Fender Rumble LT25, Studio 40 & Stage 800

[JeffLieby]

Hey guys, I know it'll be different for different guitars and everything, but I'm wondering if anyone would be able to help me out with a specific tone I have in mind? The bassist for the band Crumb has a really great tone and I'd like to know if anyone here is experienced enough with the 800 or 40 to point me in the right direction for achieving this tone. Or a preset/download that's close that I may be able to work off....

I don't own the amp, but have been lurking as of late because I am thinking of picking one up. I would say a P-bass with flats, or rounds for that matter, and good palm muting technique will get you most of the way there on the song "Plants". Play with rolling the tone knob back as needed, if you have a bass with one. You can solo the neck pickup on that Schector in your avatar, and roll off the Treble and mid EQ a bit.

Preset wise, I would say the '66 Flip Top, Bassman TV, or even possibly the Tube Preamp would be a good starting point. I would imagine the Flip Top and Bassman TV cabs are serviceable for those tones as well.

I found a Live video of "Locket" that confirms the P Bass/Ampeg sound. I believe that a P Bass and the Flip Top setting would get you pretty close. There is some of the palm muting going on on "Locket", but then there are sections where he switches to fingerstyle and it opens up a bit tonally. Looks like he might be engaging an EQ pedal, or maybe engaging the graphic EQ on the amp via footswitch (not sure if this is possible, I'm not super familiar with the SVT 3 Pro) to boost the mid/upper frequencies some. Both of those sounds could reasonably be achieved by not rolling off those frequencies quite as much and making the palm muted sound more "thuddy" with your right hand technique. This would allow you to just adjust the EQ on the preset some by mildly dialing back some treble and upper mids for the fingerstyle tone, and just give them a good thumpin' when you switch to the palm mute sections.

Looking at the manual for the Rumble Studio/Stage it does seem that there are some nice options in the effects for EQ (Graphic/Parametric) that could be switched on too to help with switching back and forth between the two styles/tones, so that is another option.

I hope this was helpful, I'm attaching the live video I saw for reference. Cool band too, thanks for turning me on to them.

 

[Slingy]

I don't own the amp, but have been lurking as of late because I am thinking of picking one up. I would say a P-bass with flats, or rounds for that matter, and good palm muting technique will get you most of the way there on the song "Plants". Play with rolling the tone knob back as needed, if you have a bass with one. You can solo the neck pickup on that Schector in your avatar, and roll off the Treble and mid EQ a bit.

Preset wise, I would say the '66 Flip Top, Bassman TV, or even possibly the Tube Preamp would be a good starting point. I would imagine the Flip Top and Bassman TV cabs are serviceable for those tones as well.

I found a Live video of "Locket" that confirms the P Bass/Ampeg sound. I believe that a P Bass and the Flip Top setting would get you pretty close. There is some of the palm muting going on on "Locket", but then there are sections where he switches to fingerstyle and it opens up a bit tonally. Looks like he might be engaging an EQ pedal, or maybe engaging the graphic EQ on the amp via footswitch (not sure if this is possible, I'm not super familiar with the SVT 3 Pro) to boost the mid/upper frequencies some. Both of those sounds could reasonably be achieved by not rolling off those frequencies quite as much and making the palm muted sound more "thuddy" with your right hand technique. This would allow you to just adjust the EQ on the preset some by mildly dialing back some treble and upper mids for the fingerstyle tone, and just give them a good thumpin' when you switch to the palm mute sections.

Looking at the manual for the Rumble Studio/Stage it does seem that there are some nice options in the effects for EQ (Graphic/Parametric) that could be switched on too to help with switching back and forth between the two styles/tones, so that is another option.

I hope this was helpful, I'm attaching the live video I saw for reference. Cool band too, thanks for turning me on to them.

Thanks a ton, this is super helpful! I can't wait to start messing with it now. I really appreciate the help, I'm not very knowledgable about this stuff yet.

Glad you like them, I discovered them fairly recently and I think they're a fantastic band.

 

[G-Dog]

.Well, I, for one, was disappointed that there were no new Rumble, or even Bassman, amps at the NAMM show last week. (sniff) I may get over it. Especially if Fender does better for us bassists at Summer NAMM 2020!

