Fender Rumble 500 Head with 2x 210 cabs

[Peter Gladwin]

Hi guys, I’m new to this forum but I’d like your advice specifically on Fender Rumble 500 Head with 2 x 210 cabs. I’m playing in a loud classic rock band and at my current settings my sound is lost in the mix.
The master volume is set at 12 noon, gain at 9 O Clock. EQ bass and low mid at 10 o clock. Treble and high Mid at 1 O Clock.
Vintage and bright switched on using Fender American pro 2 jazz bass via Keeley Bassist limiter/ compressor on pedal board before preamp and SFX High Pass Filter in the FX loop before power amp.
My question is how much further can I raise the Master or Gain to avoid any risk of blowing speakers and what levels do use use for this similar amp and speaker set up?

 

[dougjwray]

I have a Rumble 500 head and a single GK 210 cabinet, but I've never used them together. As others around here will tell you, the cab design usually affects the cab's sound more than the diameter of the speakers does. My GK 210 is more scooped than the Rumble 115 cabinet which I usually pair with the Rumble 500 head. All of this is to say that your cabinets *might* not be conveying the mids that you want.
Now, for settings on the head...
First, I'd plug directly into it. No compression or filtering. Turn the gain all the way off. (This removes mud from these amps.) Vintage and bright off. EQ knobs flat. Now try adding some low mids. Also, try every possible setting on your Jazz Bass. Maybe soloing (or favoring) the neck pickup will help. Going full Jaco (bridge pickup soloed) will certainly help you cut, but it might not be stylistically desirable for the music you're playing. I don't know.
Anyway, start simple and flat and then gradually experiment.
Good luck and I hope this helps.

 

[Peter Gladwin]

I have a Rumble 500 head and a single GK 210 cabinet, but I've never used them together. As others around here will tell you, the cab design usually affects the cab's sound more than the diameter of the speakers does. My GK 210 is more scooped than the Rumble 115 cabinet which I usually pair with the Rumble 500 head. All of this is to say that your cabinets *might* not be conveying the mids that you want.
Now, for settings on the head...
First, I'd plug directly into it. No compression or filtering. Turn the gain all the way off. (This removes mud from these amps.) Vintage and bright off. EQ knobs flat. Now try adding some low mids. Also, try every possible setting on your Jazz Bass. Maybe soloing (or favoring) the neck pickup will help. Going full Jaco (bridge pickup soloed) will certainly help you cut, but it might not be stylistically desirable for the music you're playing. I don't know.
Anyway, start simple and flat and then gradually experiment.
Good luck and I hope this helps.

Thanks Doug

 

[abarson]

https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10002/237030_bamp_manual_all_revA.pdf

Like most amps, you want to use as much Gain at the preamp stage as needed without distortion, then adjust your loudness with the master Volume control. Nine o’clock on the Gain to me sounds low, but if you prefer an overdriven sound using the Drive circuit you might need to compensate. It’s a shame Fender omitted a simple clipping indicator on the Gain control.

You haven’t mentioned what cabinets you’re using. I’m hoping they are no less than 8 ohms each, as the head is 4 ohms minimum. In general, if each cabinet is rated for at least 300 watts RMS you should be in the clear. As always use your ears to judge.

 

[dougjwray]

You're welcome.
Also, you might try a little of the amp's overdrive. It automatically sucks out some low end -- which I don't like, personally -- but that, along with its added grit, might help the situation, too.

 

[Peter Gladwin]

https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10002/237030_bamp_manual_all_revA.pdf

Like most amps, you want to use as much Gain at the preamp stage as needed without distortion, then adjust your loudness with the master Volume control. Nine o’clock on the Gain to me sounds low, but if you prefer an overdriven sound using the Drive circuit you might need to compensate. It’s a shame Fender omitted a simple clipping indicator on the Gain control.

Thanks would you start with the master volume at 12 noon then, before setting a higher gain and then listening for distortion.
By the way the Keeley compressor has a limiter light which seems to be flashing red (clipping) most of the time.?

 

[dougjwray]

Thanks would you start with the master volume at 12 noon then, before setting a higher gain and then listening for distortion.
By the way the Keeley compressor has a limiter light which seems to be flashing red (clipping) most of the time.?

