Fender Rumble Club

[GonePlaid]

Did a big band (5 saxes, 8 brass, piano, drums, and ME) gig last night using 2 Rumbles:my 200c for me and my R40 as a piano "boost" by the drummer(set-up has the piano man WAAY off to the right). Had the 200's gain at 8-,volume at 10(+/-). The 40 was gain @7, volume 9. Both kicked@$$.(not surprisingly) Oh, FWIW, I was playing my 1967 non-reverse Thunderbird through the R200C. Yes, they can be used for big band music, contrary to popular belief

 

[Linnin]

I was playing my 1967 non-reverse Thunderbird

strung in tapewounds?

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

So, I have the 500 combo and the 800 stage side-by-side. Also showing my utility bass, a Mexician Zone.
Maybe this was covered before, but The big shock for me is that contrary to published specs and everything I read so far, the 800 and the 500 are EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT! Good news as I am adding an external speaker, and for OCD's sake, with a change of grill cloth, I can have a matching stack.
(Can I get a member number now?)View attachment 3155827

Welcome Rumbler #966! That will give you a whole lot of Rumble goodness. Rumble on!

 

[GonePlaid]

strung in tapewounds?

Used to have tape wounds but currently using Chromes. All 5 of my basses are strung w/ flats.

 

[G-Dog]

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! 30,000 Posts! 1500 Pages! Over One and a half Million Views! Rumbles Rule!

Congratulations, @Linnin, for authoring the 30,000th post here on the Fender Rumble Club thread!

On behalf of the producers and sponsors of the Fender Rumble Club Trivia!©™®, I'm pleased to award you the prize of one shmillion smackeroons! And to thank you on behalf of the entire Fender Rumble Club membership for all your support and tireless efforts to the betterment, and enjoyment, of the best value bass amp available.

 

[Ted S]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!

I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

 

[GonePlaid]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!
View attachment 3155842 I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

IMO, whichever suits You and the type of gigs you're doing. Black is more "aggressive"

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

IMO, whichever suits You and the type of gigs you're doing. Black is more "aggressive"

Black.................Silver

 

[G-Dog]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!
View attachment 3155842 I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

Congratulations, @Ted S, on your new Fender Rumble Stage 800! Thanks for clearing up the uncertainty on that potential amp height difference. Apparently, the 0.7" published difference includes the rubber feet on the 800, but not on the 500.

But, may I ask, how does the amp height figure into your external speaker calculations? Other Stage 800 owners have added cabs without any mention of the height. The recently discontinued 112 cabinet is quite a bit shorter than the 200/500/800, but I never read any complaints about that. Just wondering.

 

[redstrand]

Got my 500 back, it was in decent shape, the buyer surprisingly didn't damage it further. It's still a beast to play at home. Has anyone turned it around and/or used sound foam on the wall to help while playing at home? the room is quite a bit more narrow than the old house and the rest of the house. It sounds great in the dining room, but hey the wifey no likey there.

 

[Ted S]

Congratulations, @Ted S, on your new Fender Rumble Stage 800! Thanks for clearing up the uncertainty on that potential amp height difference. Apparently, the 0.7" published difference includes the rubber feet on the 800, but not on the 500.

But, may I ask, how does the amp height figure into your external speaker calculations? Other Stage 800 owners have added cabs without any mention of the height. The recently discontinued 112 cabinet is quite a bit shorter than the 200/500/800, but I never read any complaints about that. Just wondering.

I am uncertain it is accurate, but the 115 published width is 23". I am hopeful it is actually the same as the 800 height, in which case, they can stack neatly with one of them rotated 90 degrees. I will be receiving the 115 in a few days and will know with certainty then. I'm an ol' man and can't break away from the mentality of a 15" augmenting the lows of the 800. We'll see.....

 

[G-Dog]

I am uncertain it is accurate, but the 115 published width is 23". I am hopeful it is actually the same as the 800 height, in which case, they can stack neatly with one of them rotated 90 degrees. I will be receiving the 115 in a few days and will know with certainty then. I'm an ol' man and can't break away from the mentality of a 15" augmenting the lows of the 800. We'll see.....

Yes, Ted, I think you will find the 800 rotated on top of the Rumble 115 will match well. See some photos of 500/200 on top of 115s on the Fender Rumble Wiki page in the Rumble V3 Combos with Rumble Extension Speaker Cabinets section.

 

[BBassBassington]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!
View attachment 3155842 I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

My vote is for silver. 97% of amp cabs are black in the front (I made that number up but I bet you it's not far off!) and the silver just looks so good IMO.

Also the 115 ends up being a bit wider then the 800/500/200 are tall. Edit: Or y'know I could have looked at the wiki and seen that they do infact match up really well.

Congrats on the new rig, regardless of what you do it's going to be LOUD and sound really good!

 

[Ronzo]

My vote is for silver. 97% of amp cabs are black in the front (I made that number up but I bet you it's not far off!) and the silver just looks so good IMO.

Also the 115 ends up being a bit wider then the 800/500/200 are tall.

Congrats on the new rig, regardless of what you do it's going to be LOUD and sound really good!

Me, too. Classic Fender look.

 

[Linnin]

All black is so boring; blah, meh, & so what. Recover in Blonde Tolex with Oxblood grillcloth.

 

[tom dicus]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!
View attachment 3155842 I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

What extension cab are thinking of? I have the 200c with a Rumble 115. Nothing I have ever heard sounds better. But, the 800 has 10's and I've mixed up 10's with the 15 in my 200c and they just didn't have that great of sound. I'm told that mixing different size speakers is less than optimal. Have you tried other cabs out? Just my opinion friend, with my very limited experience.

 

[Big Hoss]

The 800 just arrived! Have it next to the 500 that I will soon be returning.
To my surprise and contrary to some published specs, THESE TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME HEIGHT!
View attachment 3155842 I do not know it that fact was covered here before, but it is good news for me; Am adding an external speaker cab to the 800, and will be better able to match a visually pleasing stack, with a little of extra grill cloth of course. So, should I go all black or all silver?
(can I get a number now please?) Ted

If it were me, and it isn't, but I would go for silver grill cloth on that 800, and replace the corners with Chrome. I like the black / silver classic Fender look...

Just wondering, other than the added power, why go for the 800 over the 500? My 500 has more oomph than I can use 100% of the time, I am constantly trying to find the "low enough" point on it...

 

[Ronzo]

What extension cab are thinking of? I have the 200c with a Rumble 115. Nothing I have ever heard sounds better. But, the 800 has 10's and I've mixed up 10's with the 15 in my 200c and they just didn't have that great of sound. I'm told that mixing different size speakers is less than optimal. Have you tried other cabs out? Just my opinion friend, with my very limited experience.

With respect, I disagree. My GK 400RB sounds great with a 2x10 plus 1x15 speaker configuration.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Got my 500 back, it was in decent shape, the buyer surprisingly didn't damage it further. It's still a beast to play at home. Has anyone turned it around and/or used sound foam on the wall to help while playing at home? the room is quite a bit more narrow than the old house and the rest of the house. It sounds great in the dining room, but hey the wifey no likey there.

Make you and wifey both happy. Spend $99 and get a 25 to practice with. It is the perfect home practice amp. I even found the 40 to be a bit much for home. And, as the venerable @Linnin has been known to say, Mo Rumble is Mo Betta

 

[redstrand]

That's why I'm selling the 500, probably get the studio 40, I rather like the amp models that I've tested out so far. A used 40 is a good avenue too. This wasn't a problem at the old house, just shakes my room too much lol. And as we all know this amp needs to breathe and it sounds glorious when it does.