The R800c has lots of extra benefits, but to me the 1/4 power switch is one of the best—it turns it into the equivalent of an R100. I advise everyone thinking about the R500c to bump up to the 800.
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@wooheehaa didn't mention whether weight is a concern, but I'll point out that the 800 is actually 6 pounds lighter than the 500. Weight matters BIG TIME to me, but it may not to wooheehaa.
I would echo the two above posts. Those are a couple of the reasons why I went with the 800. I practice in a small room and use the "Low" Output switch all the time. And 29 lbs vs 36 is a big plus.
I chose the 800 for the same reasons, plus, the pre/post switch on the DI out may come in handy
I had the exact same dilemma a few weeks ago. I have a very small practice space and I ordered the 500 but it just felt too loud so I ended up returning it. It kind of felt like you go from hearing nothing, to feeling it's presence but still not quite hearing enough so I was terrified to turn it up to properly hear it!
I was coming at it justifying going big so I'd not need to upgrade, but my reality is I'm a beginner who may never actually play any gigs. So I ended up with the 100 which I love and suits my situation for the foreseeable future, and it was significantly cheaper so it felt safer going for that. But everyone's situation is different.
This does sound like a great option which I didn't realise at the time, but I'm not sure I could have gone the extra $$$s.
If you go back a few pages there was a chat about chaining 100 combos to bump up to 200W which I'm thinking is my potential option in the future if I need more.
Hi! Replaced an Orange Crush Bass 25 with a Fender Rumble 40 I got on a great used deal (for Argentina's price levels and normal human behaviour that is) a few months ago, and couldn't be happier with it. The Orange was heavier and needed pushing the volume high to get a good sound. The Fender is light, has great options for getting a good tone, overdrive, XLR output, and the speaker drives out convincing (to me) sounds with even low volumes, something I love. The Orange could never growl at volumes I'm comfortable with at home with my family. My bedroom is a bit crowded which can make the sound boomy, but with the life hack of putting it on a guitar stand, the sound gets magically corrected!
I use the aux-in as a poor man workaround for a lack of effects loop option. With the help of a cheap ABY pedal, I split the signal, send a clean to the Rumble input, set the fx on my Annblack Box, and use the headphones output with a cable to the aux input of the Rumble. Then I play with the volumes to get the wall of sound I like when I pretend to be a lowHz star when sitting on my bed lol.
I use the aux-in as a poor man workaround for a lack of effects loop option. With the help of a cheap ABY pedal, I split the signal, send a clean to the Rumble input, set the fx on my Annblack Box, and use the headphones output with a cable to the aux input of the Rumble. Then I play with the volumes to get the wall of sound I like when I pretend to be a lowHz star when sitting on my bed lol.
I suppose I need to join up, I just bought a R100V3 this week and used it in its first gig last night (2/7/26). It performed well in a medium room as just a low stage volume presence, it wasn’t intended to carry the full bass volume for the room. I’ve owned a Rumble 115 cabinet for several years, so I suppose I could have joined sooner.
I came to the R100 through ownership of a Peavey MAX 150 I ordered online without playing. I would have returned it, but would have to pay freight of about $80, so I just kept it about 4 months until I could no longer live with it. I traded it at a GC for the Rumble. The MAX 150 is only 120 watts RMS, and that’s only with an external speaker attached. I estimate it would only be 65-75 watts by itself. My problem with it was the amp voicing. It had an inherent tone I did t like and couldn’t EQ out of it with on-board and external EQ. Somebody will like it…
My R100 is totally stock at this time, but I don’t hesitate to mod anything I own if it’s an actual improvement of the product. I came here to see if there was any common mods to the R100 V3 I should consider at some point. It’s going to be used for live gigs 2-3 times a month or more for the next 4 or 5 months (bookings on the calendar now), so the new will be gone quickly.
Its debut was good for sure.
