Fender Rumble Club

[G-Dog]

I have just joined this club it seems. I bought a rumble 100 v3 from Sweetwater and got it yesterday. I was coming from a 1x8 orange crush 25 so this is like night and day over that. That 12 inch speaker sounds so sweet. So far haven't turned it up at all since everyone is home for break still but I'm very pleased. I'm using a sans amp for drive / eq etc. and have left everything on the amp very neutral. So far it seems like the "vintage" voicing pairs well with this and my jazz bass. I haven't played the Rick through it yet but both basses sound pretty similar in my hands.

As a bonus, it weighs less than the 1x8. I don't know how they did it. My days of having a big 4x10 and legit amp are long over but this feels like a great all-around option for practicing solo plus maybe jams and small gigs.

Yes, you have, bary! @barooo, you are now member #1713 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.

So, bar, how 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!
.​

 

[G-Dog]

HELP! The preamp in my 500c quit, the power amp works when I go from fx send on my Hartke head to FX return on the 500c, but I don’t have any control over tone or volume using the preamp on my Hartke, it’s just dead flat and one volume. For comparison, I did the same set up with a borrowed Makbass head with the same result, even extreme EQ settings on the preamp don’t change the tone at all. Am I missing something? Also, I apologize if I’m posting in the wrong place

I assume the Master control is not all the way down.
First, if you have the Overdrive button pushed down but both knobs are at zero, the preamp is muted. Make sure that's not the case.
If that's not it, plug a cable (something you'd use on a pedalboard or a spare bass cable) into the Send & Return jacks on the Rumble. Does it work then? If not, unplug/plug each end of the cable in a few times. If it works, the switch built into the Return jack is bad and you'll need to leave the cable plugged in.
If it doesn't work, did you buy the amp new? If it's still in warranty, contact the dealer or fender.

Thanks for the reply, I’ve already done all of the above, the preamp board has failed, Fender doesn’t service these amps and parts aren’t available as far as I can tell. I’m trying to use the power amp with another preamp, and it almost works, but I have no control over tone or volume with another preamp. If I plug my rumble 100 fx send into the 500 fx return I have full control from the rumble 100, with any amp that’s not a rumble I get no control. Do rumbles have a specific fx loop slave/master setup that is proprietary??

Fender has a very rational FX loop, it is just before the preamp. I can only assume your other amps have FX loops early in the preamp.
It does sound like your preamp board has failed. Is the combo out of warranty? Because if it's under warranty, they are legally obligated to provide parts.

Out of warranty, yes

Have you talked to a Fender repair shop? Because Fender still makes the amps, so they have preamps and an authorized shop should be able to get them.

In the short term, you could consider throwing a pedal (like a SansAmp, or EQ pedal) inline with your bass, then go into the FX input.

Obviously not a long-term solution, but it would give you both volume & EQ options without having to run a whole 'nother amp into your 500, until you can get the situation sorted.

Sorry to be late to the "party.". And with nothing more to add, at that, really.

Jac, Fender does have parts available, but only to Authorized Fender Service Centers. It's worth getting a repair estimate from one of them.
.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yes, you have, bary! @barooo, you are now member #1713 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.

So, bar, how 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!
.​

And we wouldn't say no to a photo, whether the amp is at home or loose in the wild!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

In the short term, you could consider throwing a pedal (like a SansAmp, or EQ pedal) inline with your bass, then go into the FX input.

Obviously not a long-term solution, but it would give you both volume & EQ options without having to run a whole 'nother amp into your 500, until you can get the situation sorted.

Good point, but I'd definitely go for a preamp (ro overdrive) capable of a hot signal. The 100 PA seems to want a hot input. Maxed out, my Super 800 Plus won't drive my Rumble PA as loud as it will (toned down a good bit) into the preamp input.

 

[stingray69]

Good point, but I'd definitely go for a preamp (ro overdrive) capable of a hot signal. The 100 PA seems to want a hot input. Maxed out, my Super 800 Plus won't drive my Rumble PA as loud as it will (toned down a good bit) into the preamp input.

That works too -even better, but I figured anything capable of a few decibels over unity gain would suffice for an inexpensive, short term solution as a suggestion. Some EQ pedals can get over 15+ db or more over unity gain.

If this might turn into a long-term solution, then absolutely - I would be be reaching for a full fledged outboard preamp pedal or something along those lines.

 

[Caesah]

I became a new owner of a Fender Rumble 40 late last week. Pretty new to bass as well (even though I bought my bass almost 3 years ago). I really like the way this amp sounds as it is, but having read AstroSonic's posts and not being able to leave well enough alone, I will likely be modding my perfectly fine amp that will never see outside of my bedroom.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That works too -even better, but I figured anything capable of a few decibels over unity gain would suffice for an inexpensive, short term solution as a suggestion. Some EQ pedals can get over 15+ db or more over unity gain.

If this might turn into a long-term solution, then absolutely - I would be be reaching for a full fledged outboard preamp pedal or something along those lines.

Good point! I didn't think about cranking the gain up on an EQ.

 

[G-Dog]

I became a new owner of a Fender Rumble 40 late last week. Pretty new to bass as well (even though I bought my bass almost 3 years ago). I really like the way this amp sounds as it is, but having read AstroSonic's posts and not being able to leave well enough alone, I will likely be modding my perfectly fine amp that will never see outside of my bedroom.

