Fender Rumble Club

[G-Dog]

I have heard that the Fender Bassman has a true Fender tone stack and the Rumble does not.

Is this true and what are the differences? I know @G-Dog has both...

You are so correct. I had to dig a bit to get past all the tube amps but I found the solid state ones. One of them actually piqued my curiosity - the hybrid 500W Bassman head. Two tube pre and the power section Class D. Do you know anything about that one?

Well, there are all manner of things written about a "true Fender tone stack":

"What is a True Fender Tone Stack" Google Search​

But, IMHE, I find the difference to be a Vintage vs Modern "feel". The Vintage channel of my Bassman 500 is a very enjoyable passive cut-only 3-band EQ, with pull "Deep" on the Bass and pull "Bright" on the Treble. But, it just seems harder to get the tubes involved on this channel at lower volumes. It seems to take more volume than I sometimes want in order to get the tone that I always want.

I think my ears are more tuned to the modern "feel" of the active Overdrive channel on my Bassman 500 with the Gain controlling the preamp tubes' distortion and the flexibke sweepable Mid Frequency & Level, in addition to the "Deep" & "Bright". Or I'm just lazy and like getting the tubes warmer at lower volume this way. At practice levels I can really feel those tubes doing that thing they do!

And, perhaps it's the active 4-band EQ, with Overdrive, of my Rumble 500 that I like, too. Even if it doesn't have actual preamp tubes, like the Bassman 500 does, it does a fairly creditable job of emulating that tone. And at gig levels it's close enough for me!

I hope that helps you, Souly & Thump.
.

 

[SoulReflection]

Well, there are all manner of things written about a "true Fender tone stack":

"What is a True Fender Tone Stack" Google Search​

But, IMHE, I find the difference to be a Vintage vs Modern "feel". The Vintage channel of my Bassman 500 is a very enjoyable passive cut-only 3-band EQ, with pull "Deep" on the Bass and pull "Bright" on the Treble. But, it just seems harder to get the tubes involved on this channel at lower volumes. It seems to take more volume than I sometimes want in order to get the tone that I always want.

I think my ears are more tuned to the modern "feel" of the active Overdrive channel on my Bassman 500 with the Gain controlling the preamp tubes' distortion and the flexibke sweepable Mid Frequency & Level, in addition to the "Deep" & "Bright". Or I'm just lazy and like getting the tubes warmer at lower volume this way. At practice levels I can really feel those tubes doing that thing they do!

And, perhaps it's the active 4-band EQ, with Overdrive, of my Rumble 500 that I like, too. Even if it doesn't have actual preamp tubes, like the Bassman 500 does, it does a fairly creditable job of emulating that tone. And at gig levels it's close enough for me!

I hope that helps you, Souly & Thump.
.

Works for me, and thanks! I have a tube pedal with Fender tone stack coming in tomorrow. I will run it through my R100 and see what happens.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

You are so correct. I had to dig a bit to get past all the tube amps but I found the solid state ones. One of them actually piqued my curiosity - the hybrid 500W Bassman head. Two tube pre and the power section Class D. Do you know anything about that one?

As a matter of fact, I do. It is the head I use most and I really like it. I have a 100T, but the weight difference is significant. I'm happy enough with my 500 hybrid that I am considering selling my 100T.
I run it with either 1 or 2 Bassman 1x15 neo cabs, depending on venue.

 

[G-Dog]

Works for me, and thanks! I have a tube pedal with Fender tone stack coming in tomorrow. I will run it through my R100 and see what happens.

Which pedal is it?
.

 

[SoulReflection]

Which pedal is it?
.

PM Sent...

 

[Darrell Vachon]

Works for me, and thanks! I have a tube pedal with Fender tone stack coming in tomorrow. I will run it through my R100 and see what happens.

I'm looking for a pedal like that for when I use a backline. What are you getting?

 

[Darrell Vachon]

I'm looking for a pedal like that for when I use a backline. What are you getting?

Actually all I need is Rumble 500 or 800 head, lol. Not much FOH these days

 

[SoulReflection]

I'm looking for a pedal like that for when I use a backline. What are you getting?

 

[NDpeppers]

I have heard that the Fender Bassman has a true Fender tone stack and the Rumble does not.

Is this true and what are the differences? I know @G-Dog has both...

In the newer Bassman heads like the 500,800,etc I believe the Fender tone stack applies to only the Vintage channel

 

[GregT]

Well, I sold my Rumble 200 just now. From here on out it's down to one or two Rumble 100s depending on where I play. I still have the little Rumble 15 also.

 

[SouthPaul71]

Hi! Yesterday I got me a used Rumble 25 so I can have one living room amp for both my (Epiphone Casino) guitar and my (Hofner violin) bass. Saw some videos of guitarists who really appreciate the Rumble for their guitars. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing for me too, very clean Fender tone (I play It through a simple 6-band Joyo eq). The bass I play without the external eq, loving it very much, sure beats playing it through the Vox Pathfinder 10 guitar amp!
Can I be a member here?

 

[G-Dog]

Hi! Yesterday I got me a used Rumble 25 so I can have one living room amp for both my (Epiphone Casino) guitar and my (Hofner violin) bass. Saw some videos of guitarists who really appreciate the Rumble for their guitars. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing for me too, very clean Fender tone (I play It through a simple 6-band Joyo eq). The bass I play without the external eq, loving it very much, sure beats playing it through the Vox Pathfinder 10 guitar amp!
Can I be a member here?

