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Fender Rumble Club

Surely you have heard 'the ampeg sound' a gazillion times. Do you like it? What you're missing with the PF series is primarily reliability and believable wattage ratings. Plus only an all tube SVT actually sounds like an SVT. Never liked 'em.

To be honest, no, not really. I played through an Ampeg 115 and some Ampeg head last year at a festival but no idea what it was but it sounded good. Before that some 6 or 8 x10 with another Ampeg head for about 10 mins but again no idea what they were. Here in the UK, not a lot of UK bassist on the circuits use them. Lots of Ashdown, Markbass and Harke but not so many Ampeg's. The reliability is a concern.
 
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Having owned the Ampeg PF500 and the SVT7 Pro, I don't think you are missing out on anything except headache and repair bills. I feel like the Rumble heads are of much better value/dependability, and have their own flavor...albeit different than an Ampeg. So unless you want to go full-on tube head, I can't see any reason to move to an Ampeg.
Now, at the risk of being lambasted for praising anything other than Fender in this thread, I will agree that your Markbass LM-3 is a fantastic amp. I have also owned the LM-3 and really loved it, and wish I still had it. I have nothing but high regards for that head...and its reliability/sound/flexibility.
Good luck in your decision! :thumbsup:
I'm gonna retreat now:nailbiting:

Thanks for the reply and yep, the reliability worries are a concern.

I'm going to keep the LM3 head no matter as a back up but I will try the new Rumble 800HD and A/B them to see the difference. It may be that I just stick with the LM3 in ths end.

Thanks for yours and everyones input.
 
Having owned the Ampeg PF500 and the SVT7 Pro, I don't think you are missing out on anything except headache and repair bills. I feel like the Rumble heads are of much better value/dependability, and have their own flavor...albeit different than an Ampeg. So unless you want to go full-on tube head, I can't see any reason to move to an Ampeg.
Now, at the risk of being lambasted for praising anything other than Fender in this thread, I will agree that your Markbass LM-3 is a fantastic amp. I have also owned the LM-3 and really loved it, and wish I still had it. I have nothing but high regards for that head...and its reliability/sound/flexibility.
Good luck in your decision! :thumbsup:
I'm gonna retreat now:nailbiting:
I have an Ampeg SVT 350H I know most people hate them but on top of my 2x15 JBL K-140 cabinet it sounds great! However since I am an old fart with health issues,I don't think there is a gig that couldn't be handled with My Rumble 100 V3 or my 200 V3 combo amps. Of course my days of doing outdoor parties and Ballrooms are pretty much over.
 
To be honest, no, not really.
Yes you have! On tons of rock; soul, and blues albums & singles. Ampeg SVTs & V4Bs were very popular in the 1970's. Likewise you've heard Fender Bassmans on countless country and jazz albums. On plenty of rock too like Creedence Clearwater Review also 'Let It Be' and on the roof of Abby Road Studios. Some lefty named Paul.
 
As far as the new Fender Rumble 800 head goes. You already know pretty much how it sounds as it has the very same tried & true front end as all 40 and up Rumbles utilize. Plug in your headphones into any 200 and up (cab sim circuit) Rumble and the 800 is going to sound just like that. For live work just plug into a triple Rumble 115 stack and stand back 'cause ya might get hurt!
:laugh: Rumbles Rock! :smug:
 
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Yes you have! On tons of rock; soul, and blues albums & singles. Ampeg SVTs & V4Bs were very popular in the 1970's. Likewise you've heard Fender Bassmans on countless country and jazz albums. On plenty of rock too like Creedence Clearwater Review also 'Let It Be' and on the roof of Abby Road Studios. Some lefty named Paul.
Yes, I just watched Don't Let Me Down from the Abby Road roof the other day, great stuff! All Fender amps also!
 
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Some good folks on the amps and cabs thread suggested I should request a Fender Rumble Club membership number on here. I forgot to ask for one when I posted on here earlier. I’d be delighted to receive a number.
Welcome Rumbler # 1031! I saw in your private message you have a 500. Good choice. Send us a pic and tell us a little about you and how you use your rumble. Rumble On!
 
Does the amp have 1 speaker out or two? If he runs both out (one to each cab) then he is at 8ohms. If he daisy chains from top to bottom then he is at 4ohms......3 cabs dasied at 8ohms would be 2ohms which is as low of expedience I would go. I always dasied my 4x10 to my 1-15 off my Ampeg 2000 and vever hurt them.
This is not correct. It doesn't matter how the cabinets are connected. It matters what the resistance of the cabs are. The amp has 2 speaker outputs. Connecting an 8 Ω cab to each will make the amp see 4 Ω. Also, if you use one speaker out to cab 1 and then chain cab 2 to cab 1, you are still at 4 Ω.
 
