Fender Rumble Club

[CallMeAl]

Hey alan... It just depends on what type of tone I’m going for. I make some EQ adjustments (on the amp) according to which bass I am using. Since the J has a more scooped sound, I generally have the high mids up a tad (about 2 o’clock) and the bridge pup rolled back a touch to “open up” the tone a little. I always have the “vintage” button engaged.

The P is noticeably punchier and I don’t need the high mids bumped at all. Everything on the amp is pretty much straight up at high noon. I may bump the low mids a tad when using the P.

The J sounds great for blues and songs that I play that require a little more warmth... like “Stuck In The Middle With You”, “Memphis” (J. Rivers) and a couple Elvis tunes I do. But honestly, it sounds good no matter what song I’m playing.

I will post a pic of my P sometime today. I have the 115 in the house and the 410 is in the out building (about 200 feet from the house). I’ll see if I have the gumption to haul it into the house for a “stack” pic with the P

Well don’t haul it out just on my account!

Glad you’re enjoying them both. I had a J, great living room tone but couldn’t get the cut and punch I wanted/needed in a live setting. Switched to a P bass and haven’t looked back. But I like the J necks, so I’m always trying them out, and yours sure is a beauty!

As far as the Rumble, P bass gets vintage on, usually gain and EQ at noon. I’ll cut back the bass if the room is boomy, and cut the gain for mellow/low volume stuff. I’ve been surprised to find gain at noon or 1:00 and bass at 9:00, how much the Rumble sounds like an Ampeg !

 

[CallMeAl]

Ree

regardless of your experience, your information and opinions are welcome here. I think it may be a speaker preference. The 100 has a 12" speaker, the 200 has a 15" speaker, and the 500 has 2 10" speakers. Those speakers all present different tonal qualities.

Well that was me firing up the old 200 vs 500 debate again honestly I’ve liked the tone of all 3 (100,200,500) and it’s just wanting the convenience of one bigger combo. Been trying to decide if the 200 is enough, or if I should just spring for the 500

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Well that was me firing up the old 200 vs 500 debate again honestly I’ve liked the tone of all 3 (100,200,500) and it’s just wanting the convenience of one bigger combo. Been trying to decide if the 200 is enough, or if I should just spring for the 500[/QUOT

Well that was me firing up the old 200 vs 500 debate again honestly I’ve liked the tone of all 3 (100,200,500) and it’s just wanting the convenience of one bigger combo. Been trying to decide if the 200 is enough, or if I should just spring for the 500

This boils down to your tonal preference. IMHO the 200 provides a warmer tone than the 500. If you are considering an external cab (you really should, it makes a big difference at any volume), get the 500 and the 1x15 extension.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Well don’t haul it out just on my account!

Glad you’re enjoying them both. I had a J, great living room tone but couldn’t get the cut and punch I wanted/needed in a live setting. Switched to a P bass and haven’t looked back. But I like the J necks, so I’m always trying them out, and yours sure is a beauty!

As far as the Rumble, P bass gets vintage on, usually gain and EQ at noon. I’ll cut back the bass if the room is boomy, and cut the gain for mellow/low volume stuff. I’ve been surprised to find gain at noon or 1:00 and bass at 9:00, how much the Rumble sounds like an Ampeg !

Thanks Alan. Yeah, i’ve been experimenting around with the gain up around noon also. You make a good point of how it would help make a bass fit into a classic rock or rock band more with the gain around noon. I think I’ll start trying that. I have an Ampeg BA210 V3. It’s got a rattling problem so I’m going to take it to my bass tech and have him take a look. Those are also nice sounding amps.

 

[CallMeAl]

This boils down to your tonal preference. IMHO the 200 provides a warmer tone than the 500. If you are considering an external cab (you really should, it makes a big difference at any volume), get the 500 and the 1x15 extension.

