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Fender Rumble Club

Question: I like the plain Rumble tone and sometimes the vintage setting. But the OD is hard to use. I just want a touch of hair, switchable, for the mix. Is there a cheap pedal that can do this?

I've got the JHS Punchline which does just that (and more) but two downsides are (1) I can't chain my combos and (2) it leans to the P bass sound which means I can't get bridge tones. It's a DI so can't go to the normal combo input.
 
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Question: I like the plain Rumble tone and sometimes the vintage setting. But the OD is hard to use. I just want a touch of hair, switchable, for the mix. Is there a cheap pedal that can do this?

I've got the JHS Punchline which does just that (and more) but two downsides are (1) I can't chain my combos and (2) it leans to the P bass sound which means I can't get bridge tones. It's a DI so can't go to the normal combo input.
This sounds cool and isn’t especially expensive: Blumes Low Signal Shredder — EarthQuaker Devices
 
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Question: I like the plain Rumble tone and sometimes the vintage setting. But the OD is hard to use. I just want a touch of hair, switchable, for the mix. Is there a cheap pedal that can do this?

I've got the JHS Punchline which does just that (and more) but two downsides are (1) I can't chain my combos and (2) it leans to the P bass sound which means I can't get bridge tones. It's a DI so can't go to the normal combo input.
Check out the new bassman Driver or Fuzz pedal. Sound nice on Fender demo.
 
Thanks Brandon and Yahboy

I love the sound of my bass alone, but when playing in a group you quickly hear the flats need a bit of sizzle to cut through on the heavier numbers.

I like the look of the Fender pedal, reviews seem good although a few quibbles on Reddit (are we allowed to say that word here?). Might give that a go. Happens to be my birthday next week :)
 
IMG_7154.jpeg


So I recently moved from Sacramento to Seattle, and most of my amps are still in California. I've been using the GK MB200 and SWR WM10T (behind the Rumble) on an amp stand for home practice, but I'm getting into doing some auditions and feel like I needed something larger and louder.

I found this Rumble 500 on Craigslist and bought it with a Fender foot pedal. It appears to be brand new and is in amazing shape.

I decided to try this combo because of the basically unanimous praise for the tone, loudness, and portability of the Rumble 500. I haven't had a lot of time with it, but on first impression, it is exactly how folks here on Talk bass have described it. I'd have to say that the tone is more vintage and warm compared to the GK/SWR rig, but it's also much louder.

As far as prior Fender bass amps, I had a Fender BXR 25 and still have a Bassman 25 that I really like and even daisy chained them together for some jamming and small gigs in the past.

I think the Rumble 500 combo is a good functional replacement for an Ampeg B100R amp that I recently sold. I used the B100R for jamming and some small gigs as well, but it wasn't quite loud enough for some bands and it wasn't set up to use an extension cab for more volume.
I'm hoping to go fetch my gear from CA soon, and would like to try a Bag End s15 as an extension cab with her Rumble. I bet it would sound great.
 
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View attachment 7195006

So I recently moved from Sacramento to Seattle, and most of my amps are still in California. I've been using the GK MB200 and SWR WM10T (behind the Rumble) on an amp stand for home practice, but I'm getting into doing some auditions and feel like I needed something larger and louder.

I found this Rumble 500 in Craigslist and bought it with Fender foot pedal. It appears to be brand new and is in amazing shape.

I decided to try this combo because of the basically unanimous praise for the tone, loudness, and portability of the Rumble 500. I haven't had a lot of time with it, but on first impression, it is exactly how folks here on Talk bass have described it. I'd have to say that the tone is more vintage and warm compared to the GK/SWR rig, but it's also much louder.

As far as prior Fender bass amps, I had a Fender BXR 25 and still have a Bassman 25 that I really like and even daisy chained them together for some jamming and small gigs in the past.

I think the Rumble 500 combo is a good functional replacement for an Ampeg B100R amp that I recently sold. I used the B100R for jamming and some small gigs as well, but it wasn't quite loud enough for some bands and it wasn't set up to use an extension cab for more volume.
I'm hoping to go fetch my gear from CA soon, and would like to try a Bag End s15 as an extension cab with her Rumble. I bet it would sound great.
I have a Fender 115 extension for my R500c and it is deafening. That’s after playing a couple of Sunns into 215 cabs.
 
