Fender v3 Rumble or Ampeg SVT

[Tom Howland]

If you can handle moving it, there is nothing like an SVT/810. I got mine loaded up for my gig tomorrow, as a matter of fact! But I'd still hang onto the combo...there are always smaller situations where it will serve you well and not be a giant PITA to move.

Like Jimmy said.. Plus on some gigs there is simple no room for an SVT. If every gig I played came with a roadie. I would only use an SVT.

 

[Toddbass65]

I have a v3 100 and the v3 500 combo. Get the 500 combo, same setup for your tone and will be the same in the FOH using the XLR out. You can add a cab to the 500, or run both combos together using the effects loop. I've ran both together and it actually adds a nice little bump in volume over the 500 on its own. Same size pretty much so they stack well.

 

[Meghans Dad]

I'd go with the Rumble 500 head for now. If you want to go to tubes or something bigger later on, keep it and you have a decent back up on hand. Nothing seems to break down when its convenient.

 

[ScubaFckinSteve]

Not a lot but $800. Which means I'll have to get something used which I don't mind as long as it's in good condition. $800 can also get me a quality new rig

I was in the same situation and had 800 to spend hit Craigslist. AND got an Ampeg Svt3pro head with a Furman Power conditioner and an 8 space rack for 400 bucks and found ano Svt 4x10hlf cab for 300 . I owned the same head before but used an 8x10 with it and it was great but that 4x10hlf is amazing!! Sometimes you can find exactly what you need and more..

 

[okcrum]

Comparing a Rumble and SVT is a pretty big stretch.

It's like asking which is better, Super Bassman Pro or PF500?

 

[rodl2005]

Comparing a Rumble and SVT is a pretty big stretch.

It's like asking which is better, Super Bassman Pro or PF500?

Only he's talking the SVT350H

 

[okcrum]

Only he's talking the SVT350H

Hahaha, yeah, eventually that leaked out. Rumble and PF seem more similar head-to-head, though.

 

[someguyfromNC]

If you have to stick with a budget there really isn't anything wrong with a rumble v3 at all. I had a v3 500 combo and it was very nice. A do it all and still sound very good type of amp. It would help to know what you want out of an amp though. While I enjoyed my V3 Rumble I sold it because I preferred other tones. A hartke would be cleaner with a bit more 'balls'. A SVT would have that grind and even more balls. I went with the ampeg sound myself.

 

[BaltBass5]

This question is similar to "Corvette or Cavalier" lol

 

[descendent22]

And here we go with the jerks starting their non sense

 

[descendent22]

dont do the svt350h. Its just past the threshold of discernible volume difference from what you already have. Its kinda weak.
The SVT 450h is a good step up and does have usable volume for gigs, but the svt3 pro may be even better if you pay no attention to the flashing lights.

Yes after doing some more searching I will not go with the svt350h.. I was thinking it was something else.

 

[munkeyfish]

Here is something else to concider, you could buy a Rumble Rig new within your budget. It carries a 5yr warranty that way.

Also, Rumbles are not that expensive, therefore less expensive to replace down the road if need be. That was one of the factors for me when I bought my Rumble rig. I thought about replacement cost along with original cost and reliability. Bang for buck, it is a great deal across the board.

I've had a lot of gigs with mine so far. I've had people/other musicians kinda chuckle at my Rumble rig, then after my set asking a bunch of questions and complement me on the tone/volume and clarity in the mix. I've had some players who didn't give my rig a second thought and came and found me in the parking lot to ask me WTH did I just use? I've never had anyone say it sounds like poo from the stage. And trust m3, my buddies in other bands I play in can and will be brutally honest with me. I've been told I sound like fly fart from stage before. (That was pushing a Ampeg PF500 that must of been from a bad batch that kept going thermal on me)

 

[nutdog]

Not a lot but $800. Which means I'll have to get something used which I don't mind as long as it's in good condition. $800 can also get me a quality new rig

For that you can't do much better than some combination of rumble head/combo/cab, particularly if portability and warranty are important.

 

[descendent22]

The new fender 3rd generation rumble series is quality solid Gear. I'm in a cover band, I don't need something that's going to cost me $1500+ or any overhaul. I appreciate everyone's opinions,info, and experiences. What I don't appreciate is the ass busting. Here I am experiencing something for the 1st time and I'm asking for some help on some gear and a couple people always gotta be the jerk. Anyway at this point the 500w fender v3 rumble is what I'm leaning toward. It's not 100% definite yet as I got a couple months before a gig still and if I come across a sweet deal on an ampeg I'll pull the trigger.

