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Fender Rumble Club

Yes I do play sax although I used to play it a lot more when I came up with this name. At the time Katy was my dog. I played sax in a few different community college jazz bands and had a jazz band for a few years. I got burnt out.

I started getting together and playing guitar and ukulele acoustically with friends, and was hearing bass lines in my head so I started playing bass. Now I'm the "bass lady". Weirdly I enjoy the bass because I approach it somewhat intellectually - using patterns on the fingerboard combined with knowing some music theory.

My hope is that this Rumble 500 will do the job for a larger amp and cab. I play with an old timey group at some outdoor festivals, farmers markets and the like and they either won't put my bass through FOH, or there is none available. My Phil Jones Double 4 doesn't cut it even as a monitor to be mic'd. I am also playing in a Christmas concert in a couple of weeks in a large hall where there is not much of a PA. I don't need massive power because usually I'm playing with acoustic players where only a couple are plugged in, and if there is a drummer he is pretty light handed. I know from experience that a 100 watt amp with 12" speaker won't be enough.
The 500 has plenty of mojo, not to worry - be more worried about being too loud.
 
Playing in the Tone Pool

Now that I have a Rumble 200 with the V3 front end, I like to take a dip in the Fender Rumble Tone Pool. I especially like to try settings very different from my own proclivities.

Today: @pinz he has a setting with the EQ stair stepped: 10; 11, 12, 1 with the Vintage voicing ON. Sounds pretty good even if shy on the bottom end. I like the treble at 1 o'clock. It adds some air underneath the bass for it to soar on.

@crucislancer has three settings which are variations on a theme with overdrive utilizing a Nate Mendel signature Precision and also a Geddy Lee signature Jazz. The three taken together are an interesting study on how subtle EQ changes can really reshape your sound dramatically all while using the same sonic launching pad of Vintage + Overdrive.
 
Playing in the Tone Pool

Now that I have a Rumble 200 with the V3 front end, I like to take a dip in the Fender Rumble Tone Pool. I especially like to try settings very different from my own proclivities.

Today: @pinz he has a setting with the EQ stair stepped: 10; 11, 12, 1 with the Vintage voicing ON. Sounds pretty good even if shy on the bottom end. I like the treble at 1 o'clock. It adds some air underneath the bass for it to soar on.

@crucislancer has three settings which are variations on a theme with overdrive utilizing a Nate Mendel signature Precision and also a Geddy Lee signature Jazz. The three taken together are an interesting study on how subtle EQ changes can really reshape your sound dramatically all while using the same sonic launching pad of Vintage + Overdrive.

Very astute observation regarding my settings :thumbsup:

I love how dynamic the overdrive is, and coupled with the Vintage button it’s a hard combo to beat. I recently picked up a new bass, I can’t wait to give it a try in a full band/gig situation through the Rumble.
 
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Hey all, I'm really interested in these rumble combo amps for some smaller sized club work. I've got some sub work I've been doing for bands in the area, and I'm looking for something I can easily transport in my car that can be used with another cab if needed, but primarily by itself.

With 750+ pages in the club, I don't have time to go through and research this. I have a little rumble 15 that I really liked the sound of, so I've looked to keep it in the family I guess and you guys are the experts on these amps.

I've narrowed it to either the 200w 15 or the 500w 210 combo.

My background/requirements are as follows.

I've played professionally and have toured, played major billed shows, and worked as a hired gun for an artist that had a low 40's billboard chart hit. My road gear was ampeg, with light processing.

I also have Gallien Krueger cabs and a (blown) mb800 head that I never really warmed up to. I liked the 410 and 212 neo cabs, but now that the roadies are gone and nothing is on wheels, my back is telling me to find a lighter route keeping things simple. I still have a road rack with preamps and processing I use for gigs that don't use amps and go only wireless in ear monitors, so this would be used for smaller venues with either one or two guitars, acoustic drums (ugh) a singer and or keys. Some would be without foh reinforcement, and some with, so a good di is needed as well, as I don't want to bring my six space rack for each show.

