New rig advice needed: Fender Rumble 500 combo + 115 extension vs. Carvin MB 1515 micro stack

[Woofer]

Beginning to look for a replacement for my current rig. Could use some sound advice from forumites who currently use either of the aforementioned setups.

My current rig is a Carvin BR 410 8 ohm cab being driven by an Acoustic B200H 200 watt head. I actually really like the sound I get from it, and I don't feel like the 125 watts or so (my best non-scientific estimate) that the head is putting into the cab is holding me back any as far as volume is concerned. Most if not all of the venues we play have PA support, and we have our own for the few that don't. What I do have a problem with is the weight. While the head isn't exactly a pig, I wouldn't mind lighter/smaller. The cab is the real issue. It's my only cab, so I'm having to take it to both practices and gigs. At 66 lbs, the weight of the 410 is starting to become an issue for me with the amount of gigging and rehearsal I've got on my schedule now. I've also had some neck problems in the past that lifting such a heavy cab frequently has the potential to exacerbate, and naturally I'd like to avoid that. A lighter bass will help with that too, but that's for another thread.

What I'd really like is something lighter and more modular, which has lead me to these two options above. They're light, and give me the option of taking just the combo for practice and using both the combo plus extension for gigging. What I'm not sure of is if the extra wattage of the Fender setup is really worth the extra couple hundred bucks of up front cost. Like I said, I've been doing fine with the amount of power I currently have. Also, neither of these amps/cabs are available for me to try locally, even at the GC up in Virginia Beach, so this will have to be a sight unseen purchase when it happens. I've done what I think is due diligence searching for threads here and listening to what little is available on YouTube, but I'd really like to hear from you guys on what might be better for my needs. Thanks in advance.

 

[Low Class]

I've played through the Fender Rumble 500 and the 500 head and I've played through the Carvin 115MB extension cab with a TC BH250 head and have owned a Carvin BX500 head. The Carvin was a huge disappointment, it hardly sounded like a bass cabinet at all. I also did not care of the dull thin tone of the Carvin head. With the Fender you get a better sounding combo to begin with and twice the power. With the Carvin you'll have to add the extension cab to make it competitive with the Fender combo by itself IMO. The Rumble with the 15 ext cab should blow the doors off the Carvin.

 

[Linnin]

A lot of interest is being expressed in the Rumble 500 combo on top of the new Rumble 115 cab. So far I haven't read a first hand gig report of this combination yet, but I have faith one will pop up soon. Rumble 500's in either head or combo format are getting rave reviews. I run a Rumble 350 head with a pair of Rumble 112 Neos and couldn't be happier. One of the best things about Fender Rumbles is that you get far more than you pay for. More Bang For Less Bucks! That's a lot of rig for a mere $800 brand new and shipped to your door. Fabulous Fender Tone: First Class Build Quality; World Renouned Reliabilty, Lightweight, and LOUD!

Oh, and have I ever mentioned that Rumbles Rock!

 

[cchorney]

If you like the sound you are getting from your Acoustic head and Carvin cab, shouldn't you at least try hanging onto the head (you already like the sound of it) and find a similar sounding pair of smaller Carvin cabs like 2 BR210s or 2 BR115s? I'd guess that drivers are the same between their 410 and their 210s (I didn't check but you can), which should help with the tone at least having a chance of being similar.

 

[Feral Feline]

CCHorney makes a solid suggestion, logical. If you dig the sound you're getting now then 2 BR210s gives you likely a similar sound (same drivers, natch), but makes transport far easier – and stacking them vertically would get you the line array thing going that seems de rigeuer, getting the sound up around your ears instead of blowing past your kneecaps.

The Carvin 115 weighs 52lbs;
the Carvin 210 weighs 50lbs;
the Carvin 410 weighs 73lbs;
but even though the overall weight of two 210s would be heavier, it would be more manageable schlepping. Leave one 210 at rehearsal space, one at home, take one or both to gigs as need be.

Bonus is pulling more watts out of your current amp (it goes down to 4 Ohms, right?). Getting the two 210s in 8-Ohms would get you a "4x10" Carvin sound you like, but can hear better thanks to more power and vertical stacking.

Then, if the two 210s are working for you, but your amp is still too heavy, you can "audition" other lightweight amps until you find one you like and then sell off the old amp or relegate it to rehearsal/home use.



