What got me disappointed in the BA in the first place is I tinkered in the Orange Crush bass 100 and it just blew me away with its tones.
