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Fender Rumble Club

#14,501
I don't understand why they put tweeters in bass amps, either. I used to be a stereo nut before I discovered live music. I do not remember ever seeing a good stereo speaker with a 12" or15" woofer and a tweeter and no midrange. There were a few two way 10 inchers, the Large Advent being the most prominent. There are bass cabinets with a woofer and mid-range. I mentioned that to a bass player who plays a double bass and he was interested. The midrange would make more sense to me.
 
#14,503
Took my 500C to a jam last night. The singer/soundman kept looking all over for something 'til he finally asks me, ''Are you going through the board?''

I said, ''No, just my amp.'' To which he relies, ''Man, it sounds like you're in the subs!''

I said, ''Yes, it does, doesn't it?''

:D
 
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#14,504
I backed a singer on bass a few weeks ago at a large church. Took my bass, Rumble 200 and Boss RC 300. Right before we started she asked if I was sure she'd be able to hear the bass, I said yes. She asked can the folks in the back hear it, so I hit a few notes and asked her "what do you think?" She walked to her mic to start the program.
 
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#14,505
Hello everyone. I need some advice on amp heads. I have been looking at the rumble 200 and 500. The other day I came across someone who had a NOS Rumble 350 head. I figured i could get the 200 new for around $280, the 500 can be found used for around $300. The price on the NOS 350 is around $275 or so. What is the best deal of the 3? I don't need mega volume. I would like a classic tone that has some volume to it when necessary. I have not bought a cabinet yet, so any advice/recommendations on those would welcome. Thanks.
 
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#14,507
Tulsa Teddy said:
Got my first rumble yesterday, a 500 combo. I've been playing it side by side with my Ampeg BA115 this afternoon. I used to think my Ampeg sounded good. Next to the Rumble it sounds so hollow. No Growl, even after I adjusted the eq. Wow. I'm a believer now.
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As promised, you are #676. Parson the delay. I have put the list on my phone so I will have it wherever I am.
Rumble On!
 
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#14,509
Shuggy73 said:
Hello everyone. I need some advice on amp heads. I have been looking at the rumble 200 and 500. The other day I came across someone who had a NOS Rumble 350 head. I figured i could get the 200 new for around $280, the 500 can be found used for around $300. The price on the NOS 350 is around $275 or so. What is the best deal of the 3? I don't need mega volume. I would like a classic tone that has some volume to it when necessary. I have not bought a cabinet yet, so any advice/recommendations on those would welcome. Thanks.
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The Rumble 350 is a great sounding head with semi-parametric mids. I like the V2 Overdrive better than the current V3. It is plenty LOUD. I'm not selling mine.

Since you desire classic tone and some volume here and there audition the Rumble 200 combo. I have one and love it. It has become my daily personal practice amp. It has plenty of volume to jam with a drummer and play your average bar without any PA support. Plus you can add a cab for greater SPL and move more air when needed.
 
#14,512
@Linnin - seeing as you reign supreme over all things Rumble...can you school me on the Rumble 500 head through a couple of 2x10s vs. a pair of 1x12s? I like a warm, round tone...play a lot of blues/rock/southern-rock Gov't Mule type stuff but I'm a pick player so I need something to balance out the sharp attack while still cutting through the mix successfully.
 
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#14,513
BlackCatBassman said:
@Linnin - seeing as you reign supreme over all things Rumble...can you school me on the Rumble 500 head through a couple of 2x10s vs. a pair of 1x12s? I like a warm, round tone...play a lot of blues/rock/southern-rock Gov't Mule type stuff but I'm a pick player so I need something to balance out the sharp attack while still cutting through the mix successfully.
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I predict @Linnin will suggest the 2 1x12 or based on what you play, 2 1x15s.
 
