• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Rumble 500 Combo v GK MB212 Combo

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.

Ah ok. Well that makes sense. It’s important to play around with different amps. I found myself preferring the Blackstar U500 to the Rumble or the BA210, I’ve owned both before, but for the tones and versatility I want, the Blackstar is it.

If all things are equal for you on the Rumble and GK, go for the Rumble. Lighter and cheaper and the extension cabs are also super cheap if you decide to add more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Giffro
Ah ok. Well that makes sense. It’s important to play around with different amps. I found myself preferring the Blackstar U500 to the Rumble or the BA210, I’ve owned both before, but for the tones and versatility I want, the Blackstar is it.

If all things are equal for you on the Rumble and GK, go for the Rumble. Lighter and cheaper and the extension cabs are also super cheap if you decide to add more.
The black star has all those preamps and effects on it correct? You ever mess with one of those orange crush bass amps?
 
The black star has all those preamps and effects on it correct? You ever mess with one of those orange crush bass amps?

Yep, the Blackstar has 3 different voicings (classic, modern and flat) and then 3 different responses (linear, 6L6 and 6550) and they all change the tone and character of the amp when mixed together. Then it also has built in distortion, OD, fuzz, chorus and octave effects. Tons of different sounds in it. I even prefer it to the Mark Bass combos I played today. Haven't played with any Orange bass amps yet but Ive had several of their guitar amps and they have all been fantastic, although pricey.
 
I'ved owned a Rumble stage 800... Loved the tuner, compression, etc.. but didn't like any of the other tones in the box.. It started to freeze at times (think it was the bluetooth), but for the money, it best be perfect, so I got rid of it. The fender rumble v3 model in the box was pretty muddy, even with eq settings..
Traded for a rumble 500... Which I found to be clearer, but still muddy - especially at loud volumes (never tried it with a cab)...

Just in short:

Rumble : Will get the job done for gigs.. no worries.. extra cab if needed will be plenty for most in power..
but it is a 'budget' amp, and in my opinion , it sounds like one too...(muddy as mentioned above)..

GK: very modern, at times sorta digital like.. But the sound is more ' professional ' based, and cuts through the mix a lot better than the rumble series.. ... The 12's also help in that category when comparing to the rumbles' 10"..

I wouldn't say the rumbles are garbage, but they are garbage ;-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: butterfingers1