Yes! Yes, you can, Southy. @SouthPaul71, you are now member #1679 in the Fender Rumble Club. Congratulations and welcome. Put that number in your TalkBass Signature for safe keeping. Then make yourself at home here and on your Rumble Club Wiki page, the repository of all Rumbling wisdom and knowledge.

Do I detect, by your choice of guitars there, that you might be a Beatles fan? I myself enjoy playing a John Lennon Signature EJ-160E and a Bass VI (Squier, not Fender) for my Beatles tributes.

So, how's about telling us a bit about yourself, such as your bass experience in general and your Rumble journey in particular? You'll fit right in here since we have all kinds. But we all love to . ... . ... . ... .

Rumble On!
.​

 

[Michael Jewels]

SouthPaul71, nice looking pair you have.

I love sunburst.

Mike

 

[GonePlaid]

Well, I sold my Rumble 200 just now. From here on out it's down to one or two Rumble 100s depending on where I play. I still have the little Rumble 15 also.

I'd prolly hafta take too muchofa loss to sell my 200c(1st Rumble-2015)and wouldn't even break even buying a 2nd 100...Even.

 

[John Stephen]

Hi! Yesterday I got me a used Rumble 25 so I can have one living room amp for both my (Epiphone Casino) guitar and my (Hofner violin) bass. Saw some videos of guitarists who really appreciate the Rumble for their guitars. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing for me too, very clean Fender tone (I play It through a simple 6-band Joyo eq). The bass I play without the external eq, loving it very much, sure beats playing it through the Vox Pathfinder 10 guitar amp!
Can I be a member here?

Yes indeed, SouthPaul, the Rumbles are excellent guitar amps. I use mine for guitar and bass, and it is equally great for both.

 

[DaveParker39]

Rumble sounded good tonight as always.
Funny though... the floor was weird and the amp kept drifting sideways when i would hold low notes. I think it was the floor of the room we were playing it... I eventually got it to stay.
It was kinda funny though. I'm like "why can't I hear myself" and the amp is facing almost directly to the side of the stage

 

[Deleted member 268085]

Hi! Yesterday I got me a used Rumble 25 so I can have one living room amp for both my (Epiphone Casino) guitar and my (Hofner violin) bass. Saw some videos of guitarists who really appreciate the Rumble for their guitars. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing for me too, very clean Fender tone (I play It through a simple 6-band Joyo eq). The bass I play without the external eq, loving it very much, sure beats playing it through the Vox Pathfinder 10 guitar amp!
Can I be a member here?

View attachment 5219704 View attachment 5219705

Howdy, southpaw Paul! Welcome. You're using a European outlet strip. Where are you from?

 

[SouthPaul71]

Yes! Yes, you can, Southy. @SouthPaul71, you are now member #1679 in the Fender Rumble Club. Congratulations and welcome. Put that number in your TalkBass Signature for safe keeping. Then make yourself at home here and on your Rumble Club Wiki page, the repository of all Rumbling wisdom and knowledge.

Do I detect, by your choice of guitars there, that you might be a Beatles fan? I myself enjoy playing a John Lennon Signature EJ-160E and a Bass VI (Squier, not Fender) for my Beatles tributes.

So, how's about telling us a bit about yourself, such as your bass experience in general and your Rumble journey in particular? You'll fit right in here since we have all kinds. But we all love to . ... . ... . ... .

Rumble On!
.​

Thank you all for your warm welcome. Glad to tell a little bit more. You are right in detecting that I am a Beatles fan. I was about 8 years old when I asked my mother if I could try to put an lp on the record player by myself. I picked one. It was Help! and it struck me like lightning. I must have played that record a thousand times in the weeks after that. Last year my family gave me a trip to Liverpool for my birthday. Visited all the places, took the tour into the childhood homes of Lennon and McCartney. Almost a religious experience.
Anyway, started out on the guitar at 16, formed a band with my brother on lead guitar and a friend who was willing to borrow money from his mom to buy a drum kit. We couldn’t find a bass player. When I heard that a guy was selling a lefty bass for cheap (I remember the brand name was Marina), I took the bus there and bought it. I took one for the team, as I really didn’t want to be a bass player and I sucked at it those first years. I quickly found out that on guitar I can sing and play together, but on bass I could only manage the root notes while singing. Still, the band of course suddenly sounded great as a three piece with bass.
After the Marina I have had a 1997 Samick p-bass copy (“design by Valley Arts Custom Shop”, a Harley Benton RB-414 Rickenbacker wannabe, too big, and an Ibanez Mikro bass, tiny, very comfortable, but doesn’t really feel like I’m playing a bass. The Hofner, which for some reason I tried to avoid for years, just fits me perfectly.
These days I identify as a bass player when I play in bands. Guitarist at home and for family and friends.
I recently finally switched from playing with a pick to playing with my thumb. It’s had a huge impact on the development of my technique and the quality of my sound. Really loving it. At last feeling like a real bass player. Figured I’d need a real bass amp for that. Went online. Got the Rumble.

 

[SouthPaul71]

Howdy, southpaw Paul! Welcome. You're using a European outlet strip. Where are you from?

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

 

[Deleted member 268085]

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

I did a lot of work in Amsterdam, but that's about it for the Netherlands. I've been through Schiphol too many times to count.

When the Beatles first toured the U.S. and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, my father wouldn't let me watch "those hippies". Years later, I caught him whistling a Beatles tune while listening to a Henry Mancini cover. That SOB was irony-free.