Fender Rumble Club

[RL5]

I'm going to go back to basics and work from there. Rumble V3 standard settings with EQ at 10/2/2/10 and see what I can get from there. I do prefer the sound when I add my 210 extension cabinet, but don't want to drag it around (or really need it, for that matter) for every gig.

 

[Never2Late]

I'm going to go back to basics and work from there. Rumble V3 standard settings with EQ at 10/2/2/10 and see what I can get from there. I do prefer the sound when I add my 210 extension cabinet, but don't want to drag it around (or really need it, for that matter) for every gig.

If it's a tone thing, I've found that the "cleanest" tone settings (for me) are at 10/11/4/10 with the Bright switch on. High-mids almost dimed. This is for a more melodic tone, rather than bass-y thump.

Recently on my P/J basses, I've turned up the J pickups almost all of the way (P's are always maxed out). This has allowed me to reduce the high-mids from 4 to ~2 and still retain a tone that sounds melodic-clean to me.

If it's a noise/distortion thing, that's a different matter. In that case, I'd ask if it gets worse with higher volumes.

 

[RL5]

If it's a tone thing, I've found that the "cleanest" tone settings (for me) are at 10/11/4/10 with the Bright switch on. High-mids almost dimed. This is for a more melodic tone, rather than bass-y thump.

Recently on my P/J basses, I've turned up the J pickups almost all of the way (P's are always maxed out). This has allowed me to reduce the high-mids from 4 to ~2 and still retain a tone that sounds clean to me.

If it's a noise/distortion thing, that's a different matter. In that case, I'd ask if it gets worse with higher volumes.

To my ears, it does seem to be more of a distortion thing and does seem to get worse at higher volumes. Perhaps it's the interaction of the G&L MFD pickups and the gain setting I'm using. I may need to turn down the gain some, but then I lose volume and our drummer & guitarist are quite loud. When I turned the gain down to about 3 or 4, the bass got lost in the mix. Couldn't hear myself at all unless I was right in front of the amp. Couldn't hear it at all when I stepped away from the stage.

 

[G-Dog]

Fellow Rumblers - .... I have a Stage 800 that I use ... ... Regardless of the amp model I use, I can't seem to get a clean tone from the amp, especially with my G&L's (yes, they are aggressive sounding basses). I'm thinking I may have a blown speaker. What's the easiest way to check? Visually, they look fine. Any help us appreciated.

It's pretty much always been like this. One of the cones came dented, but I was told when I bought it that it didn't affect sound. After some checking as described above, I'm thinking I just am not getting along with the Rumble tone. I want something cleaner. Don't know if different speakers would help or if I need to change brands (thinking Markbass).

The Rumble Club WIKI may have a suggestion-or two-to cure your situation. They don't EQ the same as other amps; putting a sock-or something-in a port; adding batting in the cab; whatever.
Rumbles aren't gonna sound like other amps unless that's how you 'set' them. I prefer the "baked in" sound of 7ender amps to anything else I've played through, which includes 3 different size/type 'Pegs, a GK, some PVs, a MarkBass, etc.

I'll go through the Wiki again. Perhaps I'll find something to help me out that I've overlooked previously. I have added some batting to the cab, worked the EQ, etc., but just can't seem to get a tone I am comfortable with. Not articulate or clean enough for my liking. I've had this amp for several years now.

I don't recall anything on the Wiki for your situation, RL, but you might find something I overlooked.

If the 4 presets named "Clean", 1 Basic Bassman Clean, 8 Clean Focus, 11 TV Bassman Clean and 22 Bassman 300 Clean (possibly with deep EQ adjustments), or some of the Dual Showman or Studio Preamp presets, don't get you clean enough, then I dunno what to say. The Stage & Studio amos are not limited to the familiar Rumble tones at all.

While I never recommend changing speakers to achieve different tones, especially on such a multi-tonal modeling amp(!), I am impressed by how many Rumble 800 combo users say that its Neo speakers sound cleaner, more articulate, than the Rumble 500 combo's ceramic ferrite speakers.

 

[PWolverine]

I'll go through the Wiki again. Perhaps I'll find something to help me out that I've overlooked previously. I have added some batting to the cab, worked the EQ, etc., but just can't seem to get a tone I am comfortable with. Not articulate or clean enough for my liking. I've had this amp for several years now.

Have you tried running something like another pre-amp through the effects return of your Rumble? That way you bypass the baked in tone?
I've put the Origin Effects Bassrigs through the rumble this way and love how they sound (Rumble 200) ... right now experimenting with the new Mesa DI which sounds amazing too.

 

[RL5]

Have you tried running something like another pre-amp through the effects return of your Rumble? That way you bypass the baked in tone?
I've put the Origin Effects Bassrigs through the rumble this way and love how they sound (Rumble 200) ... right now experimenting with the new Mesa DI which sounds amazing too.

Thanks for the suggestion. Hadn't tried that. The only time I've run a pre-amp is directly into our PA. I'll try it into Rumble.

 

[Giff]

I don't recall anything on the Wiki for your situation, RL, but you might find something I overlooked.

If the 4 presets named "Clean", 1 Basic Bassman Clean, 8 Clean Focus, 11 TV Bassman Clean and 22 Bassman 300 Clean (possibly with deep EQ adjustments), or some of the Dual Showman or Studio Preamp presets, don't get you clean enough, then I dunno what to say. The Stage & Studio amos are not limited to the familiar Rumble tones at all.

While I never recommend changing speakers to achieve different tones, especially on such a multi-tonal modeling amp(!), I am impressed by how many Rumble 800 combo users say that its Neo speakers sound cleaner, more articulate, than the Rumble 500 combo's ceramic ferrite speakers.

