Fender Rumble Club

[Bodeanly]

Hey Guys,

First timer here, I have spent days on this thread and site. I am pretty new to the bass (very haphazard lessons for a little under a year) and recently decided to challenge myself to play with others. I would love some feedback on a few things. I took a new Rumble 200 Combo to my second only rehearsal with a band, I immediately this week returned it and upgraded to the Combo 500 - they are loud guys to play with!

What I would love some help on is:

1. I am quite sure part of the issue last weekend was set up. I was next to the drummer, both he and I could not really hear me well, but the dual guitarists and vocalist further away could. There is plenty of space. In terms of how bass sound moves how do you recommend set up for rehearsal? We are working stuff out so we are in a circle - but is there an optimum set up in terms of positioning of instruments/distance from my amp for myself?

2. What are the thoughts on having the 500 Combo on a tilted riser to help disperse the sound?

Thanks in advance. I am at present trying to resist the urge to grab the 210 cabinet, as if I can get this 500 Combo to work as is I can then prioritise upgrading my bass first.

Am loving playing the bass with others - awesome creative challenge.

Will.

First off, pay attention to everything Linnin said in the previous post.

Secondly, if you have a Rumble 500 and cannot hear yourself in rehearsal, your band is practicing much too loud. One of my bands (not metal, but very heavy) has dual guitars and I do not turn my 500 up past 9/10 o'clock in a rehearsal setting, with no problem hearing anything. Please wear earplugs, especially if you're standing next to the drummer. Good luck!

 

[Danomo]

First off, pay attention to everything Linnin said in the previous post.

Secondly, if you have a Rumble 500 and cannot hear yourself in rehearsal, your band is practicing much too loud. One of my bands (not metal, but very heavy) has dual guitars and I do not turn my 500 up past 9/10 o'clock in a rehearsal setting, with no problem hearing anything. Please wear earplugs, especially if you're standing next to the drummer. Good luck!

My thought as well, then I remember my 21 year old self band practicing in a converted chicken coop with my Peavey Mark III maxed out... Playing until we all were dizzy (falling down dizzy) from the inner ear overload.

NOW... I wear earplugs to concerts.

 

[Bodeanly]

My thought as well, then I remember my 21 year old self band practicing in a converted chicken coop with my Peavey Mark III maxed out... Playing until we all were dizzy (falling down dizzy) from the inner ear overload.

NOW... I wear earplugs to concerts.

Sometimes, I wanna go back and punch my 21-year-old self for being too cool to wear earplugs. I auditioned for a project awhile back and forgot earplugs. My ears rang so bad that I was nauseated for two days.

 

[Linnin]

Did anyone try the pot cleaning cap?
Invalid Link Removed

Seems like an excellent idea! Thanks for posting, @ux4484

 

[GaryLC]

Sometimes, I wanna go back and punch my 21-year-old self for being too cool to wear earplugs. I auditioned for a project awhile back and forgot earplugs. My ears rang so bad that I was nauseated for two days.

Me too! Was too cool to wear earplugs. I have pretty bad tinnitus now, constant ringing in the ears. All you youngsters, PLEASE protect your ears!!!

 

[Big Hoss]

Okay, so I got the quotes back, and I am going with Linin's recommendation for MDB Covers, I had a nice email exchange with him, and he is doing add on bottom protectors to mine. The idea is to protect the amp and cab during load in / load out. Will give you a report back when they come in...

 

[Big Hoss]

I've played through a Invalid Link Removed little modelling amp and was impressed.
I won't be buying one this year, but I was impressed.

My home practice amp is the Rumble 40 and I have to keep it throttled back so as not to annoy the neighbors.

Try that with a Rumble 500! I am VERY glad my neighbors are good sports, and have teenagers!

Was jamming with a friend last night, doing some easy stuff, Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath kind of stuff. when we wrapped took a break so he could get a smoke in (there is no smoking in my house), the neighbors were in the yard, and asked us to play Dazed and Confused again!

 

[Big Hoss]

Just had a look at some photos of a Rumble 40; it seems to have a "line out" port on the back. Is that to be able to connect to another cab? Is that the port that is missing from the Rumble 100 combo?

Edit: ok, I've misunderstood. They both have XLR out.
What does XLR allow you to connect to? A P.A.?
So what is it that is on the 200s that allow another cab?

If there is a beginners listing of amp terms and abbreviations somewhere feel free to post a link so I don't derail the thread more than I already have.

The XLR port is to allow connection to a mixer / PA system.
The Rumble 200, Rumble 500 in both head and combo formats feature speaker out ports as well.

I believe I have mentioned it before, but my only complaint with the Rumble is the speaker out port used on the 200 and 500 is 1/4" and does not have a Speakon option. The Rumble 210 cab features both speakon and 1/4" inputs. This configuration makes a LOT more sense!

