I returned my rumble 500. What to try next?

[Gopherbassist]

I had the Crate 100 and I found it similar to Peavey amps. I think they have a Max 2x10…

But if you’re looking for a gig amp, I’d check out the Markbass CMD 102p. Certainly more neutral than the Rumble, and I always found it sounds great in a band mix.

I was about to say I always like the sound of Peavey.

 

[hamertek98]

If you can’t find your sound in a stand alone combo, You could alway bypass the preamp of any combo by using your crate amp on top for its preamp and plug into the power section of a more powerful combo.

Not all combos or heads have the built in features to allow you to do that. Good idea, though!

 

[hamertek98]

What bass are you using? Any pedals?
Do you have a recording so people can hear where its failing? (To you. Its all subjective).
Its a bummer you can't get a good sound out of it.(or your sound) Seems to be a popular amp.
Good luck on your quest!

 

[mellobud]

Not all combos or heads have the built in features to allow you to do that. Good idea, though!

The crate amp that he likes and owns has an effects loop. Could he not utilize the out jack into a larger combo’s effects in jack to bypass the larger combo’s preamp and utilize the smaller crate’s preamp? I know it’s crude but he really seems to like the crate’s sound.

 

[hamertek98]

The crate amp that he likes and owns has an effects loop. Could he not utilize the out jack into a larger combo’s effects in jack to bypass the larger combo’s preamp and utilize the smaller crate’s preamp? I know it’s crude but he really seems to like the crate’s sound.

Yes he can. I'm just not familiar with that Crate combo. I thought it was already mentioned. My bad. He can certainly use the preamp on the Crate to the Fender, as long as the send and returns are there.
If the Crate had a speaker out, he could add a cab. But I don't think it does.
Seems he returned the Fender, anyway.
But always do it with the next one!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

For me, the vintage button made mud. I ran it with the bright swtich on most the time. My bass is already super low mid/bass heavy.

If everybody liked the same tone, there would be only 1 amp and it would have only a volume control. Wouldn't that be boring.
A lot of what we like is influenced by age and genre preference. There is no right or wrong.
Well, except metal, and that's always wrong>

 

[bknop]

I used to gig with a Fender BXR 300C, 200 watts to the 8ohm internal 15" woofer, or 300 watts into to 4 ohms. The bxr300 has good prices on the used market and comes in a head or a well built monster combo. I did modify mine by doubling the length of the shelf port to tune the cab lower, as I was playing a drop d tuned bass. Tone is decent, typical clean solid state.

 

[MrLenny1]

MB CMD 1x12 combo. I got one last year. I wanted power & portable.
I find it mid-range focused but the EQ has a lot of range.
It does 300 watts ay 8 ohms and 500 at 4 ohms.
I use it for rehearsals, plenty loud and then add a another 1x12 for gigs
and it's really loud.

 

[BAG]

GK MB212
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...rueger-mb212-ii-2x12-inch-500-watt-bass-combo

This is what I got after A/B testing it against the Rumble 500 and Stage 800.

I took one of my bases and an ABY pedal to the shop so I could easily switch from one amp to another. It didn't seem to matter how radical I got with the EQ on the Fender amps, whenever I switched to the GK it sounded like a blanket had been removed. I did get a satisfactory sound from the Stage 800 but it took quite a bit of menu diving whereas the GK was plug and play. Also, the GK MB212 has the full 500w available without the need of a separate extension cab and more than 40% more speaker area than a 2x 10.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I wouldn't be a proper fanboy if I didn't suggest my favorite…

Kinda a combo in size, but is separates

 

[Scott Grady]

THIS !

Agree great amp

 

[MarkA]

D'oh, it's late. I read the title as "I re-TUNED" [as in, altered the ports/box-tuning of] my Rumble 500 (which people have done with some of the Rumble combos -- don't know about the 500) and kept looking for info on how and to what effect.

IME, that combo can sound great but can also get boomy in the upper bass/low mids. My feeling is that the way the cab is tuned contributes to some of this, but I can't say for sure. Rolling the mid bands up and treble and bass down a bit does give a more neutral tone profile to my ears but, with some basses/in some rooms, dialing the low mids back a bit (and possibly using the bass knob to balance that out and dial in the overall amount of low-end presence) can help clear things up.

That said, you've decided it wasn't for you and returned (not re-tuned) it, which is fine. In similarly sized combos the Markbass and Ampeg combos mentioned are worth a shot (different vibes -- from each other and from the Rumble) and I suspect that the new GK 212 combo would be a winner (I haven't played it but, based on my experience with other GK stuff, would expect it to be more clearly present in a mix than the Rumble).