Personally, I have the gain on my Rumble head all the way down and simply adjust the volume with the master. That seems to give the most clarity.
I have no experience with a Keeley compressor. Actually, I haven't used any compressor in at least 25 years. Sorry, that's not helpful.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

I'd cross post this to the Rumble Club thread.

Fender Rumble Club

 

[Peter Gladwin]

• Thanks Doug .. may I ask what is the highest master volume you have used on the head? E.g 1 O Clock

 

[jastacey]

I have a Rumble 500 head, and the settings that I use are Gain around noon to 1 o'clock bass at 11 and the mids will depend on the room, and treble at noon, vintage on, as to the cabs either a Berg HS410 or 2 Aguilar DB112's, also I use a HPF Fdeck unit, basically use the gain till it distorts, then back off, till it's clean, and then use the master volume, for volume control

 

[JakobT]

Hi guys, I’m new to this forum but I’d like your advice specifically on Fender Rumble 500 Head with 2 x 210 cabs. I’m playing in a loud classic rock band and at my current settings my sound is lost in the mix.
The master volume is set at 12 noon, gain at 9 O Clock. EQ bass and low mid at 10 o clock. Treble and high Mid at 1 O Clock.
Vintage and bright switched on using Fender American pro 2 jazz bass via Keeley Bassist limiter/ compressor on pedal board before preamp and SFX High Pass Filter in the FX loop before power amp.
My question is how much further can I raise the Master or Gain to avoid any risk of blowing speakers and what levels do use use for this similar amp and speaker set up?

For starters, turn off the Vintage setting, and boost the mids. Don’t worry too much about the gain setting, as this works differently from most amps, and is mainly used as an input pad.

 

[agedhorse]

Try just the bass into the amp, leave the compressor and HPF disconnected.

Be sure both cabinets are 8 ohms.

 

[Peter Gladwin]

I have a Rumble 500 head, and the settings that I use are Gain around noon to 1 o'clock bass at 11 and the mids will depend on the room, and treble at noon, vintage on, as to the cabs either a Berg HS410 or 2 Aguilar DB112's, also I use a HPF Fdeck unit, basically use the gain till it distorts, then back off, till it's clean, and then use the master volume, for volume control

 

[Peter Gladwin]

Thanks for that useful info. You have some quality cabs so that may help you more

 

[Peter Gladwin]

Try just the bass into the amp, leave the compressor and HPF disconnected.

Be sure both cabinets are 8 ohms.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

What are the 2x10 cabinets???

 

[Peter Gladwin]

Thanks but my understanding is that the HPF and Compressor limiter would protect speakers and that’s what I want to achieve along with increasing the volume so I can compete with rest of band?

 

[Peter Gladwin]

What are the 2x10 cabinets???

 

[Artman]

The Vintage filter adds compression. You’re compressing the signal twice. Turn off either the vintage filter, or the compressor pedal.

I’ve been using a Rumble 500 v.3 head into either a Rumble 210 v.3 + a Rumble 112 v.3 cab, just the 210 alone. It is plenty loud enough for the classic rock and blues gigs I’ve played the last couple of years.
I’ve only needed to add the 112 for outdoor gigs.

I leave all three of the Rumble Filters switched to off. I have a compressor on my pedal board. I use a DI pedal (never the Rumble’s built-in DI) to send signal to the pa.

I start with only the compressor switched on and the amp set to “Rumble Flat”. Gain at about 9:00, overdrive off, master at about 10 or 11:00, all three filters always off. Then set my tone control(s)on my bass(es) to my usual preferred setting, adjust the amp’s master as needed for my stage volume. I will usually only make small changes to the amp’s tone controls if any, making larger changes in tone on the bass itself. The only time I change the gain during a show is to roll a tiny bit off whenever I switch to my playing my Stingray since it’s output is touch hotter than my other basses.

If I cannot hear myself, I will usually try turning down my iems (which have everything but bass in them), if that doesn’t work, then I turn up the master on my Rumble.

I’ve never needed to go beyond about 1:00 on the Rumble’s master volume. It’s stupidly loud there.

If I had to go louder than that at any gig smaller than a sports arena, I’d be looking for different musicians to play with. My hearing is more important than any covers gig.

Oh, also check the polarity of your speaker cabs to make certain that one isn’t reversed, and make sure all of your cables are good.

 

[Peter Gladwin]

Fender Rumble 210 x 2 so effectively a 410