PS: You forgot "carrots" option in your poll

 

[Woofer]

Thank you all for your responses. I suppose it's correct that a pair of 210's would better emulate the sound I'm currently getting from my 410, though I'm still not sold on the whole vertical stack thing. Not that I'm not open to it, but I've yet to come across any 210 cabs available at my local retailers to try that way. But, as Feral points out, the BR210 weighs in at around 50 pounds and IMO that's right at the edge of what I really would want to deal with. I'm going to say that my max is about 40 - 45 lbs for any one enclosure. A pair of 210MB cabs would work, but from what I've read and heard the 15's are really the way to go with the MB line. As an aside, I never leave my equipment anywhere, just not my policy. So ease of portability is a must.

As to cchorney's suggestion of keeping the head, I'm not super attached to it, and could likely get the sound I want from a different brand. I have a strong feeling that the sound I'm liking is coming more from the speakers I'm using rather than the head, as I've used the head with various cabs on several occasions and didn't find that same sound. This was one of the deciding factors that lead me to consider the MB 1515 as a likely replacement, as it would likely have a similar enough sound to what I currently have.

Linnin, I thought I might hear from you about the Rumbles. The extra wattage is attractive, and those are definitely some good sounding and looking amps/cabs. It's the outright price that is the bit of a niggle on that route. I'll be selling off my current setup to help fund the new one, and for what I'd pay for the MB 1515 I'd only be getting the 500 combo from Fender. Doubtful I'd be able to afford to get the 115 extension at the same time, and I'm concerned that the 210 alone wouldn't be enough for my volume needs from the outset, despite the increase in wattage.

Maybe another viable option would be a BX500 and a pair of the 115MB or 210MB cabs. Same power and overall price tag as the Fender setup, but in smaller installments and still the Carvin 'sound' I currently like.

P.S.: Isn't the default poll option 'Tacos' now, after Faulknersj's epic thread?

 

[Feral Feline]

Sorry, you're right – carrot-tacos, or simply carrotacos.

Sounds like you really want to move to 15s. All good

 

[Linnin]

Well, Woofer, you should still give Fender's Rumbles a listen. It's well worth the price of gasoline to go to the audition just to see and play through what's available.

Whatever you get, I wish you the very best. It's not about the gear, it's all about the music; the art, and the love.

Rock On!

 

[hotbass57]

I own the rumble 500 combo. The tone, the weight is well worth the purchase. Also a 5 year warranty. The combo 36ibs, the fender 15 is 38 ilbs I think. Check out fender.

 

[iagtrplyr]

I've been wanting to write up a proper review for my 500 head and 115 cab, but have been to dang busy rehearsing and gigging with my rig to do so. In fact, yesterday I snuck two short reviews on the GC site for the pair.

In three words or less, I love 'em! Old school Fender tone at your fingertips, incredibly lightweight and not a chore to move (and I've been doing a lot of moving of late), yet solidly made. These aren't your older brother's Rumbles, these are, IMHO, the best working class-priced series Fender has put out in years.

You owe it to yourself to audition the stuff. I'm a former Acoustic user myself, and while I liked the tone the weight sooner or later became an issue. Not the case with the Rumble separates.

I walked into rehearsal on Monsay with my Jazz bass in one hand along with the 500 head in its soft case, and the cab in the other hand. It's faster than rolling it!

I can get a clean, close-to-modern tone with less bottom, or with the vintage button in and the gain higher up, a very nice deep tone that sits well in a mix of brass and woodwinds.

I got 15% off each piece and felt I received more than I paid for. Just picked up a nice Orange quarter/speakon cable and am out again tomorrow night to an outdoor street fest.

Next summer I'd like to add a second 115 cab to utilize the full 500 watts. I really dug the cab, even with my Fender Greta 2-watt tube amp hooked up. Perfect for practicing in a small room.

Good luck in your hunt, but seriously give the 500 combo an opportunity to impress and expand if ever needed.

 

[Woofer]

Update. My Acoustic head started blowing fuses on Friday night, so amp shopping became a must rather than a want. Got a chance to audition a Rumble 200 combo at GC yesterday, and man did that thing sound great! Loved the overdrive and 'vintage' tone features it had, and a great clean tone too. Much nicer than my Acoustic. That was the biggest they had in stock, so after coming home and taking one more look at the Carvin stuff and doing some comparisons again of options and features, I put in an order for:

A Fender Rumble 500 head. Can't wait for it to get here! I think I'll likely sell the Carvin cab at some point and get a pair of the Rumble 115 cabinets to go with it, because I really liked the tones I was getting from that combo and they look cool as heck with the silver grill cloth.

Thanks for sticking around, and for all the help!

 

[Backyardace]

Did you get your Rumble 500? What do you think?

I may be purchasing one tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[Woofer]

I did. It's great! Much much better sound, power, and weight than my old Acoustic 200h. I've spoken about it briefly over on the Rumble Club thread.