Are the di on these amps ok? Do they have a pre post eq or what?
How are the cabs? I like the 15 but I'm well aware the cab construction makes much more of a difference than the speaker size. At 200watts, this would be the bare minimum I could run.

On the 500watt 210 cab, is it tight like a sealed cab or blooms like a ported type? I've heard these can get muddy, but I've found that's normally due to someone pushing too much lows and not eq in right.

I like a clean sound, so I rarely go more than half power too keep headroom in check. How do these amps sound when pushed compared to idling along.

And lastly, I run four and five string basses, active and passive. How do these two amps handle a 35" scale low b string?

Anyway, these are the questions I have. I have looked up a vid on YouTube, where a fender rep was using the 200watt 15 cab, and I really liked the sound. But of course we know that was at lower volume and eq'd to sound great by itself. How do these sound in a band setting?

Thanks in advance for the time and comments. I came here because I want to hear honest comments from actual users as opposed to guys that have never played live on stage with them.

Thank you.
 
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Are the di on these amps ok? Do they have a pre post eq or what?
How are the cabs? I like the 15 but I'm well aware the cab construction makes much more of a difference than the speaker size. At 200watts, this would be the bare minimum I could run.

On the 500watt 210 cab, is it tight like a sealed cab or blooms like a ported type? I've heard these can get muddy, but I've found that's normally due to someone pushing too much lows and not eq in right.

I like a clean sound, so I rarely go more than half power too keep headroom in check. How do these amps sound when pushed compared to idling along.

The DI is post, in fact it comes after master volume, so volume changes with the master will effect the DI. I haven't had an issue with that as long as I tell the sound guy.

The 500w combo (and I assume the 200w combo) have front ports. With my 500 I've gone from tight, modern tones to vintage, overdriven tube-like tones.

I use the 500w combo in conjunction with the 210 cabinet. I rarely turn up past noon on the master, and have plenty of power, when gigging with that rig. I recently used the 500 combo alone at an outdoor gig with 2 guitars, vocals, and a heavy handed drummer. Didn't have it past noon for that one, either. The combo alone is fine for most small gigs, but if you are in a large room with no PA support, an extension cabinet is ideal. Note that the 500 watts comes into play with the 8 ohm extension cab, the 500 combo is 350 watts alone.
 
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It's Whiskey Wednesday, and I'm sure people are also traveling for T-Day tomorrow.
I've narrowed it to either the 200w 15 or the 500w 210 combo.
They're both great. Pick one. If you are going to play with a Rumble extension speaker cabinet, I'd go with the Rumble 500 combo for the power; SPL, and headroom. For the places I play my Rumble 200 is plenty and never go into the PA.

Are the di on these amps ok? Do they have a pre post eq or what?
There is no DI. It is an XRL out that is post everything. Works just fine and is especially good for noise free recording.
I like a clean sound, so I rarely go more than half power too keep headroom in check. How do these amps sound when pushed compared to idling along.
Country Clean up to screaming volumes. If you want distortion, you have to add it. That is what the overdrive is for.
And lastly, I run four and five string basses, active and passive. How do these two amps handle a 35" scale low b string?
The five string players here all love the Rumble's low B ability.

Thanks in advance for the time and comments. I came here because I want to hear honest comments from actual users as opposed to guys that have never played live on stage with them.
You're welcome. :cool: Rumble On :cool:
 
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Ah, thank you. I do have two external cabs I can use, one a sealed 410, the other a ported 212.

That's too bad about the di ( or line out I guess) not having the option to go pre or post eq, it's not a deal breaker but I'd prefer to have the option of having a button to choose. I can't remember if the local music store carries them or not. I'm thinking they do not.

From what has been said, there seems to be plenty of useable power, and at 37 pounds I would be so spoiled just to have to lug that around. I can make most amps sound ok, I just want something lightweight that has a good core sound and won't fall apart after half a dozen shows.

