Interesting! I wondered how they managed to completely revamp their whole line so well.
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Double Bass Fender "Rumble Reinvented" combo amps
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
Interesting! I wondered how they managed to completely revamp their whole line so well.
Part of the whole "taking Fender public" thing. They bought SWR.....shelved the company. They bought Genz Benz....shelved the company. There were a number of other companies as well.
Somewhere in the TB archives, I think Andy (agedhorse) addressed this, shortly after GB was dissolved, and before he went to Mesa. As I recall, they did not actually use any GB technology in the Rumble line. That line was developed independently from GB and released around the time that GB was retired. Fender had owned GB for several years before they closed GB down, but there was no cross-development, according to Andy. Sure, Fender could've "stolen" some tech from GB, but Andy said it was not theirs.
I find that interesting. A number of my friends remarked at the time how much the new Rumble controls looked "similar" to the Genz amps, and that the cut/boost frequencies were very similar as well. I trust Andy. If he says there was no cross usage, I believe him. But the Rumbles were certainly inspired by the Genz products. imho
Bottom line.... If Fender is making heads that work for the upright bass, I'm happy. I play Fender gear all the time.
Bottom line.... If Fender is making heads that work for the upright bass, I'm happy. I play Fender gear all the time.
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
This fits with my understanding, as well. Fender has had a pretty good team on the amp side for quite some time (before the Genz-Benz purchase). I believe the same team that designed the (very excellent) SB300 worked on the Rumble series. I'm sure it didn't hurt gaining some additional insight after the purchase of Genz-Benz, but to the best of my knowledge, the majority of what we are seeing in the Rumble lineup is the result of work done by other folks within Fender.
I've got the Rumble 500/2x10" neo combo. The thing really is very light, loud, and "flat" (EQ) sounding. I've had it for a few years now and it has never given be a lick of trouble. I sometimes use a Tonebone PK-Pre with my upright feeding into it. It has given me some feedback issues a couple of times in hard, reflective rooms, and the low cut on the preamp helps.
It's actually lighter than my 120w/2x8" Eden Nemesis combo, which is ostensibly my practice amp.
But of course recently I heard a G-K that got me thinking about that sound... I might need both amps though, one for clean, one for "that" sound.
It's actually lighter than my 120w/2x8" Eden Nemesis combo, which is ostensibly my practice amp.
But of course recently I heard a G-K that got me thinking about that sound... I might need both amps though, one for clean, one for "that" sound.
Sorry if this is too late to be any use, but absolutely YES. I've had mine for a few years now, and used it in a lot of various situations, including a noisy room with 500+ people (with PA support, of course).
Plus it's fun watching people's reactions when they pick it up for the first time.
Haha, wanted to make a comment, saw that I already did back in Feb. 
I now have both the 2x10 500w combo and the 40w combo. Sold my Eden Nemesis to get the 40. The 500w is plenty loud with a rock drummer. The 40w has been loud enough on drummerless gigs. It works well with my upright (via a K&K Bassmax), too.
Weight savings comes from the magnets, D-class amps, and light plywood. The 40w version weighs ~18lbs, the 500w version ~36lbs. To correct my previous post (I can no longer edit it), they are not "neo"(dymium) magnets, but ceramic.
I now have both the 2x10 500w combo and the 40w combo. Sold my Eden Nemesis to get the 40. The 500w is plenty loud with a rock drummer. The 40w has been loud enough on drummerless gigs. It works well with my upright (via a K&K Bassmax), too.
Weight savings comes from the magnets, D-class amps, and light plywood. The 40w version weighs ~18lbs, the 500w version ~36lbs. To correct my previous post (I can no longer edit it), they are not "neo"(dymium) magnets, but ceramic.
I just got a Rumble 100. I love it. My only complaint is that they don't have a case or cover for it, especially since the controls and guitar cord jack are on the top. I'm getting one made as soon as I dig out of my snow bank.
and, YES to the fun part. I pulled a gag on the drummer and electric piano player at a big band rehearsal this past Monday:
New amp, huh?
Yeah, sounds good, but it's too freakin heavy. Try it.
Holy crap!
The piano player, who was using an older Fender amp, couldn't believe it.
He's thinking about getting one this week.
Question for Rumble owners:
Do you prefer Rumble 40 or 100 for upright as sound quality?
For acoustic jazz quartet with drummer in medium size rooms is the 40 enough?
Concerning tone, Rumbles seem to be more on the warm and round side, has it enough clarity and articulation, not too bassy or tubby?
Thanks
Do you prefer Rumble 40 or 100 for upright as sound quality?
For acoustic jazz quartet with drummer in medium size rooms is the 40 enough?
Concerning tone, Rumbles seem to be more on the warm and round side, has it enough clarity and articulation, not too bassy or tubby?
Thanks
I’ve only tried the 100 I think - and it sounded great. I’m hoping that the 40 would be enough for wallpaper jazz duos or trios - especially where the load-in awful or stage space is limited.
I played a Rumble 40 v3 a month ago with a Stagg-like EUB in a session with a trio/quartet and there was enough volume with a sensitive drummer in a room for about 100 to 150 people. There was enough volume left to go with an average jazz drummer in that room, but it was more of a jazz music party than a concert.
I would say enough for the stage, use the DI for FOH.
I had to reduce the bass a lot and the rest of the EQ was far from neutral to get an acceptable sound, but this was a newer version of the Stagg EUB design, an instrument a friend bought recently and that I haven’t played before. So it might have been the EUB output that was not DB-like in output signal and sound. (I didn‘t turn up the bass boost!)
I was not happy that the EQ needed so much tweaking, but otherwise it was a nice amp. Not as nice EQ-wise as my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T, but very light and my friend (a sax player who bought the amp for home sessions and small gigs) is very happy with it.
I would say enough for the stage, use the DI for FOH.
I had to reduce the bass a lot and the rest of the EQ was far from neutral to get an acceptable sound, but this was a newer version of the Stagg EUB design, an instrument a friend bought recently and that I haven’t played before. So it might have been the EUB output that was not DB-like in output signal and sound. (I didn‘t turn up the bass boost!)
I was not happy that the EQ needed so much tweaking, but otherwise it was a nice amp. Not as nice EQ-wise as my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T, but very light and my friend (a sax player who bought the amp for home sessions and small gigs) is very happy with it.
