Fender Rumble Club

[John D Harris]

Ah! "... a recreation of the 70s SVT preamp. ... With outputs that can drive a power amp and a mixing board simultaneously, ..." No doubt it plugs into the R500c's FX Return, I presume. Costs almost as much as the Rumble stack itself!

Yes!
His units are hand-built in small batches.
Everything is very high quality.
I wouldn't mind owning a few of his different preamps and one of his HPF + LPF pedals.
You could probably run it into the combo's Instrument input, but I wouldn't.

The SVT sound a lot people equate with rock and roll.
I quite like the V4B more than the SVT if used with efficient speaker cabs, like a pair of Bag End S15-B or S15L-B.

In general, I prefer the Bassman type tone for most musical genres.
I bought a used '60's Fender Bassman head when I was in High School.
Ran it into a pair of JBL D140-F's in a high school shop built cabinet - sounded very nice!
[Wish I still had the head!]

Back when I bought my first professional type rig, I almost went with the Alembic F-1X instead of a Demeter VTBP-201S.
The F-1X is based on the Fender Blackfaced Bassman/Showman preamp section with a very similar (identical?) tone stack.

My Two Notes Opus allows building and tweaking multiple Presets using various modeled tube preamps &/or tube power amps &/or speaker cab Sims.
Most of my Opus Presets are based on either the Showman preamp or the Super Bassman preamp.

 

[GonePlaid]

That is what I was thinking! Would love to hear it!

Not me (I?). I had a SVT/810. Never liked its tone. IMO it's 7ender for amps; Gibson/Epi for basses.

 

[G-Dog]

One of these I'd say ... broughton S300 Preamp

... ... ... I wouldn't mind owning a few of his different preamps and one of his HPF + LPF pedals.
You could probably run it into the combo's Instrument input, but I wouldn't. ... ... ...

Yes! I believe you absolutely can run an external preamp through a Rumble's Input!! Since you can run an FX Send into a Rumble Input with no risk of damage, why not a preamp output? Of course, you should reduce the Gain on the Rumble, and possibly some other EQ setting, when re-amping like this. In fact, I'd recommend starting with zero Gain and setting the Rumble EQ to true flat at approximately 10-2-2-10 for the B-LM-HM-T, to begin with. Then, once you have a familiarity with the external preamp tones that way, you can tryout what Rumble settings may complement or enhance those sounds! How 'bout dat?​

... ... I had a SVT/810. Never liked its tone. IMO it's 7ender for amps; ... ...

I'm with you, GP. I tried out an Ampeg head (maybe a B1-RE, or something like that) on an Ampeg 410HLF cab every which way for several rehearsals and a couple of gigs back in 2012-2013. I even tried it with a Boss GT-6B multi-FX pedal, which helped some, but I never really got the hang of either one. I was initially very impressed by the Ampeg name and the spec.s, but just simply couldn't dial in a tone I loved. It was very disappointing. I think I've since read that, whatever it was, that head wasn't considered a very good example of the brand.​

​

I even played a showcase set thru a full SVT/810 rig once, setup by the Backline/Sound Manager, but it just seemed so flat to me no matter what I tweaked on my active P-Bass Special (I was not allowed to touch the amp).​

​

But, when I unboxed my R500c in 2014 it immediately felt and sounded very good, and was SO easy to dial in to the tones I truly loved. And it sounds enough like my Bassman 500 that the Rumble gets all the gigs, so far.​

 

[Giff]

Yes! I believe you absolutely can run an external preamp through a Rumble's Input!! Since you can run an FX Send into a Rumble Input with no risk of damage, why not a preamp output? Of course, you should reduce the Gain on the Rumble, and possibly some other EQ setting, when re-amping like this. In fact, I'd recommend starting with zero Gain and setting the Rumble EQ to true flat at approximately 10-2-2-10 for the B-LM-HM-T, to begin with. Then, once you have a familiarity with the external preamp tones that way, you can tryout what Rumble settings may complement or enhance those sounds! How 'bout dat?​

This is my method. It works great for me. And I always have the onboard eq to make adjustments for a room if needed.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

This is my method. It works great for me. And I always have the onboard eq to make adjustments for a room if needed.

