New member - hello all. Need an upgrade to my amp — been looking at the Rumble 800 HD and the Stage 800 Combo. Apart from the physical characteristics, I’m trying to understand how to decide which is the better choice for me. I like the creative aspects of the Combo but appreciate the mix & match potential in going with the HD. That said, my real curiosity is the sound comparison between the HD and Combo (with all effects, cabs, models turned off). Better/worse is relative and in the eye of the beholder ... is it possible to quantify or describe the difference. Hopefully this isn’t an impossible question. Thank you in advance for any guidance or insight.
Welcome to TalkBass, Mitch. I think this is a very intriguing question.
I don't have the R800 HD to directly compare the two; but, I do have the Stage 800.
@G-Dog's correct is saying that you are going to be using
some kind of amp model on the Stage 800. You must choose an amp model in order to create a preset. So, at the very least, you would be using the solid-state or tube pre-amp model. This makes sense since all bass amplifiers have a pre-amp section. However, you do not have to assign a cabinet model; nor do you need add any effects.
So, given this, your question infers...
What does the hardware amp itself sound like with just a preamp (with no amp, and no cab)?
What does it sound like without cabinet models (with an amp, but no cab)?
What do the different cabinet models add (when using an amp, and a cab)?
I messed around a bit this morning on my Stage 800. When comparing models I set all the controls to the mid-point (5.5). This is by no means a scientific study; but, these are my general observations:
The solid-state pre-amp model alone is rather thin and trebly. It doesn't sound too bad, but you would certainly not want to play through the amp using it; unless you were using an acoustic or double bass, and you just wanted the added volume (
and that's what the Acoustasonic model is for). The solid-state preamp model is described as "studio purity with clean, uncolored tonal response". I would agree with this assessment. It probably works great as an "$800 DI"
, but it doesn't sound great through the amp.
The tube pre-amp model alone actually sounds pretty good through the amp even with all the settings "nickled". It has just some basic "harmonic coloration", but it sounds fairly full-bodied. It's certainly playable in its own right; but it's very basic.
Without cab models, the other amps are very much like enhanced versions of the tube preamp. They sound good through the physical cab without a cab model; but, the cabs add a degree of fullness and tonal refinement that I don't think one would choose to forego.
I used the basic preamp models and went through the different cabinets to see what differences they made. I would grossly oversimplify my findings like this:
Firstly, the 1x8" speaker should be called an "pizza box" effect, not a cabinet. It's kinda like the "telephone" effect on vocals. If you intentionally want to sound that effect, use it; otherwise, avoid it.
The 10" and 12" cabinets to me essentially provide variations that I would call "EQ spectra-focused". The 10" seem to enhance the mids and highs; and the 2x and 4x models both sizes provide more lower mids and additional bass, respectively. That is not to say they don't have unique characteristics among them (e.g. the extreme clarity of the Redhead cabs; the differences between sealed/open and vintage/neo). (
I did admit this was oversimplified.)
The 15" and 18" speakers are where I think the speaker models truly result in added "apparent girth". (
Especially the 2x15 JBL D130F cab model. It's a bottom-end monster.) These models really do make the physical 2x10 in the Stage 800 combo seem bigger than it is.
Beyond the cabs, if you replace the pre-amp with an amp model, you get all the other goodness of a full amplifier: power amp effects (
sag, bias), channel overdrive, increased EQ functions (
vintage, bright, scooping, contour), etc. Additionally, the output of the amp models seem better matched to the physical power amp of the Stage 800.
Having said all of this, I would again agree with @G-Dog in saying, to compare them, running the Rumble V3 amp model with the 2x10 Rumble V3 should produce the standard modern Rumble sound.
The deciding factor for me, as many know, is the recallable presets. I like being able to instantly retrieve a prior tone. But I also like the onboard effects. Aside from compression, I don't use a lot of effect, but when I want them I don't need a separate pedalboard. The all-in-one form-factor is nice, too.
Hope this helps.
Pictured here with a Yamaha TRBX174 which is working fine for me as a beginner to the bass since a couple of months ago.
