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Please help me make a decision.

Mitch Phillips

Mitch Phillips

Mar 7, 2019
5
1
#1
I'm a 56 year old, mediocre guitarist. I recently started playing bass with some local musicians. All local, all small time, am not a pro but I'm having a blast! I have a MIM Fender Precision and a Squire Jazz bass that suit me well.

Long story short it's time for an amp suitable to use on stage. I already have a Behringer 4x10 cabinet w/Bugera speakers that was practically given to me and I recently ordered a Peavy Mini Max 500. I love the amp but can't live with the loud fan so I'm gonna send it back.

My next two choices are the Fender Rumble 500 or the Bugera Veyron 1001M. I don't have a retailer close by that demos these amps so I'm gonna have to roll the dice again. I have a Fender Rumble 100 practice amp, so I kinda know what the 500 might be like. I'm tempted by the Bugera because of the look, the compressor and the fact that it is the same brand as my 4x10. My concern about the Bugera, from what I've read, is that it won't get low enough.

I ask for your opinion and/or feedback on which of these to choose.
 
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#2
Hey - and welcome to the deep end of the pool! With your two choices of amps, I guess my only question to you would be how loud will you need to get? The Rumble 500 head (btw discontinued by fender but can still find new ones out there) would be my choice. The Bugera definitely has the "bang for your buck" factor, but not sure how reliable it'll be in the long haul. Your speaker cab should easily be able to handle the Rumble fully cranked up if you need it (350 watts at 8 ohms). Not sure if you'd have that with the Bugera head (without blowing a speaker) although it would be much louder due to wattage, which they advertise at 2000 watts (probably just peak at 4 or 2 ohms) - not sure what it would be at 8 ohms.

I see many positive reviews at SW and MF, so they are making some folks happy (Bugera) - but I think you'll find the consensus here to heavily favor Fender! Who was it that said a Fender just sounds better through a Fender?
 
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#3
bhendrix said:
Hey - and welcome to the deep end of the pool! With your two choices of amps, I guess my only question to you would be how loud will you need to get? The Rumble 500 head (btw discontinued by fender but can still find new ones out there) would be my choice. The Bugera definitely has the "bang for your buck" factor, but not sure how reliable it'll be in the long haul. Your speaker cab should easily be able to handle the Rumble fully cranked up if you need it (350 watts at 8 ohms). Not sure if you'd have that with the Bugera head (without blowing a speaker) although it would be much louder due to wattage, which they advertise at 2000 watts (probably just peak at 4 or 2 ohms) - not sure what it would be at 8 ohms.

I see many positive reviews at SW and MF, so they are making some folks happy (Bugera) - but I think you'll find the consensus here to heavily favor Fender! Who was it that said a Fender just sounds better through a Fender?
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Thanks for your response. I agree with you. I have always used Fender guitar amps. I keep telling myself almost exactly what you just said and then I start looking at those sexy Bugera
 
#5
The Bugera may be awesome and probably is, but for how long?

I owned a Behringer Ultrabass 1200 kickback combo several years ago like this one - it was a little beast for two years until it simply crapped out during a jam session. So, I have reason to be "gun shy" with Bugera.

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#7
Mitch Phillips said:
Thanks for your warning. I just rolled the dice again. I pre-ordered a Rumble 800 head. It's supposed to ship 3/22.Wish me luck...but like the man said," Fender sounds better thru Fender."
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Sweet! I'll be looking forward to your review. And of course eventually you'll have to sell the Behringer cab and take advantage of the magnetic rumble head attachment system.....just saying ;)
 

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