Really, I did it just to be helpful. I do appreciate that it has been well received on YouTube.
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Rumble 100. Had it a couple of months (too old to lug my Trace Elliot 1x15 combo). Chose it out of a line-up at the music store. None others came close for tone, weight, or price. No buyer's remorse.
Been playing bass since 1979. Was never a wannabe/failed guitarist. I also play sax and wind synth but lately had to take a break because my left thumb decided it doesn't like working the octave key. That has meant more time to work on my bass skills so I bought a fretless last year and wish I'd done that decades ago.
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Did anyone mike their combos to determine their frequency response?
??? The Credits / Sources section of the Frequencies wiki explains the connections, usually not mic'd.
Is that what you mean?
Or, are you asking if others tried to reproduce the curves with their own gear, like SharpCat did?
I think a few others did something like it, yes.
I’ve had AV receivers with an included calibrated mic for setting up 5.1 or 7.1 home theater. But the actual calibration is hidden inside the receiver. For a studio calibrated mic with included specs, it’s big bucks. Using a regular cab mic would add its own coloration, making the whole exercise little better than just listening to the amp and deciding what you think. (Not that there’s anything wrong with doing that, actually. )
More amp changes in my search for better (to me) tone.
R100 (v3) / R60 (v1) / R40 (v3) Journey
I previously tried the Rumble 100v3 in stores but struggled with the tone. After reading here on TB about room placement, elevation off the ground, and plugging the ports, I decided to buy a 100v3 to try at home where I'd be able to experiment.
Having that freedom allowed me to find a great sound, similar to that of my beloved R60 (v1). The R100 ended up across the room, up on a stand, both ports plugged, bright switch on, and the knobs at 10:30, 11, 2, and 10:30. On my PJ basses, I've always kept the P pickup at 100%. I added the J pickup at 90% for more mids, and the tone is just wonderful!
I wondered if 2 stacked R100's could replace my R500, so I got a second one. There was more deepness with two R100's chained (vs. one R100), but having the second one on the floor brought boominess back in (in my music room). Stacking both on the stand removed the boominess, but the top one was so high I couldn't see the controls. In the end, at practice volumes, I found that I prefer the sound of the single R100.
Then I played through the R500 again and was reminded that there's something different about it that I really like. I don't know how to describe it. More growly? Something. Something good.
Then I did side-by-side taste tests of the R100 with my beloved R60. The R60 has a flatter frequency response, so its knobs at noon are close to the v3's at 10/2/2/10. And it sounds great sitting on the floor, close to me, without any boominess. It's just a great sounding amp. BUT, its heavy weight makes it unpleasant to shlep, so I also owned an R40 with the sole purpose of the very rare travel to jam with friends.
The R100 sounds great and is light weight for easy travel. So it has now replaced the R60 and the R40. And the R500 isn't going anywhere.
R100 (v3) / R60 (v1) / R40 (v3) Journey
I previously tried the Rumble 100v3 in stores but struggled with the tone. After reading here on TB about room placement, elevation off the ground, and plugging the ports, I decided to buy a 100v3 to try at home where I'd be able to experiment.
Having that freedom allowed me to find a great sound, similar to that of my beloved R60 (v1). The R100 ended up across the room, up on a stand, both ports plugged, bright switch on, and the knobs at 10:30, 11, 2, and 10:30. On my PJ basses, I've always kept the P pickup at 100%. I added the J pickup at 90% for more mids, and the tone is just wonderful!
I wondered if 2 stacked R100's could replace my R500, so I got a second one. There was more deepness with two R100's chained (vs. one R100), but having the second one on the floor brought boominess back in (in my music room). Stacking both on the stand removed the boominess, but the top one was so high I couldn't see the controls. In the end, at practice volumes, I found that I prefer the sound of the single R100.
Then I played through the R500 again and was reminded that there's something different about it that I really like. I don't know how to describe it. More growly? Something. Something good.
Then I did side-by-side taste tests of the R100 with my beloved R60. The R60 has a flatter frequency response, so its knobs at noon are close to the v3's at 10/2/2/10. And it sounds great sitting on the floor, close to me, without any boominess. It's just a great sounding amp. BUT, its heavy weight makes it unpleasant to shlep, so I also owned an R40 with the sole purpose of the very rare travel to jam with friends.
The R100 sounds great and is light weight for easy travel. So it has now replaced the R60 and the R40. And the R500 isn't going anywhere.
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R500v3 Journey
While I was experimenting, I decided to buy a second R500 to try, to see if two would sound better than one. Okay, that was probably silly. Yes, it's way too much (for practicing in my music room).
But one of the R500's was near silent and the other had an annoying fan noise, which kicked off an entire fan noise discovery project which I'll be documenting separately.
Non-Rumble Journey (blasphemy?!)