I came to the R100 through ownership of a Peavey MAX 150 I ordered online without playing. I would have returned it, but would have to pay freight of about $80, so I just kept it about 4 months until I could no longer live with it. I traded it at a GC for the Rumble. The MAX 150 is only 120 watts RMS, and that’s only with an external speaker attached. I estimate it would only be 65-75 watts by itself. My problem with it was the amp voicing. It had an inherent tone I did t like and couldn’t EQ out of it with on-board and external EQ. Somebody will like it…
My R100 is totally stock at this time, but I don’t hesitate to mod anything I own if it’s an actual improvement of the product. I came here to see if there was any common mods to the R100 V3 I should consider at some point. It’s going to be used for live gigs 2-3 times a month or more for the next 4 or 5 months (bookings on the calendar now), so the new will be gone quickly.
Its debut was good for sure.
You can get some inspiration from the wiki here: https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/fender-rumble-club/#-fender-rumble-modifications
Or ask and the wisdom of the internet could come for the rescue
Hi, pai! @pai_deadwing, you are now member #1899 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.
Your Aux-In workaround for an FX Loop is a new one on me! Sounds ingenious.
So, pai, 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!
Ahem, Tim! @Tim Skaggs, you are now member #1900 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.
Timmy, if you bought your R100 new then I would caution you against making any permanent mods for they will instantly void the valuable 2-year warranty! The only thing I might suggest is some easily removable acoustic lining, or fill, in the cab if you'd like a softer tone. Some R100 owners say it sounds a bit boxy to them, since it doesn't come with any lining like the R200, 500 & 800 do, and the material can fix that. You can test for this by temporarily putting a sock, or such material, in the ports as you play and listen to the different tones. Otherwise, I recommend not cutting, gluing or screwing anything because it could negate a free repair or replacement for 2 years!
So, Timbo, how about telling us a bit about yourself, such as your bass experience in general and your Rumble journey in particular? You're certain to fit right in here. Join in as we all ... ... ...
Rumble On!
Thanks for the welcome
I'm a 40 year old bass rookie, got my first one two and a half years ago, but the bug really bit last year and became my main hobby/obsession. I still consider myself a rookie but I try to practice everyday to progress. I don't play on a band yet, but the class where I take lessons kinda works like one and we did a couple mini gigs for friends and relatives of the institute we attend.
The Crush 25 was sold to me by the same guy who also sold me my first bass. I was happy with it at first, but when I started taking lessons I noticed the institute had an Ashdown Perfect 10 40w, and it outperformed my own by a mile. The growl and bite were not there on my own, and it really threw me off, as I was going for wild EQs to compensate, which led me to more problems and to think that I needed the wrong pieces of gear.
I noticed the Rumble 40 V3 the same way many others did: by BassBuzz's practice amps and how it outperformed others in the same price and size bracket. But it was too expensive: last year it sold for 700 U$S new, 500 used. It was too much for it. Then a great deal came, selling for 275 used, and I got it because every other potential buyer was trying to lowball the price, a practice I dislike doing; unless the buyer specifically states he's open for offers, I either go forward or back off completely. The seller even drove to my house for me to test it so we could close the deal, something that I never expected, but according to him, "I earned that". Wow!
I used the Rumble on the second gig, and performed perfectly both as on-stage monitor and going via XLR to the PA. Professor has lots of experience as a professional musician and was quite happy with it, and also completely dumbfounded by its weight! In comparison, the Ashdown kills your arm trying to transport it!
The Aux-In workaround is not a perfect one (cannot measure it but I think there is a very small delay that could be an issue for many), but it was my way to shut up my inner GAS-goblin that was telling me to get a Boss LS2 or worse, a Simplifier Bass Station!
I'm completely open for modding and DIY, but a quick googling of some parts threw some prices that were outside what I want to spend nowadays. Other things seem cheaper and easier, but due to not being a native english speaker, and while I come from a technical background, I'm still lacking on the jargon about bass, amps and other stuff. I would definitely need some videos for better guidance. I usually chase warmer and better rounded sounds on bass, so whatever helps with that is appreciated
Cheers!