But, the new Fender TONE 3.0 App, announced last week with the new Mustang GTX amps, gives me hope that this might also be available for the Rumble Stage and Studio amps, at some point, with some new functionality for us. At the very least, this video and this video show the new Fender TONE 3.0 App being used on a PC insread of just a phone or tablet. And the interface seems more analog-looking, instead of quite so digital. The Invalid Link Removedalso talks about using the new TONE 3.0 on a PC or Mac. But, strangely, the GTX50 & GTX100 pages do not!

And, holding out even more hope, Invalid Link Removed, are even discussing the use of the new Fender TONE 3.0 App to download the new GTX firmware onto the old GT amps! If they can do that for the GTs, then why not the same for our beloved Rumble Stages & Studios? Same for the new 7-button footswitch announced with the new GTX amps.

Am I getting my hopes up too much? What do you think? Not that I need, or even really want, another amp or upgraded firmware right now. I'm still in love with my Studio 40 and Rumble 500 combo (and Bassman 500 w/Neo 115) for now. Along with my Pbass Special, CIJ Jaguar and MP Starcaster bass, I believe I've got all I can handle of the bass world, already. But, I can dream, can't I?

How 'bout it? Do you dream?
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We did talk to the folks from Fender who confirmed that the new firmware will apply to the Rumble Stage and Studio amps. It will add I believe 11 new effects (patches?) and will allow for the use of their more complex foot controller.

I have discovered on the Invalid Link Removed that a user emailed Fender and was told to expect the TONE 3.0 firmware update on February 25th. I trust it will be available to our Rumbles at that time, as well. Woo hoo! 11 new effects/patches!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this and all it's improvements. How about you? Are you ready to see the future?
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[ricardol]

Wish list for the firmware update:
- An Acoustic 360 amp model would be great!...
- More flexibility for the overall EQ Settings.

 

[Heavy Blue]

Just wondering for all you Studio40/Stage800 folks out there.

What amp is the “Monster” model based on?

 

[BarfanyShart]

Just wondering for all you Studio40/Stage800 folks out there.

What amp is the “Monster” model based on?

I think a Matchless guitar amp, but like a bass version that doesn't exist in the real world.

 

[G-Dog]

Just wondering for all you Studio40/Stage800 folks out there.

What amp is the “Monster” model based on?

I think a Matchless guitar amp, but like a bass version that doesn't exist in the real world.

That's a reasonable theory, Sharty. Heavy, the manual says, "High-gain all-tube boutique guitar amp model re-imagined for bass". So, it's not any specific real-life amp that anyone can definitively name. It's really up to whatever you think fits that description. Do you have a candidate to submit?


PS: What's up with you two guys not posting pics of your Studio 40s in the Rumble Club and getting membership numbers? Antisocial much?
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[ricardol]

Just wondering for all you Studio40/Stage800 folks out there. What amp is the “Monster” model based on?

Here:
Fender Rumble LT25, Studio 40 & Stage 800

 

[Heavy Blue]

Here:
Fender Rumble LT25, Studio 40 & Stage 800

”High-gain all-tube boutique guitar amp model re-imagined for bass“ I bet! It sure slays on guitar.

 

[Heavy Blue]

PS: What's up with you two guys not posting pics of your Studio 40s in the Rumble Club and getting membership numbers? Antisocial much?
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The one I was playing for 2 months was a rental. I never owned it.

 

[G-Dog]

The one I was playing for 2 months was a rental. I never owned it.

Didja getta pic? The Club doesn't require ownership, per se. I believe the phrase "those of us who use and love the Fender Rumble series of amps" in the founding post is the operative passage.
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[Heavy Blue]

Didja getta pic? The Club doesn't require ownership, per se. I believe the phrase "those of us who use and love the Fender Rumble series of amps" in the founding post is the operative passage.
.

Good point but alas no pics to be had. I thought I had taken a pic when it as integrated into my rig but apparently not.

If I were to ever buy one of those two modeling amps it would be the Stage 800 or for the Rumble combos, the 100 and/or 200. I love the 100’s portability but prefer the 200’s tone and external cab out.

I really liked the Studio 40 in many ways but all by itself it just doesn’t have the power/bottom end that I want. I primarily ran it out the effects loop into my Yorkville power amp and out to my cabs. The speaker probably still isn’t broken in yet lol.

Personally I wish Fender would put the Stage/Studio front end into a pedal/preamp format so I could use it however I wanted to. If they made one for =<$200 I’d buy one for sure. I sure love experimenting with all the various amps and effects.

