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How much louder is Fender Rumble 200 vs 100

Thom Fioriglio

Thom Fioriglio

Oct 24, 2019
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Long Island, NY
#1
I have the Fender Rumble 100 and love it. However, I have a few days left to return it and have been thinking of exchanging it for the Rumble 200. I have just started playing again after many years and currently just practice at home. In the future, I may want to join up with a band. The Rumble 200 is rated at 140 watts with the 15" internal speaker. It cost $200 more than the Rumble 100. For the $200 more, am I really getting that much more power and output?

I've looked at the Rumble 500 but I am not interested in going with that much power or cost.

I've done my research online but need some more info.

Thanks for any advice.
 
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#3
I have the 100 and 200. I actually had a 500 for a brief time but I personally liked the 200 better. The 200 definitely is goes deeper and has more thump than the 100. The 100 is the lightest combo that you can practice and play small gigs with though IMO. If I could only have one it would be the 200 since it is still pretty light.
 
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#4
Lync said:
I have the 100 and 200. I actually had a 500 for a brief time but I personally liked the 200 better. The 200 definitely is goes deeper and has more thump than the 100. The 100 is the lightest combo that you can practice and play small gigs with though IMO. If I could only have one it would be the 200 since it is still pretty light.
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Thanks for the feedback! To gig with, how do they compare? So I take it the 200 is a bit more versatile in terms of gigging. I'm just figuring while I am still in my return timeframe, to just upgrade now rather than later. I know the weight difference is 12 lbs., but still at 34 pounds, that's a light amp. My old Carvin Pro Bass 300 was 72 pounds!

Thom
 
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#6
They both sound great....the 12 just loses some low end when you get past noon (which is loud enough to play with decent drums). For small rooms you could get away with the 12. For everything though you can have the 15 and at band volumes it has more lows. Plus, you can add the ext cab. Also...while you are at it, that new stage 800 might be worth a look since it has tons of features and is plenty loud and light. I am happy with the 200 though and with FOH I never need the ext cab (7 piece modern country band).
 
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#8
Lync said:
They both sound great....the 12 just loses some low end when you get past noon (which is loud enough to play with decent drums). For small rooms you could get away with the 12. For everything though you can have the 15 and at band volumes it has more lows. Plus, you can add the ext cab. Also...while you are at it, that new stage 800 might be worth a look since it has tons of features and is plenty loud and light. I am happy with the 200 though and with FOH I never need the ext cab (7 piece modern country band).
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In terms of value do you think the Rumble 200 is worth $200 more than the Rumble 100? In other words do you feel the price difference between the Rumble 100 and 200 justified? Thanks.
Thom
 
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#11
Thom Fioriglio said:
In terms of value do you think the Rumble 200 is worth $200 more than the Rumble 100? In other words do you feel the price difference between the Rumble 100 and 200 justified? Thanks.
Thom
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On paper the difference seems to be justified, but whether it makes sense for you will depend on a decision regarding use. If you decide you will be in a band at some point, it makes sense to go with at least the 200 (but I think I'd go straight to the 500 unless we are talking about a very disciplined band with low to moderate stage volume that always has access to a big PA).

If you're just tooling around at home it's a toss up between whichever one you like better and are willing to pay for. Both 100 and 200 would be adequate.
 
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#14
pbass74 said:
Another option would be to get a second Rumble 100 (look for a good deal on a use one). You could keep one at home and one at practice. You can daisy chain them together for a full 200 watts if/when needed. Check out the Fender Rumble Club for more information than you can possibly read. Fender Rumble Club
Click to expand...

That's what I get for not reading through the whole thread :)
 
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#17
Honestly, having an extension speaker out and the power to support that second 15" speaker makes it worth paying $200 extra for the Rumble 200, imho. That's just how I would go if I were contemplating your choices. I'm just more of a modular rig guy these days.

You are asking the right questions. The answers have implications that may not be obvious, as your needs in the future will not remain what they are now.

Yes, you could buy a second (used?) 100 to supplement the one you have for gigs. If that works, fine. Having two complete amps is actually a nice way to have a back-up or a rehearsal space rig.

I just think that having a combo (the 200 or 500) that would allow you to add most any extension speaker is more flexible than hauling around two (probably) identical combos.

Here is why: In the future, if you have the desire to add an amp head, you could first find an extension cab (if you don't have one) to use with your extension speaker out equipped combo 200 or 500, and later when funds permit, buy a head to use just with the extension cab.

N.B., the extension cab could be something completely outside the Fender Rumble line, like an Ampeg, Peavey, Aguilar, or something more exotic. When combined with the new amp head, you'd have in effect two rigs, the combo and the new stuff. The combo would still be able to drive the extension speaker if the need arose.

Your combo would then be a back-up/reheasal space rig. As time passes and your needs change, you might then find yourself trying other cabs or heads.

Hope this is useful, and not too obvious, LOL. :thumbsup:
 
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#18
Thanks everyone for all the advice. Taking everything in it sounds like the most cost effective choice would be the Rumble 500. I know I can add an extension cabinet to the Rumble 200 but that would be an additional cost. Or add a second Rumble 100, but that’s another cost. Sounds like the Rumble 500 will cost me $300 more, I get all the power I will ever need at the same size and weight of the Rumble 200.

My next question is then how is the Rumble 500 as a practice amp and how do the 2 10” speakers compare to the 1 15”?

Thanks
 
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#20
I'd say that the 200 is a lot louder than the 100. I tried the 100 and it seemed a little marginal for gigs. Quieter than the 1x15 class AB 100s of old. The 200 is loud enough for nearly any gig, although it's not optimal for huge, loud gigs. I ended up getting the 2x10 cabinet for the 200, but that's because I play a lot of loud punk rock gigs with minimal PA. Even then, the extension cabinet wasn't entirely necessary.

However it's easier to play quietly on the 100. For home practice on the 200 I sometimes use a compressor or preamp with the output volume turned low, because it sounds kinda dead at bedroom levels.

I love the 200, but it's neither fish nor fowl compared to the 100 and the 500. The 100 is a practice amp that can also play small gigs, the 500 is a gigging machine. For what it does the 200 is great, and if you're used to 1x15s, it definitely has that sound.
 
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