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Fender Rumble Club

About practicing and amps: I do realize my R100 V3 is great and more than adequate for home practice.
But...I still prefer the 'ooomph' of my R500 V3.
I must be a bad person.
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You know what I discovered about practicing with the band with my 500C? The drummer and I started clicking better. He can clearly hear my rhythmic patterns and sync up better with me than when I was buried amongst the guitars. The band is becoming tighter now that he can clearly hear me.

And.. its not that I am too loud---the bass sound is clearly defined and tight.

I know it may sound funny--as I should be syncing with the drums.....I wrote the songs (all originals) and have clearly defined bass patterns for each song.
 
Hi Eric! Did you ever finish modifying your Rumble 100?

And yes, you are bad. Bad To The Bone!

Hi Linnin, hey, I have to admit, you have a good memory ;-).
About replacing the R100 V3 speaker: unfortunately: no, I haven't yet got the chance, the quoted '10 days delivery' kept getting delayed, finally ending up over 26 weeks.
Those speakers must be in pretty high-demand...

But, it's still on my daily checklist, will get one if I get the chance.
 
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You know what I discovered about practicing with the band with my 500C? The drummer and I started clicking better. He can clearly hear my rhythmic patterns and sync up better with me than when I was buried amongst the guitars. The band is becoming tighter now that he can clearly hear me.

And.. its not that I am too loud---the bass sound is clearly defined and tight.

I know it may sound funny--as I should be syncing with the drums.....I wrote the songs (all originals) and have clearly defined bass patterns for each song.
That's right, it's not always about volume but more about definition, separation from other instruments that makes a better sound stage.
 
Anyone using the 200 combo with the 2x10 cab? Worth it? Do you notice the full 200 watts vs the 140?

I am asking myself: I don't slap, would the extra cab be worth it for me? For the moment, the combo alone is enough volume for me. I often don't use the horn. Prefer vintage on.
If you need to move more air, then yes, and you will get +3dB volume boost. Even at the very same volume level moving more air gives you better dispersion; definition (especially punch/attack), and clarity. You will be better heard throughout the venue, and people will think you are louder even if you are not. No, don't even waste your time trying to explain that to the manager when he tells you to turn down. ;)
 
About practicing and amps: I do realize my R100 V3 is great and more than adequate for home practice.
But...I still prefer the 'ooomph' of my R500 V3.
I must be a bad person.
if it's oompf you want in a practice amp, this will give it to you. This evening I was testing a GK 115-III speaker that has been acting up, sounding fuzzy at times. I ran a V3 500 head into it being fed by my phone's MP3 player into the aux in jack. There is no audio control; it just does whatever Fender set it to do internally. It was so loud I couldn't talk over it. Let's review: 350w going into a single 15 that's so loud one can't talk over it. This, in a 1000 sq ft room. Not bad.
 
Not an issue for me really, just prompted by someone else query. I do remember thinking it sounded like quite a cool idea though.
(OT. All being well I'll pick up an old amp and cab in a few weeks for my forthcoming jam and (hopefully) small room partnership with a guitarist I met. I know enough to know that these agreements may burn out quickly... But even so I'll have more toys.)
 
the only other combos I can think of that had a removable amp were the genz shuttles, some of the the TC Electronic combos/cabs, and the Ampeg Portaflex. Of all of those, I think TC was on the right track.

I really like the design thinking behnd the TC stuff, but I can sort of see why it hasn't caught on. You do get a really sleek package, and more flexibility than with an ordinary combo. On the other hand, you are stuck with the two or three heads that actually fit, and if something should go wrong, there is a possibility that you might not be able to replace the head with a model that fits, and be left with a cab with a great big hole in it. The problem is, I think that this kind of solution appeals to combo buyers, but not to head/cab buyers, and at that price point the head/cab buyers are the ones you need to appeal to.
 
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I really like the design thinking behnd the TC stuff, but I can sort of see why it hasn't caught on. You do get a really sleek package, and more flexibility than with an ordinary combo. On the other hand, you are stuck with the two or three heads that actually fit, and if something should go wrong, there is a possibility that you might not be able to replace the head with a model that fits, and be left with a cab with a great big hole in it. The problem is, I think that this kind of solution appeals to combo buyers, but not to head/cab buyers, and at that price point the head/cab buyers are the ones you need to appeal to.

I think the idea of the TCs is cool. I decided against it because you could only use 2 patches at once including effect choice. Last thing I would want to do is have to pull out a phone to change it in a live situation. The tuner gets mixed reviews for accuracy.

I went with a simpler combo with external pedal in front where i can turn on/off effects independently.

If TC adds saving of more parches I think they will become more popular. I particularly like the patches and their sound that they offer and provide free after purchase. That part is very well thought out and unique.
 
TC's design is cool, but it just doesn't sound as good as Rumbles. Especially for the money. The Shuttle design was, I thought, a bad idea from the start. Didn't like the sound either.
As I am sure I have said, when I was looking at combos I was sure I was going to have to settle for "the combo sound," meaning tons of midrange and no low end, hallmarks of a poorly designed speaker enclosure. The Rumble changed all that. Believe me, I am a tough customer to please (ask all the places to where I have returned stuff). The 500 combo seems like it defies the laws of physics.
 
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@Tandark got me thinking what if anything would I change in the Rumble line to announce at this coming Winter NAMM 20 days from now? Rumbles have been so successful why change anything? You don't mess with success, and if it aint broke don't fix it.

Still about the only things I would do is to bump up the wattage on the Rumble 200 to 300. Coupled with an extension speaker cabinet that would surely do the trick for any venue.

Likewise a bump up in the wattage of the Rumble 100 to something like 150 or even 200 and the addition of a powered extension speaker output jack would give this handy little combo some extreme versatility.

What say you?
 
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First practice with the R100 last night. Some thoughts:

GregT was right, I did manage to dial out the boomy-ness. No issue at all actually.
Damn the vintage switch is good.
LOTS of volume for the type of gigs we do (80's rock mostly, corporate and private parties). It has me thinking that I could get by on the 40 if it sounds as full as the 100.
22lbs is a fantastic weight to lug in and out even if it is still heavier than my usual 5lb, direct to PA, rig.

I find it really pleasing that I can use a 22lb "entry" level amp to gig with these days. This thing sounds amazing and is well within most bass players budgets. It really is a great time to be a bass player.

Actually, both the guitar player and myself are rocking entry level Fender products (Mustang III and R100) by choice. Cheap and versatile.
 
At last nights open mic/jam session I cohost, I ran my Rumble with the Vintage button off. Since it is an acoustic jam, I didn't want to have the extra lows. It worked great! The 100 is such a versatile amp. I haven't had my 200 out of the house in a long time, but I just haven't needed it lately. Maybe I will use it at next weeks jam just because I like it so much.
 
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@Tandark got me thinking what if anything would I change in the Rumble line to announce at this coming Winter NAMM 20 days from now? Rumbles have been so successful why change anything? You don't mess with success, and if it aint broke don't fix it.

Still about the only things I would do is to bump up the wattage on the Rumble 200 to 300. Coupled with an extension speaker cabinet that would surely do the trick for any venue.

Likewise a bump up in the wattage of the Rumble 100 to something like 150 or even 200 and the addition of a powered extension speaker output jack would give this handy little combo some extreme versatility.

What say you?
I agree completely. If the 200 were 300 watts, it would suit me perfectly as a practice/rehearsal amp and I'd probably buy one. If it were one of the Rumble 12's that would be even more perfecter, although I imagine it would be the 15. which would be OK too.
 
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