Not being a way experienced player with a ton of gigging experience I’ve never owned or played most of the amps modelled on the Stage/Studio. If the models are accurate then I have discovered that apparently I like many of the amps modelled but I must like GK as my favourite amp model was the KGB-800 by far. I also discovered that I like envelope filters, autowahs, and 2x15’s too. I would’ve probably not have known this otherwise cause I’m not in a position to buy a ton of individual effects just to see if I like them or not. The downside of this is now I have some GAS for a GK and there’s an old Backline 350 at the local pawn lol.

Pricing the Studio 40 $20 more than the Rumble 100 isn’t a stroke of genius either. I much prefer the 100’s core tone.

The other thing that kind of bothers me about Fender is afaik one cannot buy replacement speakers from Fender and that just doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

Also afaik Fender’s warranty is 2 years and I believe that’s way insufficient for a digital/modelling/computer amp. It should be at least 5. I don’t want a pricey paperweight sitting around in 3 years and I expect anything I buy to last at least 10 regardless of what the warranty period is.

One more thing. Did they just jack up the prices on the Rumbles? A R25 just came in here and it’s C$50 more than the last one they had.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Just wondering for all you Studio40/Stage800 folks out there.

What amp is the “Monster” model based on?

Already been answered, I believe, but it's the Mesa Boogie Dual Rec amp. Nothing like a little napalm to go with some Sunday morning bass playing on the back porch! It was on the Bronco 40 as well and was my first opportunity to add a little crunch to my bass playing.

 

[Heavy Blue]

Already been answered, I believe, but it's the Mesa Boogie Dual Rec amp. Nothing like a little napalm to go with some Sunday morning bass playing on the back porch! It was on the Bronco 40 as well and was my first opportunity to add a little crunch to my bass playing.

A little crunch? Napalm is right!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Good point but alas no pics to be had. I thought I had taken a pic when it as integrated into my rig but apparently not.

If I were to ever buy one of those two modeling amps it would be the Stage 800 or for the Rumble combos, the 100 and/or 200. I love the 100’s portability but prefer the 200’s tone and external cab out.

I really liked the Studio 40 in many ways but all by itself it just doesn’t have the power/bottom end that I want. I primarily ran it out the effects loop into my Yorkville power amp and out to my cabs. The speaker probably still isn’t broken in yet lol.

Personally I wish Fender would put the Stage/Studio front end into a pedal/preamp format so I could use it however I wanted to. If they made one for =<$200 I’d buy one for sure. I sure love experimenting with all the various amps and effects.

Not being a way experienced player with a ton of gigging experience I’ve never owned or played most of the amps modelled on the Stage/Studio. If the models are accurate then I have discovered that apparently I like many of the amps modelled but the GK as my favourite model was the KGB-800 by far. I also discovered that I like envelope filters, autowahs, and 2x15’s too. I would’ve probably not have known this otherwise cause I’m not in a position to buy a ton of individual effects just to see if I like them or not. The downside of this is now I have some GAS for a GK and there’s an old Backline 350 at the local pawn lol.

Pricing the Studio 40 $20 more than the Rumble 100 isn’t a stroke of genius either. I much prefer the 100’s core tone.

The other thing that kind of bothers me about Fender is afaik one cannot buy replacement speakers from Fender and that just doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

Also afaik Fender’s warranty is 2 years and I believe that’s way insufficient for a digital/modelling/computer amp. It should be at least 5. I don’t want a pricey paperweight sitting around in 3 years and I expect anything I buy to last at least 10 regardless of what the warranty period is.

One more thing. Did they just jack up the prices on the Rumbles? A R25 just came in here and it’s C$50 more than the last one they had.

Heavy Blue, a slew of great thoughts and questions. Maybe there are those who have a source to purchase Fender speakers, but I think most of the cool kids upgrade with their own fave brands. Eminence is very popular and I replaced my OEM speaker in an Amoeg combo with an Eminence Alpha 8 and haven't looked back.

The Stage amp uses Chinese-made Eminence ceramics that I like a lot. The Studio uses a Fender Special Design which I thought I heard was made by the same factory in China but less expensive. Someone may correct me on that. You could go American-made Eminence as well and it may improve your sound that much more.

As for warranty, Fender lowered their protection a couple of years ago from their long-time five years to two. As far as I'm concerned, they could warranty these modelers for 100 years if you're really concerned because they're basically computers in a black box and need to be treated like computers need to. I figure the moment I bought my 800 I pulled the pin on the grenade and just hope it lasts as long as my HP laptop!

