Fender Rumble Club

[GonePlaid]

I use an SVT rig fairly often. It’s a 6x10 and more than loud enough.

Even though I wasn't 'crazy' about the sound*, I used my SVT/810 rig for 2 1/2 years at that hotel gig. I'd already bought it, it was up on that 4' high stage and I didn't have the $ or the interest to replace it. It got the job done. I just never 'loved' it the way I thought I would since everyone who was someone back then played through one. Oh, well, I've always kinda been the odd duck.

*yes, I played with/tweaked the settings-a lot.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

One other comment re SVT rigs: I sat in with a band playing much heavier rock than I usually play. Their bass man had an SVT/2x810 rig. Yeah, 16 10's. The thing was LOUD plus I could feel my pants legs moving in the air it pushed. Definitely the biggest rig I ever played through. Didn't want it though.

Check out the first couple of minutes of this video. Try to imagine load in/out of these single 21" cabs.

 

[BBassBassington]

Check out the first couple of minutes of this video. Try to imagine load in/out of these single 21" cabs.

I'm confident in saying I wouldn't be able to even help move one of those bad boys!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Even though I wasn't 'crazy' about the sound*, I used my SVT/810 rig for 2 1/2 years at that hotel gig. I'd already bought it, it was up on that 4' high stage and I didn't have the $ or the interest to replace it. It got the job done. I just never 'loved' it the way I thought I would since everyone who was someone back then played through one. Oh, well, I've always kinda been the odd duck.

*yes, I played with/tweaked the settings-a lot.

I trust at some point you heard it from the audience’s perspective? I always want it to sound great to me, but can make it work fine if the crowd tone is good.

That said, yeah, I don’t “love” a rig that doesn’t sound great on stage.

 

[Billyears IV]

Hey all, looking for some settings recommendations.

I'm playing a hard rock blues funk original band. Mixture of all of the above. I'm playing a Sire P7 five-string into a Markbass Compressore, and a Markbass Mini Boost pedal. That all then goes into my Fender Rumble 500 combo 2x10 that has the Fender Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet hooked up.

With all the tone buttons, Vintage, Bright, Contour clicked off, and everything else flat, I'm not getting as much bright high end as I would like. I dialed in a little mid high and treble, but then when I play slap and pluck the higher strings, the sound is way too much and bites too much.

It feels like the compressore is not doing its job on the high end stuff... I'm not sure.

Anyway just looking for some tips. Thanks!

Hey all, looking for some settings recommendations.

I'm playing a hard rock blues funk original band. Mixture of all of the above. I'm playing a Sire P7 five-string into a Markbass Compressore, and a Markbass Mini Boost pedal. That all then goes into my Fender Rumble 500 combo 2x10 that has the Fender Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet hooked up.

With all the tone buttons, Vintage, Bright, Contour clicked off, and everything else flat, I'm not getting as much bright high end as I would like. I dialed in a little mid high and treble, but then when I play slap and pluck the higher strings, the sound is way too much and bites too much.

It feels like the compressore is not doing its job on the high end stuff... I'm not sure.

Anyway just looking for some tips. Thanks!

Hey all, looking for some settings recommendations.

I'm playing a hard rock blues funk original band. Mixture of all of the above. I'm playing a Sire P7 five-string into a Markbass Compressore, and a Markbass Mini Boost pedal. That all then goes into my Fender Rumble 500 combo 2x10 that has the Fender Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet hooked up.

With all the tone buttons, Vintage, Bright, Contour clicked off, and everything else flat, I'm not getting as much bright high end as I would like. I dialed in a little mid high and treble, but then when I play slap and pluck the higher strings, the sound is way too much and bites too much.

It feels like the compressore is not doing its job on the high end stuff... I'm not sure.

Anyway just looking for some tips. Thanks!

but I don't have any magic answers.

Hey all, looking for some settings recommendations.

I'm playing a hard rock blues funk original band. Mixture of all of the above. I'm playing a Sire P7 five-string into a Markbass Compressore, and a Markbass Mini Boost pedal. That all then goes into my Fender Rumble 500 combo 2x10 that has the Fender Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet hooked up.

With all the tone buttons, Vintage, Bright, Contour clicked off, and everything else flat, I'm not getting as much bright high end as I would like. I dialed in a little mid high and treble, but then when I play slap and pluck the higher strings, the sound is way too much and bites too much.

It feels like the compressore is not doing its job on the high end stuff... I'm not sure.

Anyway just looking for some tips. Thanks!

Hi,

I'm responding as I have a similar set up - Rumble 500c + 210 cab + markbass compressore. I don't really have any specific advice, as I don't know what stage you are at in your playing & know how.

Without meaning to patronise, have you explored all the parameters of the compressore and how they inter relate/work? Not sure what you mean that its "not doing its job on high end stuff"? Compression can be used to even out undesired dynamic variations in your playing. There are the different controls to affect this in different ways. So when you say "the sound is way too much and bites too much", there are different ways to work on this with the compressore. The dials can be counterintuitive as they actually turn counter to each other!

