Fender Rumble Club

[CharleyJackson]

Jammed with some new music friends today. Drummer, guitar (w Fender Princeton), and singer. I played through a Rumble 25 furnished by the guitarist. So true that it is wholly inadequate with that 8”(?) speaker. We were playing some outlaw country, some blues, some laid back J.J.Cale, etc.

I made it through with the Rumble 25 given that all the players kept it down to hear the bass and we’re all “grown ups” . The way I had my Precision setup, and given the material I sort of played and sounded like Charlie McCoy from Dylan’s John Wesley Harding album. I tried to keep the speaker farts at a minimum through combination of settings and touch.

I also have a Fender BXR Twenty Five that is quite good as a low volume practice amp. It beats the Rumble 25 by miles and miles. Not only because it has a 10” speaker but because the BXR can put out a much better tone overall.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

Did a gig tonight(5/18)at a VFW. 1967 NR T-Bird w/#2814 EBCFs>R200c. Sounded choice, but the 200c was a little much for the room. R100 next time.

We had a request for "Start Me Up", which we'd never played B4, but one of the guitarists knew the words, called the key(E, FWIW), and away we went. BTW, I like maybe 5 "Stones" songs and this ain't one of them, but I've heard it many times. I guarantee no one in the crowd had any idea it was the first time we played it. Got a nice tip from the requester.

Re tip jars...

I spent a lot of time in New Orleans back in the '80s when I was in the oil & gas business (Amoco). I always stayed at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the Quarter and got to "know" many of the street "artists" on Bourbon St. One was a mime, totaled dressed and made up in silver, who would set out his tip box, stand behind it motionless and wait for someone to tip him, then he'd do his shtick. I never saw anyone go near him. I think his biggest problem was his seed money in the tip box. It was a perfectly aligned stack of bills, making it obvious to anyone that he'd placed them there himself. Peeps walking by and tossing in a buck aren't going to have it land perfectly on top of the other tips. Oh, and no coins. He wanted bills. Knucklehead.

 

[G-Dog]

Jammed with some new music friends today. Drummer, guitar (w Fender Princeton), and singer. I played through a Rumble 25 furnished by the guitarist. So true that it is wholly inadequate with that 8”(?) speaker. We were playing some outlaw country, some blues, some laid back J.J.Cale, etc.

I made it through with the Rumble 25 given that all the players kept it down to hear the bass and we’re all “grown ups” . The way I had my Precision setup, and given the material I sort of played and sounded like Charlie McCoy from Dylan’s John Wesley Harding album. I tried to keep the speaker farts at a minimum through combination of settings and touch.

I also have a Fender BXR Twenty Five that is quite good as a low volume practice amp. It beats the Rumble 25 by miles and miles. Not only because it has a 10” speaker but because the BXR can put out a much better tone overall.

Shoulda tooken your Yammy head and Rumble 115 cab, Chuck! That woulda showed 'em.
.

 

[JC BASS 91]

Been using my Rumble 500 combo for live work this past year and a half and absolutely love it. The weight most of all! It is plenty loud enough to be heard over the rest of the band and it doesn't make my back hurt when I load in and out.

My only regret about it is that had I known they were about to launch the Rumble 800 combo, I would have held off and bought the 800 instead. Better to have the power and not need it, right? But, even so, this 500 is more than enough for what I need!

 

[G-Dog]

Did a gig tonight(5/18)at a VFW. ... ... We had a request for "Start Me Up", which we'd never played B4, but one of the guitarists knew the words, called the key(E, FWIW), and away we went. BTW, I like maybe 5 "Stones" songs and this ain't one of them, but I've heard it many times. I guarantee no one in the crowd had any idea it was the first time we played it. Got a nice tip from the requester.

Now that's a very nice situation to be in. Seasoned musicians all! I've only run into that a few times and it can be thrilling, when it works. But, even if it doesn't, it can be a noble, and fun, effort! Congratulations, sir! All hail to thee!
.

 

[G-Dog]

Been using my Rumble 500 combo for live work this past year and a half and absolutely love it. The weight most of all! It is plenty loud enough to be heard over the rest of the band and it doesn't make my back hurt when I load in and out.

