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Gotta admire brand loyalty

I'd really like to try some of those. I just bought a Portaflex, but I'm still curious about the Rumble 500.

The two 10's put me off a little bit (have played 15's exclusively the entire time I've played bass). But I liked the size, so I was willing to try it out. Unfortunately, when I talked to my friend, who works in a music shop, about coming in to compare the Portaflex to the Rumble, he told me they don't carry the Rumble series, just Portaflex. Considering the discount he got me, and that I liked the amp, I just got the PF-800 and a 115HE cab.
 
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I have a little experience with a Rumble. I don’t own one, but I can certainly understand why they are popular. Keep in mind, most of the posters here are semi pros, and don’t have a lot of time and money for esoteric rigs that cost boo coo bucks. They are light, have plenty of options for most needs.

The one that I practice through is a Rumble 100 combo owned by our BL. It sounds great within 10 feet. After that, it really thins out. I played through at Rumble 500 at a gig, and was very solid, although, this band is not very loud.

The Rumble as a weekend warrior rig strikes me a a good option, but nowhere near substantial enough for the pounding a real pro is likely to put it through. In this class, I love my Eden Nemesis RS combos a lot, and wouldn’t swap either of them for Rumble, but I would not want to trot them out on a long tour.

True, if I were playing weekly in big venues or casinos, then I would definitely own a Fender Super Bassman 300 tube head and a Fender 810 :bassist:
Brand loyalty? Not really, just the best rig for the job
 
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Trust me, the Rumble series is no joke. One Bassman 500, two 4x10's, and a whole lot of noise through a Big Muff and an ODB-3. Been touring around with this and it's awesome.

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The only Fender product I own is my ’63 Precision which I bought used in January ’68. I was playing that bass when I met my wife at a gig in June of that year.

I have played through only one Rumble system, a 350 2x10. I was amazed and impressed how well it performed both in volume and how it handled the low B of my six string. This is the only Fender amp I have ever enjoyed using.
The V2 350 combo? Loved mine...it was used, very cheap, easy to transport and handled every rehearsal and gig I have for a couple years...was offered another gig based on that amp...the BL wanted someone with controlled stage sound/easy load in.
New ones (V3) have better OD imho
I currently play TE (Elf + 2*8) but would happily own and gig a Rumble again.
 
If you read TB long enough one thing becomes very clear-
Fender Rumble has the most loyal customers on earth.
No matter the criteria, Rumble gets recommended the most.

I play Slavic Gnome-metal. Lots of 8-15 hertz content, and must deafen a festival crowd-
Get a Rumble.

Money is no object, I have lots, and want the best amp on the market.
Get a Rumble.

I only have seven dollars, and get to gigs on a bicycle.
Get a Rumble 500, and 2 4x10's!

I'm replacing my SVT, and fridge, what's the hot set-up?
Rumble 25 rocks the basement.

My wife ran off with her periodontist.
Get a Rumble.
:laugh:
 
I like the aesthetic of the Fender Rummble, but my Peavey Max 115 really delivers and was much cheaper. If I turn it up to 3, with the German humbuckers in my Hofner, the whole house shakes a bit. The wife doesn't like it so much. . .
 
I’ve got a Rumble 500 v3. Great back up amp. It’s no tube Ampeg though. Not even close in my opinion.

Marc

Had a Rumble 500 head. Very happy with it until one day I went to check out a unique old '69 Guild Thunderstar tube combo that was listed on Craigslist. It had a front ported cabinet built into the combo itself. The amp was marketed as a guitar/bass/organ amp. All tube, 50 watts. Full of Telefunken tubes. Took my bass to check it out and it sounded sweet. I was going to buy it until I went to pick it up lol.

Couple weeks later Ampeg came out with the $150 rebate on the portaflex heads. Ordered a pf-50t head and it sounded great with my Rumble 112 cabs.

I was going to keep the Rumble 500 head in case I ever needed more power. But I sold it and wound up with this Unholy Union.

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The appeal of them is you get vintage looks, a real plywood cabinet, lots of configurations to choose from, light weight, good tone, and lots of headroom at a rather low price new. Most of the less expensive combo versions even have the same preamp and DI as the larger models. They also get you a free membership into the TB Rumble cult with proof of purchase.

Are they perfect? No, but they are probably the best bang for the buck at the moment and they are available more or less anywhere Fender gear is sold so they're easily auditioned unlike some other brands. The only flaw I've encountered with my Rumble 500 head is a slightly scratchy master volume pot early in its rotation. My pair of 2x10 cabs have been great so far and certainly saved by back when I lived on the third floor with no elevator.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about buying a pair of the 4x10s and a pair of the 1x15s, too. It's kind of a sickness. With six Rumble cabs, my Slavic Gnome-metal band would certainly be the most br00talz.
I’m confused, are you talking about periodontist or Rumbles?