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Fender Rumble Club

I kind of like the sound with everything flat and use the switches to get any specific tones; the "vintage" and/or "bright" switches (they sound great together too). Scooping mids is basically the opposite of anything I'd ever do. It also sounds good with no switches.

I sometimes tweak th knobs as I'm playing to take out boominess or add a little more punch or bite, but I find the natural voicing of the Rumble works very well.

But yeah, start flat and season to taste. The natural voicing of the amp is good. It takes extra effort to screw it up.
 
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As other have said, start flat with your EQ to get a baseline tone. Then hit each of the three buttons to see what their difference is. You can also try combinations of each as well. Then start fiddling with knobs until you begin to hone in on what your ears like. It's, IMHO, less science and more of what pleases the soul. I have the 500 head and 115 cab so for me it's Vintage in, bass around 10:30, low mids at 12:30, high mids at 2:00 (for a little more brightness) and treble at noon. Give it try and adjust for the tone in your head. Enjoy!
 
As other have said, start flat with your EQ to get a baseline tone. Then hit each of the three buttons to see what their difference is. You can also try combinations of each as well. Then start fiddling with knobs until you begin to hone in on what your ears like. It's, IMHO, less science and more of what pleases the soul. I have the 500 head and 115 cab so for me it's Vintage in, bass around 10:30, low mids at 12:30, high mids at 2:00 (for a little more brightness) and treble at noon. Give it try and adjust for the tone in your head. Enjoy!

This is real close to my settings on a 500w head thru a 410 cab
 
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This is real close to my settings on a 500w head thru a 410 cab

I think this has become pretty typical setting for many of us Rumble owners. The bottom is big with mids pulled back a bit, and this flattens it out a bit. With the tweeter though, I haven't seen baby cranking up the highs. Again, with the vintage engaged its a really sweet tone that mixes well.

I did forget to mention that the gain knob plays an important role as well. As previously described, it's designed more as a boost than anything. When playing at low levels I either don't use it or at around 8:00. If I'm out live than it's volume between noon and 1:00 and the gain to where my ears are happy, usually 10:00-11:00, depending on the venue.

The main thing is to have fun experimenting as you play. That's really why you bought it. That and to annoy the neighbors!
 
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I think this has become pretty typical setting for many of us Rumble owners. The bottom is big with mids pulled back a bit, and this flattens it out a bit. With the tweeter though, I haven't seen baby cranking up the highs. Again, with the vintage engaged its a really sweet tone that mixes well.

I did forget to mention that the gain knob plays an important role as well. As previously described, it's designed more as a boost than anything. When playing at low levels I either don't use it or at around 8:00. If I'm out live than it's volume between noon and 1:00 and the gain to where my ears are happy, usually 10:00-11:00, depending on the venue.

The main thing is to have fun experimenting as you play. That's really why you bought it. That and to annoy the neighbors!

Havent irritated the neighbors, but my female spousal unit informed me my version of "Crossroads" was frowned upon in this establishment.
Maybe the gain was up to high...?


Maybe the OD was too much...?


was probably the hammer-ons. Oh well
 
I guess you weren't naughty this year . . . Nice.
I know this is shallow of me but I don't fancy the white radio style knobs of the Rumble 500. Can you remove the knobs and replace them with these?

View attachment 530215
Not sure if anyone has answered this, but I bought the black skirted knobs to replace the white ones and unfortunately the black knobs are slightly too wide to fit. It's OK though, the V3 Rumbles are still the coolest looking amps around.

Bob
 
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Setting up for the New Year's Eve gig... Fender V3 500 combo atop of a Workingman 4X10...my go-to rig.
image.jpg
 
Setting up for the New Year's Eve gig... Fender V3 500 combo atop of a Workingman 4X10...my go-to rig.View attachment 532788

Great looking rig, Squier! Good luck with the show tonight.

On a side note, I read where some disagree adding the two tens from the Rumble to a four-ten because power distribution inequalities. How has your SWR gotten along with the combo, particularly at gig levels? I'm sure a number of us would enjoy your thoughts on this subject. Thanks in advance.
 
Not sure if anyone has answered this, but I bought the black skirted knobs to replace the white ones and unfortunately the black knobs are slightly too wide to fit. It's OK though, the V3 Rumbles are still the coolest looking amps around.

Bob

You might try push on style guitar knobs instead. Invalid Link Removed

Thanks Bob & Linnin,
If I ever get a chance to get a used Rumble 500 head at a good price I'll surely replace the white radio knobs. Now if those knobs glows in the dark . . . that would be super cool.
 
Great looking rig, Squier! Good luck with the show tonight.

On a side note, I read where some disagree adding the two tens from the Rumble to a four-ten because power distribution inequalities. How has your SWR gotten along with the combo, particularly at gig levels? I'm sure a number of us would enjoy your thoughts on this subject. Thanks in advance.

With an extension cab the combo speakers would actually end up getting less overall wattage than they normally do without one.

In any case the problem most people speak of has to do with the cab with fewer speakers farting out well before the one with more speakers. With the combo on top he'd be able to hear them starting to get pushed and be able to back off. That said, I think you'd have to be playing a stadium without PA support to be cranked that loud with the Rumble 500 and a 410 extension cab.
 
Great looking rig, Squier! Good luck with the show tonight.

On a side note, I read where some disagree adding the two tens from the Rumble to a four-ten because power distribution inequalities. How has your SWR gotten along with the combo, particularly at gig levels? I'm sure a number of us would enjoy your thoughts on this subject. Thanks in advance.

I don't personally have any problems with this setup. Of course, my ideal would be the new Rumble 1x15 cab, but for the price of free...I'll use the 4x10 a bit longer. :) This setup could possibly be overkill since our band has full PA with subwoofers...but I've always wanted a cool looking stack. I run all my EQs at noon and both Gain and Master at 9. All of my EQ comes from my Zoom ms-60b which I can put my settings on here if anyone really wants them. Overall, my sound is rumbly and punchy...goes great with my loud a$$ guitar player and heavy drummer. :p
 
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I just ordered a Rumble 40 as my first bass amp. I'm primarily an acoustic guitar player, and play in church. I want to become a more versatile resource for our worship pastor and be able to help when a bassist is needed. I have an ibanez sb300 I've been using mostly with Rocksmith to work on my bass licks. I really have been enjoying it and just ordered a G&L Trib JB2 and the rumble. I wanted an amp that I could use primarily as a practice amp at home, but could be used for a small gig or plugged into the board if necessary. The Rumble series fit all of my needs and seems to get a lot of high praise. And the sub $200 is awesome.
 
I just ordered a Rumble 40 as my first bass amp. I'm primarily an acoustic guitar player, and play in church. I want to become a more versatile resource for our worship pastor and be able to help when a bassist is needed. I have an ibanez sb300 I've been using mostly with Rocksmith to work on my bass licks. I really have been enjoying it and just ordered a G&L Trib JB2 and the rumble. I wanted an amp that I could use primarily as a practice amp at home, but could be used for a small gig or plugged into the board if necessary. The Rumble series fit all of my needs and seems to get a lot of high praise. And the sub $200 is awesome.
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Matt! :woot: You are member #308 :hyper:
You're the first new member of 2015.
:D Rumbles Rule! :roflmao: