NAD - Fender Rumble 100

[prndltech]

Welcome to the club!

I’ve had mine ever since they came out with the v3, probably around 2016/17? Used to use it out all the time and I never had any problems with it and it still works just like it did the day I got it. Makes my bass(es) sound like a bass! Now it just sits at home though.

 

[agedhorse]

What version do you have? I have a friend with an older one that sounds fine, but I wouldn't call the tone great. Mine with the 12" handles the low B well, and is very bright, punchy and articulate throughout the range of my 6 string bass. Perhaps they removed the wet blanket on newer models.

Mine was brand new, in a line of the newest Rumble series in the store.

The Rumble 100 V2 was very different, both the amp and the speaker.

 

[EncoremMP]

The “new” (which have been out for close to a decade) V3 Rumble combos all have ceramic speakers with the exception of the 800/210 combo.

 

[sokolasty]

Low mass of Rumbles might come from thin plywood. R210 cab is built from 1/2 inch one (at least sides)

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Congratulations! I am a big Fender Rumble fan and have owned/played all of them. I currently have a 40 and the new 800. The 100 will be perfect for your needs - enjoy!

 

[Ignatius]

I use one as my rehearsal amp. I have been very happy with it. We rehearse at low volume, drummer uses e-kit, both guitars are through small amps with 8 inch speakers and keys through the PA.

I tried gigging with it once and was disappointed. I found that if I pushed the volume to much it became sonic mud.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I just picked up a Fender Rumble 100. I don't play any loud gigs anymore and this amp sounds amazing and with a neodymium 12" is just crazy stupid light. I think my new 6 string bass weighs more!

The amp carries the bottom well, and has great clarity and punch with the 12" driver. I've been away from music for a while, and wow, this Fender Rumble is exactly what I was looking for in a lightweight combo.

Would it work with a loud drummer, hard rock gig? Not sure, but I don't play those kinds of gigs or music any more. They make the Fender Rumble combo in a 40 watt, 100 watt, 200 watt and a 500 watt. This amp is perfect for my situation. An easy one hand carry.

Glad you like it. I've never used that particular configuration of a Rumble, but have used a couple of others that were more powerful on gigs and rehearsals. Usage with a loud drummer? Unless your tone is flat ( no bass boost) and cranked, it might struggle. If you crank it up with a lot of low bass, it may be prone to farting which is never a good thing. For home use however you have a really nice rig.

As for gigs, it could be usable with FOH support or smaller venues with a smaller not overly loud ensemble.


JMO. Best wishes.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

As far as tonal shaping, I really like the simplification of the layout.

The three switches on the left (Bright, Contour and Vintage) are like an instant adjustment in EQ. If you press all three it instantly gives you that "scooped EQ" sound. Then the rotating tone controls can further refine any one of those EQ buttons. The Bass and Low Mid knob works more with the "Vintage" button. Low Mid and High Mid knobs work with the "Contour" button and a combination of the High Mid and Treble knobs work with the "Bright" switch.

This is my current setting that works with the tone controls on my 6 string bass. I do not have the Vintage button engaged. It gives me a full, but very articulate clear and clean sound. The nice thing is if I want to quickly "cut through the mix" with boosted mids, instead of playing with the tone controls all I have to do is disengage the "Contour" button.

I only briefly toyed with the "Overdrive" engaged, but it too is easily adjustable and gives me instant "Chris Squire-like" growl.

Is this amp for everyone? No amp/cab ever really is. All I know is that its' perfect for my bass, my style and the type of music and gigs I'll be playing. No need for anything more. My bass in a gig bag over one shoulder and the amp in my other hand. One simple trip in and out. Did I mention this amp can get quite loud for it's size and that it's crazy stupid light?

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I use one as my rehearsal amp. I have been very happy with it. We rehearse at low volume, drummer uses e-kit, both guitars are through small amps with 8 inch speakers and keys through the PA.

I tried gigging with it once and was disappointed. I found that if I pushed the volume to much it became sonic mud.

I will never again play a gig that requires more volume than this Rumble 100 can deliver. With the Master volume, (even at less than half way) it is just too insanely loud for me. And it will probably be on a tiltback stand next to me in a very small band. As for me, gone are the days of loud rock music. I've been down that whole loud rock band road years ago, and I never want to return to that.

Getting old, and playing music more aligned with my current musical taste these days has a lot of advantages.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Glad you like it. I've never used that particular configuration of a Rumble, but have used a couple of others that were more powerful on gigs and rehearsals. Usage with a loud drummer? Unless your tone is flat ( no bass boost) and cranked, it might struggle. If you crank it up with a lot of low bass, it may be prone to farting which is never a good thing. For home use however you have a really nice rig.

As for gigs, it could be usable with FOH support or smaller venues with a smaller not overly loud ensemble.


JMO. Best wishes.

Absolutely. This will work for me for any kind of gig I'll be using it for. It easily gets louder (with far better tone) than my other rig (Ashdown Superfly through two 110/6 cabs). That's even without even pushing the volume much.

Like this semi-outdoor gig I did last year with my other rig...

My dual 110/6 rig behind me...

 

[Ralph124C41]

I recently bought a used Rumble 100 and I've used it just last weekend at a gig outside a nice waterfront restaurant. We are not a loud band although we do some "heavy pop" songs. My bass has some pretty powerful pickups so I just didn't have to push the volume up very high.

For many, many years I played with just the first-generation Ampeg BA-115 with also 100 watts. It worked OK for most gigs but sometimes it just couldn't keep up so I dimed all the controls and even used an EQ pedal to add a little more power as I knew the speaker was rated for 150 watts. I got away with it until I could afford a G-K rig.

Anyway, I was very impressed with the Rumble 100 and its weight is just incredible. For my purposes ... playing occasionally in this band or taking it to an open mic/jam it seems to be just the ticket. I plan to go to a porchfest in early October and will bring it along as I know I won't need a lot of volume.

Here's an idea. Reading other comments here about what the "true" flat is for this amp I set my controls at 10 o'clock for the bass and treble and 2 p.m. for the low and high mids. However my bass with flatwounds need more treble so I dime the treble control. But for my other bass I use those suggestions and then adjust as needed ... in fact, I like putting the mid controls at about 3 p.m. for a little more presence.

As others, I went to a local store and played the 100, 200 and 500. I do think the 100 overall sounded the best, although the 200 with its 15-inch speaker was better at a deeper, fuller sound. For some reason I wasn't impressed with the 500. So for a lot less money I think the 100 really held its own. I might one day, however, buy the 200 and then add a cab to get the full 200 watts.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I recently bought a used Rumble 100 and I've used it just last weekend at a gig outside a nice waterfront restaurant. We are not a loud band although we do some "heavy pop" songs. My bass has some pretty powerful pickups so I just didn't have to push the volume up very high.

For many, many years I played with just the first-generation Ampeg BA-115 with also 100 watts. It worked OK for most gigs but sometimes it just couldn't keep up so I dimed all the controls and even used an EQ pedal to add a little more power as I knew the speaker was rated for 150 watts. I got away with it until I could afford a G-K rig.

Anyway, I was very impressed with the Rumble 100 and its weight is just incredible. For my purposes ... playing occasionally in this band or taking it to an open mic/jam it seems to be just the ticket. I plan to go to a porchfest in early October and will bring it along as I know I won't need a lot of volume.

Here's an idea. Reading other comments here about what the "true" flat is for this amp I set my controls at 10 o'clock for the bass and treble and 2 p.m. for the low and high mids. However my bass with flatwounds need more treble so I dime the treble control. But for my other bass I use those suggestions and then adjust as needed ... in fact, I like putting the mid controls at about 3 p.m. for a little more presence.

As others, I went to a local store and played the 100, 200 and 500. I do think the 100 overall sounded the best, although the 200 with its 15-inch speaker was better at a deeper, fuller sound. For some reason I wasn't impressed with the 500. So for a lot less money I think the 100 really held its own. I might one day, however, buy the 200 and then add a cab to get the full 200 watts.

I tried them all out, and the Rumble 100 with it's 12" speaker seemed to have a bit more clarity and punch than the 200 with the 15". Plus the Rumble 100 is just crazy lightweight (which is really important to me now). I couldn't believe how much it puts out being that light and small. I really have no need to go any bigger. My playing days of loud gigs is over and so is my need to be loud.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Low mass of Rumbles might come from thin plywood. R210 cab is built from 1/2 inch one (at least sides)

That helps. My own homemade 110/6 cabs use 1/4" plywood (braced) which keeps the weight down. 3/4" plywood for cabs is so old school and outdated engineering-wise.

