Fender Rumble Club

[G-Dog]

I figured I'd just call the custom shop or something but in hindsight they probably don't deal with amps. Seems like the better approach as averse to swapping mine with the knobs off my kids' GTX lol.

Why wouldn't the Fender Custom Shop deal with amps? They have many times before! The very first Rumble bass amp was a Custom Shop 300 watt all tube behemoth back in the '90s that lives on today as the Super Bassman!

. . . . . . . . . ​

Don't be discouraged. Continue with your plan. They might fix you up, you never know. You can always fallback to ... [ahem] ... upgrading the kids' amp.

Please advise your progress.
.

 

[GonePlaid]

Anybody know if the pot knobs on the rumbles are replacable? The new ones on the GTX line look super nice and I kinda want em on my 800.

I chose to leave the stock 'white' ones on the MUTE channel.

Note black ones are smaller diameter. Great for fat fingers.

 

[LazerCrazer]

Why wouldn't the Fender Custom Shop deal with amps? They have many times before! The very first Rumble bass amp was a Custom Shop 300 watt all tube behemoth back in the '90s that lives on today as the Super Bassman.

Don't be discouraged. Continue with your plan. They might fix you up, you never know. You can always fallback to ... [ahem] ... upgrading the kids' amp.

Please advise your progress.
.

Super cool little bit of history. Will definitely update if I can get em.

 

[G-Dog]

Thank you! I’m about to start work and you have tickled my funny bone! I needed that before the 11 hour slog starts.

THANK YOU for that wonderful offer! I will let you know if/when I can take you up on it!

Here's hoping you and yours have a very merry mixbus and a happy AncientNoob!
.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Using my new Moon JJ4 fretless with my new Rumble 800!

 

[oysterphish]

What does a Rumble 500c (or any Rumble) sound like through house speakers when you're in the audience? Does it sound anything like it does through headphones, or does it sound like the noise coming from the actual rumble speakers themselves? Make sense? I do not like the sound produced through headphones. I feel like so much articulation and other important tones get lost. Pops, slaps, fretboard taps all feel like they get lost when practicing through a good headset. Also sounds like the bass is colored with a chorus effect. Just curious, as I've not heard myself or anyone else play one running from FOH.
Is this why amps get mic'd? Thanks for help with rookie questions.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

What does a Rumble 500c (or any Rumble) sound like through house speakers when you're in the audience? Does it sound anything like it does through headphones, or does it sound like the noise coming from the actual rumble speakers themselves? Make sense? I do not like the sound produced through headphones. I feel like so much articulation and other important tones get lost. Pops, slaps, fretboard taps all feel like they get lost when practicing through a good headset. Also sounds like the bass is colored with a chorus effect. Just curious, as I've not heard myself or anyone else play one running from FOH.
Is this why amps get mic'd? Thanks for help with rookie questions.

The one time I’ve tried running my R100 through the house PA (a great system), it sounded very similar, just louder.

 

[G-Dog]

What does a Rumble 500c (or any Rumble) sound like through house speakers when you're in the audience? ... ... ...

It depends on 1. the physical quality of the house system, and B. the audio quality of the settings on said house system. Both can vary considerably with every ... uh, ... house. And then there are audience qualities, both physical and audio, to consider; another wide ranging variable. It's very important to narrow the variables to get a concise result. ​

... ... ... Does it sound anything like it does through headphones, or does it sound like the noise coming from the actual rumble speakers themselves? Make sense? ... ... ...

See A. above. Yes, it certainly can, and at least sometimes does. But, no, it often doesn't, either. But, it doesn't make sense that the tone you have carefully crafted coming from the Rumble speakers should be called noise! Not by the crafter, at least. Sounds like you prefer the headphone sound, which can be harder to replicate in an open air environment.​

... ... ... I do not like the sound produced through headphones. I feel like so much articulation and other important tones get lost. Pops, slaps, fretboard taps all feel like they get lost when practicing through a good headset. Also sounds like the bass is colored with a chorus effect. Just curious, as I've not heard myself or anyone else play one running from FOH. ... ... ...