However, its also a lot to do with technique, strings, position of hands, type of neck on the bass, your actual playing style etc etc. That's hard to assess without a video reference.

Slapping & popping notes will always stand out as louder & more intense, to a degree to 'regular' playing. That's the intention. But you're saying its OTT? Have you played it in a band mix? Do other band members comment/notice? Or is it just alone at home or recording?

EQ on the amp can obviously affect the sound. It can be 'Traditional' to use a scooped EQ for slap. Have you tried the contour switch? Or reducing the treble as well?

I hardly ever use slap but the Compressore helps greatly. I also have a Darkglass Harmonic Booster, which I use to adjust tones/boost mids. It has a character knob which helps subdue the brittle high high end sounds ( my strings clack with high mids settings, when I dig in, which I like a bit but can reduce with this control when not wanted).

So just check out all the demos you can for tips to get you slap/pop as you like. I'm pretty sure its not the Compressore 'not doing ts job'.

Hope thats useful to a degree. Sorry I'm not a slapper

 

[GonePlaid]

I trust at some point you heard it from the audience’s perspective? I always want it to sound great to me, but can make it work fine if the crowd tone is good.

That said, yeah, I don’t “love” a rig that doesn’t sound great on stage.

FWIW, this was 1980-82. I didn't know to somehow stand ~35 feet away-nor did I have 35' of cable. It was 'OK' on stage, but I was less than 5' in front of it on a pie wedge shaped stage. I really kinda hafta go by the sounds of recordings(that were less than pro grade).
Two factors that weigh into my dissatisfaction. (1) I may have been expecting too much(?), and(2) it never got cranked so it wasn't pushing 'them big ol' toobs'. I didn't know until fairly recently-last coupla years-that they need to be pushed to get the best outta them. I wouldn't refuse to play through one again-as long as I wasn't involved in moving it. I also did play through another guy's V4B and 2 2x15 cabs(yup, 4 15s)but that was with my 66 Gibson EB-3, a good 5 years b4 I got my 67 NR.

 

[SoulReflection]

FWIW, this was 1980-82. I didn't know to somehow stand ~35 feet away-nor did I have 35' of cable. It was 'OK' on stage, but I was less than 5' in front of it on a pie wedge shaped stage. I really kinda hafta go by the sounds of recordings(that were less than pro grade).
Two factors that weigh into my dissatisfaction. (1) I may have been expecting too much(?), and(2) it never got cranked so it wasn't pushing 'them big ol' toobs'. I didn't know until fairly recently-last coupla years-that they need to be pushed to get the best outta them. I wouldn't refuse to play through one again-as long as I wasn't involved in moving it. I also did play through another guy's V4B and 2 2x15 cabs(yup, 4 15s)but that was with my 66 Gibson EB-3, a good 5 years b4 I got my 67 NR.

I keep looking at these comments both for and against the Ampeg sound compared to Fender sound. I am starting to believe that these sounds are in the "ears" of the beholder.

This has no relation to the weight of these amps.

I believe it could, however, have a lot to do with the sound that one prefers from a Gibson bass or a Fender bass. Could it be that a Gibson bass sounds better through a Fender amp, as in GP's case? Could it be that a Fender bass can sound good through an Ampeg amp or a Fender amp as others have suggested?

Or, is it determined by brand preferences vs. ears. Comments?

 

[SoulReflection]

And another thing. The post that GP made regarding Flat Rumble EQ's is confirmed in the Rumble Wiki...

Have any of you tried these as compared to everything a 12 o'clock? As counter-intuitive as it may seem, I have tried these settings and they have worked wonders. I don't know what Fender was thinking when they developed these amps, but fortunately their customers figured it out!

 

[BBassBassington]

I think the differences are perhaps more subtle between Ampeg and Fender but to my ears they're very noticeable.

Ampeg's bass response is a bit more odd due to the ultra lo and they use uglier mid frequencies in their EQ. The result IME is a less flexible sound that benefits greatly from an outboard preamp or active bass. Plus the sound tends to just be fatter and lazier, less focused forward.

I also don't think I could make a Rocket Bass sound enough like my Rumble to be happy with it but I can make my Rumble sound enough like a Rocket Bass to be happy there. The Rumble's EQ is a much better tool for crafting sound because of the frequencies it targets.

 

[GonePlaid]

I think the differences are perhaps more subtle between Ampeg and Fender but to my ears they're very noticeable.

Ampeg's bass response is a bit more odd due to the ultra lo and they use uglier mid frequencies in their EQ. The result IME is a less flexible sound that benefits greatly from an outboard preamp or active bass. Plus the sound tends to just be fatter and lazier, less focused forward.

I also don't think I could make a Rocket Bass sound enough like my Rumble to be happy with it but I can make my Rumble sound enough like a Rocket Bass to be happy there. The Rumble's EQ is a much better tool for crafting sound because of the frequencies it targets.

"Tell ya what I'm a'gonna do". Someone give me a Rocket 12 and a Rocket 15(or whatever they're called) to compare to my R100 and R200c and I'll report back the results.