 

[Ralph124C41]

I tried them all out, and the Rumble 100 with it's 12" speaker seemed to have a bit more clarity and punch than the 200 with the 15". Plus the Rumble 100 is just crazy lightweight (which is really important to me now). I couldn't believe how much it puts out being that light and small. I really have no need to go any bigger. My playing days of loud gigs is over and so is my need to be loud.

Yes a 12 will be punchier than a 15 ... in general. And a 10 should be even punchier ... but lack the depth of a larger speaker. To me a 12-inch speaker is a good compromise ... if you choose a one-speaker outfit. However I thought the tweater in the 200 would help but it just didn't ... but I did like, as I said, the lows on the 200.

 

[Bassquest]

The Rumble 100 V2 was very different, both the amp and the speaker.

It was a dog, in my opinion.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

It was a dog, in my opinion.

Yeah, I have a friend with the older Rumble and it was alright for a rehearsal. I think it had a 15 in it. This Rumble 100 with the 12" is entirely different. Much louder, lighter and very articulate throughout the range. Far better than his old one.

 

[Bassquest]

I just got my Rumble 100v3 back from a friend guitarist I traded with a while back. He wasn't using it. Gave him my Rumble 25v3 and $200 for it. Happy to have it back since I sold my Rumble 200v3 head and matching 115 cab a while ago.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

They are good amps. I have one I use at a low key restaurant gig. I get compliments on its sound.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

They are good amps. I have one I use at a low key restaurant gig. I get compliments on its sound.

Yeah...that's where I'm heading as far as gigs. Coffee houses, cafe's, restaurants, etc. Small duos, trios, short, easy 2 hour gigs earlier in the evening. No more late night, four hour gigs for me anymore. Definitely no more loud bands anymore.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Further thoughts on the Rumble 100...

Anyone who remembers me from my old username on here (aka - Sundogue), back in the day of designing and building my own cabs, always buying/selling/trading various preamps, amps, etc. constantly in search of the tonal Holy Grail and gobs of power for the loud rock bands I was in, drove me to a lot of experimentation. No matter how close I came to "my" perfect tone and volume, I was never totally satisfied.

Yes, GAS is a real thing. But as I've gotten older, and my taste in music changed, a funny thing happened. I stopped being so picky about it. I still care about my tone, but I no longer feel the need to chase perfection. The best part is, in the past so many of my bands/gigs not only required the tone I was after, but also needed to do so at high volume. That makes a big difference in one's approach to resolving the requirements for both tone and volume.

Now that I have no need to get loud, it's become so much easier to find something that provides the tone I like. I still like a tight low end (but it doesn't need to be fed gobs of watts to get there), punchy mids (but without any need to "cut through the mix" to compete with other loud instruments) and crisp, articulate upper mids and highs that provide those beautiful crisp, clean upper frequencies.

And now that I am older, and dealing with lower back and shoulder aches and pains (due to past injuries) the need for lightweight gear is more important than it ever was, Back then, the idea was always a compromise...Light, Loud and Low. Pick any two because all three were unobtainable. It's a beautiful thing to not really have to compromise when you play light, low volume gigs. You can achieve all three, beyond "bedroom practice" volume.

So I can relate to those who need more power. I once was exactly in that position...back then. Now? This Fender Rumble 100 satisfies all three criteria. Mainly because at live gigs, onstage volume requirements are a moot point. The Rumble 100 handles not only the stage volume but also carries the room without any need to be fed into a PA. I won't be playing any gigs that need a PA beyond a monitor mix if there is a vocalist. Small "MTV Unplugged" type gigs for me now.

It is amazing how easy it is to achieve incredible tone now simply by removing that VOLUME aspect from the equation. So I get it. The Rumble 100 ain't for everyone, and possibly not for the vast majority of players. I've "been there, done that" so I can appreciate the comments from those still searching for perfection and the need for more power. For those that think the Rumble 100 is only suited to practice volumes, just aren't in my position. When I was younger I envied those who were. I'm there now too and thrilled and grateful where I'm at now.