Oops! I must have misunderstood. So, you prefer a bad headset?!? Well, the R500c does have a cab sim in the headphone circuit, per the block diagram. But I believe it is intended to enhance or improve the headphone sound. To clarify, are you saying that the losses you hear in the headphone sound, which you don't like, is in contrast to the "noise" coming from the Rumble speakers? I'm so confused. ​

... ... ... Is this why amps get mic'd? Thanks for help with rookie questions.

Originally, amps were mic'd because there was no other way to get a strong, clean amp signal into an FOH or recording device. But, being acoustically sensitive, several such microphones in a live band performance presented certain challenges, including feedback, crosstalk and balance. The advent of XLR Outs on modern amps, and mixing boards, helped relieve many of these challenges and to reinforce, and/or record, much cleaner signals.

However, like many innovations, not everyone celebrates using the XLR Out on an amp, instead touting the old school method of mic'ing, even these days. It's somewhat like exclusively accepting only tubes, or only certain types of tubes, in deference to all solid state in amps and other devices. Like much else in music, it's very subjective as to "what's best" versus what's practical/easier/expedient.

Well, that's my $0.02. I hope it helps.
.​

 

[GonePlaid]

It depends on 1. the physical quality of the house system, and B. the audio quality of the settings on said house system. Both can vary considerably with every ... uh, ... house. And then there are audience qualities, both physical and audio, to consider; another wide ranging variable. It's very important to narrow the variables to get a concise result. ​

See A. above. Yes, it certainly can, and at least sometimes does. But, no, it often doesn't, either. But, it doesn't make sense that the tone you have carefully crafted coming from the Rumble speakers should be called noise! Not by the crafter, at least. Sounds like you prefer the headphone sound, which can be harder to replicate in an open air environment.​

Oops! I must have misunderstood. So, you prefer a bad headset?!? Well, the R500c does have a cab sim in the headphone circuit, per the block diagram. But I believe it is intended to enhance or improve the headphone sound. To clarify, are you saying that the losses you hear in the headphone sound, which you don't like, is in contrast to the "noise" coming from the Rumble speakers? I'm so confused. ​

Originally, amps were mic'd because there was no other way to get a strong, clean amp signal into an FOH or recording device. But, being acoustically sensitive, several such microphones in a live band performance presented certain challenges, including feedback, crosstalk and balance. The advent of XLR Outs on modern amps, and mixing boards, helped relieve many of these challenges and to reinforce, and/or record, much cleaner signals.

However, like many innovations, not everyone celebrates using the XLR Out on an amp, instead touting the old school method of mic'ing, even these days. It's somewhat like exclusively accepting only tubes, or only certain types of tubes, in deference to all solid state in amps and other devices. Like much else in music, it's very subjective as to "what's best" versus what's practical/easier/expedient.

Well, that's my $0.02. I hope it helps.
.​

Unlike you, I don't get confused. I stay confused.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Hey team, just wondering if anybody knows whether or not these Rumbles have any built in HPF or the like? The rehearsal space is getting used for a wee party in a few days, and we are likely to play some music during the evening, which will likely necessitate a small bump in volume for my R40. Which in turn means I'll be running the amp near the upper end of its volume threshold, as it's already near there without a bunch of extra bodies/meat baffles to absorb more sound.

I'll likely be running my pedals, and those include an envelope filter, as well as an octave/synth, which can each get kind of absurd in the super low frequencies, never mind pairing them up! Don't want to risk damaging the amp with anything too intense going on below, like, 40hz, and those two pedals in particular can run away from you if not careful. If it turns out the amp doesn't actually have any built in HPF capability, I'll just have to be super judicious with using them at all. And I figured if I'd be able to get this answered anywhere, it'd be right here in this Club! So yeah... any HPF (or some other built-in speaker protection) on board these Rumbles?