If anyone else want to weigh in I'd appreciate it. :)
 
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I searched, but can't seem to find a club for those of us who use and love the Fender Rumble series of amps. Any interest?

I've been playing at home with my Rumble 30 since late January and it seems to me like this amp puts out a good share for being so small! Originally I was looking at the Rumble 15 but went with the 30 because of the extra input jack, more wattage, and I read online reviews which said the 30 would be good enough to play with a band in a small venue even versus the 15 which didn't have as much bang.

Hope to hear form some fellow Rumble fans soon! :D

So this makes me the founding member, #1? I feel this is a big honor for someone so new on the forum!

I have a Rumble 100 it will shake the walls down very underrated amps
 
Or is there a difference?
There is! I positively hate a sterile gutless toneless DI. :spit: That's what most of them are. Especially the pre-EQ DI. Plus you don't get the sound you chose and paid for out of the PA. This is why you see most professionals being close mic'd. The Fender Rumble XLR is the closest thing to being close mic'd with an expensive specialty microphone. Fender has some magic cabinet simulation circuitry built into both the XLR out and also the headphones output. This saves you the $200+ cost of a mic. Just use the mic cable and call it wonderful and innovative. Which it is! :thumbsup: Works a treat for noiseless direct recording too ;)
 
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The very least you can do is search up the Rumble Talks and read them. Also go to Fender.com and familiarize yourself with the various Rumble specs. Go to an actual music store and audition some Fender Rumbles. That would be a good solid start. Then buy one. It's easy! :bassist:

The specs I will look into further now that I am hearing good things here. I still have a few other options I'm looking at, but I do need to find an actual amp and try it out. I just know this site isn't affiliated with any company so I wanted a feel here first based on what I'm planning on using the amp for.
 
There is! I positively hate a sterile gutless toneless DI. :spit: That's what most of them are. Especially the pre-EQ DI. Plus you don't get the sound you chose and paid for out of the PA. This is why you see most professionals being close mic'd. The Fender Rumble XLR is the closest thing to being close mic'd with an expensive specialty microphone. Fender has some magic cabinet simulation circuitry built into both the XLR out and also the headphones output. This saves you the $200+ cost of a mic. Just use the mic cable and call it wonderful and innovative. Which it is! :thumbsup:

When I toured I would normally run two channels. One was a dry, or what was coming out of my selected preamp to the foh, and a wet, which was my mic'd cab. In a perfect world I would actually send another signal, which was completely dry, and just my bass. When combining these together, it was a huge sound, getting the best of both worlds. I run a sansamp RBI as a preamp, which I have set to a pretty even sound which always goes to foh. It is split and either a dry or a 50/50 signal goes to my stage amp, which can be tweaked for the stage, volume and eq messed with. In this stance the foh signal does not get messed with and remains constant. I almost ran ears exclusively on tour, so my amp was just there to fill the stage with bass, or I could use if I decided to run just one ear in. With both ears in all I got was my preamp and my processing, and couldn't hear the amp.

These days things arent so hi tech, and I'm looking for a good club rig that will pull a small room (under 200) or blend in well with foh, and cut on a semi busy stage. My big thing here is I don't want a heavy bulky amp I have to drag around, but no so small it gets swallowed whole on stage.

I've found in my past a single 12 just doesn't move enough air with a rock drummer in a smaller club with no separation, and everyone is on top of each other. I am very spoiled, and used to a studio quality monitor mix in my ears, so it's been a bit of an adjustment going back to using an amp as a primary source for my bass. Once I get the right amp I'll be happy. I have more than enough gear to get the job done, but it's set up to be transported via trailer and access to ramps to move onto the stage, aka no lifting.

I'm really looking forward to giving the rumble series a go and see how they perform. Once again, thanks for the input and keep it coming. The more information I have the better.
 

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