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I don't like my Rumble 100, help me find a solution

#61
Christian C said:
I have owned a Rumble 15 for pretty much my whole time playing bass. It sounded pretty poopie so I wanted a replacement. I heard people praising the other Rumble amps in the line, and I thought it would be a great decision for a great practice/gigging amp that's light, loud, and good-sounding.

What I have is that while it may be light and loud, it most definitely is not good sounding; it sounds like it is under a blanket and is super muddy, while sounding super boxy in the mids, and flat in the treble. I have tried all of the settings one could imagine (yes, I know that flat is around 10/2/2/10 o'clock for the knobs. It also didn't really help.), even with the bright on, it still sounds muddy. When I boost the treble to unreal amounts with the bright on, the treble is harsh and not zingy how I would want AND THE MUD IS STILL THERE!!!!!

I honestly am desperate for help, as all other amps in my price range don't seem to fit my needs (Ampeg Rocket, orange crush, etc.), so here are some solutions I have come up with.

A. New EQ settings (I highly doubt this)
B. Speaker replacement (I heard the Eminence Basslite S2012 neo speaker really improved the sound, but I'm still skeptical if it will give me the sound I want)
C. Downgrade to the rumble 40 (Heard it sound clearer, but I want to be able to gig)
D. Get a new amp (Would like recommendations.)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Click to expand...
I don't blame you. The Rumbles are functional amps, but I wouldn't call them inspiring by any stretch.
The easiest thing to do might be to try and cut the low mids. When I used a Rumble, the low mid control was a cut-only control, because boosting it in any way let to some honkiness that-- not only did I not like it, but I found it physically unpleasant if amplified at decent gig volume. I can only assume it's there to compensate for very scooped-sounding basses.
If you want to start from the 10/2/2/10 flat setting, try starting by taking the low mids down to noon or below, and go from there.
 
#62
andare said:
Is the 115 cab also muddy? If I go the head + cab route, the Rumble is the only 115 cab I can afford. I find cabs ridiculously expensive. What's in there besides the speaker? They cost as much as heads
Click to expand...
I am not totally convinced it was the cabinet(s). When I used my Eden WT400 the 210/115 stack sounded much better. I might have sold the combo and just kept the cabinets but on outdoor stages it took all they had and more to keep up. I was afraid of rattling them apart. At very low volumes the Rumble stuff wasn't too bad but at stage volume with full four to five pc band they just didn't cut it...IMHO.
 
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#64
The Rumble 40 I had was for my work campus Music Room. Nothing wrong with it. I've worked with diff bands that had a Rumble either in rehearsal or gig. I can always get a good sound out of them. I personally do not have one because I already have enough amplifiers maybe too much. Also I am a little vain honestly and earning much better now - but really vanity is the only reason, I think they sensible purchase decisions. Sure if I was touring with a big name act, I would probably demand an Ampeg SVT or Gallen Krueger or maybe a Mesa. Rumbles sound fine, maybe even great.

ROW (Rest of the World) -- you see this amp in many places. If you can make a Rumble sound good, you will be amaze-balls on other "better" amps. Use your ears.
 
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#66
Get a different amp. I have a Rumble 200 and like it just fine, my basses all sound punchy through it. I don't use any of the tone presets, especially not the "vintage" and that just makes it sound muddy and bad to my ears.
I've played my basses through GK and Hartke stuff and the tone is completely different, maybe more what you're looking for. Certainly more trebly sounding.
If you can afford to, try some different amps, GK combo's sound good IMO. You can't make a Rumble something it isn't, and honestly if you want a Rumble the 200 and up combo's are better.
 
#67
Christian C said:
I have owned a Rumble 15 for pretty much my whole time playing bass. It sounded pretty poopie so I wanted a replacement. I heard people praising the other Rumble amps in the line, and I thought it would be a great decision for a great practice/gigging amp that's light, loud, and good-sounding.

What I have is that while it may be light and loud, it most definitely is not good sounding; it sounds like it is under a blanket and is super muddy, while sounding super boxy in the mids, and flat in the treble. I have tried all of the settings one could imagine (yes, I know that flat is around 10/2/2/10 o'clock for the knobs. It also didn't really help.), even with the bright on, it still sounds muddy. When I boost the treble to unreal amounts with the bright on, the treble is harsh and not zingy how I would want AND THE MUD IS STILL THERE!!!!!

I honestly am desperate for help, as all other amps in my price range don't seem to fit my needs (Ampeg Rocket, orange crush, etc.), so here are some solutions I have come up with.

