Dude, I'm tellin' ya s2010's can't take that kind of wattage. You're gonna pump 500 watts into a pair of woofs rated for 150 watts. Don't do it. Just don't. You're just asking for $200+ of disappointment.
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Comparing the 200 and 500 combos
Hi Folks,
I was at the local shop checking out some basses. And what do you know, they had one of the Rumble 200 combos and one of the Rumble 500 combos sitting on the floor, right next to each other. I have been wondering how much they sound similar or different. I took about 20 minutes trying them out. I thought that other people also might be wondering about the 200 versus 500. So here is what I found, in case it’s helpful to anyone out there.
I kept all knobs on the two amps at the same positions. Mostly tone controls at noon or with a little taken off the lows, a little less taken off the low mids, a tiny bit added to the high mids, and a little more added to the highs. Gain all the way down or up ¼ at most. None of the buttons engaged. In retrospect, I never checked the switches on the back to see if both tweeters were on or off. Oops. I played a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass, and a Fender Deluxe P Bass Special. I could not put the volume up too high, due to other people in the shop. They are both light for what they are. The 500 felt a little heavier, but I don’t think that anyone would consider it even remotely heavy.
First impression is that the 200 and 500 do, indeed, sound very similar. It’s quite obvious that they are cut from the same cloth. Generally pretty clear and nice. The 500 can play louder and seemingly with less effort. But the 200 was pretty close in this regard. I never did crank them loud, so I don’t really know. Neither amp got congested or distorted in my playing.
The only place that I could tell much of a difference was in high notes versus low notes. When in the upper frets and upper strings, the 200 seemed to be a tiny bit more clear to my ears. By contrast, the 500 seems to have more depth and authority with the lowest bass notes. (These were 4 string basses, not 5 strings.) This difference was not that much and the whole point here was to try and see how different the 200 and 500 sound. So I was really looking for changes. I would have expected the 15” speaker of the 200 to have more depth and the 10” speakers of the 200 to have more upper clarity. But it was the opposite. Then again, the difference was not great at all.
For the lower notes, the 500 had an odd, I don’t know, resonant sound of some sort. Hard to describe. You know how some sounds seem to vibrate in your ears or resonate with the ear wax or something?
The 500 did that on the lowest notes. Only a little. But it also felt like stronger output.
Which would I get? I don’t know. I did not have much of a preference for one over the other. It’s a tough call. Maybe I’d go for the 500 due to the increased power and such. My guess is that, when cranked loudly, the 500 may have more authority all around. But that 200 was pretty close and, overall, had a very similar sound to it. We’re almost splitting hairs here. Certainly, if your budget is limited, the 200 is a plenty good way to go. I guess it comes down to how loud you want to play and how much cash you have in your pocket. Most other aspects of what I heard made the 200 and 500 come out to be very close to each other.
OK, that’s what I’ve got. I hope that this helps a bit.
Hi Folks,
I was at the local shop checking out some basses. And what do you know, they had one of the Rumble 200 combos and one of the Rumble 500 combos sitting on the floor, right next to each other. I have been wondering how much they sound similar or different. I took about 20 minutes trying them out. I thought that other people also might be wondering about the 200 versus 500. So here is what I found, in case it’s helpful to anyone out there.
I kept all knobs on the two amps at the same positions. Mostly tone controls at noon or with a little taken off the lows, a little less taken off the low mids, a tiny bit added to the high mids, and a little more added to the highs. Gain all the way down or up ¼ at most. None of the buttons engaged. In retrospect, I never checked the switches on the back to see if both tweeters were on or off. Oops. I played a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass, and a Fender Deluxe P Bass Special. I could not put the volume up too high, due to other people in the shop. They are both light for what they are. The 500 felt a little heavier, but I don’t think that anyone would consider it even remotely heavy.
