Fender Rumble 500 with amp modeling through FX return?

[fourstringbliss]

Does anyone here use a Fender Rumble 500 with amp modeling through the FX return? How does it sound? I was thinking about doing this and bypassing the preamp. Would I still get 350w through the 10's that way?

Thanks!

 

[agedhorse]

It will work ok, yes your power estimate is correct.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

If your modeler has cab sims, you'll want to turn them off.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Is the perceived muddiness in these amps from the Fender preamp, from the cabinet, or a combination of both?

 

[agedhorse]

Is the perceived muddiness in these amps from the Fender preamp, from the cabinet, or a combination of both?

Perhaps a bit of both, but that's also pretty much the intended design because it's not muddy for many players.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Perhaps a bit of both, but that's also pretty much the intended design because it's not muddy for many players.

Sounds good. I've tried these before and they seemed muddy to me, but I have since learned that EQ at noon doesn't equate to flat or open sounding on amps or active basses. Adjust to taste.

 

[agedhorse]

Sounds good. I've tried these before and they seemed muddy to me, but I have since learned that EQ at noon doesn't equate to flat or open sounding on amps or active basses. Adjust to taste.

Absolutely. Fender incorporates selective voicing and several strategically placed voicing and compression circuits to more closely emulate their legacy amps. Noon means nothing on these amps models, it's just a starting point. The voicing isn't for everyone, but it's pretty acceptable for those players looking for Fender's take on their on legacy at a budget price point.

As you go up in the models, the interpretation of their legacy amps gets better IMO, and then when you step over to the Bassman family there's another interpretation that's a little different.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Absolutely. Fender incorporates selective voicing and several strategically placed voicing and compression circuits to more closely emulate their legacy amps. Noon means nothing on these amps models, it's just a starting point. The voicing isn't for everyone, but it's pretty acceptable for those players looking for Fender's take on their on legacy at a budget price point.

As you go up in the models, the interpretation of their legacy amps gets better IMO, and then when you step over to the Bassman family there's another interpretation that's a little different.

I'm considering going with the Rumble 800, but I've heard the 500 sounds more girthy.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

If you're set on modeling, what is the draw towards a Rumble, or any other combo for that matter?

 

[fourstringbliss]

If you're set on modeling, what is the draw towards a Rumble, or any other combo for that matter?

I'm totally down with playing the amp as is, but also would want to use it to amplify my Line 6 Pod Express Bass. Honestly, I'm just needing an amp for playing with others - I'm not touring or recording.

 

[tshapiro]

Does anyone here use a Fender Rumble 500 with amp modeling through the FX return? How does it sound? I was thinking about doing this and bypassing the preamp. Would I still get 350w through the 10's that way?

Thanks!

Of course, there are many options with this stuff. But, in my opinion the Rumble 500 with the Pod Express Bass is a very great and affordable way to get familiar with lots of classic sounds and have a convenient setup. I like it.

 

[Shoreline Gold]

I've tried doing that with a Rumble 500 using a Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig and I wasn't pleased with the results. I ended up ditching all that and going Mesa Boogie and have never been happier. ;-)

 

[shirojiro]

I use the fx return to bypass the stumble 500 preamp so I can use other preamps.
I think they sound pretty good.

I'm curious what was the problem with the Tech21 Fly rig and the Rumble 500?
I haven't tried that combination, but I own both items.

 

[RitterSport]

OK, I just got a Pod 6 Express and I'm looking to try this on my Rumble 200, which also has an FX Send/Return. So, is the idea that you just plug it into the FX Return? That would bypass the Rumble gain, distortion, and EQ knobs, right? Does volume still work, or is that controlled by the FX box?

I ask about volume control because in another thread, someone mentioned that you could use two Rumbles, out from one FX send into the FX return of the other and the one sending would control the volume, EQ, etc.

 

[fourstringbliss]

OK, I just got a Pod 6 Express and I'm looking to try this on my Rumble 200, which also has an FX Send/Return. So, is the idea that you just plug it into the FX Return? That would bypass the Rumble gain, distortion, and EQ knobs, right? Does volume still work, or is that controlled by the FX box?

I ask about volume control because in another thread, someone mentioned that you could use two Rumbles, out from one FX send into the FX return of the other and the one sending would control the volume, EQ, etc.

Theoretically that should work. The volume control should be post EQ, so plugging into the fx return would bypass the Fender preamp and make the Rumble 200 a powered speaker.

BTW, here are some things I've learned about the Pod Express Bass:

For one thing, if you connect it to your phone, tablet, or PC and access the global settings at the upper right you'll find these two settings at the bottom of the list:

Originally these are set to have the wheel control all outputs and the knobs to control effects. If you set them like mine are you can't accidentally affect your output by touching the wheel, and instead can set the volume of your patches using the master volume and channel volume in the amp section

and the level in the cabinet section

With the controls set to control amp parameters it's easy to adjust the channel volume by pushing ALT and adjusting the amp knob, making the volume wheel not needed.

The other thing I've found is that the "Distort" distortion model is an emulation of the Sandamp Bass Driver, and a pretty good one on its own without an amp or cab. You can see the pic below shows the SABDDI selected.

I found the SABBDI manual online and made patches for a lot of the suggested settings. I think they sound as good as my memory of owning a SABBDI.

Also, this unit can be powered by a USB power bank using one of these cables:

My mini rig looks like this:

 

[fourstringbliss]

OK, I just got a Pod 6 Express and I'm looking to try this on my Rumble 200, which also has an FX Send/Return. So, is the idea that you just plug it into the FX Return? That would bypass the Rumble gain, distortion, and EQ knobs, right? Does volume still work, or is that controlled by the FX box?

I ask about volume control because in another thread, someone mentioned that you could use two Rumbles, out from one FX send into the FX return of the other and the one sending would control the volume, EQ, etc.

Here's the Pod Express thread: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/line-6-bass-pod-express.1642931/

 

[brianrost]

Theoretically that should work.

Sorry, that's not correct.

The volume control should be post EQ, so plugging into the fx return would bypass the Fender preamp and make the Rumble 200 a powered speaker.

The FX loop is after all the controls. That's why daisy chaining two Rumbles via the loop connections works. Volume must be controlled by the device plugged into the return jack.

 

[RitterSport]

The FX loop is after all the controls.

Thanks! I'll give that idea a miss, then.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Sorry, that's not correct.



The FX loop is after all the controls. That's why daisy chaining two Rumbles via the loop connections works. Volume must be controlled by the device plugged into the return jack.

View attachment 7385351

That's ridiculous.

 

[RitterSport]

That's ridiculous.

It's pretty cool, in that it allows you to daisy chain a couple of amps. If you turn off the built-in amp modeling (vintage, whatever) and set the EQ to zeros, it's probably pretty close to bypassing the pre-amp anyway, right?