 

[CharleyJackson]

Here’s my (latest*) Rumble 200 atop the R115. This setup is powerful/full/loud enough for an outdoor urban street fair type gig, campus auditorium, etc without PA support. Tone wise, I am not really happy with what the controls offer but it is a learning process for now. I do know it is in a breaking in period. Things can change down the line - Bringing in pedals, swapping pickups, changing basses, etc. I’m really going to give this R200 a long chance.

The journey started just before Thanksgiving.
1) ordered a Rumble 500, but it was delivered late due to snafus, delays, etc
2) Rumble 200s came on sale at $347.00! (Sweetwater) Ordered one.
3) Rumble 500 arrives, and I promptly send it back unopened.
4) Rumble 200 arrives, but the fan noise and sssshhhhh sound coming from amp makes it unusable for me. I do have one practice session with it (loud enough!), and return it the next morning.
5) Second Rumble 200 arrives and this one is quiet and tame. Hook it up to my R-115 and it is a go. The combo (w/o the extension) is very adequate playing with heavy handed drummer and loud guitarist. A second guitarist should be coming back from vacation soon. The combo by itself will not have any problems power wise.

Merry Christmas, and…
RUMBLE ON !

 

[MadJack]

Here’s my (latest*) Rumble 200 atop the R115. This setup is powerful/full/loud enough for an outdoor urban street fair type gig, campus auditorium, etc without PA support. Tone wise, I am not really happy with what the controls offer but it is a learning process for now. I do know it is in a breaking in period. Things can change down the line - Bringing in pedals, swapping pickups, changing basses, etc. I’m really going to give this R200 a long chance.

The journey started just before Thanksgiving.
1) ordered a Rumble 500, but it was delivered late due to snafus, delays, etc
2) Rumble 200s came on sale at $347.00! (Sweetwater) Ordered one.
3) Rumble 500 arrives, and I promptly send it back unopened.
4) Rumble 200 arrives, but the fan noise and sssshhhhh sound coming from amp makes it unusable for me. I do have one practice session with it (loud enough!), and return it the next morning.
5) Second Rumble 200 arrives and this one is quiet and tame. Hook it up to my R-115 and it is a go. The combo (w/o the extension) is very adequate playing with heavy handed drummer and loud guitarist. A second guitarist should be coming back from vacation soon. The combo by itself will not have any problems power wise.

Merry Christmas, and…
RUMBLE ON !View attachment 4909322

I struggled with the tone of my R40 until I discovered the true flat settings on the EQ to be approximately 10-2-2-10 (Bass, Low-Mid, Hi-Mid, Treble). Once I started there, I only needed minor tweaking to taste.
Fender Rumble 500 Frequencies | TalkBass.com

 

[WI Short Scaler]

What does a Rumble 500c (or any Rumble) sound like through house speakers when you're in the audience? Does it sound anything like it does through headphones, or does it sound like the noise coming from the actual rumble speakers themselves? Make sense? I do not like the sound produced through headphones. I feel like so much articulation and other important tones get lost. Pops, slaps, fretboard taps all feel like they get lost when practicing through a good headset. Also sounds like the bass is colored with a chorus effect. Just curious, as I've not heard myself or anyone else play one running from FOH.
Is this why amps get mic'd? Thanks for help with rookie questions.

Honestly, I've never used the headphone jack on either of the Rumbles I have/had. I originally had a 500 to be heard over a drummer who didn't understand dynamics but now in our guitar/bass/cajon lineup I went down to a 100.

No expert here but in my experience the FOH can color the sound in a hundred different ways through EQ and built in effects. If you get a sound you like from the Rumble you should be able to reliably replicate that through the FOH system using the DI. I do all I can to eliminate mics in our system and use DI on both guitarist and my amp, but that means some EQ'ing on the guitar amp.

If you scroll through the past couple pages you'll see a discussion I started using the DI from my Rumble 100. Now that I have that figured out I'm even happier with the amp.