1. Anyone playing a Rumble 500 head with 2 1x15 extension cabs?
2. Anyone playing a Rumble head and found a great house for it that's not a road case?
I'm thinking more like what the Bassman heads look like.

Thanks!
Someone did build one some time back that looked pretty cool. There are pics in the thread. You might also try browsing the Wiki pages. @G-Dog would know for sure.
 
Hi everyone, proud owner of Fender Rumble 100v3 that I absolutely love. I've used it live about 30 times last year with my Kala U-Bass and it's always sounded fantastic. It's also used for home practise for my electric basses.

My main electric rig is a MarkBass Little Mark 3 and an Epifani UL310. I use either a Fender AVRI75 Jazz or a Fender 70's FSR Precision and I play a mix of 50s and 60s rock and roll. Stuff like Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Little Richard, The Beach Boys etc. I love the tone of my electric basses through my Rumble and I'm seriously considering changing my Little Mark 3 head to the new Rumble 800HD head when it comes out.

The other head I was considering is the Ampeg Portaflex PF-800, partly because I've never owned an Ampeg before. However I'm concerned about some of the reliability issues I've read about them. I did 119 gigs last year so reliability is crucial for me and my Little Mark 3 and Rumble never let me down once.

Can anyone share any thoughts or experience of the Rumble amp heads verses the Ampeg Portaflex heads? Would I even be a fool moving to either of these heads from my MarkBass head? I just love the tone from my Rumble combo, its warm, punchy and rounded, just perfect.
Welcome Rumbler # 1033! So, you are in the Fender Rumble Club asking if you should get an Ampig?
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But seriously folks, if you like the 100, you will love the 800HD. Given the material you play, you probably like a tube sound. IMHO, there is no better amp than the Rumble for getting as close to a tube sound as you can get without having a tube amp. Rumble On!

BYW, if you want an Ampeg. Buy 3. One to play, one back stage as a backup, on one in the shop that you will pick up when the one you are playing fails.
 
Having owned the Ampeg PF500 and the SVT7 Pro, I don't think you are missing out on anything except headache and repair bills. I feel like the Rumble heads are of much better value/dependability, and have their own flavor...albeit different than an Ampeg. So unless you want to go full-on tube head, I can't see any reason to move to an Ampeg.
Now, at the risk of being lambasted for praising anything other than Fender in this thread, I will agree that your Markbass LM-3 is a fantastic amp. I have also owned the LM-3 and really loved it, and wish I still had it. I have nothing but high regards for that head...and its reliability/sound/flexibility.
Good luck in your decision! :thumbsup:
I'm gonna retreat now:nailbiting:
Please find a seat in the back of the room, sir. :cool:
 
I've just received my Rumble 410, 1000 Watt Bass Cab and the 115, 600 Watt Bass Cab!
looking at the Fender Bassman 800 Watt Hybrid Bass amp head

The Rumble 800 HD outputs up to 400 watts continuous at 8 ohms (any single Rumble V3 cab), and up to 800 continuous at 4, 2.7, or 2 ohms (any 2, 3 or 4 Rumble V3 cabs).

Your Rumble 410 is rated for 500 watts continuous, so it's safe to run alone (8 ohms, 400 watts), or any combination, with the 800 HD.

Your Rumble 115, however, is rated 300 watts continuous, but could receive up to 400 continuous watts from the 800 HD, whether alone or with the 410!


Not necessarily a critical mismatch, unless you throw caution to the wind and crank the amp. But used moderately, it should be safe and sound glorious.

You should put the 115 on top of the 410 to listen closely for signs of stress from the 115 when in use, and be prepared to cut back the Gain, EQ and/or Volume to save the 115. Adding a 3rd cab would reduce the power to each cab below their continuous ratings to totally safe levels, and you could crank away!

Good luck!

OMG! Warhoop1, you said Bassman 800, but I read Rumble 800 HD!! Just one more example of my oldtimers, I guess. Since the Rumble 800 HD is new, and sensational, it's been on my mind lately.

But, yes, the Bassman 800 is also a very capable, and sensational, head. In fact, it runs 500 watts at 8 ohms, 100 watts more than the Rumble 800 HD. So, I would amend my previous cautions to only ever run the 410 alone with the Bassman 800! The other advice of caution with 2 cabs and more safety with 3 cabs still holds.

The Bassman 800 is, indeed, a hybrid with a tube pre-amp, like the Bassman 500. I love my Bassman 500. Please, @Warhoop1, show us your 800 in the Bassman Club when you get it.
 
1. Anyone playing a Rumble 500 head with 2 1x15 extension cabs?
2. Anyone playing a Rumble head and found a great house for it that's not a road case?
I'm thinking more like what the Bassman heads look like.

Thanks!
I have 2 rumble 115 cabs and either the rumble 500 head or a ashdown ctm 100 to go on top. sounds great with either amp, although the ctm 100 has more of a growl to it!