Fender Rumble Club

[MarkM13]

"Oh My!!"

A little about myself. I've been a drummer for 35+ years. In addition, I perform on mallets via a Midi Mallet Controller hooked up to a rack of synths run in stero. I also have a project studio. So even though I am new to bass I'm familiar with amps and quality sound.

I've always said if I wasnt a drummer, I'd be a bassist. Last month I got tired of saying it and picked up a bass. I've been playing through an old Roland Keyboard Cube I used wih my MIDI rig. It really couldn't deal with the lows of the bass.

I must admit that when it came to bass amps I didn't have much experience. The bass player in my band runs a Markbass rig that sounds killer but 1. I couldn't afford it and 2. It seemed a bit much for a novice.
My priorities for a bass amp was good tone that could be shaped, light weight and compact size.
AmpsI considered:
Line6 Lowdown 110 (used) great size, light weight, but unimpressive one dememtional sound
GK MB 108. Ticked all he boxes. Sounded fine. Just didn't have the Wow factor.
Markbass mini CMD112: I have access to It at work but, it's always being used. I would have to take it home
and then get it right back the next day.

Today I went to Guitar Center to check out a Rumble 40. They didn't have one in but could get it from another store. If I did not like it, it could've returned. While they were doing the paperwork I saw a Rumble 100 on the floor. I looked at the sizethought it was a bit big and would weigh over 40#. I did like the idea of the extra watts and the 12" driver. Then I picked it up!! I was blown away by the lack of weight! When I plugged in I set everything flat and was so impressed with the tone and all the variables. I just sounds so killer. Yes it's my first dedicated bass amp but, I can be fussy when it comes to quality sound.
As for the title of the post: "Oh My, this is one smoking amp that ticks all the boxes and has plenty of Wow factor". Very happy.

 

[Yahboy]

Is there any Rumble V3 Head member need a nice + matching housing ??

 

[J.Nuno]

Had my first git this weekend with the 500 combo. My impressions:

1) Plenty loud with no PA support. I had gain at about 3/10 and master volume at about 4/10. Crazy loud.

2) I did not love the Contour knob in a live setting, it really just scooped it too much and I felt lost in the mix. I was playing a jazz with rotosound stainless steels, so that probably didn't help.

3) The vintage knob continued to shine in a live setting. I pretty much just kept it on the whole time.

4) Soooo light and easy to load!

All in all I love this amp, it is probably my favorite piece of gear that I own.

@sigmafloyd what kind of music do you play and how big was the venue? In our tiny rehearsal room I have to put it at at least 5/10 Gain and 5 or 6/Master volume to even hear myself (over very loud band mates, that's true). But maybe the "hear myself" volume corresponds to your "crazy loud"

 

[sigmafloyd]

@sigmafloyd what kind of music do you play and how big was the venue? In our tiny rehearsal room I have to put it at at least 5/10 Gain and 5 or 6/Master volume to even hear myself (over very loud band mates, that's true). But maybe the "hear myself" volume corresponds to your "crazy loud"

It was your average size bar, I'd say there was probably 100 people there. I actually run it louder in practice. We practice in a basement with horrible acoustics. Im not an expert in sound, but in the basement the drums seem to just bounce around and reverberate making it hear.

Tone settings play a big role as well. I was pretty much flat with a a slight boost on both mid knobs and also the vintage button on. IMO the vintage button really adds power to the sound. I've been running my jazz with the tone at 0, neck pup at 8 and bridge at 10. It delivers a pretty fat yet tight sound.

 

[Linnin]

Today I went to Guitar Center to check out a Rumble 40. They didn't have one in but could get it from another store. If I did not like it, it could've returned. While they were doing the paperwork I saw a Rumble 100 on the floor. I looked at the sizethought it was a bit big and would weigh over 40#. I did like the idea of the extra watts and the 12" driver. Then I picked it up!! I was blown away by the lack of weight! When I plugged in I set everything flat and was so impressed with the tone and all the variables. I just sounds so killer. Yes it's my first dedicated bass amp but, I can be fussy when it comes to quality sound.
As for the title of the post: "Oh My, this is one smoking amp that ticks all the boxes and has plenty of Wow factor". Very happy.

Excellent choice! Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, MarkM13! You are member #418
Rumbles Rock!

 

[J.Nuno]

It was your average size bar, I'd say there was probably 100 people there. I actually run it louder in practice. We practice in a basement with horrible acoustics. Im not an expert in sound, but in the basement the drums seem to just bounce around and reverberate

Yes, our room also is horrible for acoustics. It also seems like every day and every song the sounds are all different. Is it Rock you play? Or something softer?

 

[sigmafloyd]

Yes, our room also is horrible for acoustics. It also seems like every day and every song the sounds are all different. Is it Rock you play? Or something softer?

See above, I edited my original post with more details.

We play all kinds of stuff, pretty typical cover band fare. The hardest rock we play is Bon jovi, kryptonite, and some billy idol stuff

 

[DerekW]

Is there any Rumble V3 Head member need a nice + matching housing ??

View attachment 599076

That's pretty cool. You making those?

 

[J.Nuno]

You're absolutely right about the Vintage button. It should be called "Steroids" not "Vintage" because that's what it seems your amp is on once you press it!

In two weeks I'm going to use mine in a live gig for the very first time I'm not sure if they're gonna mic it or if I'll use the "XLR Line Out" of the combo to the mixer. But I'm mostly interested to see how it will behave for my ears on stage and how it'll be heard in the room.
I know very little about EQ and tone control so I'll bring the setting I use the most in rehearsal and hope it sounds good there!

