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Fender Rumble Club

I know of a few members of the Rumble Club that have swapped for the metal logos. I haven't heard/read of anyone having issues once the metal ones were mounted.

The flat logos are from '63 and other from early '60s. One or the other were used during the transition from Brown/Cream era amps into the early Blackface amps. The knobs on the Rumbles are the cupcake style knobs used on the same era amps. Later amps went to the numbered witch hat style amp knobs, about the same time as the went to the raised black and chrome logos.

Leo Fender was notorious for using up all of the old stock (sometime a while after the style change was made) before moving on to new style parts. This would include, Tolex, grill cloth, logos and knobs. The Rumble gear appear to be made to look like '63/'64, early Blackface transitional amps.
They're just using up the remainder of the pre-CBS coverings and knobs. :roflmao:
 
So I dug in even deeper to the Rumble Club, Added a 500 V3 Combo to the stable. It is in an effort to make my gigging life even easier.

Live setup now:
Bass on one shoulder in my Mono Bag w/ Mono Tick
Fender Rumble 500 Combo in one hand
Line 6 Helix LT in the backpack on the other shoulder
And my Hercules Quick Grip guitar stand in its own bag attached to either shoulder bag.

2 Instrument cables, 2 power cables and surge protector with a 20' lead. And my

Free hand to open doors.

Bigger shows I still have 2 Rumble 210 cabs to use and Rumble 500 Head. My Bass man 500 head and Bass man Pro 410 and a bunch of other amps I'm selling because I have too much. But these are keepers as I'm setting up my Helix to run primarily with the Rumbles. I think the Bass man is close enough to not have to make huge changes to the Helix, but if so, I'll just make a setting for the Bassman too.

I sold off damn near all my other pedals and went all in on the Helix. I'm making settings for my Bass and Guitars (Acoustic/electric/classical) as well. It was silly building up 3/4 boards when one multi will do all that. And I can save all the edibles and load them into a new unit if need be. So much easier.

Just wanted to share my update.
 
So I dug in even deeper to the Rumble Club, Added a 500 V3 Combo to the stable. It is in an effort to make my gigging life even easier.

Live setup now:
Bass on one shoulder in my Mono Bag w/ Mono Tick
Fender Rumble 500 Combo in one hand
Line 6 Helix LT in the backpack on the other shoulder
And my Hercules Quick Grip guitar stand in its own bag attached to either shoulder bag.

2 Instrument cables, 2 power cables and surge protector with a 20' lead. And my

Free hand to open doors.

Bigger shows I still have 2 Rumble 210 cabs to use and Rumble 500 Head. My Bass man 500 head and Bass man Pro 410 and a bunch of other amps I'm selling because I have too much. But these are keepers as I'm setting up my Helix to run primarily with the Rumbles. I think the Bass man is close enough to not have to make huge changes to the Helix, but if so, I'll just make a setting for the Bassman too.

I sold off damn near all my other pedals and went all in on the Helix. I'm making settings for my Bass and Guitars (Acoustic/electric/classical) as well. It was silly building up 3/4 boards when one multi will do all that. And I can save all the edibles and load them into a new unit if need be. So much easier.

Just wanted to share my update.
Seems ya still have room to carry something in your teeth... :roflmao:

Tim
 
NAD here at the monastery. I see a Deltalite 2512 transplant in this amp's future . . .

NAD Rumble 100v3.jpg

Hey, donnie! @donhank you are now member #1786 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.

I would just caution you against being too hasty for any warranty-voiding modifications during your first 2 years! After that, you're on your own.

So, how's about telling us a bit about yourself, donald, 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!
.
 
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Hey, donnie! @donhank you are now member #1786 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.

I would just caution you against being too hasty for any warranty-voiding modifications during your first 2 years! After that, you're on your own.

So, how's about telling us a bit about yourself, donald, 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 ...

Thank you kindly for the warm welcome!

I'm now in my sixth decade as a "weekend warrior" musician, primarily playing bass but also proficient with other "stringed nuisances." Most of what I play these days is in the americana / folk-rock / country vein.

My bandleader keeps a Rumble 100v3 in his project / rehearsal studio, so I was already quite familiar with the amp's features, strengths, and (TBH) weaknesses. I've been downsizing my gear for about two years now - picking up a Rumble was the obvious choice.