A. New EQ settings (I highly doubt this)
B. Speaker replacement (I heard the Eminence Basslite S2012 neo speaker really improved the sound, but I'm still skeptical if it will give me the sound I want)
C. Downgrade to the rumble 40 (Heard it sound clearer, but I want to be able to gig)
D. Get a new amp (Would like recommendations.)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Click to expand...

On your case, you need Hartke HD75 or Orange Crush bass 50. Both has same price tag to R100.

Hartke HD75 1x12" 75-watt Bass Combo Amp

Orange Crush Bass 50 1x12" 50-watt Bass Combo Amp

Rocket bass has old school sound, i believe not your favor too.
 
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#68
Christian C said:
I have owned a Rumble 15 for pretty much my whole time playing bass. It sounded pretty poopie so I wanted a replacement. I heard people praising the other Rumble amps in the line, and I thought it would be a great decision for a great practice/gigging amp that's light, loud, and good-sounding.

What I have is that while it may be light and loud, it most definitely is not good sounding; it sounds like it is under a blanket and is super muddy, while sounding super boxy in the mids, and flat in the treble. I have tried all of the settings one could imagine (yes, I know that flat is around 10/2/2/10 o'clock for the knobs. It also didn't really help.), even with the bright on, it still sounds muddy. When I boost the treble to unreal amounts with the bright on, the treble is harsh and not zingy how I would want AND THE MUD IS STILL THERE!!!!!

I honestly am desperate for help, as all other amps in my price range don't seem to fit my needs (Ampeg Rocket, orange crush, etc.), so here are some solutions I have come up with.

A. New EQ settings (I highly doubt this)
B. Speaker replacement (I heard the Eminence Basslite S2012 neo speaker really improved the sound, but I'm still skeptical if it will give me the sound I want)
C. Downgrade to the rumble 40 (Heard it sound clearer, but I want to be able to gig)
D. Get a new amp (Would like recommendations.)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Click to expand...

6ab98dcc80m0229Em2pxKEDakaSCnvGZdboWEwYy.jpg

SVT810 - Done!
 
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#70
There are other amps that I think they sound really good and some really good amps that I don't think sound good at all.

I do have a rumble 500 combo, and the eq values are not what I would ever expect but I use my ear primarily.

The bass is way down, mids up, with treble whatever the room says the treble should be... and I like the Vintage button. Sometimes I use extension cab for full 500 out - but for the most part I used to combo without the extension cab for 350/360 Watts output.

I heard an Aguilar head and cab about 3 or 4 years ago and I was really impressed but I'm pretty sure the bass was active.

I'm done buying amps I have a Hartke Kickback 35 that really has some weird fundamentals going on and I'm not sure if it's my ears playing tricks on me or I can't hear the fundamental because of a digital amp anomaly.

I've been digital since the '80s only because of that threat of tubes becoming non-existent back in the 80s and it was a very real possibility! So I switched at that point. Tube consistency and reliabilty was tanked when that technology first went overseas (due to EPA regulatory changes) the 2nd hand manufacturing equipment took years to calibrate to standard for whatever reason... lt was weird.

My recommendation is to keep messing with your EQ it might not be at all what you would "expect" from a "traditional" bass head or combo. When I dialed in my 500 I discovered this "secret handshake" it was totally what I would never would have assumed.

FWIW and to be totally non-technical, I need the headroom of the 350/500. The 100 might not be enough push for open rooms.

Also... I suggest trying an active bass, or an external preamp/emulator/modeler... who knows?
Note: The "Vintage" button is modeling circuitry . Everyroom is different, I start at 12 o'clock high and work from there. The bass eq is usually turned way below my expectations when all is said and done.

Good luck, this might literally be a FAFO scenario. Welcome to the world of of Class-D bass amplifiers. They're different!
 
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#74
Christian C said:
I have owned a Rumble 15 for pretty much my whole time playing bass. It sounded pretty poopie so I wanted a replacement. I heard people praising the other Rumble amps in the line, and I thought it would be a great decision for a great practice/gigging amp that's light, loud, and good-sounding.

What I have is that while it may be light and loud, it most definitely is not good sounding; it sounds like it is under a blanket and is super muddy, while sounding super boxy in the mids, and flat in the treble. I have tried all of the settings one could imagine (yes, I know that flat is around 10/2/2/10 o'clock for the knobs. It also didn't really help.), even with the bright on, it still sounds muddy. When I boost the treble to unreal amounts with the bright on, the treble is harsh and not zingy how I would want AND THE MUD IS STILL THERE!!!!!

I honestly am desperate for help, as all other amps in my price range don't seem to fit my needs (Ampeg Rocket, orange crush, etc.), so here are some solutions I have come up with.