During all of this tone searching, I happened to see a Markbass CMD Players School combo in GC and decided to try it. At first, the tone was just okay. But then I discovered the "VPF" knob, and the magic happened. Wow! So I bought it. That amp is a keeper. Can I say "Wow" again?
So my Rumble family has changed.
Before (R500v3, R60v1, R40v3):
and after (2x R500v3, 2x R100v3, Markbass):
(The Rumble v3 grilles stay removed so they don't turn into cat scratch toys.)
While I was experimenting, I decided to buy a second R500 to try, to see if two would sound better than one. Okay, that was probably silly. Yes, it's way too much (for practicing in my music room).
But one of the R500's was near silent and the other had an annoying fan noise, which kicked off an entire fan noise discovery project which I'll be documenting separately.
Non-Rumble Journey (blasphemy?!)
During all of this tone searching, I happened to see a Markbass CMD Players School combo in GC and decided to try it. At first, the tone was just okay. But then I discovered the "VPF" knob, and the magic happened. Wow! So I bought it. That amp is a keeper. Can I say "Wow" again?
So my Rumble family has changed.
Before (R500v3, R60v1, R40v3):
and after (2x R500v3, 2x R100v3, Markbass):
(The Rumble v3 grilles stay removed so they don't turn into cat scratch toys.)
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For some reason I all of a sudden got Ted Nugent in my head
"Cat Scratch Fender..."
I was thinking more along the lines of somebody having any calibrated microphone and doing a frequency sweep, white and pink noise tests and such.
In case of software, there's REW: REW room acoustics and audio device measurement and analysis software
As for calibrated microphones, one of the most commonly recommended microphones is UMIK-1: UMIK-1
I'd rather the cats scratch my grilles than my cones!
I always put the vinyl cover back on when I finish playing.
Those are in mortal range. Thanks for the links.
Agreed. And I have Fender covers for them. But putting the covers on when the amps are on the stand and plugged in takes a bit of fumbling (for me). I've been spoiled with the R60 (and now Markbass) metal grilles, so I'm looking for a solution that doesn't require that step.
I was going to ask if anyone had come up with a metal grille for the v3's, but a quick search turned up this post by @baileyboy where that's exactly what he did:
Tah-Dah!I understand exactly what you mean, and there may come a day when there is a separate Studio & Stage club dedicated to exploring new settings, and general help for those like me that are digitally challenged.
It may take some time but I think these amps are really going to take off big time. I believe the Studio 40 will find its way on top of a variety of non-Fender class D amps being used as pre-amps offering tremendous versitility and also replacing expensive pedalboards.
Yes. I forget just who it was that called Fender and found out that...
I see that project in my future.
Very cool!Agreed. And I have Fender covers for them. But putting the covers on when the amps are on the stand and plugged in takes a bit of fumbling (for me). I've been spoiled with the R60 (and now Markbass) metal grilles, so I'm looking for a solution that doesn't require that step.
I was going to ask if anyone had come up with a metal grille for the v3's, but a quick search turned up this post by @baileyboy where that's exactly what he did:
Tah-Dah!
Yes. I forget just who it was that called Fender and found out that...
I see that project in my future.
I have a little 26" high table that my R100c fits on perfectly and I bought a 90 degree IEC power cable and 90 degree interconnect that goes from my Two Notes Opus to the FX Return on the combo - even though it is a tight fit, the vinyl cover goes on fine.
If I were playing out anywhere, I'd want a tilt-back stand for it.
Those metal grills look great to me - I'm not so emotionally attached to the traditional Fender grill covers, that I wouldn't do that if I need that kind of protection - like for a Fender 610 or a pair of Fender 410's.
Not entirely Rumble content, but made this kit bass, cause who doesn't need a new 5-string? Right? 
Sounds fantastic with my couple of r100s with some decent strings. (1st time trying gallis, they sound and feel smooth!)
www.gallistrings.com
Still figuring out my preferred pickup height and stuff.
Sounds fantastic with my couple of r100s with some decent strings. (1st time trying gallis, they sound and feel smooth!)
JF45130 5 strings Medium
Galli® Strings - 5 strings set MEDIUM polished stainless steel flat wound .045 – .130 Flat chrome steel on a hexagonal core with a smooth surfa
www.gallistrings.com
Still figuring out my preferred pickup height and stuff.
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For future reference, that speaker comparison video is also linked, twice(!), on your Rumble Club Wiki page under the Rumble V3 Reviews section.
It certainly does. I'm still looking for frequency response charts, but it did help a lot.
It's already making me rethink my cabinets. I'm thinking of getting a 210 (a very affordable used one appeared more or less locally yesterday) to supplement my 115.
But then I'm also considering two 112 cabinets, or a 112 combo+cab. Or two 112 combos to daisy chain.
And then the GAS starts all over again, since the costs add up and I'm going to be pondering getting the 800 Stage...