I appreciate your reminder about warranty voiding modifications. I've read the the couple of threads about swapping drivers . . . good stuff. I just happen to have a spare eight ohm Deltalite 2512 sitting around. Other than it has binding posts and the stock driver uses faston lugs, I think it will be an effortless (and easily reversible) swap.

Thanks again

Don Hankinson
 
I know of a few members of the Rumble Club that have swapped for the metal logos. I haven't heard/read of anyone having issues once the metal ones were mounted.

I have replaced the grilles and logos on both of my Rumbles (Rumble 200 and Rumble 100).

I've been disappointed in the "down market" appearance and feel of the stock grille cloth and the small plastic logos.
The stock cloth feels lightweight and "unsubstantial" to me, due to the looser weave.

Also, I just can't "unsee" the difference in the horizontal spacing of the block pattern (ten "columns" wide for the pro/traditional cloth in the space of nine "columns" for the Rumble cloth). And the Rumble cloth has a bit of a greenish cast to the color.

Amps of the quality of the v3 Rumbles deserve better!

I decided to make new grille frames for both amps out of birch plywood. The OEM-type grille cloth (I used cloth from StewMac) is stiffer, and I was afraid that the lightweight stock frames would warp when the heavier cloth was stretched and stapled.

The factory plywood used in the Rumble frames is an unusual thickness,14.5 mm (a hair over 9/16"). I couldn't find birch plywood that thickness, so I made a "sandwich" of 1/2'" and 1/8" birch plywood, which measures exactly 14.5mm thick!

Plywood.png


I cut out each frame as a single piece painted them flat black, and stretched and stapled the cloth to the frames.

Fit.png


Back.png


Both amps got new metal Fender logos.

Front.png


One detail left...
I don't like that long black tab of webbing that hangs off the lower edge of the Rumble amps, that allows the grille to be removed.
It always looks like the amp has its tongue hanging out!

I shortened the pull tabs on my grilles so they were slightly shorter than the width of the lower lip of the cab.
Nearly invisible, but still easy to pull off the grille using a small screwdriver as a handle.

Tab.png



I think both amps turned out great!
The new grilles make the amps look more "solid" and well-built to me, with a more professional vibe.

They look like "real" Fenders now!

Finished.jpg
 

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I have replaced the grilles and logos on both of my Rumbles (Rumble 200 and Rumble 100).

I've been disappointed in the "down market" appearance and feel of the stock grille cloth and the small plastic logos.
The stock cloth feels lightweight and "unsubstantial" to me, due to the looser weave.

Also, I just can't "unsee" the difference in the horizontal spacing of the block pattern (ten "columns" wide for the pro/traditional cloth in the space of nine "columns" for the Rumble cloth). And the Rumble cloth has a bit of a greenish cast to the color.

Amps of the quality of the v3 Rumbles deserve better!

I decided to make new grille frames for both amps out of birch plywood. The OEM-type grille cloth (I used cloth from StewMac) is stiffer, and I was afraid that the lightweight stock frames would warp when the heavier cloth was stretched and stapled.

The factory plywood used in the Rumble frames is an unusual thickness,14.5 mm (a hair over 9/16"). I couldn't find birch plywood that thickness, so I made a "sandwich" of 1/2'" and 1/8" birch plywood, which measures exactly 14.5mm thick!

View attachment 7013510

I cut out each frame as a single piece painted them flat black, and stretched and stapled the cloth to the frames.

View attachment 7013529

View attachment 7013516

Both amps got new metal Fender logos.

View attachment 7013520

One detail left...
I don't like that long black tab of webbing that hangs off the lower edge of the Rumble amps, that allows the grille to be removed.
It always looks like the amp has its tongue hanging out!

I shortened the pull tabs on my grilles so they were slightly shorter than the width of the lower lip of the cab.
Nearly invisible, but still easy to pull off the grille using a small screwdriver as a handle.

View attachment 7013525


I think both amps turned out great!
The new grilles make the amps look more "solid" and well-built to me, with a more professional vibe.

They look like "real" Fenders now!

View attachment 7013539
Yes they do!! Very, VERY nice! Well done!

Tim
 
I have replaced the grilles and logos on both of my Rumbles (Rumble 200 and Rumble 100).

I've been disappointed in the "down market" appearance and feel of the stock grille cloth and the small plastic logos.
The stock cloth feels lightweight and "unsubstantial" to me, due to the looser weave.