First impression is that the 200 and 500 do, indeed, sound very similar. It’s quite obvious that they are cut from the same cloth. Generally pretty clear and nice. The 500 can play louder and seemingly with less effort. But the 200 was pretty close in this regard. I never did crank them loud, so I don’t really know. Neither amp got congested or distorted in my playing.
The only place that I could tell much of a difference was in high notes versus low notes. When in the upper frets and upper strings, the 200 seemed to be a tiny bit more clear to my ears. By contrast, the 500 seems to have more depth and authority with the lowest bass notes. (These were 4 string basses, not 5 strings.) This difference was not that much and the whole point here was to try and see how different the 200 and 500 sound. So I was really looking for changes. I would have expected the 15” speaker of the 200 to have more depth and the 10” speakers of the 200 to have more upper clarity. But it was the opposite. Then again, the difference was not great at all.
For the lower notes, the 500 had an odd, I don’t know, resonant sound of some sort. Hard to describe. You know how some sounds seem to vibrate in your ears or resonate with the ear wax or something?
The 500 did that on the lowest notes. Only a little. But it also felt like stronger output. Which would I get? I don’t know. I did not have much of a preference for one over the other. It’s a tough call. Maybe I’d go for the 500 due to the increased power and such. My guess is that, when cranked loudly, the 500 may have more authority all around. But that 200 was pretty close and, overall, had a very similar sound to it. We’re almost splitting hairs here. Certainly, if your budget is limited, the 200 is a plenty good way to go. I guess it comes down to how loud you want to play and how much cash you have in your pocket. Most other aspects of what I heard made the 200 and 500 come out to be very close to each other.
OK, that’s what I’ve got. I hope that this helps a bit.
Good first hand bass player's review! Thanks!Comparing the 200 and 500 combos
Hi Folks,
I was at the local shop checking out some basses. And what do you know, they had one of the Rumble 200 combos and one of the Rumble 500 combos sitting on the floor, right next to each other. I have been wondering how much they sound similar or different. I took about 20 minutes trying them out. I thought that other people also might be wondering about the 200 versus 500. So here is what I found, in case it’s helpful to anyone out there.
I kept all knobs on the two amps at the same positions. Mostly tone controls at noon or with a little taken off the lows, a little less taken off the low mids, a tiny bit added to the high mids, and a little more added to the highs. Gain all the way down or up ¼ at most. None of the buttons engaged. In retrospect, I never checked the switches on the back to see if both tweeters were on or off. Oops. I played a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass, and a Fender Deluxe P Bass Special. I could not put the volume up too high, due to other people in the shop. They are both light for what they are. The 500 felt a little heavier, but I don’t think that anyone would consider it even remotely heavy.
First impression is that the 200 and 500 do, indeed, sound very similar. It’s quite obvious that they are cut from the same cloth. Generally pretty clear and nice. The 500 can play louder and seemingly with less effort. But the 200 was pretty close in this regard. I never did crank them loud, so I don’t really know. Neither amp got congested or distorted in my playing.
The only place that I could tell much of a difference was in high notes versus low notes. When in the upper frets and upper strings, the 200 seemed to be a tiny bit more clear to my ears. By contrast, the 500 seems to have more depth and authority with the lowest bass notes. (These were 4 string basses, not 5 strings.) This difference was not that much and the whole point here was to try and see how different the 200 and 500 sound. So I was really looking for changes. I would have expected the 15” speaker of the 200 to have more depth and the 10” speakers of the 200 to have more upper clarity. But it was the opposite. Then again, the difference was not great at all.
For the lower notes, the 500 had an odd, I don’t know, resonant sound of some sort. Hard to describe. You know how some sounds seem to vibrate in your ears or resonate with the ear wax or something?
Which would I get? I don’t know. I did not have much of a preference for one over the other. It’s a tough call. Maybe I’d go for the 500 due to the increased power and such. My guess is that, when cranked loudly, the 500 may have more authority all around. But that 200 was pretty close and, overall, had a very similar sound to it. We’re almost splitting hairs here. Certainly, if your budget is limited, the 200 is a plenty good way to go. I guess it comes down to how loud you want to play and how much cash you have in your pocket. Most other aspects of what I heard made the 200 and 500 come out to be very close to each other.