Finally, I also own a Rumble 100 and totally agree with you. I wish it was 150 watts with the option for an ext cab, but I'm not complaining. For three bills I've definitely gotten my money's worth.
!

 

[Heavy Blue]

Heavy Blue, a slew of great thoughts and questions. Maybe there are those who have a source to purchase Fender speakers, but I think most of the cool kids upgrade with their own fave brands. Eminence is very popular and I replaced my OEM speaker in an Amoeg combo with an Eminence Alpha 8 and haven't looked back.

The Stage amp uses Chinese-made Eminence ceramics that I like a lot. The Studio uses a Fender Special Design which I thought I heard was made by the same factory in China but less expensive. Someone may correct me on that. You could go American-made Eminence as well and it may improve your sound that much more.

As for warranty, Fender lowered their protection a couple of years ago from their long-time five years to two. As far as I'm concerned, they could warranty these modelers for 100 years if you're really concerned because they're basically computers in a black box and need to be treated like computers need to. I figure the moment I bought my 800 I pulled the pin on the grenade and just hope it lasts as long as my HP laptop!

Finally, I also own a Rumble 100 and totally agree with you. I wish it was 150 watts with the option for an ext cab, but I'm not complaining. For three bills I've definitely gotten my money's worth.
!

Afaik, there was a thread on here awhile back about the Fender speakers and the consensus was that they weren’t available.

I know we could upgrade the stock speakers as many like Astrosonic have with great results but what I’m thinking about here is the average player who doesn’t go on TB and blows or otherwise loses a speaker. They don’t know or care about T/S parameters and the like. They will just want to get an OEM replacement. Also, what if the amp in question is one like the Stage 800 with multiple speakers? Then they will either have mismatched speakers in a single cab or have to replace the good speaker too. Neither is a good option.

Yeah, the warranty situation blows that’s for sure. That’s a heckuva hit from 5 years to 2. I hope your grenade doesn’t go off anytime soon.

As for your R100, some industrious TB members have modded their R100’s to run an 8 ohm extension cab for a 4 ohm total load. It wasn’t designed for that but so far they seem to hold up just fine. You would think it would raise the power output then too so at 4 ohms it probably is putting out @150 watts. Just food for thought.

 

[iagtrplyr]

As for your R100, some industrious TB members have modded their R100’s to run an 8 ohm extension cab for a 4 ohm total load. It wasn’t designed for that but so far they seem to hold up just fine. You would think it would raise the power output then too so at 4 ohms it probably is putting out @150 watts. Just food for thought.

The one drawback to that is you lose the lightweight transportation because you're now hauling two cabs, but it still might be nice to have. It'd have more power though; at least as much as the 200c has when it's running the extra cabinet.

I tried modifying the 100 by adding acoustic padding from Parts Express. Put in what I'd read here on TB and choked all the tone out of it. Terrible sounding. Pulled out 90% of it and got back it's basic tone but with a little less boxiness. I have no interest in swapping that driver out though. I like lifting it up and going to a rehearsal. I even used it for a school (I'm a teacher) holiday gig in December, running the DI through our gymnasium PA and also using side fill monitors. The amp basically sat by to keep me company, but with my Rogue Beatle bass, I had the acoustic bass tone down pat.

 

[G-Dog]

... ... As for your R100, some industrious TB members have modded their R100’s to run an 8 ohm extension cab for a 4 ohm total load. It wasn’t designed for that but so far they seem to hold up just fine. You would think it would raise the power output then too so at 4 ohms it probably is putting out @150 watts. Just food for thought.

Bluey, I'd sure like to find that thread you're talking about. Adding an extension cab to a 100 would make a nice addition to the Rumble Modifications section of the Rumble Club Wiki page linked in my signature.
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[G-Dog]

.
Attention Rumble Stage & Studio users:

Here's instructions to add Mustang GT presets to our Rumbles! I haven't tried it myself, yet. But it looks quite interesting to get some guitar-like amp tones, besides just the Showman that comes standard.
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[Heavy Blue]

Bluey, I'd sure like to find that thread you're talking about. Adding an extension cab to a 100 would make a nice addition to the Rumble Modifications section of the Rumble Club Wiki page linked in my signature.
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I’ll see if I can find it.