Hail, Caesah! @Caesah, you are now member #1714 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.

Say, Caes, if you got it new, I'd highly recommend leaving off any mods, since they will void the warranty. You don't want to risk losing out on a possible needed warranty repair or replacement later due to needlessly "modding your perfectly fine amp."

So, how about telling us a bit about yourself, Caes, 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!
.​

 

[MadJack]

I became a new owner of a Fender Rumble 40 late last week. Pretty new to bass as well (even though I bought my bass almost 3 years ago). I really like the way this amp sounds as it is, but having read AstroSonic's posts and not being able to leave well enough alone, I will likely be modding my perfectly fine amp that will never see outside of my bedroom.

I did mod mine with the Dayton Audio PA255-8 as sonic described. I had the speaker and some Poly-Fil quilt batting. I only had to order the port tubes. All I can say about it is it sounds awesome! Very much a blues-rock sound and almost not speaker distortion. I tried the Eminence Basslite S2010 too. It sounds like the stock speaker, but with "MORE!" It sounds like the stock speaker, but with a fatter tone and more volume. For my taste, the Dayton was the better choice. The S2010 was an improvement too, but I just liked the Dayton better.

But, before you go modding, remember what @G-Dog said, make sure everything is right, because you will void the warranty. I got mine on sale for a great price and I waited a few month of playing before I did any mod work. If anything goes wrong now, I have to pay for the repairs.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I did mod mine with the Dayton Audio PA255-8 as sonic described. I had the speaker and some Poly-Fil quilt batting. I only had to order the port tubes. All I can say about it is it sounds awesome! Very much a blues-rock sound and almost not speaker distortion. I tried the Eminence Basslite S2010 too. It sounds like the stock speaker, but with "MORE!" It sounds like the stock speaker, but with a fatter tone and more volume. For my taste, the Dayton was the better choice. The S2010 was an improvement too, but I just liked the Dayton better.

But, before you go modding, remember what @G-Dog said, make sure everything is right, because you will void the warranty. I got mine on sale for a great price and I waited a few month of playing before I did any mod work. If anything goes wrong now, I have to pay for the repairs.

Can you describe the differences between speakers more? Or if you have elsewhere, point us to that?

 

[MadJack]

Can you describe the differences between speakers more? Or if you have elsewhere, point us to that?

AstroSonic's descriptions are pretty accurate. The Dayton is a deeper, fuller tone, slightly louder than stock and capable to go nearly to full volume without speaker distortion. It does the warmer/darker driven tone better. Tones like you would want for a Blue-Rock or Classic Rock sounds.

The S2010 is a little more neutral sounding, much like the stock speaker, but is noticeably fuller sounding and louder. It too can be pushed to nearly full volume with little to no speaker distortion.

As I've said, I preferred the Dayton for it's more rock or blues driven sound. If your after a more jazz, acoustic or more all around sound, then the Eminence is the way to go.

 

[Bong Bong]

RUMBLE 40 DOES THE JOB !
I recently relocated to a mountainous regional area an hour from the city. I needed a lightweight practice amp that performs and it does. At the first rehearsal , the drummer ( ex touring pro ) , who used to own two music shops , couldn’t believe the power to weight ratio.

 

[John Stephen]

Yes indeed the R40 is an incredible specimen. My music friends can't believe how loud it is given how light it is.

 

[RedVee]

RUMBLE 40 DOES THE JOB !
I recently relocated to a mountainous regional area an hour from the city. I needed a lightweight practice amp that performs and it does. At the first rehearsal , the drummer ( ex touring pro ) , who used to own two music shops , couldn’t believe the power to weight ratio.

Are you from Bowral?

 

[Bong Bong]

Are you from Bowral?

Campbelltown NSW , but Bowral & Mittagong were favourite haunts.
Now in SE Qld

 

[Miles_ONeal]

AstroSonic's descriptions are pretty accurate. The Dayton is a deeper, fuller tone, slightly louder than stock and capable to go nearly to full volume without speaker distortion. It does the warmer/darker driven tone better. Tones like you would want for a Blue-Rock or Classic Rock sounds.

The S2010 is a little more neutral sounding, much like the stock speaker, but is noticeably fuller sounding and louder. It too can be pushed to nearly full volume with little to no speaker distortion.

As I've said, I preferred the Dayton for it's more rock or blues driven sound. If your after a more jazz, acoustic or more all around sound, then the Eminence is the way to go.

Thanks. Were they drop-ins or were the mounting holes slightly off?

 

[RedVee]

Campbelltown NSW , but Bowral & Mittagong were favourite haunts.
Now in SE Qld

Aha, I’m in Campbelltown for the last 30 odd years. Bong Bong used to be a very liquid race meeting but they cracked down on that some years ago

 

[MadJack]

Thanks. Were they drop-ins or were the mounting holes slightly off?

Drop in. Just do as AstroSonic described for the cab lining and the ports.

 

[Bong Bong]

Aha, I’m in Campbelltown for the last 30 odd years. Bong Bong used to be a very liquid race meeting but they cracked down on that some years ago

When the kids were young we’d check out the surrounding picnic spots and in later years me & Mrs would spend odd winter weekend checking out pubs / restaurants

 

[Emerson Mounger]

Greetings and salutations! First time poster here. Just sharing a pic of my relatively new Rumble 40. I love it so much!