OK, that’s what I’ve got. I hope that this helps a bit.
Had a gig last night at a local beer garden. Kind of a small place so I decided to use my Rumble 500 and V3 410. I had been using a Sansamp but passed on that also. I hooked up my Stingray and let rip. All controls at 12. Gain around 11oclo5 and volume at about 10 o'clock. The sound was incredible. Deep, articulate and perfect. I an amazed by this amp all the time. It always satisfies.
I did also use the DI to the board. Flawless.
Just thought I'd share.
I did also use the DI to the board. Flawless.
Just thought I'd share.
I agree....headroom is one thing but some amps need to be pushed at a certain level to hit their sweet spot. I learned this with the gk 700rb vs. 1001rb...at band volumes the 700rb just sounded better as the 1001 had to be louder than I needed to hit its sweet spot.
Comparing the 200 and 500 combos
Hi Folks,
I was at the local shop checking out some basses. And what do you know, they had one of the Rumble 200 combos and one of the Rumble 500 combos sitting on the floor, right next to each other. I have been wondering how much they sound similar or different. I took about 20 minutes trying them out. I thought that other people also might be wondering about the 200 versus 500. So here is what I found, in case it’s helpful to anyone out there.
I kept all knobs on the two amps at the same positions. Mostly tone controls at noon or with a little taken off the lows, a little less taken off the low mids, a tiny bit added to the high mids, and a little more added to the highs. Gain all the way down or up ¼ at most. None of the buttons engaged. In retrospect, I never checked the switches on the back to see if both tweeters were on or off. Oops. I played a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass, and a Fender Deluxe P Bass Special. I could not put the volume up too high, due to other people in the shop. They are both light for what they are. The 500 felt a little heavier, but I don’t think that anyone would consider it even remotely heavy.
First impression is that the 200 and 500 do, indeed, sound very similar. It’s quite obvious that they are cut from the same cloth. Generally pretty clear and nice. The 500 can play louder and seemingly with less effort. But the 200 was pretty close in this regard. I never did crank them loud, so I don’t really know. Neither amp got congested or distorted in my playing.
The only place that I could tell much of a difference was in high notes versus low notes. When in the upper frets and upper strings, the 200 seemed to be a tiny bit more clear to my ears. By contrast, the 500 seems to have more depth and authority with the lowest bass notes. (These were 4 string basses, not 5 strings.) This difference was not that much and the whole point here was to try and see how different the 200 and 500 sound. So I was really looking for changes. I would have expected the 15” speaker of the 200 to have more depth and the 10” speakers of the 200 to have more upper clarity. But it was the opposite. Then again, the difference was not great at all.
For the lower notes, the 500 had an odd, I don’t know, resonant sound of some sort. Hard to describe. You know how some sounds seem to vibrate in your ears or resonate with the ear wax or something?
Which would I get? I don’t know. I did not have much of a preference for one over the other. It’s a tough call. Maybe I’d go for the 500 due to the increased power and such. My guess is that, when cranked loudly, the 500 may have more authority all around. But that 200 was pretty close and, overall, had a very similar sound to it. We’re almost splitting hairs here. Certainly, if your budget is limited, the 200 is a plenty good way to go. I guess it comes down to how loud you want to play and how much cash you have in your pocket. Most other aspects of what I heard made the 200 and 500 come out to be very close to each other.
OK, that’s what I’ve got. I hope that this helps a bit.
Nice write up. I had a 500 and I personally didn't like the way it handled the low B-maybe I too just didn't dig the overtones on the lowest notes...I probably should have played around with it more experimenting with the low end before I returned it.