 

[Yahboy]

That's pretty cool. You making those?

Yes, i think it really nice.....

Sadly, it just my photoshop editing result.

But..... i have email to Fender. Let them know " What Rumble User Need !!! "

 

[sigmafloyd]

You're absolutely right about the Vintage button. It should be called "Steroids" not "Vintage" because that's what it seems your amp is on once you press it!

In two weeks I'm going to use mine in a live gig for the very first time I'm not sure if they're gonna mic it or if I'll use the "XLR Line Out" of the combo to the mixer. But I'm mostly interested to see how it will behave for my ears on stage and how it'll be heard in the room.
I know very little about EQ and tone control so I'll bring the setting I use the most in rehearsal and hope it sounds good there!

What settings are you currently using?

 

[jumblemind]

That's excellent!

(Insert obnoxious "real bass players don't use picks comment here)

Not Mediums, anyway, but I figure it's the thought that counts.

 

[Linnin]

Not Mediums, anyway, but I figure it's the thought that counts.

I use Fender medium & heavy 351's. Also Dunlop Max-Grip .88's for fast picking on roundwounds as they have just the right amount of flex. The Heavy Fender 351's are perfect for flatwounds as they are inflexible and I find the tone is better. Finger plucking for all blues and most jazz or on any walking bassline.

 

[J.Nuno]

What settings are you currently using?

Gain I keep at 12 o'clock, always. Master Volume ranges from 12h-02h depending on the enthusiasm of the drummer.

 

[Big Hoss]

Hey guys and gals. Sorry for some reason my notifications on this thread aren't showing up. But a quick status check in... Jammed the snot out of the 500 combo + 210 cab stack last night, was playing the Jazz trying to get a particular sound, well I fiddled around with the EQ some, and decided to stomp on the Overdrive switch and start twisting knobs... Holy Swiss Cheese! Crunchy, overdriven, and just rowdy goodness coming out of all those speakers!

To paraphrase McD's I'm lovin it...

 

[ubernator]

Not Mediums, anyway, but I figure it's the thought that counts.

If they still make the fender picks out of the same material they did about 25 years ago, try burning one, it is an interesting combustion, and a funky smell. Off the top of my head I can't recall what the material is called. Especially on the tortoise shell looking ones. It is not the typical nylon thats for sure. I went through many picks early on before finding what works for me, and that is Dunlop jazz III for guitar, and Dunlop Tortex yellow or equivalent for bass when needed. Anytime I had to use a fender medium or similar, it would crack in no time. And yes I am a finger bass player, but as I got older and played in more punk bands, I got over the fingers only snobbishness.

I wouldn't even want to use fender mediums on guitar, unless just strumming chords on an acoustic perhaps. Those are the picks people use when starting out before they figure out the right picks to use. Rarely would I see pros using fender picks, Dunlop was far more common on stage

 

[ubernator]

Hey guys and gals. Sorry for some reason my notifications on this thread aren't showing up. But a quick status check in... Jammed the snot out of the 500 combo + 210 cab stack last night, was playing the Jazz trying to get a particular sound, well I fiddled around with the EQ some, and decided to stomp on the Overdrive switch and start twisting knobs... Holy Swiss Cheese! Crunchy, overdriven, and just rowdy goodness coming out of all those speakers!

To paraphrase McD's I'm lovin it...

410 is pretty solid for drive bass, I had swapped out the preamp tube in my swr head for one that broke up better, and would get my drive by hitting the gain hard and boosting 800 on the semi para mids, and using either Goliath III, d410xlt, or d210xlt+Goliath jr II it was always the perfect drive tone, though one night I just used son of Bertha (115) and was also pleased so go figure.

With the rumble I could only imagine, since my 200 does it well with either wm1x10t or svt mc210e stacked on top. I like the rumble od mucho.

Have you tried playing with the gain knob too? The input gain effects the drive setting, unlike a true 2 channel amp, you can get even mo-gain fo yo ro-gaine by diming both gain and drive, if you like such things.

 

[Linnin]

If they still make the fender picks out of the same material they did about 25 years ago, try burning one, it is an interesting combustion, and a funky smell. Off the top of my head I can't recall what the material is called. Especially on the tortoise shell looking ones.

Yes, they are made out of the same celluloid that they always were. Yes, they do break, but they have a tone like no other. I wonder how many tens of thousands Fender 351's are sold every year.

 

[Big Hoss]

And given away... Every time I have ordered anything Fender related online, I always get a tort pick in the package. Not even sure if it is intentional... My Rumble 500, Tort pick in the shipping invoice sheet. My Rumble 210 cab, pick in the box like somebody slid it under the flap before shipping. My Squier by Fender Jazz, shipping label again, and now my Custom Squier by Fender Jazz Bass decals, yep, another Fender tort pick...

My guitar playing BIL is loving them...

 

[Big Hoss]

I greatly prefer that one! Only like $10 more too...Link Removed
I might have to e-mail Fender and see if this one is metal (I've heard stories about plastic pedals getting broken from being stepped on a lot).

Off-Topic; what camera did you use to take that picture? It looks great!

That's the one I have, and best as I can tell the housing is all metal. Might have some plastic in there but I don't think so... As you can see in my avatar pic, I am a big guy, and I worry about durability of anything I have to step on, no worries from me with this...