Hey I’d like to be a member. Here’s my 100v3 next to my 1997 Fender Jazz American
Hmm; it’s a fairly long story, but I’ll condense.
Started on acoustic guitar and a couple years in, the guys I jammed with put together a band without a bassist, and asked me to become one. I bought a bass first (Cortley MIJ Jazz copy) & then a Peavey TNT 100 amp.
I believe I played my first legitimate gig on bass & with pay in early spring of 1982. I only know that because the Joan Jett version of “I Love Rock & Roll” was played before we started, at every break, and as we tore down. We had played a few private parties before the paying gig, but not many.
I’ve owned several bass amps and cabinets, including several cabinets I either built myself or modified existing cabinets to work with the speakers I had.
Combo amps;
Peavey TNT 100 & Combo 300, Ampeg B15T fliptop combo, GK MB150e 112, Ampeg BA 210, Markbass CMD 121p, Peavey MAX 150, Fender Rumble 100 V3.
Heads: Peavey T-Max, Amp section of Fender Studio Bass Combo, GK MB500, Markbass Little Mark 250 Blackline.
Cabinets; too many. Multiple 1x15” (the Fender Rumble 115!) and one 2x15”, a few 2x10, a couple 1x12, one 2x12, a couple 4x10, one 8x10.
Basses; too many again. ‘87 Peavey Foundation S, 90s Peavey GBass 4, ‘00 Fender CIJ Mustang, ‘91 Gibson TBird, 90s parts Jazz, parts PBass, 2020s Gretch Electromatic, ‘98 Carvin LB75, 90s Carvin BB75 Fretless, ‘93 Sigma ABG, 2020s Ibanez GSR 100 EX. Ibanez ABG, Gold Tone Micro bass 23”, Home made EUB, ‘52 Kay M1 upright.
I’ve played in several bands since I started and got into Bluegrass & upright bass around 2000.
High points; opened for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show at a local college concert Oct. ‘83. Opened for Blackfoot (Ricky Medlock the only original member) in ‘97.
If that ain’t enough, PM me for details…
Current band; Hoodookattz
Howdy, beny! @benyawn, you are now member #1901 in the Fender Rumble Club. Congratulations and welcome to TalkBass in general and The Club in particular. 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. That's an awesome rig you have there!
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!
Hmm; it’s a fairly long story, but I’ll condense.
Started on acoustic guitar and a couple years in, the guys I jammed with put together a band without a bassist, and asked me to become one. I bought a bass first (Cortley MIJ Jazz copy) & then a Peavey TNT 100 amp.
I believe I played my first legitimate gig on bass & with pay in early spring of 1982. I only know that because the Joan Jett version of “I Love Rock & Roll” was played before we started, at every break, and as we tore down. We had played a few private parties before the paying gig, but not many.
I’ve owned several bass amps and cabinets, including several cabinets I either built myself or modified existing cabinets to work with the speakers I had.
Combo amps;
Peavey TNT 100 & Combo 300, Ampeg B15T fliptop combo, GK MB150e 112, Ampeg BA 210, Markbass CMD 121p, Peavey MAX 150, Fender Rumble 100 V3.
Heads: Peavey T-Max, Amp section of Fender Studio Bass Combo, GK MB500, Markbass Little Mark 250 Blackline.
Cabinets; too many. Multiple 1x15” (the Fender Rumble 115!) and one 2x15”, a few 2x10, a couple 1x12, one 2x12, a couple 4x10, one 8x10.
Basses; too many again. ‘87 Peavey Foundation S, 90s Peavey GBass 4, ‘00 Fender CIJ Mustang, ‘91 Gibson TBird, 90s parts Jazz, parts PBass, 2020s Gretch Electromatic, ‘98 Carvin LB75, 90s Carvin BB75 Fretless, ‘93 Sigma ABG, 2020s Ibanez GSR 100 EX. Ibanez ABG, Gold Tone Micro bass 23”, Home made EUB, ‘52 Kay M1 upright.