Me, too. I set my tone on the preamp through the rumble flat at home. Rumble eqs to the venue.

 

[John D Harris]

Yes! I believe you absolutely can run an external preamp through a Rumble's Input!! Since you can run an FX Send into a Rumble Input with no risk of damage, why not a preamp output? Of course, you should reduce the Gain on the Rumble, and possibly some other EQ setting, when re-amping like this. In fact, I'd recommend starting with zero Gain and setting the Rumble EQ to true flat at approximately 10-2-2-10 for the B-LM-HM-T, to begin with. Then, once you have a familiarity with the external preamp tones that way, you can tryout what Rumble settings may complement or enhance those sounds! How 'bout dat?​

...​

Maybe I'll take another shot at running it that way.

I did try both ways right after I got my R100c, but my thoughts were (as long as I can get the volume I need), less circuits altering the signal might be better.

The Opus modeler has a five band semi-parametric EQ plus adjustable High Pass Filter and adjustable Low Pass Filter.

Even though the circuitry is digital, it doesn't sound digital.

I can get a very Showman or Bassman type of sound that is essentially noise free, plus a way more flexible EQ.

I was jonesin' for one of those Origin Effects BassRig ’64 Black Panel Bass Preamp Pedals, until I found the Opus (which has 12 different tube preamp models and four different tube power amp models plus hundreds of different cabsims).

Running it into the FX Return is not as loud and into the Instrument Input, but so far, it's still louder than I can stand.

 

[Lowdown68]

Ah! "... a recreation of the 70s SVT preamp. ... With outputs that can drive a power amp and a mixing board simultaneously, ..." No doubt it plugs into the R500c's FX Return, I presume. Costs almost as much as the Rumble stack itself!

Yeah exactly! I actually run it into the input. Adds a little more oomph to my signal. I used to carry mini pedal board but this takes care of it.

 

[Stealth57]

I am starting my Frankenamp work on my 500c. The other videos showing how to wire things to use an external amp are not an exact match for the 500c. So, I have an initial question.

I was hoping that all the speakers were in series so I only had one + - coming off the amp. Unfortunately, the horn is in parallel to the 10s. I am going to use Speakon connectors for the separation. Question, Speakon has 1+, 1-, 2+, and 2-. My plan was to connect the speakers to 1+ and 1-. Since I have two separate lines from the amp, should I run the 10s from 1+ and 1- and, then, the horn to 2+ and 2-? Or should I put both pairs onto 1+ and 1-.

UPDATE: the other question that comes to mind is the horn is only 50w. If I have it connected in parallel or series with the 10s, do I run the risk of a 300w amp blowing the horn?

Option 2: Don't bother with the horn WRT the external amp.

 

[GonePlaid]

I am starting my Frankenamp work on my 500c. The other videos showing how to wire things to use an external amp are not an exact match for the 500c. So, I have an initial question.

I was hoping that all the speakers were in series so I only had one + - coming off the amp. Unfortunately, the horn is in parallel to the 10s. I am going to use Speakon connectors for the separation. Question, Speakon has 1+, 1-, 2+, and 2-. My plan was to connect the speakers to 1+ and 1-. Since I have two separate lines from the amp, should I run the 10s from 1+ and 1- and, then, the horn to 2+ and 2-? Or should I put both pairs onto 1+ and 1-.

UPDATE: the other question that comes to mind is the horn is only 50w. If I have it connected in parallel or series with the 10s, do I run the risk of a 300w amp blowing the horn?

Option 2: Don't bother with the horn WRT the external amp.

2. I always left the horn on my 200c off unless I was playing CD break music through it. Or, to put that another way, it was only on when I played CDs.
(except when I'd forget to turn it back off when we came back)-oops!

 

[GonePlaid]

Being far too lazy to go searching back over some 61,325 posts, what settings on GAIN and VOLUME seem to work best in general? I'm usually no higher than noon on either.