View attachment 5452432

My only regret about it is that had I known they were about to launch the Rumble 800 combo, I would have held off and bought the 800 instead. Better to have the power and not need it, right? But, even so, this 500 is more than enough for what I need!

Hola, 91! @JC BASS 91, you are now member #1761 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.

That's a great rig, JC! The Rumble 800 combo was announced around September '22. You must've got your 500 around then. And, as tempting as the 800 is, I've never run into a situation where my 10-year-old 500 combo hasn't been plenty and, with a 115 extension cab, sometimes way too much!

So, JC, 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!
.​

 

[JC BASS 91]

Hola, 91! @JC BASS 91, you are now member #1761 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.

That's a great rig, JC! The Rumble 800 combo was announced around September '22. You must've got your 500 around then. And, as tempting as the 800 is, I've never run into a situation where my 10-year-old 500 combo hasn't been plenty and, with a 115 extension cab, sometimes way too much!

So, JC, 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!
.​

Yeah, I got my 500 just a mere month before the 800 was announced. I was a bit irritated, but like I said, I have been more than pleased with the performance I've received from the 500.

I started my bass journey in the fall of 1990. Two friends decided we needed to form a band, and since I had wanted to take up bass for a couple of years already, I jumped at the excuse to finally get started. My first bass was a Hondo Fame Series Bassmaster (lovely bass to start with!) and my first amp was a Sunn Coliseum Lead guitar head run into a store brand 2x15" cabinet. Let me tell you, that was 300-watts of SUPER loud bass!

Over the years things changed and morphed. 10 years in, I began playing with a group of guys from work and we formed a band doing classic rock covers. My first amp had inadvertently gotten loaded on the wrong moving van when my parents and I parted ways (they went North and I went South). My mother, without asking, donated my amp to their church. When I contacted her to arrange getting it from them, she told me the news. She felt bad, so she sent me $750 to get me something to run with. I bought a Peavey FireBass 700 head and an Avatar 1x15 cabinet (a few months later I added an Avatar 2x10 to it as well). That got me through the next few years with that band.

I kind of left the music scene for a long while to raise my family. After my daughter graduated high school, I told my wife it was time to return to music, which she supported completely (she's my second wife and she had never seen me play live except on the worship team at church). As I am 'older' now, with back issues from a long career of IT work, the thought of hauling the 200+ pounds of gear to and from rehearsals and gigs made me cringe. Fortunately, class D amps were out there now, and neo drivers, making for some pretty dang awesome offerings.

My son had been in the school jazz band as a bass player, and the school had purchased a Rumble amp. Listening to him play through that, I really liked what I heard, so I began looking into the Rumble amps as an option for myself in my new music ventures. I wanted as much power as possible, and have loved the tone of 10" speakers, so the 500 combo was my choice. I have not been disappointed. It always sounds great and does what I need. The one time I played on a big festival stage, the direct out went to the board and all was well.

With a recent hearing loss due to a viral infection, that line out has worked to my benefit. I had gone to IEM for shows about 6 months ago, but had not run my bass or the guitar into them. With an almost total loss of hearing in my right ear, I now needed everything in the monitor, including my bass. No problem! The direct out goes to the board and feeds back into my IEM and I can hear everything I need to continue playing music!

So, that's me. Where I've been and where I am.

 

[G-Dog]

Yeah, I got my 500 just a mere month before the 800 was announced. I was a bit irritated, but like I said, I have been more than pleased with the performance I've received from the 500.

I started my bass journey in the fall of 1990. Two friends decided we needed to form a band, and since I had wanted to take up bass for a couple of years already, I jumped at the excuse to finally get started. My first bass was a Hondo Fame Series Bassmaster (lovely bass to start with!) and my first amp was a Sunn Coliseum Lead guitar head run into a store brand 2x15" cabinet. Let me tell you, that was 300-watts of SUPER loud bass!

Over the years things changed and morphed. 10 years in, I began playing with a group of guys from work and we formed a band doing classic rock covers. My first amp had inadvertently gotten loaded on the wrong moving van when my parents and I parted ways (they went North and I went South). My mother, without asking, donated my amp to their church. When I contacted her to arrange getting it from them, she told me the news. She felt bad, so she sent me $750 to get me something to run with. I bought a Peavey FireBass 700 head and an Avatar 1x15 cabinet (a few months later I added an Avatar 2x10 to it as well). That got me through the next few years with that band.