I’ve played in several bands since I started and got into Bluegrass & upright bass around 2000.
High points; opened for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show at a local college concert Oct. ‘83. Opened for Blackfoot (Ricky Medlock the only original member) in ‘97.
If that ain’t enough, PM me for details…
Current band; Hoodookattz
Wow! That's an impressive bass resumé, Tim! And the band sounds great. Thanks very much for sharing all that. We're very glad to have you with us!
Now is the time when we all must ... ... ...
Rumble On!
Good group.Hmm; it’s a fairly long story, but I’ll condense.
Started on acoustic guitar and a couple years in, the guys I jammed with put together a band without a bassist, and asked me to become one. I bought a bass first (Cortley MIJ Jazz copy) & then a Peavey TNT 100 amp.
I believe I played my first legitimate gig on bass & with pay in early spring of 1982. I only know that because the Joan Jett version of “I Love Rock & Roll” was played before we started, at every break, and as we tore down. We had played a few private parties before the paying gig, but not many.
I’ve owned several bass amps and cabinets, including several cabinets I either built myself or modified existing cabinets to work with the speakers I had.
Combo amps;
Peavey TNT 100 & Combo 300, Ampeg B15T fliptop combo, GK MB150e 112, Ampeg BA 210, Markbass CMD 121p, Peavey MAX 150, Fender Rumble 100 V3.
Heads: Peavey T-Max, Amp section of Fender Studio Bass Combo, GK MB500, Markbass Little Mark 250 Blackline.
Cabinets; too many. Multiple 1x15” (the Fender Rumble 115!) and one 2x15”, a few 2x10, a couple 1x12, one 2x12, a couple 4x10, one 8x10.
Basses; too many again. ‘87 Peavey Foundation S, 90s Peavey GBass 4, ‘00 Fender CIJ Mustang, ‘91 Gibson TBird, 90s parts Jazz, parts PBass, 2020s Gretch Electromatic, ‘98 Carvin LB75, 90s Carvin BB75 Fretless, ‘93 Sigma ABG, 2020s Ibanez GSR 100 EX. Ibanez ABG, Gold Tone Micro bass 23”, Home made EUB, ‘52 Kay M1 upright.
I’ve played in several bands since I started and got into Bluegrass & upright bass around 2000.
High points; opened for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show at a local college concert Oct. ‘83. Opened for Blackfoot (Ricky Medlock the only original member) in ‘97.
If that ain’t enough, PM me for details…
Current band; Hoodookattz
hmm. according to pictures, i'm quite sure these must be made in the same factory as the rumbles. 
www.thomann.de
Cort CM150B Black
Combo Amplifier for Electric Bass Power: 150 W RMS, Equipped with: 12" Speaker, 4-Band equaliser with 2 mids controls, Bright switch for treble emphasis, Mode switch for saturation, Effect path, XLR line output, AUX input, Dimensions (H x W x D):...
www.thomann.de
hmm. according to pictures, i'm quite sure these must be made in the same factory as the rumbles.
Cort CM150B Black
Combo Amplifier for Electric Bass Power: 150 W RMS, Equipped with: 12" Speaker, 4-Band equaliser with 2 mids controls, Bright switch for treble emphasis, Mode switch for saturation, Effect path, XLR line output, AUX input, Dimensions (H x W x D):...
What pictures, dORry? Do you have assembly line photos? Let's see the evidence, please.
Looks somewhat similar (esp. the rear of the combo), but the preamp is different, the baffle & porting is different, and it weighs over 35 lbs.hmm. according to pictures, i'm quite sure these must be made in the same factory as the rumbles.
Cort CM150B Black
Combo Amplifier for Electric Bass Power: 150 W RMS, Equipped with: 12" Speaker, 4-Band equaliser with 2 mids controls, Bright switch for treble emphasis, Mode switch for saturation, Effect path, XLR line output, AUX input, Dimensions (H x W x D):...