Not sure if any of this is helpful or not.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Merry Christmas to all the helpful Rumble club members! I appreciate the helpful suggestions and advice that I got to my situation with the Rumble 100. Love the amp and happy I can get what I want out of it now.

 

[G-Dog]

Hey team, just wondering if anybody knows whether or not these Rumbles have any built in HPF or the like? The rehearsal space is getting used for a wee party in a few days, and we are likely to play some music during the evening, which will likely necessitate a small bump in volume for my R40. Which in turn means I'll be running the amp near the upper end of its volume threshold, as it's already near there without a bunch of extra bodies/meat baffles to absorb more sound.

I'll likely be running my pedals, and those include an envelope filter, as well as an octave/synth, which can each get kind of absurd in the super low frequencies, never mind pairing them up! Don't want to risk damaging the amp with anything too intense going on below, like, 40hz, and those two pedals in particular can run away from you if not careful. If it turns out the amp doesn't actually have any built in HPF capability, I'll just have to be super judicious with using them at all. And I figured if I'd be able to get this answered anywhere, it'd be right here in this Club! So yeah... any HPF (or some other built-in speaker protection) on board these Rumbles?

Yep, slop, according to the block diagram, the R40 thru R500 has a Second Order HPF right before the Delta-Comp circuit. Here are the links in your Rumble Club Wiki page's Rumble Talks section on this subject:

Fender Rumbles Have a Built-in HPF(High Pass Filter)?

Effect of External HPF/LPF on Rumble's Built-in HPF?​

I hope this helps.
.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Yep, slop, according to the block diagram, the R40 thru R500 has a Second Order HPF right before the Delta-Comp circuit. Here are the links in your Rumble Club Wiki page's Rumble Talks section on this subject:

Fender Rumbles Have a Built-in HPF(High Pass Filter)?

Effect of External HPF/LPF on Rumble's Built-in HPF?​

I hope this helps.
.

Most definitely; many thanks!

It doesn't seem like there's definitive info on *where* the roll off begins, but the fact there is one in there is nice to know regardless.

 

[G-Dog]

... ... It doesn't seem like there's definitive info on *where* the roll off begins, but the fact there is one in there is nice to know regardless.

That's right. We haven't heard from anyone who's used an adjustable external HPF to find the setting of the internal HPF, as described in that second link. It should be easy to do, yet here we are, still in the dark, all these years later. (hint, hint)

Effect of External HPF/LPF on Rumble's Built-in HPF?
.​

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I struggled with the tone of my R40 until I discovered the true flat settings on the EQ to be approximately 10-2-2-10 (Bass, Low-Mid, Hi-Mid, Treble). Once I started there, I only needed minor tweaking to taste.
Fender Rumble 500 Frequencies | TalkBass.com

THIS!
Start with the EQ set this way, and the three tone switches on the left full off. Dial in the best you can with your bass, then play with the amp. Start without the pedalboard; add that once the tone is the best you can get with just bass and amp (unless something on your board is integral to your tone). Also, try it with the extension speaker as well as without. It affects tone even more than volume.
Maybe you know all this, but not everyone does.

 

[oysterphish]

Honestly, I've never used the headphone jack on either of the Rumbles I have/had. I originally had a 500 to be heard over a drummer who didn't understand dynamics but now in our guitar/bass/cajon lineup I went down to a 100.

No expert here but in my experience the FOH can color the sound in a hundred different ways through EQ and built in effects. If you get a sound you like from the Rumble you should be able to reliably replicate that through the FOH system using the DI. I do all I can to eliminate mics in our system and use DI on both guitarist and my amp, but that means some EQ'ing on the guitar amp.

If you scroll through the past couple pages you'll see a discussion I started using the DI from my Rumble 100. Now that I have that figured out I'm even happier with the amp.

Not sure if any of this is helpful or not.

Do you have a link to where you talked about DI'ing your 100? Thanks for the info!

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Do you have a link to where you talked about DI'ing your 100? Thanks for the info!

See if this link works. If it doesn't I asked the question first on page 2618 here.

Fender Rumble Club