So...I have a 200 on the way now. I love my 100 but there are times when I need just a little more and of course I want to add a 1x12 for a Rumbleicious stack.
There's nothing wrong with liking Eminence. There's a reason why they have achieved such a dominant position in the driver market.
But your enthusiasm leads you into some strange places at times. Neo drivers can be designed for a wide range of tones, but the natural sag and compression of Alnico would be very hard to achieve indeed. In fact, one of the attractions of Neo drivers, is that they make it easy to achieve tremendous dynamic range and transient response in high-power applications.
More importantly, one of the reason that Eminence is so popular, is that they have something for everybody. The 3012 and 3015, for instance, come in three drastically different variants- plain, HO and LF.
Furthermore, Eminence offers custom variants in surprisingly small batches. Duke Lejeune took advantage of this when designing the little 4 ohm AudioKinesis cab that I've been enjoying the last few years.
That flexibility makes a mockery of your assertion that Eminence Neos have a particular sound.
Duke's Hathor series sound quite different from his Thunderchild cabs, which sound very different from popular Neo boxes like your Fenders, or other boutique cabs like Roger Baer's ML line, Alex Claber's Barefaced bins, and Greenboy's fEarfull and fEarless designs. Yet a nearly all of the boutique cabs I mention are based on the 30-series drivers.
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Hey, Kringle.
The Rumble is scooped, but how many bass amps aren't? One of the things I appreciate about the V3's, is that the tone controls are so nicely voiced.
Sure, there's a definite baked-in "vintage" thing going on, but I find it much easier to dial in my $300-odd Rumble 100 combo, than I did my $900 Genz Benz Streamliner head...
Good luck with your 2010 conversion, BTW. I will be curious to hear what you think of that pairing.
Like Linnin says, you'll need to be careful with all that extra headroom. The Rumbles offer excellent speaker protection when matched with drivers that have similar power handling. But in your application, you'll be abusing those Basslites long before the limiter kicks in.
The Basslite s2010 has a 150 watt rating. 500 watts is going to cook those voice coils faster than deep fried Twinkies!
I know what I like, and I like what I hear. So you can just kiss my grits, rolfeca.
Run the software. A pair of betas which are basically comes in the fender is done at 125 watts, a pair of s2010's fart at 250 watts. That gives you more output with better bottom and the 4 ohms gives you more headroom from the amp. Look it up. Watt rating means nothing. Look at Vd.
+1 and Amen. See also: Aguilar TH. Yet another amp of amazing build and quality that I just couldn't dial very well for myself.
Picked up a 200 a couple weeks ago, did a audition for a band Friday, 2 acoustic guitars - amplified, drums, vocals and keys. I had eq set a noon, gain and master at 9 o clock, vintage button engaged. Almost too loud My P with TIs sounded huge. More than enough power and tone with the ability to carry with one hand with ease. Fantastic Amp all around, maybe a built in compressor would be a nice touch, but not a necessity. Fender hit it right on the head with this revamp.
My P with TIs sounded huge. More than enough power and tone with the ability to carry with one hand with ease. Fantastic Amp all around, maybe a built in compressor would be a nice touch, but not a necessity. Fender hit it right on the head with this revamp.
Dude, I have been holding this number for ya!Picked up a 200 a couple weeks ago, did a audition for a band Friday, 2 acoustic guitars - amplified, drums, vocals and keys. I had eq set a noon, gain and master at 9 o clock, vintage button engaged. Almost too loud
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, MN_Bass! 
You are member #364 
Rumbles Rock! 
Sweet, Thanks! I'll keep everyone posted with my Rumble adventures. Has anyone ran a Ibanez SR Premium with nordy pickups into one by chance?
Ahhhh! But it does indeed have a compressor! Take a peak at your block diagram in your owner's manual. It's the Delta-Comp Limiter between the pre-amp and power amp. The Vintage voicing also has it's own compression too. Here give these 'Rumble Talks' a read. Fender Rumble Talk