I kind of left the music scene for a long while to raise my family. After my daughter graduated high school, I told my wife it was time to return to music, which she supported completely (she's my second wife and she had never seen me play live except on the worship team at church). As I am 'older' now, with back issues from a long career of IT work, the thought of hauling the 200+ pounds of gear to and from rehearsals and gigs made me cringe. Fortunately, class D amps were out there now, and neo drivers, making for some pretty dang awesome offerings.

My son had been in the school jazz band as a bass player, and the school had purchased a Rumble amp. Listening to him play through that, I really liked what I heard, so I began looking into the Rumble amps as an option for myself in my new music ventures. I wanted as much power as possible, and have loved the tone of 10" speakers, so the 500 combo was my choice. I have not been disappointed. It always sounds great and does what I need. The one time I played on a big festival stage, the direct out went to the board and all was well.

With a recent hearing loss due to a viral infection, that line out has worked to my benefit. I had gone to IEM for shows about 6 months ago, but had not run my bass or the guitar into them. With an almost total loss of hearing in my right ear, I now needed everything in the monitor, including my bass. No problem! The direct out goes to the board and feeds back into my IEM and I can hear everything I need to continue playing music!

So, that's me. Where I've been and where I am.

Well, that's mighty fine for a young'un, JC. I've also had some mis-timed acquisitions like your 500 just before the 800 availability. But I daresay, in your case, you'll never miss the difference. The 800 is only marginally more powerful, if not louder. And there are some who prefer the sound of the ceramic speakers in the 500 over the 800's neos. So carry on with your Rumblin' self!
.

 

[SteveAG]

Did a gig tonight(5/18)at a VFW. 1967 NR T-Bird w/#2814 EBCFs>R200c. Sounded choice, but the 200c was a little much for the room. R100 next time.

We had a request for "Start Me Up", which we'd never played B4, but one of the guitarists knew the words, called the key(E, FWIW), and away we went. BTW, I like maybe 5 "Stones" songs and this ain't one of them, but I've heard it many times. I guarantee no one in the crowd had any idea it was the first time we played it. Got a nice tip from the requester.

I like the bass lines in:

Sympathy for The Devil
Under My Thumb
and the not so commercially successful
Fingerprint File

 

[RL5]

... We had a request for "Start Me Up", which we'd never played B4, but one of the guitarists knew the words, called the key(E, FWIW), and away we went.

At our gig Friday night, we had a request for a Triumph song. Not just any Triumph song, some obscure number. None of us even knew what the song was. We didn't play it. No tip from the woman that requested it.

(But it was a good gig at a pretty decent location, and we played one Stones song that we had never played before, something that only the die-hard Stones fans would know, called Jumpin' Jack Flash. )

 

[GonePlaid]

At our gig Friday night, we had a request for a Triumph song. Not just any Triumph song, some obscure number. None of us even knew what the song was. We didn't play it. No tip from the woman that requested it.

(But it was a good gig at a pretty decent location, and we played one Stones song that we had never played before, something that only the die-hard Stones fans would know, called Jumpin' Jack Flash. )

. Yeah. We do-mostly-60s/70s rock and country(X-overs)and, at another gig, into our second set, a lady asked me if we did any Ed Sheeran.
Uhh...no.
At yet another gig, a guy asked me if we could play "Unchained Melody". Now, I'm no Bobby Hatfield, but I know the words(sang harmony in a previous band), so I gave my standard answer: "Jeez! We haven't played that one for awhile, lemme check with the others"[we'd never played it]. I turned to the guys and asked them if they could play it in(wait a sec-find pitch)"G". They said yes, so we played it. Turned out it was the couple's anniversary and that had been their 'first dance' at their wedding reception. Many thanks-and a fat tip. Now a regular part of our repuhtwar...no, repahtwahr...no, song list.

 

[KindofBlues71]

I'm WAIT-ing!
.

For worse or worse-er, here's the R60 red light!

 

[GonePlaid]

For worse or worse-er, here's the R60 red light!

 

[CharleyJackson]

Everything is a matter of perception for the most part. Is the Rumble 25 (and the other smaller one) inadequate for anything but for very hush and personal practice? Yes. It is a true fact from a gigging bass player’s point of perception.