Eventually.


Maybe.


Or not.

 

[SoulReflection]

I think the differences are perhaps more subtle between Ampeg and Fender but to my ears they're very noticeable.

Ampeg's bass response is a bit more odd due to the ultra lo and they use uglier mid frequencies in their EQ. The result IME is a less flexible sound that benefits greatly from an outboard preamp or active bass. Plus the sound tends to just be fatter and lazier, less focused forward.

I also don't think I could make a Rocket Bass sound enough like my Rumble to be happy with it but I can make my Rumble sound enough like a Rocket Bass to be happy there. The Rumble's EQ is a much better tool for crafting sound because of the frequencies it targets.

Now, here is a response I can relate to. Thanks, @BBassBassington.

 

[SoulReflection]

"Tell ya what I'm a'gonna do". Someone give me a Rocket 12 and a Rocket 15(or whatever they're called) to compare to my R100 and R200c and I'll report back the results.

Eventually.


Maybe.


Or not.

Somehow, I knew that would be your response . Thanks, GP!

 

[GonePlaid]

Somehow, I knew that would be your response . Thanks, GP!

Happy to be of help.

 

[SoulReflection]

Happy to be of help.

You are the best! You know what you are saying, you back it up with facts and you do not get involved with controversy.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

"Tell ya what I'm a'gonna do". Someone give me a Rocket 12 and a Rocket 15(or whatever they're called) to compare to my R100 and R200c and I'll report back the results.

Eventually.


Maybe.


Or not.

Some day.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

And another thing. The post that GP made regarding Flat Rumble EQ's is confirmed in the Rumble Wiki...

View attachment 4285819

Have any of you tried these as compared to everything a 12 o'clock? As counter-intuitive as it may seem, I have tried these settings and they have worked wonders. I don't know what Fender was thinking when they developed these amps, but fortunately their customers figured it out!

Hey Soul, where in the Wiki does it talk about the EQ flat knob settings? I can't find it.

 

[SoulReflection]

Hey Soul, where in the Wiki does it talk about the EQ flat knob settings? I can't find it.

Try this:

Fender Rumble 500 Frequencies | TalkBass.com

 

[el jeffe bass]

I use an SVT rig fairly often. It’s a 6x10 and more than loud enough.

When I was playing gigs I had a GK RB1001ii head into an Ampeg 610HLF cabinet. Amazing tone and as much volume as I could ever need.

 

[juancaminos]

Hey all, looking for some settings recommendations.

I'm playing a hard rock blues funk original band. Mixture of all of the above. I'm playing a Sire P7 five-string into a Markbass Compressore, and a Markbass Mini Boost pedal. That all then goes into my Fender Rumble 500 combo 2x10 that has the Fender Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet hooked up.

With all the tone buttons, Vintage, Bright, Contour clicked off, and everything else flat, I'm not getting as much bright high end as I would like. I dialed in a little mid high and treble, but then when I play slap and pluck the higher strings, the sound is way too much and bites too much.

It feels like the compressore is not doing its job on the high end stuff... I'm not sure.

Anyway just looking for some tips. Thanks!

I am with you and know exactly what your talking about but it's hard to explain. I have the Rumble 500 combo with a 115 extension speaker (I'm waiting for a back ordered 210). I'm used to a piano like bright round wound string sound while still maintaining a big bottom. That's a tall order that my Acoustic 370/408 and Eden WT400/410XLT provided with ease. Unfortunately I have been unable to get there with The Rumble. I'll post a gig report...

 

[juancaminos]

So I did two out door gigs this weekend with my Rumble 500 combo and Rumble 115 extension cab. I have to say that I am still not there with the sound I prefer but not giving up. For these two gigs I added an old favorite... Korg Tone Works AX30B "bass processor", utilizing the "Bright Bass" program preset. First let me say that loudness/volume is not an issue. Low, Low Bass tone is not the issue either. It's the high end treble side as I have reported before. I gets thin as you attempt to get some mid high to high end articulation. I find that runs with notes played on the first 7 - 9 frets are almost indistinguishable, mushy and inarticulate. Any way the 115 and Tone Works pedal did help as was noticed by myself and the rest of the band.

BTW we are not a loud band...my volume (master) never got above 10:00. I tried Gain settings between zero and 9:00. Bass settings between 8 and 10 o'clock, Mid's between 11 and 2 o'clock, Treble between 11 and 3 o'clock. I tried a few pre sets on the Korg, "Lows & Highs", "Bright", "Mid-Pik'n" and "FatnLow". I settled on the bright setting which I used for many years with the Acoustic 370/408 set up. On the Rumble I tried all combinations of preset buttons settling on the bright and vintage at the same time. Once again the sound I am seeking is a bright piano like round wound sound with full bottom. A tough sound to get apparently.

Anyway the images show the stage for our Sunday afternoon show. Nice stage with guitar hangers. Our band leader and lead guitarist was using an early 60's Fender Bassman!