The 500 will do nicely. My 25 will surprise you on how well it does with the low B.Very good. It is surprising how well Fender Rumbles handle the low B. You just need to go audition the 200 & 500 and pick the one you like best.
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The 500 will do nicely. My 25 will surprise you on how well it does with the low B.Very good. It is surprising how well Fender Rumbles handle the low B. You just need to go audition the 200 & 500 and pick the one you like best.
I visited one in Chicago.We have them in Texas, at least in the Fort Worth Dallas area.
Why not the 25? I know its a little bigger, but the cost difference is negligible, and you get more headroom, ported enclosure, and contour and overdrive.View attachment 894014 My Rumble 15 arrived today. I plan to use it as part of my travel rig, as well as with acoustic instruments, and in other situations where its compact size is a plus. I thought a family photo with my 500 and 40 would be appropriate.![]()
Bigger and heavier. I wanted it to be as small and compact as possible. Don't really need the headroom or the overdrive, I have the 40 and 500 for that.Why not the 25? I know its a little bigger, but the cost difference is negligible, and you get more headroom, ported enclosure, and contour and overdrive.
That's what I guessed. Also because you have a 40 which is pretty portable as it is, the 25 is almost as big and is heavier than the 40. I took the grille off a 25 and that little 8" looks funny in that big old box. Figured they would give it a 10".Bigger and heavier. I wanted it to be as small and compact as possible. Don't really need the headroom or the overdrive, I have the 40 and 500 for that.![]()
The 40 is light enough, but the depth of the cabinet makes it a little uncomfortable to carry for longer distances. The 15 is just about right, and I can live with the difference in performance. For once, size DOES matter.That's what I guessed. Also because you have a 40 which is pretty portable as it is, the 25 is almost as big and is heavier than the 40. I took the grille off a 25 and that little 8" looks funny in that big old box. Figured they would give it a 10".
Is that when the Rumble Bass head arrives?Next weekend will not get here fast enough!
Is that when the Rumble Bass head arrives?
Ok here it is and the Fender logo plate on order. No exactly like the Fender look - but I like it.
Thanks YAHBOY for all your help in ideas. Oh yeah - the grilles are all Stainless Steel.
View attachment 894127 View attachment 894128 View attachment 894129
Hey Larry,
I have some insight here.
I own both of the GK's MB115II and MB212II combos. And I own the Rumble 500 Head and 210 cab. These amps sound VERY different from each other. All 3 are great amps and all work well.
The learning curve is huge from the GK's to the Rumble's. Mainly being that the GK's are more High Fi and modern where the Rumble is going to lean more on the old school warm booty. I found that if you use the Contour pushed in, on the Rumble, it puts in you closer to the GK sound to start with, since your ear is used to the GK sound. Also start with the Bass knob at about 9 O'clock and the Low Mid around 1 o'clock on the Rumble and work from there. I found that the bass sounded a bit pushed on the Rumble vs. GK's. And I found that the Rumble started to sound much better after the speakers broke in.
I'll admit, at first I thought I may have made a mistake going the Rumble Route from GK, but I made myself stick to it and try out different things. It took some time, but I found my happy places with the amp. I'm glad I did hang in there. I have had about dozen shows and maybe twice that in rehearsals with it since I got it over a month or so ago. I got the greatest compliment last weekend when the bass player from a local band I admire, came up and started talking shop and asking me about how I achieved some of the tones I had. He said it sounded great and had huge presence and bottom end.
If you really like the 115 sound but want the extra horsepower on tap, I would recommend the 500 head and 115 cab or 2. Plus that gives you flexibility to mix and match cabs. I for one am so glad I did that over the combo, I just really want the flexibility to mix and match cabs from the Rumble or Bassman series or any brand for that fact. I used the Rumble 500 head with my Eden 210XLT cab, and wow! I used it with both the Eden and Rumble cab last show and sounded great. Tomorrow I am playing the St. Augustine Amphitheater and will just use the Rumble Head and 210 cab with the Line out on the Rumble to FOH.
+ 1. pbass with flats.I should add, My Jazz sounds great with the 500 Head and 210 cab, but the real magic is the Road Worn P with Flats!
... I really need to test the 200 at least to find out if that is the sound that I will like, thanks for your review, is good to know that even you having GKs, like the sound of the Rumble.
What if he has shin-ear monitors?Larry, when you test the R200, get it off the floor at least a couple of inches (or 5 cm, I guess, in CR) and be sitting so you are closer to being in the speaker's radiation pattern. You want to hear what the audience will be hearing, not blasting music at your shins.
How'd you know I have a broken float switch and have to switch on the pump manually?Go pump your bilge!![]()