But here is something else. Was playing my Rumble 200 + an R115. Another bassist was present and wanted to try out my bass. I’m not particularly fond of the Rumble tone but he plays a few lines and says, “that’s not very powerful”. Having been around the block as a player a few times I had instantly noted his light touch playing style but not in a good way. That tells me a lot right there.

He has a 900 watt brand-x rig there (we share the space) and I’ve played it. Loud, but sounds like ****on-a-shingle to me. And certainly not worth what he paid for it.

As far as his remark I wouldn’t dispute it (and I didn’t) but it depends on what we’re looking for in our rigs, isn’t it? I felt my rather humble Rumble rig kicked his brand-x rig in the balls when we factor in the sound, the portability, the cost, and my perception.

Humble Rumble. Sort of a backhanded compliment I suppose.

 

[SoulReflection]

Everything is a matter of perception for the most part. Is the Rumble 25 (and the other smaller one) inadequate for anything but for very hush and personal practice? Yes. It is a true fact from a gigging bass player’s point of perception.

But here is something else. Was playing my Rumble 200 + an R115. Another bassist was present and wanted to try out my bass. I’m not particularly fond of the Rumble tone but he plays a few lines and says, “that’s not very powerful”. Having been around the block as a player a few times I had instantly noted his light touch playing style but not in a good way. That tells me a lot right there.

He has a 900 watt brand-x rig there (we share the space) and I’ve played it. Loud, but sounds like ****on-a-shingle to me. And certainly not worth what he paid for it.

As far as his remark I wouldn’t dispute it (and I didn’t) but it depends on what we’re looking for in our rigs, isn’t it? I felt my rather humble Rumble rig kicked his brand-x rig in the balls when we factor in the sound, the portability, the cost, and my perception.

Humble Rumble. Sort of a backhanded compliment I suppose.

Everyone's hearing is different (or bad in my case). Then there is one's preferences for bass tone.

So, I'm all for getting what sounds good to me. What others hear and prefer is up to them. I have been shocked many times by hearing what others think is great tone...

 

[Brians356]

@SteveAG,

A life-long non-musician friend (starting in grade school) asked me several years ago to name my five favorite Rolling Stones tunes. We listened to them a lot on his '57 Chevy wagon's 8-track player in HS, but I was never a huge Stones fan. More Led Zeppelin if I was forced to name a rock band. Anyway, here's the five I settled on after considerable reminiscing. Nothing in particular to do with bass parts. I'm sure few here will nod in agreement.

Street Fighting Man
Midnight Rambler
Monkey Man
Dead Flowers
Tumbling Dice
-

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Re tip jars...

I spent a lot of time in New Orleans back in the '80s when I was in the oil & gas business (Amoco). I always stayed at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the Quarter and got to "know" many of the street "artists" on Bourbon St. One was a mime, totaled dressed and made up in silver, who would set out his tip box, stand behind it motionless and wait for someone to tip him, then he'd do his shtick. I never saw anyone go near him. I think his biggest problem was his seed money in the tip box. It was a perfectly aligned stack of bills, making it obvious to anyone that he'd placed them there himself. Peeps walking by and tossing in a buck aren't going to have it land perfectly on top of the other tips. Oh, and no coins. He wanted bills. Knucklehead.

You've got to know your audience!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

@SteveAG,

A life-long non-musician friend (starting in grade school) asked me several years ago to name my five favorite Rolling Stones tunes. We listened to them a lot on his '57 Chevy wagon's 8-track player in HS, but I was never a huge Stones fan. More Led Zeppelin if I was forced to name a rock band. Anyway, here's the five I settled on after considerable reminiscing. Nothing in particular to do with bass parts. I'm sure few here will nod in agreement.

Street Fighting Man
Midnight Rambler
Monkey Man
Dead Flowers
Tumbling Dice
-

Midnight Rambler (esp. the live from Madison Square Garden version) and Dead Flowers are top tier for me, with Street Fighting Man not far behind. Lots of others. I'd be hard pressed to pick just five.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

For worse or worse-er, here's the R60 red light!

ROXXXXXXXanne! You don't have to turn on your red light!