 

[Giff]

Being far too lazy to go searching back over some 61,325 posts, what settings on GAIN and VOLUME seem to work best in general? I'm usually no higher than noon on either.

My drive is at 9:30 and master at 10, but I run a fairly hot signal in the input.

 

[5StringBlues]

Being far too lazy to go searching back over some 61,325 posts, what settings on GAIN and VOLUME seem to work best in general? I'm usually no higher than noon on either.

I usually keep the gain all the way down but l prefer as little compression as possible.

 

[GonePlaid]

I usually keep the gain all the way down but l prefer as little compression as possible.

Forgot to mention: we never have FOH. My R100 has to carry the load by itself.

 

[John D Harris]

Being far too lazy to go searching back over some 61,325 posts, what settings on GAIN and VOLUME seem to work best in general? I'm usually no higher than noon on either.

In your situation, I would run a couple of experiments:

#1. Run the Gain control to either 12:00 o'clock or 1:00 o'clock and adjust the Master control to taste and see how you like the sound;
#2. Run the Master control to either 12:00 o'clock or 1:00 o'clock and adjust the Gain control to taste and see which way you prefer.

If you get both controls to 1:00 o'clock and still don't have enough SPL then repeat by advancing each to 2:00 o'clock then 3:00, etc, switching between the Gain and Master being at the higher setting, but that should be getting pretty freaking loud!

Listen for distress from the 12" driver and you will usually need to make EQ adjustments due to the SPL changes (especially the Bass control).

In different rooms and including how many people are in the rooms, the overall levels and EQ'ing will probably need adjusting.

 

[GonePlaid]

In your situation, I would run a couple of experiments:

#1. Run the Gain control to either 12:00 o'clock or 1:00 o'clock and adjust the Master control to taste and see how you like the sound;
#2. Run the Master control to either 12:00 o'clock or 1:00 o'clock and adjust the Gain control to taste and see which way you prefer.

If you get both controls to 1:00 o'clock and still don't have enough SPL then repeat by advancing each to 2:00 o'clock then 3:00, etc, switching between the Gain and Master being at the higher setting, but that should be getting pretty freaking loud!

Listen for distress from the 12" driver and you will usually need to make EQ adjustments due to the SPL changes (especially the Bass control).

In different rooms and including how many people are in the rooms, the overall levels and EQ'ing will probably need adjusting.

Thanks. I've usually set them both at 10, but I feel like I could use a tad more 'oomph' at our next scheduled gig. Other controls at the usual 10, 2. 2 ,10.

 

[John D Harris]

Thanks. I've usually set them both at 10, but I feel like I could use a tad more 'oomph' at our next scheduled gig. Other controls at the usual 10, 2. 2 ,10.

I suspect that the Master run at 12:00 or higher and then adjusting the Gain to fit whatever SPL you need, would add a bit more mojo to your tone.

 

[GonePlaid]

I suspect that the Master run at 12:00 or higher and then adjusting the Gain to fit whatever SPL you need, would add a bit more mojo to your tone.

Worth a shot. Thanks again.

 

[J-Bassomatic]

I guess this is just a comment and what others may think. I went to turn on my Rumble 800H and unfortunately the switch just fell off. I love my amp, that's not a problem, great amp. But it seems like the on-off switch for such a piece of gear would be a little more robust. The amp doesn't move, it's been there for at least 2 years, nothing stored on top of it, around it, etc. Am I wrong? I have a Fender shop nearby but I haven't got an estimate yet but honestly, this should NEVER have broken. The clips and plastic bits are from turning it over and that's what fell out

 

[SharpCat]

I’m sure this is a standard switch that Fender bought from someone else, and when a whole bunch of a thing are made, a few are going to fail.

On the plus side, likely an easy fix.

 

[J-Bassomatic]

I’m sure this is a standard switch that Fender bought from someone else, and when a whole bunch of a thing are made, a few are going to fail.

On the plus side, likely an easy fix.

I hope so. In my experience the 'plus side' usually has gotchas. Would Fender sell me the part? My local dealer turns out to NOT do amps.
Anyway, appreciate any comments