I wish Fender would change this, and offer a retrofit to existing owners, but I am also keenly aware that at the price point of these amps, there had to be cost cutting decisions made. (Asian vs. U.S. production is the biggest one of those choices...).

 

[honeyiscool]

Hi guys, newbie question here, I'm looking at the rumble 25 and 40, mainly for bedroom use, and was wondering if it's worth going for the 40 due to the extra channels and eq controls? not he flip side, would a broncho be more suited to my needs? I'm trying to avoid modelling amps due to the fact that I want to use pedals, (I have a bass big muff at the moment), and I know I will spend more time tweaking amp models etc. than playing so the rumble would focus me a bit better so to speak. Ideally I would like a decentish overdrive sound without relying on a pedal, the muff is fun, but extreme.

I'm playing a Mexican std p bass.

Thanks

For some weird reason, the 25 is heavier than the 40. The 40 is a better amp all around. I've also had the Bronco and the Rumble 40 is a better amp.

 

[Bassplayer315]

Does anyone have a picture they can post of a Rumble 500 combo on top of the new 112 Cab. I am about to pull the trigger on a Rumble 112 cab. I see they have the same dimensions so it should be a good match. I need to add the cab for large and outdoor events coming this summer.

 

[Linnin]

Does anyone have a picture they can post of a Rumble 500 combo on top of the new 112 Cab. I am about to pull the trigger on a Rumble 112 cab. I see they have the same dimensions so it should be a good match. I need to add the cab for large and outdoor events coming this summer.

While not the combo these are photos sent to me just prior to Winter NAMM '15 of the new Rumble 210 on top of the Rumble 112.

 

[Linnin]

and grills off

More photos here Invalid Link Removed

 

[Bassplayer315]

Thanks Linnin, looks like a great stack. Just placed my order.

 

[Linnin]

Thanks Linnin, looks like a great stack. Just placed my order.

Rumble On, My Good Man!

 

[Wilton]

First things first, @Wilton. Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club. You are member #447
Put your combo on a solid wooden chair to get it up off the ground so you and everyone else can hear it better. Position it across the room from your drummer and point the combo directly at his head. You will be better able to hear yourself and adjust your EQ to the room & mix if you are 15-25 feet away. If you put your combo in a corner it will be boom city also stay at least a foot or so away from any wall. Best of luck to you.

Rumble On!

Thanks Linnin. I may be over analysing here - but do you recommend specifically a solid wooden chair as the tilt and metal fame of a store bought tilted riser would affect performance?

 

[Wilton]

First off, pay attention to everything Linnin said in the previous post.

Secondly, if you have a Rumble 500 and cannot hear yourself in rehearsal, your band is practicing much too loud. One of my bands (not metal, but very heavy) has dual guitars and I do not turn my 500 up past 9/10 o'clock in a rehearsal setting, with no problem hearing anything. Please wear earplugs, especially if you're standing next to the drummer. Good luck!

Thank you so much for bringing up ear plugs - that was my next question!

 

[Linnin]

Thanks Linnin. I may be over analysing here - but do you recommend specifically a solid wooden chair as the tilt and metal fame of a store bought tilted riser would affect performance?

Yes. I don't like the cheap aluminum alloy amp stands for bass. They're fine for guitar, but I've found they transmit too much low vibration. Wood absorbs the vibes. Plus a sturdy wooden chair is far stronger. I use a modified piano bench.

 

[Wilton]

Yes. I don't like the cheap aluminum alloy amp stands for bass. They're fine for guitar, but I've found they transmit too much low vibration. Wood absorbs the vibes. Plus a sturdy wooden chair is far stronger. I use a modified piano bench.

Groovy - thanks.

Is there an equally good forum on Fender guitars around I can start checking out in terms of looking at a new bass? I have a Squier J bass, which I am very comfortable with, including the old strings, but I would like to start planning ahead a bit and I know very little about the other models and string options etc.

 

[Big Hoss]

String options from Fender as far as I am aware are Fender strings. Period. Fenders website does a pretty decent job of putting the specs on the different models out there for you, and the Fender Forum goes into some discussion of the instruments, and you could stir up the TB discussion on Fender models as well, but nothing, and I mean nothing period, beats getting your hands on the instruments and actually playing them to see which specific individual instrument does it for you.

 

[Linnin]

Groovy - thanks.

Is there an equally good forum on Fender guitars around I can start checking out in terms of looking at a new bass? I have a Squier J bass, which I am very comfortable with, including the old strings, but I would like to start planning ahead a bit and I know very little about the other models and string options etc.

Unfortunately The Fender Forums are all but dead on the bass side of things. There are an absolute ton of great Fender basses available for the right handed player. Just decide how much you want to spend and what tone you're after. I'd be more than happy to help.