Fender Rumble Club

[Linnin]

I'm leaning towards either the 200w combo or the 500w combo. Other than the obvious difference of cost, the size/number of speakers and watts/volume, is there a significant difference between these two? Local inventory has prohibited an in-person A/B. Which of the two would/did you choose, and why?

As has already been pointed out; identical front ends & electronic features, 1x15 vs 2x10, 200 watts vs 500, $400 vs $500 = $2/watt vs $1/watt.

There is also need vs desire. What do you actually need? What do you really want? The Rumble 200 is the gateway combo for; personal play, jams & band rehersals, and live work in venues. Toss a Rumble 115 underneath to move more air and increase preceived volume. I played many years in many bars with a silverfaced Bassman 100 and 2x15 cab. It was more than enough and sounded GREAT of course.

The biggest advantage of the Rumble 500 is headroom. Which in turn can give you more clarity & definition if you have your tone controls set up for that. And with an extension cab at the full 500 watts you more than double your power over the 200 and therefore gain +3dB in volume. In short you will be screaming bloody effin murder! Should you so desire. I rarely play out any more and my Rumble 350 head on top of a pair of Rumble 112 Neo's fills every venue to the full with power & volume to spare without any PA support.

So if you aren't going to play out much if at all, and are not going to run an extension cab, then the Rumble 200 is the more attractive of the two to me. The tone is going to be extremely simular between the two and any preceived tonal differences will be minor.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I'm leaning towards either the 200w combo or the 500w combo. Other than the obvious difference of cost, the size/number of speakers and watts/volume, is there a significant difference between these two? Local inventory has prohibited an in-person A/B. Which of the two would/did you choose, and why?

In most ways, they're amazingly similar. Same size. Only 2lb weight difference. Both are light enough to carry across a parking lot, but too big and heavy for city dwellers to carry comfortably on transit. Similar tones.

In the end, I think it will depend on what you want to use it for.

For a rock player who gigs out, the $100 premium for the 500 is a no-brainer. The 200 combo can only spare 100 watts to drive the extension speaker jack. In comparison, the 500 is roughly as loud as a 200/115 stack, has more potential, costs a lot less, and it's easier to transport.

At gigs with a moderately loud drummer, you could run the 500 by itself instead of lugging the 200 stack. At really loud gigs where the 500 needs an extension, a 200/115 stack would get buried by the drummer anyway.

OTOH, some people don't want or need the tighter low end or extra headroom of the 500. If you only play in quieter settings and money is an issue, why waste the extra $100 bucks? For instance, a guy who plays in a conservative church with e-drums might be better off spending that money on a good DI, or a small multi-FX like the Zoom MS-60B.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Whoops. While I was composing my epistle, Linnin beat me to it!

I will point out though, that an old 100 watt tube head with the high-efficiency drivers they were using back then, is a different beast than a 200w Rumble V3 2*15 stack.

And even back in the day, while a Bassman 100 was a reasonable companion for playing with guitarists running 50 watt combos, it was pretty much useless for competing with guitards running running full 100w Marshall stacks set on "stun".

That's the kind of situation where the extra $100 for the $500 (and the extra $100 for the 410 over the 115 extension) would really start to shine.

 

[wbm3]

Aren't the Rumble 500 and 200 the same size?
h=23", w=19", d=14"....
About to purchase one of those LeCovers and while they have a 'stock' 200 cover, they don't have a 500 cover...

 

[Linnin]

Just to remind you,
I had bought a rumble 40 V3 until my rumble 100 arrives.
The 100 finally arrived last week. This morning i went to the store to try it but I ended up preferring the 40's tone.
Like some of you have already mentioned, I also find the 100 too boomy. Even with the low and low mids cut down, i prefer the 40's tone. I don't want to modify it like some of you did.

Finally, the shop will keep the rumble 100 and offered to refund my deposit.

NOW, i'm waiting to find and try the 200 and 500 combos.

At first, I told myself i would go with the 200 but i usually prefer 10" speakers when using my precision bass.

I decided to wait and try the 500 to just to make sure i'd make the right choice.

Here are my questions:

For the one who tried most models, do you find the 200 boomy?

Is the 500 tighter than the 100 or 200?


Once again thanks again to you all!

The truth you are going to find, Bassman74, is that all naked bass reflex boxes are boomy. Some more than others, but still pretty much a rule of thumb. They do need to be properly lined. Which in and of itself is opening a huge can of worms as to what does 'properly lined' mean. There is very little consensus. I happen to like good quality acousticlly engineered foams such as Sonic Barrier; Auralex, and also some of the offerings from Sound Proof Cow.com

 

[Linnin]

Aren't the Rumble 500 and 200 the same size?
h=23", w=19", d=14"....
About to purchase one of those LeCovers and while they have a 'stock' 200 cover, they don't have a 500 cover...