Have you tried running something like another pre-amp through the effects return of your Rumble? That way you bypass the baked in tone?
I've put the Origin Effects Bassrigs through the rumble this way and love how they sound (Rumble 200) ... right now experimenting with the new Mesa DI which sounds amazing too.

Does the new Mesa have any overdrive characteristics when pushed? Or is it strictly clean?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Interesting. I'd describe the sound of my Rumble 500 as very clean. Cleaner than either my Orange Terror or Ampeg PF-800. In fact, that's why it's become my rig of choice.

Yeah, my R100s both do clean just fine.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

To my ears, it does seem to be more of a distortion thing and does seem to get worse at higher volumes. Perhaps it's the interaction of the G&L MFD pickups and the gain setting I'm using. I may need to turn down the gain some, but then I lose volume and our drummer & guitarist are quite loud. When I turned the gain down to about 3 or 4, the bass got lost in the mix. Couldn't hear myself at all unless I was right in front of the amp. Couldn't hear it at all when I stepped away from the stage.

Where was the master volume?

 

[Never2Late]

To my ears, it does seem to be more of a distortion thing and does seem to get worse at higher volumes. Perhaps it's the interaction of the G&L MFD pickups and the gain setting I'm using.

If it turns out not to be the input signal and is coming from the amp/cabinet itself:

I had distortion and noise from my first R500 that was worse at some frequencies than others, and got worse at higher volumes. The root cause turned out to be a not-fully-glued-and-braced cabinet (manufacturing defect). It took a while for me to diagnose because I thoroughly checked all of the components before checking the cabinet itself.

The fix was straightforward and easy once I found the issue.

Here's a link to the thread:

N

Thread 'Rumble 500v3 bad sound, buzzing, and shuffly noises - what I found and fixed'

May 31, 2025

Posting this in case anyone else has the same symptoms with their amp.

The Purchase
I recently purchased a Fender Rumble 500v3 combo amp. To test it before buying, the store only had a 6-string bass that was huge and out-of-tune, with 5 knobs and a tag tie-wrapped around the E and A strings. The 500v3 made bass sounds, but didn't sound great and there were buzzing and shuffly noises with certain notes; worse at higher volumes. Also at higher volumes with low notes, it sounded very pulsey (like a jackhammer. overdrive was off).

I incorrectly assumed that the not-great sound was...

• Never2Late
• Replies: 30
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

• 

 

[RL5]

Where was the master volume?

Mater volume and gain are both up around 3 O'clock. I need a good amount of volume to keep up with the drummer and guitarist. Volume on the bass is between 80 & 100%, although my volume pedal is usually down to around 50% or so.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Mater volume and gain are both up around 3 O'clock. I need a good amount of volume to keep up with the drummer and guitarist. Volume on the bass is between 80 & 100%, although my volume pedal is usually down to around 50% or so.

Did you try running the master hotter?

 

[G-Dog]

Mater volume and gain are both up around 3 O'clock. I need a good amount of volume to keep up with the drummer and guitarist. Volume on the bass is between 80 & 100%, although my volume pedal is usually down to around 50% or so.

Did you try running the master hotter?

RL, you know you can turn up the Volume and/or Master settings on each preset's amp models, right? I recall one Stage 800 user thinking he had got a lemon, until he found those settings and kicked them up a notch! Sorry I can't find that post right now.

 

[mixbus]

Mater volume and gain are both up around 3 O'clock. I need a good amount of volume to keep up with the drummer and guitarist. Volume on the bass is between 80 & 100%, although my volume pedal is usually down to around 50% or so

Just a suggestion;
You either need a more powerful setup with more headroom, or find a way for everyone to play quieter.

That kind of volume isn’t good for anyone’s hearing.

At 3 o’clock- the preamp amp power amp- may start breaking up and compressing-distorting.

Maybe move the amps closer to ear level and turn them down?

No one wins the volume wars. Only casualties.

Not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, but if a rumble stage 800 isn’t loud enough…

what do I know…

 

[GonePlaid]

Where was the master volume?

On the far right.

 

[RL5]

RL, you know you can turn up the Volume and/or Master settings on each preset's amp models, right? I recall one Stage 800 user thinking he had got a lemon, until he found those settings and kicked them up a notch! Sorry I can't find that post right now.

Should have clarified. Those settings were in the amp model. On the amp itself, Master was set between 11AM and 1PM or so, depending on how loud we were. Master is the only thing I adjust outside of the model.

 

[G-Dog]

Happy 75th Birthday
to Rumbler #815
@Giffro

Hey, Giffy!
Aussie Aussie, Aussie!!!
Oi, oi, oi!!!

Or, has the day already passed where you're at? ​

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Happy birthday, @Giffro !

 

[PWolverine]

Just picked up a Rumble 100 off Marketplace for a great price, as I was a little annoyed at lugging my 200 as a separate trip for some practice sessions. . Perhaps lazyness, but hoping the 100 will just be a little easier for simpler sessions. . Either way, just wanted to check with people that know a bit more, If I wanted to use both for some reason in the future, is it just a matter of going out of the effects send of the 200 into the effects return of the 100? Anything I should be careful of when doing so?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Just picked up a Rumble 100 off Marketplace for a great price, as I was a little annoyed at lugging my 200 as a separate trip for some practice sessions. . Perhaps lazyness, but hoping the 100 will just be a little easier for simpler sessions. . Either way, just wanted to check with people that know a bit more, If I wanted to use both for some reason in the future, is it just a matter of going out of the effects send of the 200 into the effects return of the 100? Anything I should be careful of when doing so?

You can go out the FX send of either into the FX return of the other. Nothing special to do. Obvs use a shielded (instrument or patch) cable, not a speaker cable.
Congrats on a good deal!