See, I have a hard time choosing based on tone! When I demoed them side by side I picked the 500. But at my local store (which doesn’t stock the 500) I have been playing the 200, and it’s a great amp. To me, I think it comes down to the power amp. I’ve got 2 100s already, just makes more sense long term to just get the 500

 

[CallMeAl]

Thanks Alan. Yeah, i’ve been experimenting around with the gain up around noon also. You make a good point of how it would help make a bass fit into a classic rock or rock band more with the game around noon. I think I’ll start trying that. I have an Ampeg BA210 V3. It’s got a rattling problem so I’m going to take it to my bass tech and have him take a look. Those are also nice sounding amps.

Learning that the Rumbles make sound at 0 was huge for me. There’s a lot of room to shape tone right there

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Ree

regardless of your experience, your information and opinions are welcome here. I think it may be a speaker preference. The 100 has a 12" speaker, the 200 has a 15" speaker, and the 500 has 2 10" speakers. Those speakers all present different tonal qualities.

I'd get the Rumble 500 Combo. I had one and loved it. There is plenty of deep bass and clear treble. And your future options are also better with a 2nd cab if desired. My 3 cents.

 

[Ryeguy63]

See, I have a hard time choosing based on tone! When I demoed them side by side I picked the 500. But at my local store (which doesn’t stock the 500) I have been playing the 200, and it’s a great amp. To me, I think it comes down to the power amp. I’ve got 2 100s already, just makes more sense long term to just get the 500

Imho if you go with the 200, you may be leaving yourself open to second guessing your discision down the road. I say go for the 500 and never look back!

 

[SoulReflection]

I know. Just didn't want the controls on the side. Or metal on metal from the corners.

Controls on the side didn't bother me as much as the differences in size. As far as metal to metal, you could move the rubber feet from the bottom to the side or add rubber feet to the side. I did the latter and it works well for me!

 

[CallMeAl]

Imho if you go with the 200, you may be leaving yourself open to second guessing your discision down the road. I say go for the 500 and never look back!

That’s kinda where I’m at now. I think maybe I’m trying to justify saving a few bucks, but for a mere $100 more, I’d be set for a loooooong time

 

[GonePlaid]

That’s kinda where I’m at now. I think maybe I’m trying to justify saving a few bucks, but for a mere $100 more, I’d be set for a loooooong time

Ya know you could still 'daisy chain', one direction or the other.

 

[CallMeAl]

Ya know you could still 'daisy chain', one direction or the other.

Oh, don’t think that hasn’t occurred to me!

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Controls on the side didn't bother me as much as the differences in size. As far as metal to metal, you could move the rubber feet from the bottom to the side or add rubber feet to the side. I did the latter and it works well for me!

That's a lotta work. Lolol. Cool.

 

[SoulReflection]

That's a lotta work. Lolol. Cool.

Four screws, didn't seem like a lot of work to me !

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Oh, don’t think that hasn’t occurred to me!

Is this getting kinky?

 

[GonePlaid]

Four screws, didn't seem like a lot of work to me !

Well, yeah, but ya gotta mark and drill the holes, too. I mean, what? Maybe 20 minutes of 'hard' work.

 

[GonePlaid]

Oh, don’t think that hasn’t occurred to me!

The Sunday jam thing is cx'ed for this week(weather), but I wanna try daisy chaining my 200c with the BL's 100c.
You know-just for gits and shiggles.

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Four screws, didn't seem like a lot of work to me !

Yea, but ya gotta un and re. That's 8 evolutions. I'm wore out. over, under, sideways, down.....

 

[Rip Topaz]

Cool show last night. Little dive bar outside Hershey, PA. Rumble 500h/ 410 for the evening. I’ve got a week off, then a series of private parties to end the summer. Can’t wait to boogie.

 

[Ted S]

Wondering if anyone else has experienced issues like this: Same problem at 2 gigs this week using the 800 Stage plus 15" cab. Outside, and we were playing rather loud, my vol set to 11:00 o'clock. On both nights, into later part of performance, volume dropping, less deep bass tone, notes had a strong attack instantaneously, but dropped down in vol and slightly distorted...switched my bass to passive mode, same results.
Gig #1: Turned off amp at end of last set, we were brought back for encore, switched the amp on and it suddenly was normal again.
Gig #2, same problems developed into set 2. Turned off amp between sets, and when I returned for set 3 the Stage 800 returned to normal operation for the entire set.
Would appreciate your thoughts...