A. New EQ settings (I highly doubt this)
B. Speaker replacement (I heard the Eminence Basslite S2012 neo speaker really improved the sound, but I'm still skeptical if it will give me the sound I want)
C. Downgrade to the rumble 40 (Heard it sound clearer, but I want to be able to gig)
D. Get a new amp (Would like recommendations.)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Click to expand...

A then D. B and C are a waste of money, in my opinion.

Mud is often resolved by cutting frequencies (especially the bass knob) rather than adding treble.

If it turns out you just don’t get along with the rumble tone, it might mean you need to go another direction with your rig. Go out and audition some amps to see what you like. You got a laundry list of everyone’s favorites in this thread, but you really should go hear a few of the big brands to get sense of their character. If cash is an issue, the old heavy stuff is available cheaply on the used market and sounds really good.
 
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#75
I recently sold my gig rig, which was a Mesa D800 through two Hartke HD112. I was honestly never in love with the tone from that amp, but I bought a rumble 100 as a practice amp and now I'm really missing my old rig. I played the rumble 100 at a GC and thought it sounded decent for how cheap it was. I haven't had a ton of time to twiddle with the EQ yet, but so far I'm really not impressed. It definitely sounded better in the store than it sounds at my house.
 
#76
If you're not a Fender guy, then you are most likely an Ampeg guy or a MarkBass guy. Ampegs gave a different sort of baked-in tone that one might describe as "grittier", and Markbass amps strive to be transparent and not color the tone greatly. Hartke combos are also great, I perceive them to fall into a space somewhere in the middle of this tone Venn diagram, but with particularly good volume output. Get thee to a music store with your bass guitar and plug in to some of these things to see what kind of guy you are.
 
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#77
I’m a Fender amp guy. I love the darker, fatter more vintage baked in tone that rumbles (and their big big brothers, bassman cabs) have.
The way they sound is pretty much the way they sound- if you don’t like it, it’s hard to learn to like it.
FWIW I’ve never liked Ampeg much, and I really REALLY dislike MarkBass and Darkglass. Too bright, sterile and pingy for my taste. I’d probably start there (although neither are cheap) if you dislike the Fender tone as much as you seem to! They’re the closest to polar opposites I can imagine when it comes to amps in that range.
 
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#78
Look, I don't want to be harsh, but the Rumble is what it is, a relatively low-cost Chinese made low-fi unit. I have a 200, which I long-term loaned to a friend for home practice. He's a grammy awarded BP and it works for what he needs, but for gigging . . . No way.

You can pour all the money and accessories you want into a Toyota Yaris, but it's never going to perform like a 2024 Z06 Vette. If you want clarity, durability, and versatility, you will have to cough up the coin.

All the seasoned players will have their own opinions as to what that might be, depending upon individual tastes, prejudices, and experiences. For me, Mesa, Barefaced, and Bergantino are my preferences. YMMV
 
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#80
Christian C said:
I have owned a Rumble 15 for pretty much my whole time playing bass. It sounded pretty poopie so I wanted a replacement. I heard people praising the other Rumble amps in the line, and I thought it would be a great decision for a great practice/gigging amp that's light, loud, and good-sounding.

What I have is that while it may be light and loud, it most definitely is not good sounding; it sounds like it is under a blanket and is super muddy, while sounding super boxy in the mids, and flat in the treble. I have tried all of the settings one could imagine (yes, I know that flat is around 10/2/2/10 o'clock for the knobs. It also didn't really help.), even with the bright on, it still sounds muddy. When I boost the treble to unreal amounts with the bright on, the treble is harsh and not zingy how I would want AND THE MUD IS STILL THERE!!!!!

I honestly am desperate for help, as all other amps in my price range don't seem to fit my needs (Ampeg Rocket, orange crush, etc.), so here are some solutions I have come up with.

A. New EQ settings (I highly doubt this)
B. Speaker replacement (I heard the Eminence Basslite S2012 neo speaker really improved the sound, but I'm still skeptical if it will give me the sound I want)
C. Downgrade to the rumble 40 (Heard it sound clearer, but I want to be able to gig)
D. Get a new amp (Would like recommendations.)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Click to expand...

First, are your bandmates complaining about your sound? They are probably better judges than you just because of their positioning on stage.

If they're complaining, turn your Bass and Mid Low down to 9 o'clock or less and turn your Gain to almost zero (you can turn it completely off). Then, put your amp on a chair or stand to decouple it from the floor.

The key words in your post are "in my price range." I often say that the Rumble is the best overall value (price/performance) around, but that doesn't mean it's going to sound like a Mesa.
 
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