Fender Rumble 500 mishap

[wadel]

I have a Rumble 500 that had a large dog mishap - got tangled up on the guitar cable plugged into the input jack and went a running. Input jack no longer works. I took it apart and here is what things look like.

I have band practice tomorrow and thought I could run into the return loop and use an external preamp. However, the Master volume does nothing. It's set at one volume and it isn't loud enough for playing with a band. My understanding is if you use the return, the Master volume should still work. Now I'm worried it isn't just the input jack that's messed up. Here is a picture of the PCB near the input jack.

It's bent out. Not good. Is there more damage than just the input jack?

Hoping some of you have ideas on this. Are there shops that repair things like this? Does Fender ship parts? Ugh. I guess this shows I need a backup amp. I hope this doesn't become an amp enclosure (not sure if it can be used with an external amp).

 

[agedhorse]

Any Fender (electronics not guitars) authorized service center should be able to take care of the for you. It's a standard jack that's used in some of the other larger amps and is an industry standard part (though there are about 50 variations).

 

[G-Dog]

... ... thought I could run into the return loop and use an external preamp. However, the Master volume does nothing. It's set at one volume and it isn't loud enough for playing with a band. My understanding is if you use the return, the Master volume should still work. ... ...

No, the Rumble 500 combo's Master volume control is upstream of the FX Loop, so it has no affect on a signal put only into the FX Return jack. Unless the power amp was also damaged, like the Input jack, then it should be running full out at 350 watts continuous applied to the FX Return signal. Have you turned your external preamp all the way up? That is your new Master control.​

... ... Are there shops that repair things like this? Does Fender ship parts? ... ...

As The Elder Equine said, only a Fender Authorized (electronics) Service Center can help you. They don't ship parts to anyone else.​

... ... I hope this doesn't become an amp [speaker] enclosure (not sure if it can be used with an external amp).

If the power amp is damaged, and the Fender Authorized (electronics) Service Center won't repair it, then the amp can be removed and the woofers wired to an external connection to make a very serviceable 2x10" extension cab for another amp!​

​

Come to the TalkBass Fender Rumble Club if you have further questions.​

 

[agedhorse]

Fender authorized shops not repairing current amps is not a good look for sure. There’s no (good) reason why they can’t IMO.

 

[G-Dog]

Fender authorized shops not repairing current amps is not a good look for sure. There’s no (good) reason why they can’t IMO.

Agreed. But The Rumble Club has such "anecdotal stories". Although, it certainly could be "mis-rememberings", like after the estimated repair cost was found to be "too high" for "my dog ate my amp", or other such misunderstandings.

 

[agedhorse]

Agreed. But The Rumble Club has such "anecdotal stories". Although, it certainly could be "mis-rememberings", like after the estimated repair cost was found to be "too high" for "my dog ate my amp", or other such misunderstandings.

Regardless, it SHOULD be bull-poopie.

If I had more time on my hands, I would have added the Rumbles to my service program. The V3’s are no more difficult to service than the Shuttles.

 

[ahbradot]

If the power amp is damaged, and the Fender Authorized (electronics) Service Center won't repair it, then the amp can be removed and the woofers wired to an external connection to make a very serviceable 2x10" extension cab for another amp!​

That is a great repurposing it idea to salvage and put to good use.

 

[agedhorse]

If this is a V3, the power amp is absolutely replaceable and the parts are available. I have at least 25 in stock since they were also used in the Genz Benz amps.

 

[wadel]

Thanks for all the info!

I misspoke in my original post: I don't have an actual preamp but instead a bass overdrive. However, I was able to get it and my compressor to get a fairly good tone that was loud enough to play with my group today.

I live in a rural area but I found a shop that (according to Fender website) does repairs about an hour away from me so I'll get in touch with them. And, I might look into an actual preamp as well. Would something like a SansAmp work well going into the return loop?

 

[G-Dog]

I have a Rumble 500 that had a large dog mishap ... ... ...

If this is a V3, the power amp is absolutely replaceable and the parts are available.

Yep, the 500 debuted with the V3s in 2014. Biggest V2 was 350.

 

[agedhorse]

Yep, the 500 debuted with the V3s in 2014. Biggest V2 was 350.

My memory of time was skewed by events of that era.

There was a larger V2 on the drawing board, didn’t remember if they were ever released.

 

[G-Dog]

My memory of time was skewed by events of that era.

There was a larger V2 on the drawing board, didn’t remember if they were ever released.

Time sure gets away from me now in my "golden years"!

The solid state V1 Rumbles were made from 2003 to 2010, just 7 years. They ranged from 15 watts to 100 watts (1x15") and had signal responsive pulsing red lights in the ports, rubber corners and "furry" covering. In 2006 they added a 100 watts (2x10") V1.

The V2 Rumbles were made from 2010 to 2014, just 4 years. Initially they ranged from 15 watts to 150 watts (1x15") & 350 watts (2x10') and had chrome corners and vinyl covering with no pulsing lights. In 2011 they added the 150 & 350 heads with a 4 ohm 410 cab and 8 ohm 2x8" & 1x12" Neo cabs!

Perhaps 2011-2013 is about when you saw what became the 500 on the drawing board (depending on lead time for the 2014 production release)?

The V3 Rumbles were introduced in 2014, running over 11 years so far. They initially ranged from 15 watts to 500 watts (2x10") with the retro tolex & chrome corners and silver sparkle grille we still see today. 200 & 500 watt heads debuted at that time along with new 8 ohm 410 & 115 cabs. Later they added the 210 &112 cabs. Then added the modeling (still V3) Rumble Studio 40 & Stage 800 in 2018! The Rumble 800 HD head & modeling LT25 came out in 2019. Then the 200 & 500 heads were discontinued, along with the 112 cab. Finally, so far, the 800 combo (2x10 Neo) was added in 2022!

Who knows where they'll go from here. It's hard to argue with such success. But the TalkBass Fender Rumble Club will be here to see it and help new users!

 

[agedhorse]

Time sure gets away from me now in my "golden years"!

The solid state V1 Rumbles were made from 2003 to 2010, just 7 years. They ranged from 15 watts to 100 watts (1x15") and had signal responsive pulsing red lights in the ports, rubber corners and "furry" covering. In 2006 they added a 100 watts (2x10") V1.

The V2 Rumbles were made from 2010 to 2014, just 4 years. Initially they ranged from 15 watts to 150 watts (1x15") & 350 watts (2x10') and had chrome corners and vinyl covering with no pulsing lights. In 2011 they added the 150 & 350 heads with a 4 ohm 410 cab and 8 ohm 2x8" & 1x12" Neo cabs!

Perhaps 2011-2013 is about when you saw what became the 500 on the drawing board (depending on lead time for the 2014 production release)?

The V3 Rumbles were introduced in 2014, running over 11 years so far. They initially ranged from 15 watts to 500 watts (2x10") with the retro tolex & chrome corners and silver sparkle grille we still see today. 200 & 500 watt heads debuted at that time along with new 8 ohm 410 & 115 cabs. Later they added the 210 &112 cabs. Then added the modeling (still V3) Rumble Studio 40 & Stage 800 in 2018! The Rumble 800 HD head & modeling LT25 came out in 2019. Then the 200 & 500 heads were discontinued, along with the 112 cab. Finally, so far, the 800 combo (2x10 Neo) was added in 2022!

Who knows where they'll go from here. It's hard to argue with such success. But the TalkBass Fender Rumble Club will be here to see it and help new users!

That seems about right, that's the time period that they would have acquired the Genz Benz IP and when they began integrating the ICEPower modules into their bass amps.