Also, I just can't "unsee" the difference in the horizontal spacing of the block pattern (ten "columns" wide for the pro/traditional cloth in the space of nine "columns" for the Rumble cloth). And the Rumble cloth has a bit of a greenish cast to the color.

Amps of the quality of the v3 Rumbles deserve better!

I decided to make new grille frames for both amps out of birch plywood. The OEM-type grille cloth (I used cloth from StewMac) is stiffer, and I was afraid that the lightweight stock frames would warp when the heavier cloth was stretched and stapled.

The factory plywood used in the Rumble frames is an unusual thickness,14.5 mm (a hair over 9/16"). I couldn't find birch plywood that thickness, so I made a "sandwich" of 1/2'" and 1/8" birch plywood, which measures exactly 14.5mm thick!

View attachment 7013510

I cut out each frame as a single piece painted them flat black, and stretched and stapled the cloth to the frames.

View attachment 7013529

View attachment 7013516

Both amps got new metal Fender logos.

View attachment 7013520

One detail left...
I don't like that long black tab of webbing that hangs off the lower edge of the Rumble amps, that allows the grille to be removed.
It always looks like the amp has its tongue hanging out!

I shortened the pull tabs on my grilles so they were slightly shorter than the width of the lower lip of the cab.
Nearly invisible, but still easy to pull off the grille using a small screwdriver as a handle.

View attachment 7013525


I think both amps turned out great!
The new grilles make the amps look more "solid" and well-built to me, with a more professional vibe.

They look like "real" Fenders now!

View attachment 7013539
My first reaction when I started reading your post was why bother? But after seeing it, I have to agree it indeed looks great! Bravo!
 
I just received my used Rumble 100 I ordered from a Guitar Center store last week. Nice box, nice padding. And it came with a power cord. I know when I got my "blemished" BG-250 from Musician's Friend it came without the cord. I asked MF about it and a rep told me, "You got what we got." Well, I had several spares.

Anyway I just tested it out and it works. It's not as powerful as my Bassman 150 so I have to adjust the volume a bit. I do like the simpler (not as many) controls as I'm more of a simplistic type of player. The controls on my 150 continue to confuse me. I still haven't solved the puzzle wrapped inside an enigma surrounding a gooey nugget interior of that 4-button semi-parametric EQ for the mids.

One question: When I engage the three shape buttons I don't hear much of a difference. Are they that subtle or maybe they are not working? I don't really need them as I have the four EQ controls on the amp itself plus a Zoom B1 Four I use.

OK, I lied. A second question: This is not a tiltback as with my other amps. Can I place it on the lowest level of an amp stand or would it rob me of too much bass? The cover band I am filling in for on bass does not run my bass amp into the P.A. at all. Why? Don't know. The band leader says he thinks what I have sounds OK. I do sometimes like the tiltback so I can hear my bass a little better ... but I don't want to rob that 12-inch speaker of its bass response. Plus I would think maybe the other members in the band can hear my bass playing better.
 
I just received my used Rumble 100 I ordered from a Guitar Center store last week. Nice box, nice padding. And it came with a power cord. I know when I got my "blemished" BG-250 from Musician's Friend it came without the cord. I asked MF about it and a rep told me, "You got what we got." Well, I had several spares.

Anyway I just tested it out and it works. It's not as powerful as my Bassman 150 so I have to adjust the volume a bit. I do like the simpler (not as many) controls as I'm more of a simplistic type of player. The controls on my 150 continue to confuse me. I still haven't solved the puzzle wrapped inside an enigma surrounding a gooey nugget interior of that 4-button semi-parametric EQ for the mids.

One question: When I engage the three shape buttons I don't hear much of a difference. Are they that subtle or maybe they are not working? I don't really need them as I have the four EQ controls on the amp itself plus a Zoom B1 Four I use.

OK, I lied. A second question: This is not a tiltback as with my other amps. Can I place it on the lowest level of an amp stand or would it rob me of too much bass? The cover band I am filling in for on bass does not run my bass amp into the P.A. at all. Why? Don't know. The band leader says he thinks what I have sounds OK. I do sometimes like the tiltback so I can hear my bass a little better ... but I don't want to rob that 12-inch speaker of its bass response. Plus I would think maybe the other members in the band can hear my bass playing better.
Congratulations!
  1. The difference between 100W and 150W is not that great. The Bassman may have more speaker surface area and/or more efficient speaker. Also, did you turn up the gain as well as the volume?
  2. The buttons are quite noticeable for me, especially vintage (more room-filling low end) and contour (scooped mids).
  3. Tilting it back works great. I have a tiltback stand[1] for use with a single amp for the same reasons. When I can, I take two amps, stack them and daisy chain them. That puts the second one about gut level, which is high enough. (I do this mainly because it fills out the sound a bit but getting a speaker up higher is a plus!

