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just into a 3 space rack mount. i can pop in a tuner or wireless on top. the foam just holds it snug. works great.Yep. S.A.D.S. = Sudden Ampeg Death Syndrome All bass players would do well to avoid all things ampeg like the plague.
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, secretsound5!You are member #227
What is that stupid thing you've got your Rumble stuffed into? All surrounded by foam like that can't be good.
Rumble On!
So I liked my V3 500 combo so much I bought a 500 head. $320, couldn't resist. Comes with a great little gig bag; head weighs nothing, but feels a little on the cheap side. Bigger (wider) than you might expect, so you might need that bag. But I have a problem - brand new out of the box, the knobs are discolored. Looks like they were laying on dirt. anyone experienced that?
Anyway, here's why I bought the head... lots of things going on, so bear with me.
I originally bought the combo based not only on the sound of the whole combo, but on the toughness of the speakers and just how that box sounds. Man, to my ears, what a nice 2x10 box! Tight growly low end no matter what I do to the tone controls, especially on the B-string. Makes for very articulate low end. And man, can those 2x10s take it. I'm shocked at what I can do to those 10's with my B-string and get away with it. I should be arrested.
But, sometimes I don't trust myself and use an extension cab - a GK NEO 115-3, which is close to one of my fave cabs of all time (tight low end and a really nasty "bark". The problem using it with the combo is that the GK is so efficient, it overpowers the 2x10s. Still, using them together on an outside gig, it was the deepest, punchiest, growliest tone I've ever gotten. Made playing so easy.
So, in my paranoia about blowing up the combo, I bought the head mainly as a backup... until I realized I could use it as the power for the 115 and balance the cabs.
And then it occurred to me I could run in stereo...
I'll give a gig report the next time I play out (not for some time, though).
But in the meantime, if anyone has experienced those dirty knobs, let me know!
Anyway, here's why I bought the head... lots of things going on, so bear with me.
I originally bought the combo based not only on the sound of the whole combo, but on the toughness of the speakers and just how that box sounds. Man, to my ears, what a nice 2x10 box! Tight growly low end no matter what I do to the tone controls, especially on the B-string. Makes for very articulate low end. And man, can those 2x10s take it. I'm shocked at what I can do to those 10's with my B-string and get away with it. I should be arrested.
But, sometimes I don't trust myself and use an extension cab - a GK NEO 115-3, which is close to one of my fave cabs of all time (tight low end and a really nasty "bark". The problem using it with the combo is that the GK is so efficient, it overpowers the 2x10s. Still, using them together on an outside gig, it was the deepest, punchiest, growliest tone I've ever gotten. Made playing so easy.
So, in my paranoia about blowing up the combo, I bought the head mainly as a backup... until I realized I could use it as the power for the 115 and balance the cabs.
And then it occurred to me I could run in stereo...
I'll give a gig report the next time I play out (not for some time, though).
But in the meantime, if anyone has experienced those dirty knobs, let me know!
Pics? Just trying to see what you're describing. The knobs are supposed to be an off white color rather than pure white.
For what you paid, might not be too much of a stretch to just replace the knobs with some cool custom ones. I've been thinking this amp might look nice with some of the larger Jazz Bass knobs on it as a replacement for the stock ones.
OK, so a call to Fender's consumer relations is in order: (480) 596-7195. It sounds like the mold was too hot when your knobs were made, and should have been recycled rather than passed on to production. They should be able to get some new knobs to you in a reasonable time frame.
Yeah, of course, Norman Wisdom, see it now ........re-uniforms, wore the same stuff too, many moons ago now ......changed through the years, all now distant fond memories. Old J Div ...... sure you know what I'm on about ...... Bassplayer65 (now a couple of years older.)Uniform? What yours? That's what we used to wear many years ago
You got that 500 yet ????
Yeah the sub-contractor that makes these for Fender should get reemed out over that for sure! Fortunately they are still functional, and have that funky relic'd look. 
Fender will send you some new ones.
Fender will send you some new ones.So skimming through the thread, I see multiple reports of the Rumble 500 combo being paired with the 115 extension. Not so much with a 210 as Fender doesn't offer one.
I would probably add the 115 as I think the 410 may be too much (6 x 10s)? But what about one of those Peavey Headliner 210s? Price is right ($200) and 400W @ 8 ohms...but almost twice the weight of the combo...?
I would probably add the 115 as I think the 410 may be too much (6 x 10s)? But what about one of those Peavey Headliner 210s? Price is right ($200) and 400W @ 8 ohms...but almost twice the weight of the combo...?
Peavey's Headliner series are of the very lowest quality both build & sound, and I would avoid them. We know that the Rumble 115 and 410 match up well. An Avatar 2x10 loaded with Eminence ceramics would be a viable alternative, but at the about the same price as the Rumble 410. If you could find a used Genz Benz Focus 210, that would be an excellent choice and a good match as they loaded them with Eminence ceramic's. Invalid Link Removed
Hey Guys, been reading through the threads and like what I'm hearing about the new Rumbles.. I'm thinking about picking up the 500 combo but have a question.
When running the DI out to the PA does the volume on the amp the affect the level coming out of the DI ? Sometimes I like to adjust my stage volume without increasing the level going to the board...Thanks
When running the DI out to the PA does the volume on the amp the affect the level coming out of the DI ? Sometimes I like to adjust my stage volume without increasing the level going to the board...Thanks
Yes it does. Rumbles have an XLR line out that is post EQ. It is not a DI. If you turn up your amp you also turn up your line out signal to the board.
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A built in DI will give you a choice of pre or post EQ and will have a seperate level control. An XLR balanced line out is just that. Nothing fancy. It allows you to go direct to a sound board without the expense of a microphone. With a good bass amp/rig you really want to be mic'd up anyway, and you're talking two or three hundred bucks for a good live bass microphone. With an XLR out you're talking $20 for a mic cable.
OK, well, anyone who likes these "relic'd" knobs can buy them from me!Yeah the sub-contractor that makes these for Fender should get reemed out over that for sure! Fortunately they are still functional, and have that funky relic'd look.