 

[G-Dog]

At our gig Friday night, we ... ... played one Stones song that we had never played before, something that only the die-hard Stones fans would know, called Jumpin' Jack Flash. )

Uh huhuhuh! I git it. Sargasm, huh? Yup! Like that ain't one o' their best known songs, ya know, like ever! It's a gas, gas, gass-s-s-ss!​

. Yeah. We do-mostly-60s/70s rock and country(X-overs)and, at another ... ... gig, a guy asked me if we could play "Unchained Melody". Now, I'm no Bobby Hatfield, but I know the words ... ... so we played it. Turned out it was the couple's anniversary and that had been their 'first dance' at their wedding reception. Many thanks-and a fat tip. Now a regular part of our repuhtwar...no, repahtwahr...no, song list.

"Life is like a box o' choc-lits. You never know what you're gonna git" for takin' a chance, in this case. "God speed your" gigs, tips and musical enjoyment, to-o-oo .... you. ​

For worse or worse-er, here's the R60 red light!

I LOVE IT!!! Very funky!! (Room lights too bright. Amp too low on the floor, needed ampstand. But who's complaining?) Very very enjoyable!! Thank you, Kindof! Thankyewverymuch! [snarl]​

... ... Is the Rumble 25 (and the other smaller one) inadequate for anything but for very hush and personal practice? Yes. It is a true fact from a gigging bass player’s point of perception. ... ... ...

Well, yeah! The V1 Rumbles were only 15, 25 60 & 100 watts. Period! And clearly aimed at beginners as Fender's Value Line (not Pro Line at all, that's the Bassman) of products.

The V2 Rumbles were 15, 30, 75, 150 and [gasp] 350 watts with 150 & 350 heads to drive a 2x8" Neo cab, a 1x12" Neo cab or a 4x10" ceramic cab! It was a gamble, but they certainly took off from the sales rooms! That all led to the current line of best-selling V3 Rumbles 15, 25, 40, 100, 200 and 500 combos with 200 & 500 heads (now discontinued) and 1x12", 1x15", 2x10" and 4x10" all ceramic cabs. See the Rumble Talk on Rumble History for more details.

Then came the Rumble Stage 800 & Studio 40 3rd-gen modeling amps. Then the 2-ohm stable Rumble 800 HD head that eventually replaced both the 200 & 500 heads! Until finally, almost 2 years ago, came the latest Rumble 800 combo with Neo speakers!

So, the beginner Rumbles just took on a life of their own, by popular demand, into more and more pro-level gear. Giving us all the great choices we have today! ​

... ... ... Was playing my Rumble 200 + an R115. Another bassist ... wanted to try out my bass. ... he plays a few lines and says, “that’s not very powerful”. ... ... I had instantly noted his light touch playing style but not in a good way. ... ... ( He has a 900 watt brand-x rig ... ... certainly not worth what he paid for it. ) As far as his remark I wouldn’t dispute it ... it depends on what we’re looking for in our rigs, isn’t it? I felt my rather humble Rumble rig kicked his brand-x rig in the balls when we factor in the sound, the portability, the cost, and my perception. Humble Rumble. ... ... ...

I guess you each got what you're looking for, no? To each their own. Live and Let Die (carrying heavy gear). ​

Everyone's hearing is different ... ... I'm all for getting what sounds good to me. What others hear and prefer is up to them. I have been shocked many times by hearing what others think is great tone...

You never know what bias keeps someone from from making a good decision. Rumbles have no tubes! They're too lightweight to be "pro-level." They lack "this or that" single feature I just gotta have. They have "that or this" single feature I cannot stand! "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink/think." ​

... ... A life-long non-musician friend ... asked me several years ago to name my five favorite Rolling Stones tunes. We listened to them a lot ..., but I was never a huge Stones fan. ... ..., here's the five I settled on after considerable reminiscing. Nothing in particular to do with bass parts. I'm sure few here will nod in agreement.

Street Fighting Man
Midnight Rambler
Monkey Man
Dead Flowers
Tumbling Dice
-

[nodding in agreement] I'm not enough of a Stones fan to hear their songs from reading titles (like I sure do for Beatles songs). But I'm sure those are perfectly reasonable Stones' favorites. I've just never taken the time to listen to their work enough to pick out 5 favs. But, neither can I narrow down The Beatles catalog to just 5 favs, either.
.​