So I recently moved from Sacramento to Seattle, and most of my amps are still in California. I've been using the GK MB200 and SWR WM10T (behind the Rumble) on an amp stand for home practice, but I'm getting into doing some auditions and feel like I needed something larger and louder.

I found this Rumble 500on Craigslist and bought it with a Fender foot pedal. It appears to be brand new and is in amazing shape.

I decided to try this combo because of the basically unanimous praise for the tone, loudness, and portability of the Rumble 500. I haven't had a lot of time with it, but on first impression, it is exactly how folks here on Talk bass have described it. I'd have to say that the tone is more vintage and warm compared to the GK/SWR rig, but it's also much louder.

As far as prior Fender bass amps, I had a Fender BXR 25 and still have a Bassman 25 that I really like and even daisy chained them together for some jamming and small gigs in the past.

I think the Rumble 500 combo is a good functional replacement for an Ampeg B100R amp that I recently sold. I used the B100R for jamming and some small gigs as well, but it wasn't quite loud enough for some bands and it wasn't set up to use an extension cab for more volume.
I'm hoping to go fetch my gear from CA soon, and would like to try a Bag End s15 as an extension cab with her Rumble. I bet it would sound great. View attachment 7195006

Hi-yo, shiro! @shirojiro, you are now member #1832 in the Fender Rumble Club. Congratulations and welcome. Please 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.

Yes, shiro, my own Rumble 500 combo has been a workhorse and a joy for the last 11 years, now. Here's wishing you a likewise lengthy enjoyable relationship!

So, 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!
 
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Question: I like the plain Rumble tone and sometimes the vintage setting. But the OD is hard to use. I just want a touch of hair, switchable, for the mix. Is there a cheap pedal that can do this?

I've got the JHS Punchline which does just that (and more) but two downsides are (1) I can't chain my combos and (2) it leans to the P bass sound which means I can't get bridge tones. It's a DI so can't go to the normal combo input.
I'm surprised. I use the OD switch on the amp as a mute because I have pedals that do what I want, but I found the OD easy to use with a light touch. If my pedal board weren't available, I could happily use the OD (and I don't want much for what I'm currently playing).
 
How would you compare the tone of the Rumble 500+1x15 to the Sunns with 2x15s?
Sunn is more low end focused with only a 3-band EQ. You can push a lot of air with old, heavy cabs. Occasionally, for fun I run a splitter and run all 4 15s with 2 amps. That’s just stupid.

Rumble is more flexible. Equally loud or maybe louder as almost twice the watts, but not as much punch in the chest. The 210, 115, and horn can be EQ’ed to give you whatever you want sound wise and with overdrive you get grit without the need for pedals. And they won’t give you a hernia moving them.
 
I'm surprised. I use the OD switch on the amp as a mute because I have pedals that do what I want, but I found the OD easy to use with a light touch. If my pedal board weren't available, I could happily use the OD (and I don't want much for what I'm currently playing).

I agree, Miles, the Rumble Overdrive seems easy enough using the Gain, Drive and Level controls to taste. (No, the Gain is not a volume. It merely "pads" the Input signal.) @JakobT explains it quite well in a Rumble Talk.

I keep my Rumble's Overdrive always on for anything from "just a bit of warmth", or adding more Gain, Drive or Level for "a little more aggressive bite", as needed. Of course, it's a matter of taste that happens to fit me, and a few others, well enough.
 
I agree, Miles, the Rumble Overdrive seems easy enough using the Gain, Drive and Level controls to taste. (No, the Gain is not a volume. It merely "pads" the Input signal.) @JakobT explains it quite well in a Rumble Talk.

I keep my Rumble's Overdrive always on for anything from "just a bit of warmth", or adding more Gain, Drive or Level for "a little more aggressive bite", as needed. Of course, it's a matter of taste that happens to fit me, and a few others, well enough.
Good point. I keep my gain about noon, which gives me either a clean signal or a slightly gritty signal, depending on which Thunderbird I'm using and my pedal settings.
 
I'm surprised. I use the OD switch on the amp as a mute because I have pedals that do what I want, but I found the OD easy to use with a light touch. If my pedal board weren't available, I could happily use the OD (and I don't want much for what I'm currently playing).
Hmmm not my experience I find the OD is either on or off, not a lot of gradation and really different on the higher notes. Even with gain down and master up. Anyhoo I like the look of the Fender pedal so that's now on the list :)
 
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