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No, that is completely false! The Fender Rumble line started as a new 'clean sheet of paper' design engineered by Dave Lewis; Bob Desiderio, and Ija Kothrade. Jay Piccirillo was hired away from Yamaha USA to be the brand manager of the newly created Fender Bass Amplification division, and he was the one to choose the name Rumble. He also chose to put the ever popular 'Disco Lights' in the first Rumble 60 & 100. Read the Rumble Talks.
Fender did buy SWR, but then sh t canned the brand.
Thanks. Yeah, the brand isn't that interesting. The workings of the amp are more what I am thinking about.
As I said in my post, I think Fender has put a ton of thought and care into the series.
There is absolutely nothing negative in the first act being the choice of a good place to start with the SWR acquisition - talented team, IP etc.
Kind of boggles my mind that this gets peoples hackles up. It's ok, the Rumbles are still great no matter whether there are other good choices out there or it's origins.
I just like to the know the history of the amp NOT the history of the marketing.
As I said in my post, I think Fender has put a ton of thought and care into the series.
There is absolutely nothing negative in the first act being the choice of a good place to start with the SWR acquisition - talented team, IP etc.
Kind of boggles my mind that this gets peoples hackles up. It's ok, the Rumbles are still great no matter whether there are other good choices out there or it's origins.
I just like to the know the history of the amp NOT the history of the marketing.
Yes, Bill Schultz was bound and determined to acquire SWR, (the same way he bought out sunn O))) which he did do. F.M.I.C. never changed SWR, and they went down the krapper of their own accord. sunn O)) is a different story, but the end was the same.
Fender certainly agrees with Linn on this point:
What did Fender do with SWR? Were SWR amps "Fenderized"?
What did Fender do with SWR? Were SWR amps "Fenderized"?
The truth is there are evil people that absolutely HATE Fender, and will say and do anything in their power to bring down F.M.I.C.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
Now I know whom to blame for those things...
You may recall my initial impressions of the first generation Rumbles was pretty poor. The demo units I was exposed to, and at the time I was in the market for a 100 - 150 watt combo amp, well the build quality wasn't there, bad cabinet rattles on the GC demo I saw. Like there was something like a baffle loose in the cabinet, and those blasted lights. I am sure 16 year old boys with dreams of the Wyld Stallyuns loved those things, but considering I was at the time well past my teens, and doing more southern rock / country it was a non starter.
To say the least, Fender REALLY upped their game with the later models. Who knows the first gen may have been alright, turn the danged lights off, and not have rattling cabinets and you should have been good to go...
I know one thing for sure, the Rumble V3 series have been fantastic. Not without flaws, but nothing is...
But they SOLD like crazy all over the world! Young bass players went wild for the flashing disco lights. They were just so rad and the coolest thing ever. Plus they sounded great, and that's the most important part. And they still do! You see original first generation Rumbles popping up all the time 15 years latter! Solid proof that Rumbles are rugged & reliable.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
Like I said, the demo models at GC were awful. I did give them enough of a benefit of a doubt to be willing to look into the V3s and I am all sorts of glad I did. And you hit the nail on the head. Young bass players went wild for them.... With those silly lights they always looked like those PA speakers with flashing lights in them to me. Swap meet specials or kids toys.... I know it isn't a truly fair judgement, but I am certain lots of folks got turned off to the Rumbles due to the initial appearance of being a kids toy...
Honestly, I have never seen one in the flesh since the demo at GC. They V1 Rumbles around here are either ultra rare, or never make it out of bedrooms and practice spaces...
I see V2 and V3 Rumbles all the time though.... VERY well represented for sure!
Actually, it was dragging out my old Fender Rumble V1 that I hadn't played through in a long time that made me think - "Wow! Why have I been futzing around with anything else, gear-wise. THIS is the tone!".
So I went out and purchased a Rumble 200c V3 and this time I'm not putting it away, ever.
My V3 is taken to gigs (and for home enjoyment) but, my V1 is still very much alive & kicking and sounding great for rehearsals - I just leave the lights off, lol.
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D
The only reason I bought a cheap little Ampeg BA-108 was the volume control on the AUX input.
I have an Android phone. It only gives me 15 steps of volume control, but I mostly listen at levels 8-10. The volume change between each step is pretty significant. I either use an app like Riff Station to play backing tracks to practice to, or I stream the Modern Blues channel on Slacker through my 200 v3 when I'm working around the house. I'd love to have some finer volume control over the 200's AUX input.
Still, that's an awfully minor beatch...certainly not a reason to trade the 200 for something else.
I have an Android phone. It only gives me 15 steps of volume control, but I mostly listen at levels 8-10. The volume change between each step is pretty significant. I either use an app like Riff Station to play backing tracks to practice to, or I stream the Modern Blues channel on Slacker through my 200 v3 when I'm working around the house. I'd love to have some finer volume control over the 200's AUX input.
Still, that's an awfully minor beatch...certainly not a reason to trade the 200 for something else.
If you're asking for max watts at 8 ohms for the Bassman 800, I think I read somewhere that it's 500 watts. If that's right, you're in good shape with the Rumble 410, which is rated 500 watts continuous and 1,000 watts program.
I think Brett Arney misunderstood your question. Or I did. But I haven't been able to find a digital copy of the manual, so I could be wrong.
Ask in the Official Fender Bassman Club, where there are several BM800 owners.
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No, I would not be either.
Doing the math on the Rumble V3 200 and 500, around 560W would be more in line for an 800W D amp at 8 ohms.
According to this calculator, it would be 400W Speaker Impedance Changes Amplifier Power - Geoff the Grey Geek
I did tell him that I didn’t think 200 could be right.
His reply:
Brett Arney (Fender)
Jun 20, 10:47 MST
Hi Chris,
I actually did check with the tech, but I went back and did a roundtable with all of them. If you have a 4x10 8 ohm cab, the wattage should be within 15% of half, so the amp will push between 340-460 watts, depending on the design.
His reply:
Brett Arney (Fender)
Jun 20, 10:47 MST
Hi Chris,
I actually did check with the tech, but I went back and did a roundtable with all of them. If you have a 4x10 8 ohm cab, the wattage should be within 15% of half, so the amp will push between 340-460 watts, depending on the design.