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#14,515
BlackCatBassman said:
@Linnin - seeing as you reign supreme over all things Rumble...can you school me on the Rumble 500 head through a couple of 2x10s vs. a pair of 1x12s? I like a warm, round tone...play a lot of blues/rock/southern-rock Gov't Mule type stuff but I'm a pick player so I need something to balance out the sharp attack while still cutting through the mix successfully.
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It really boils down to simple SPL & volume of air moved. I like 12's and am not a fan of 10's so I am biased. A pair of Rumble 210's is going to give you more of each than a pair of 112's. Larger diameter drivers have broader dispersion and usually a smoother midrange. This is especially true of the custom Eminence designed ceramic-ferrite 15's for Fender Rumbles. A pair of 115's will move as much air as 4x10's. There's your BIG SPL picture. Tone wise it really comes down to your ear and what you like best. In my experience of critical listening, there isn't a tremendous difference in frequency response or initial quickness of response.

As far as your sharp pick attack goes, you just have to seek your balance in rolling off your tone control and back off your amp's treble until your attack equals your midrange meat and bottom punch. That's what they're for.
 
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#14,518
BlackCatBassman said:
Rumble 500 head through a couple of 2x10s vs. a pair of 1x12s? I like a warm, round tone...play a lot of blues/rock/southern-rock Gov't Mule type stuff
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Because I'm feeling rather verbose today, let's look at this another way. Let's go ahead and count 15's out as you don't care for them. If you were looking at a Rumble 210 alone vs a pair of Rumble 112's there would be no contest as the pair of 12's would handily produce more SPL and move more air and to my ear sound better doing it. It is also my well considered opinion that the pair of 112's would be better suited to genres such as: Alt. Country, Americana, Blues, and of course any blues and country based rock to include any jazz inflected mules owned by the gov't.

There are probably about 300+ Rumble Club members that own the Rumble 500 2x10 combo and that it does absolutely everything for them all by itself. It is the best selling bass amp & combo on the world market and has been for two years running. If it keeps this up (and there is no reason why it shouldn't) it will be the best selling bass amp of all time. You can't argue with success, or at least you shouldn't waste your time doing so.
 
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#14,519
Linnin said:
It really boils down to simple SPL & volume of air moved. I like 12's and am not a fan of 10's so I am biased. A pair of Rumble 210's is going to give you more of each than a pair of 112's. Larger diameter drivers have broader dispersion and usually a smoother midrange. This is especially true of the custom Eminence designed ceramic-ferrite 15's for Fender Rumbles. A pair of 115's will move as much air as 4x10's. There's your BIG SPL picture. Tone wise it really comes down to your ear and what you like best. In my experience of critical listening, there isn't a tremendous difference in frequency response or initial quickness of response.

As far as your sharp pick attack goes, you just have to seek your balance in rolling off your tone control and back off your amp's treble until your attack equals your midrange meat and bottom punch. That's what they're for.
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I also was turned off to 10s. but then I heard the Rumble 500 combo. IMO they sound leagues better than most other 210 cabs. the speakers the main reason I bought the combo.

I've played around in a store with a Rumble 200/15, I think it sounds similar to the 210, which is kind of a turnoff to me as I was hoping it would have more barky midrange.

Back when I was first figuring out what I wanted from the Rumble, I had a 500 combo (still do) and an ext 210 cab. I thought the low end was too much. Therefore, this might be what you want to look at. The stack looks good and is crazy loud for what it s. An excellent rock setup. But I landed on the two 112 cabs specifically because I wanted more midrange and less bass. While the 112 cab is definitely a more low-end-ish 112, I'm not sure it's the best for that "rounded" sound. But might be...

To my ear, the Rumble "sound" doesn't have the "rounded" sound that amps like Ampeg does. Which is why the Rumbles sound better! I think if i was after the warm round sound I'd start at the Rumble head, by engaging the vintage switch, and turning off the tweeter. You might want to add bass from there, but be forewarned that the Vintage switch already pushes the low end a good bit and it might be damaging to a speaker when adding even more low end to that. Just be careful.

One other angle to that rounded sound is to use a low pass filter - Josh Broughton on here as Azure Skies makes one that's killer. It's the best way I know of to round off the top end of any bass or amp, without even turning off the tweeter. Just start turning down the high end and it progressively removes all frequencies above the threshold, down to something like 200 hz.
 

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