[1] @GonePlaid has an amp stand collection to rival most of our bass collections. Search for "stand" in this thread with him as author.
 
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Congratulations!
  1. The difference between 100W and 150W is not that great. The Bassman may have more speaker surface area and/or more efficient speaker. Also, did you turn up the gain as well as the volume?
  2. The buttons are quite noticeable for me, especially vintage (more room-filling low end) and contour (scooped mids).
  3. Tilting it back works great. I have a tiltback stand[1] for use with a single amp for the same reasons. When I can, I take two amps, stack them and daisy chain them. That puts the second one about gut level, which is high enough. (I do this mainly because it fills out the sound a bit but getting a speaker up higher is a plus!

[1] @GonePlaid has an amp stand collection to rival most of our bass collections. Search for "stand" in this thread with him as author.
Ya mean these?
1104181104-00.jpg
The AmpWedge(front)keeps the Rumble cab partially in contact with the floor. Or:
Ultimate Amp Stand
IMG_0179.jpg IMG_0180.jpg<folded for transport
 
Ya mean these?
View attachment 7015311
The AmpWedge(front)keeps the Rumble cab partially in contact with the floor. Or:
Ultimate Amp Stand
View attachment 7015313 View attachment 7015314<folded for transport
Only 4? I thought there were 5 or 6.

Based on Mike's recommendation, I bought the Ultimate. It works great for one Rumble. Unsurprisingly, stack two on it at your own risk. The tip top is a mic stand adapter. You can put a gooseneck or a boom on there to mic the amp - one less stand on stage. It's one of several things in my Hercules misc stuff bag.
 
Only 4? I thought there were 5 or 6.

Based on Mike's recommendation, I bought the Ultimate. It works great for one Rumble. Unsurprisingly, stack two on it at your own risk. The tip top is a mic stand adapter. You can put a gooseneck or a boom on there to mic the amp - one less stand on stage. It's one of several things in my Hercules misc stuff bag.
You can also extend that adapter to brace the upper amp. I leave it short so it'll fit in my smaller duffel for concert band. I left out the MudStand. It takes away too much bottom.
 
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Congratulations!
  1. The difference between 100W and 150W is not that great. The Bassman may have more speaker surface area and/or more efficient speaker. Also, did you turn up the gain as well as the volume?
  2. The buttons are quite noticeable for me, especially vintage (more room-filling low end) and contour (scooped mids).
  3. Tilting it back works great. I have a tiltback stand[1] for use with a single amp for the same reasons. When I can, I take two amps, stack them and daisy chain them. That puts the second one about gut level, which is high enough. (I do this mainly because it fills out the sound a bit but getting a speaker up higher is a plus!

[1] @GonePlaid has an amp stand collection to rival most of our bass collections. Search for "stand" in this thread with him as author.
I play both the 100 and the 150 with as low gain as possible ... essentially turned off. But it's enough for the gigs I play in as we really don't play all that loud. With my 150 I'm playing about 1/4 up on the master volume. However my bass has some quite powerful, although passive, pickups I've found. My backup bass has much quieter pickups but it's a backup bass, although there are a couple songs I want to use it in as it has a better treble response.

I will have to try those buttons again as I tested it at low volume. And if they work, they work. If they don't, they don't.

My stand is just the cheapie sold by Musician's Friend (Musician's Gear Deluxe Amp Stand). It has three slots for height but you can also bypass those slots and set it even lower, which is what I would use. I've used it on some quite heavier guitar amps such as my tube amp. However the 150 has this odd shape so it doesn't really fit all that well. It fits ... but I keep worrying it will fall out. Then again it's a tiltback so really no need to use an amp stand.

Imay try daisy chaining it to the 150 and see what happens.
 