According to the specs on Fender.com that is correct. The boxes are indentical.

 

[bassplayer65]

Ha ha yes I know, as an ex F div, now L div (F41 Dag). 65 year of birth? To young to go? The good old days eh. Nice.
We prob know same people eh?
No 500 yet, maybe fri. Fingers crossed.

Luds, can't believe you have not got that 500 yet !!! Even I'm getting fed up, or has your p.c. gone down .... notice no posts.
DOB '47... I'm afraid, did 25 yrs. Joined Talkbass when I was 65 (rumble club no 222)
Roy Piggot/Mick Goodwin ring any bells ??
Fingers crossed 4 500

 

[nitrofix]

Hey wbm3, seems like they added the Rumble 500 to their website in the past hour or so, didn't have it on there this morning..Same dimensions as the 200 though, now they just need to ad the 1x15" cover and I'm good to go. http://www.lecover.com/proddetail.php?prod=522.500

Aren't the Rumble 500 and 200 the same size?
h=23", w=19", d=14"....
About to purchase one of those LeCovers and while they have a 'stock' 200 cover, they don't have a 500 cover...

 

[nitrofix]

Hey @nitrofix
Is that how you had them set up, or did you stack them?
That's the only downside I see with the combo... With the controls and handle on top, you can't put any other gear on top.

Yeah I did have them set up that way in order to put my rack on the cab, no big deal it sounded awesome...

 

[Linnin]

Yeah I did have them set up that way in order to put my rack on the cab, no big deal it sounded awesome...

The width of both the Rumble 115 nd 410 cabs is 23" same as the Rumble 200 & 500 combos are tall. So you can lay the combo down on it's side on top of the cab and have a nice spot for your wireless +. It will put your control panel in a nicely laid out vertical array.

 

[vdub75]

I thing the 115 and the combo can be stacked vertically, too?

 

[Linnin]

I thing the 115 and the combo can be stacked vertically, too?

But of course! Vertically & Horizontally! Rumbles are acrobats!

 

[Wiggle]

But of course! Vertically & Horizontally! Rumbles are acrobats!

My only complaint is that the v3 combos aren’t the same width as the cabinets they are designed to support. I know it’s a little thing but it just seems odd to me. If you stack them (which I do) you get this little stepped pyramid look… I just wish the combos were the same width you know?

 

[Dogghouse]

Anybody have a Custom Shop Rumble Bass setup, precurser to the New Bassmans. 300 all tube watss in tan tolex. SVT like?

 

[ODDBALL]

Hey Linnin, I currently have the V3 500 Combo with the Extension V3 115. Sounds great but I see a few folks going with a V3 410 instead of the 115. What would be the differences be? Would it be louder because of more speakers?

I may return the 15 for the 410. Does it make sense?

Shaun

 

[Linnin]

Anybody have a Custom Shop Rumble Bass setup, precurser to the New Bassmans. 300 all tube watss in tan tolex. SVT like?

YES! Look on the first couple of pages of the Rumble Club. There's one there

 

[Linnin]

My only complaint is that the v3 combos aren’t the same width as the cabinets they are designed to support. I know it’s a little thing but it just seems odd to me. If you stack them (which I do) you get this little stepped pyramid look… I just wish the combos were the same width you know?

Just lay it over on it's side for a perfect match!

 

[Pyrotechnic]

Ive owned a Fender rumble 150 for about two years, unfortunatly it blew up in a car explosion but thats a different story. Anyway I just ordered a Fender rumble 500 and wanted to know what people think about it?

 

[Linnin]

Ive owned a Fender rumble 150 for about two years, unfortunatly it blew up in a car explosion but thats a different story. Anyway I just ordered a Fender rumble 500 and wanted to know what people think about it?

That is about the only way you're going to blow up a Rumble 150! Good Job!
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Pyrotechnic! You are member #238 Just read through the past 20 pages or so and you'll find tons of love; raves, reviews, and gig reports from bassmen & basswomen of all ages from all walks of life around the world.

Rumble On!

 

[DerekW]

Ive owned a Fender rumble 150 for about two years, unfortunatly it blew up in a car explosion but thats a different story. Anyway I just ordered a Fender rumble 500 and wanted to know what people think about it?

Strong user name to exploding cars correlation.