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Punch!
- Thread starter magic8161
- Start date
What do you define as "punch"? The definition of "punch" varies quite a bit in the bass community. When I hear the word punch, I am thinking about the 200hz frequency zone. A few questions and a potential solution:
1. What are you hoping to gain with the MXR M81? What are your settings?
2. Rumble 800 - What are your settings on there?
3. Are you plugging straight into the MXR M81 and into the Rumble 800?
Potential solution: Remove the MXR M81 from the signal path and plug straight into the Rumble 800. Turn off all of the buttons, put all knobs at 12 noon, and adjust the Gain per the manual. Start playing, then try a small boost on the Low Mid knob, and see what happens. The Rumble 800 has a built-in tone to it and is radically different than the Sadowsky preamp you used to use.
Sadowsky preamp - Do you still own this piece of gear? I am not 100% sure what the tone controls are doing, but I hope someone can chime in to help you further.
1. What are you hoping to gain with the MXR M81? What are your settings?
2. Rumble 800 - What are your settings on there?
3. Are you plugging straight into the MXR M81 and into the Rumble 800?
Potential solution: Remove the MXR M81 from the signal path and plug straight into the Rumble 800. Turn off all of the buttons, put all knobs at 12 noon, and adjust the Gain per the manual. Start playing, then try a small boost on the Low Mid knob, and see what happens. The Rumble 800 has a built-in tone to it and is radically different than the Sadowsky preamp you used to use.
Sadowsky preamp - Do you still own this piece of gear? I am not 100% sure what the tone controls are doing, but I hope someone can chime in to help you further.
I plug the Mrx into the amp from the bass.I never was sure on all that megahertz stuff or really how to set a amp. been playing 40 years just getting buy at what just sounded good. My best sound I ever had was a Sadowsky pre amp a Hofner beatle bass and a hartke kickback 12. its hard to describe punch I just know it when I hear it. It's like a tight sound if that helps.
As far as amp settings gain and master both set at 1 o clock. treble and mid around 3 o clock and bass at 10 o'clock. im getting not much high end and boom lows
Have you tried setting everything at 12 oclock and putting new strings on?
Dude the two tones are prolly phasing each other.. Instead of working together.. Creating a dull tone.. I didn't like fenders new rumbles when I tried it.. Sounds off.. Try pluging the mxr pre into the return loop before the power amp.. And see how the pre sounds.. If you don't like that.. Return the mxr.. And get a mxr micro amp.. To boost the fender.. Instead of trying to flavor the amp with pre.. Now if the fender by itself self sucks.. Return it and try a galen kruger or harkte.. Or just make an amp board..
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Bass 2 o clock. Treble 3 o'clock. Scoop your mids. And, turn up.
Your speakers should be punching.
I have no idea what "punch" Or "tight" actually means, but I don't think pushing 200 Hz will do it for the OP. The Sadowsky preamp has boosts for lows and highs (the thing is flat when the controls are both at minimum), and can only boost - it leaves the mids alone in the area of 300 Hz (not precisely 200 Hz, but close) - that's the area that's NOT boosted by the Sadowsky preamp.
If you get an Xotic Bass RC booster, it does boost and cut, but if you boost both treble and bass on that (above noon on the controls), it does pretty much the same thing as the Sadowsky (I've measured mine).
Try eiminating the preamp. Not sure why you need one with that amp.
The Rumble series has a "voice" built in. If you want a bright tone, you have the wrong amp.
The Rumble series has a "voice" built in. If you want a bright tone, you have the wrong amp.
Not so much bright but this amp seems to emphasis on bass more than anything else.I thought 2x10's would be brighter then my 1x15 but its turning out to be not so much
I have rumble that I rarely use. It sounds like some threw a blanket over it. Cheap, light and loud, that's it.
That's how this one sounds.like there is a blanket over it. it's better at lower volume but higher volumes its just not there
Driver size only tells you, well, the size of the drivers. You have good suggestions in this thread about simplifying, setting everything flat and tweaking from there. Mids are where the magic happens and with the bass cranked up to ten you're just going to get a whole lot of woof. You may just be fighting the baked in sound of that amp which may not be to your liking.
Try turning the bass down to like 8 or 9 o'clock on the Rumble.
Lose the pedal, all controls at 12 o'clock, get new strings. Start there.
Interesting because all the feedback I read about the new Rumble 800 combo with neodymium speakers, people say it has more midrange and treble and less low frequency than the older combos.
I'd try the bass straight into the amp. I read in the Rumble club here, that the actual flat setting is shown in the picture here. I think cutting the mids would sound worse. You could write in the Rumble club, you'll get better advice there. Fender Rumble Club
I'd try the bass straight into the amp. I read in the Rumble club here, that the actual flat setting is shown in the picture here. I think cutting the mids would sound worse. You could write in the Rumble club, you'll get better advice there. Fender Rumble Club
Point or tilt amp towards your ears too. As well as other points
I run a rumble 800 HD through th rumble 2x10 cab, so my set up is somewhat similar to your new 800 combo. With that being said I think your gain is set WAY too high. Rumbles get boomy quick especially with some preamps/pedals. I run a sansamp vtdi with a ehx bass soul food going into it. My gain nob never goes past 9 o'clock, otherwise it gets messy. Others from this site have the same opinion. Now you need to read about setting the rumble "flat" like what's already been posted by another person in this thread. Usually means cutting bass, highs, and boosting mids. I cut my bass down to 10 o'clock, and my treble to 9 o'clock. My mids are usually around 1 o'clock, sometimes noon or 2. Don't engage the contour, bright, or vintage while using your preamp. Essentially your rumble and preamp have been fighting each other, my advice should hopefully get you in the ballpark of finding usuable tones with your preamp. Pro tip if you set your drive and volume to zero on the overdrive circuit you the have a very good mute button. Lastly finding your tone might not be in that preamp, but could just be in the rumble. Sometimes a simple compressor pedal can get you a solid thump, perhaps pick up a cheap one and try it out. Anyways good luck and stop by the rumble club on here, they're good dudes.