I just received my used Rumble 100 ... ... It's not as powerful as my Bassman 150 so I have to adjust the volume a bit. ... ...
... ...
  1. The difference between 100W and 150W is not that great. The Bassman may have more speaker surface area and/or more efficient speaker. ... ...
I play both the 100 and the 150 with as low gain as possible ... essentially turned off. But it's enough for the gigs I play in as we really don't play all that loud. With my 150 I'm playing about 1/4 up on the master volume. ... ... the 150 has this odd shape ... ... I may try daisy chaining it [the 100] to the 150 and see what happens.

I used my 1x12" Bassman 150 combo for several years to great effect! I still love it, but it's just too heavy for my old age. But, I truly believe that some of that weight is actually its greatest secret weapon! I find that awkwardly angled cab, upon which it tilts back so perfectly, (and maybe even the cab material, too!) to also greatly enhance its volume and tone! I say that in comparison to it's big brother, my 1x15" Bassman 250 combo, without the awkward shape. Of course the 250 has inherently greater tone and volume, but it somehow seems to require more tweaking to get there than the 150 does.

2345300010v12_hi-bef82043135b39b30d22ee297e80f628.jpg


Nowadays, my Rumble 500 combo is my go-to if I need more than my Rumble Studio 40 combo. But I do miss the tiltback, especially when I don't take my tiltback stand.

So, I would expect that the Rumble 100 is going to require more ... uh, encouragement, shall we say, to measure up to the 150. Not just a higher volume level, but perhaps more Gain and very different EQ settings, as well. I recommend reading the Rumble manual, especially the controls descriptions, and don't be afraid to try the voicing buttons at volume to really experience the differences they can make. Also, checkout the Rumble Frequencies Graphs to see if those visual presentations help you to understand the controls better.

ORIG_18435.jpg


And, YES, by all means, DO try daisy-chaining the 100 & 150 together! An instrument cable from the FX Send of either one to the FX Return of the other is all it takes. Whichever one's tonal EQ you Send will bypass the other's pre-amp and be reproduced by both power amps! The Rumble's Volume is upstream of it's FX Loop, so it will not work if it receives the signal from the 150. The Bassman's volume is downstream of it's FX Loop, so it will still work if it receives the signal from the 100. Enjoy! :thumbsup:
 
I used my 1x12" Bassman 150 combo for several years to great effect! I still love it, but it's just too heavy for my old age. But, I truly believe that some of that weight is actually its greatest secret weapon! I find that awkwardly angled cab, upon which it tilts back so perfectly, (and maybe even the cab material, too!) to also greatly enhance its volume and tone! I say that in comparison to it's big brother, my 1x15" Bassman 250 combo, without the awkward shape. Of course the 250 has inherently greater tone and volume, but it somehow seems to require more tweaking to get there than the 150 does.

View attachment 7015463

Nowadays, my Rumble 500 combo is my go-to if I need more than my Rumble Studio 40 combo. But I do miss the tiltback, especially when I don't take my tiltback stand.

So, I would expect that the Rumble 100 is going to require more ... uh, encouragement, shall we say, to measure up to the 150. Not just a higher volume level, but perhaps more Gain and very different EQ settings, as well. I recommend reading the Rumble manual, especially the controls descriptions, and don't be afraid to try the voicing buttons at volume to really experience the differences they can make. Also, checkout the Rumble Frequencies Graphs to see if those visual presentations help you to understand the controls better.


And, YES, by all means, DO try daisy-chaining the 100 & 150 together! An instrument cable from the FX Send of either one to the FX Return of the other is all it takes. Whichever one's tonal EQ you Send will bypass the other's pre-amp and be reproduced by both power amps! The Rumble's Volume is upstream of it's FX Loop, so it will not work if it receives the signal from the 150. The Bassman's volume is downstream of it's FX Loop, so it will still work if it receives the signal from the 100. Enjoy! :thumbsup:
Thanks for the info. Is the 100's frequencies graph similar to that of the 500 which is shown? That is, do you find that the true "flat" setting is more like 10 o' clock, 2,2,10 rather than the standard noon settings? I know each amp is different and when I had a Gallien-Kruger rig it had frequencies settings that were different ... I just don't remember which they were.

Yes I see your point. In addition to having less power available, the 100 will have different EQ than the 150.

And not to detour from the discussion of the Rumbles, can you briefly tell me how to use those 4-EQ buttons on the Bassman 150? The top ones I sort of understand but the bottom two I don't understand at all.

Also thank you for pointing out the differences in daisy-chaining the 100 and the Bassman 150.