 

[1stnamebassist]

The new fender 3rd generation rumble series is quality solid Gear. I'm in a cover band, I don't need something that's going to cost me $1500+ or any overhaul. I appreciate everyone's opinions,info, and experiences. What I don't appreciate is the ass busting. Here I am experiencing something for the 1st time and I'm asking for some help on some gear and a couple people always gotta be the jerk. Anyway at this point the 500w fender v3 rumble is what I'm leaning toward. It's not 100% definite yet as I got a couple months before a gig still and if I come across a sweet deal on an ampeg I'll pull the trigger.

You chose wisely. Enjoy.

 

[madmanmerc]

The new fender 3rd generation rumble series is quality solid Gear. I'm in a cover band, I don't need something that's going to cost me $1500+ or any overhaul. I appreciate everyone's opinions,info, and experiences. What I don't appreciate is the ass busting. Here I am experiencing something for the 1st time and I'm asking for some help on some gear and a couple people always gotta be the jerk. Anyway at this point the 500w fender v3 rumble is what I'm leaning toward. It's not 100% definite yet as I got a couple months before a gig still and if I come across a sweet deal on an ampeg I'll pull the trigger.

I think the rumbles are fine amps. I have the rumble 150 head and it does what its supposed to do, plays loud and sounds good. I also have an ampeg pf50t, but i dont think its fair to compare the 2 as they are 2 very different amps. If you like the rumble, stick with it and you wont be dissapointed

 

[bobyoung53]

Buy an SVT (real one) and you'll never have (or want to) to buy another amp, I've been using them for 40 years.

 

[spaz21387]

Buy an SVT (real one) and you'll never have (or want to) to buy another amp, I've been using them for 40 years.

Thats where im at with my svt av...

 

[ubernator]

810 is a little to expensive and over haul for me. If I go with ampeg I'm going with the svt350h head and 410 cabinet.

I'm late to the party, but yeah, the svt350h only LOOKs like an SVT. A friend of mine had one, and some of the rehearsal studios provided them as back line. My SWR bass350, also a 350w solid state power section, destroyed those 350h heads.

It got stolen. Now I am using a rumble 200 combo and 112 extension cab.

A rumble 500 combo and a 112 or 210 extension cab makes a killer rig. 2 rumble 210 cabs are better than one rumble 410, not only because you get the full 4ohm output, and get a vertical and taller array (2 benefits), but the 210 is a bigger box (cubic feet per speaker) than "half" of the 410 of the same series, so they are a little more efficient in the low end.

Getting the first 210 as the 500 combo saves $150 vs the head+210 cab.

And if you buy used, you can still have a warranty if the seller provides a copy of the reciept.

 

[RumbleMan3]

As I've posted on a another thread, I recently got myself into a good situation as I am the new bass player in a cover band. It's also my 1st serious band with progress, gigging, and serious band members. I'velearned more and my musicianship has progressed so much in this short time so far. It also helps that these guys are experienced and almost twice my age give or take a couple years. They're cool as hell and can rock!

On Point:
One thing I've learned as far as gear/equipment goes is, it's not about the gear you want rather it's the gear I need now to perform. My 100 watt 3rd Gen Fender rumble combo amp, which is a kick a$$ amp but I'm pretty much at its thresh hold. It's good for a practice or home amp but if I'm in a situation where I need more power or need to be louder I'd be screwed. After years I finally got my tone dialed in the way I like it to be on the amp and I'm very content and pleased with it. That's on my v3 fender rumble 100. So my quandra is, do I stick with the v3 rumble series and go with more watts, or my other option is Ampeg SVT Classic. I'm familiar with ampeg and REALLY love Ampeg's quality and tone. I need info, and opinions

I’m literally in the same boat dude. I’ve got a v3 rumble 100 that I use for home, and band practice. It can handle small gigs, only with line out support, and it just gets me through but it won’t cut it for when my band starts to do slightly bigger gigs like weddings and stuff like that. (At the moment we’ve done a few barbecues and get togethers but we’re really coming along so soon we’re gonna try start weddings and bigger functions like that)

I really dig the sound of the rumble 800 head. But it’s hard finding a compatible cab that’s not a rumble. I mean I love my rumble, but I’m not sure if another rumble will be what I want, but I haven’t tried any of the bigger rumble cabs so I can’t really comment on them yet. I’m curious to try and ampeg svt, because they’re so classic and used by so many players of all different styles. They just have a big sound. But they come at a cost... the weight.

So I’ve narrowed it down between the svt210av or svt212av, although the first one doesn’t handle much power. The latter handles much more, but it’s 4 ohms so a rumble 800 head will still be too much power for the cab, and 800 watts is just too much power for me overall. I’m considering then pairing a tonehammer 350 with either of the two cabs but I’m not sure whether that’s a good match. What kinda tone will that give me? Are there any other svt cabs that will be compatible with the rumble 800 head?

I play a jazz bass with CS60s and GHS roundcore boomers, and also a sterling stingray 5 with pressurewounds. I play a wide variety of music: pop, soul, rnb, disco, house, funk, blues, and some rock.
Hope that helps.
Thanks