Help for newbie choosing Fender Rumble rig

[Iain Duncan]

Hi folks, I'm a newish guitar and bass player (I'm really a sax player, haha) and I wanted to try and find a medium quality amp I could use for both. I tried out various, and really like the sound of the Fender Rumbles on funk/dubby bass and on jazz guitar.I went to the store intending to go home with a 100, but came home with a 200 combo because of the tweeter, extra power, and option for extra cab output. Questions:

1) I like old school funk, soul, jazz-funk. I play a short scale p/j sand a hollow body jazz box and a 335 clone. Is 200+112 going to kill for this? Or should I have really ponied up for a 410? I do like me a warm fat low end and the guitar is always played clean.

2) Volume! I really don't know how much I need for small shows and jams. I don't like high stage volumes and mostly play with jazz guys, so even on funk I don't imagine our stage volumes are high compared to typical rock bands. But I'm loathe to buy stuff and then find out it doesn't do it. (hence the 100 to 200) jump. Is a 200 plus a 112 cab loud enough to gig with reasonable stage volume bands? (and go into the PA when needed?) I have rental options for bigger rigs for occasional needs (that I so don't want to carry on a regular basis).

Thanks gurus!
iain

 

[Bassquest]

You did alright on the Rumble 200 rather than the Rumble 100. No need for anything more.

 

[Linnin]

Is 200+112 going to kill for this?

Oh boy is it ever! Or choose the Rumble 115. Same $300 price. I run a Rumble 200 combo alone without PA support for your typical bar gig with stellar comments.

Is a 200 plus a 112 cab loud enough to gig with reasonable stage volume bands?

Plenty enough. Check out @ubernator over in the Fender Rumble Club as he regularly gigs drop tuned metal in L.A. with the Rumble 200 combo + Rumble 112 cabinet with exceedingly joyous results. Oh! Pardon me, with deep dark Gothic sonic assaults.

 

[OldFunBass]

I have a Rumble 200 Combo and have loved it. I recently got a Rumble 115 cabinet to go with it and was amazed at the sound. As good as the combo sounds by itself, you will love it a lot more with the extra cab. Plus you get the full wattage out of it if you need it. I went for the 115 cab to match the speaker that was in the combo. Plus I have always preferred 15" speakers for bass. But a lot of folks like mixing speakers and add the 112 or the 210 cabs and seem to like it as well.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Hi folks, I'm a newish guitar and bass player (I'm really a sax player, haha) and I wanted to try and find a medium quality amp I could use for both. I tried out various, and really like the sound of the Fender Rumbles on funk/dubby bass and on jazz guitar.I went to the store intending to go home with a 100, but came home with a 200 combo because of the tweeter, extra power, and option for extra cab output. Questions:

1) I like old school funk, soul, jazz-funk. I play a short scale p/j sand a hollow body jazz box and a 335 clone. Is 200+112 going to kill for this? Or should I have really ponied up for a 410? I do like me a warm fat low end and the guitar is always played clean.

2) Volume! I really don't know how much I need for small shows and jams. I don't like high stage volumes and mostly play with jazz guys, so even on funk I don't imagine our stage volumes are high compared to typical rock bands. But I'm loathe to buy stuff and then find out it doesn't do it. (hence the 100 to 200) jump. Is a 200 plus a 112 cab loud enough to gig with reasonable stage volume bands? (and go into the PA when needed?) I have rental options for bigger rigs for occasional needs (that I so don't want to carry on a regular basis).

Thanks gurus!
iain

I can answer your second question.

Personally I have gotten away with using an Ampeg B-15S, rated at about 60W, with 1 15" cab, keeping up fine with a really loud band (loud guitarist, another bass player and a really hard hitting drummer playing hardcore/math/noise rock).

I know it was a tube amp and I did push it extremely hard, but still, went just fine even at gigs in small venues.

At the moment I play on a Trace Elliot 130W SM combo with a single 15" cab, and keep up fine with a fairly loud band as well (a drummer and a guitarist playing slow heavy music in the darker end of the spectra).

I do however also run bi-amping with a 345W active 12" PA speaker with horn, but that is more for spicing up the tone than adding power.

Even without that extra power I would keep up fine, as I don't even get close to the 12 o'clock mark on the volume knob.

Trace Elliots are known to be conservatively rated regarding wattage though.

With the option of getting miked up or running through a DI, you can practically get away with everything gigging.

So no need to worry.

200W ought to be more than sufficient.

You might get away with 100W too, but better be safe then sorry.

As I just wrote in another thread it is a bit of an enigma to me what people need 800 W amps running through 8 10"'s for, must be really overrated weak amps and anemic bass playing.

Anyway, good luck and enjoy your new amp.

As for your first question I would probably go for a 15" cab, but I am not really into your type of music, so not sure.

My guess is you should be fine with the 12".

 

[Iain Duncan]

Thanks for the help everyone, glad I can stick with this one and take my time adding another cab. Will have to try out the 112,115, and 210 options.