Punch!

[Scotty4string]

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..

"Prolly phasing each other"? What does that mean?

Anyway. I have an MXR M81 and a Fender Rumble. The M81 is a great preamp and has never made any amp I have plugged it into sound worse. I don't care for the sound of the Rumble. Sounds like a different amp would be the solution.

 

[Egg250]

I like my tone to punch into your chest, grab your heart and push it out your back.

Start with new strings.
I have an active eq on my bass (low, mid and high) and I keep all 3 wide open
I normally play DI through the PA. I do a low cut at 40hz, boost the mids and highs slightly or keep the eq flat.
When I play through an amp, I follow a similar process. EQ settings on the amp are: low is flat (12 o'clock), mid is around 2 o'clock, high is 2 or 3 o'clock. Presence or briteness is usually 3 or 4 o'clock, if available.
I used to use a compressor but, as my plucking technique improved and I had more control, I quit using the compressor. If you use a compressor, slow the attack so it doesn't kill your dynamics and speed up the release.

 

[rtslinger]

Try this as a starting point

• 80Hz - 200Hz: This is where the fundamentals live. If you want to add body and depth to your bass, you can boost it here.
• 200Hz - 300Hz: You'll often find quite a bit of mud in the 200-300Hz range. Does your bass guitar need a bit more clarity? If so, cut in this range. By the way, this range is where mud typically lives throughout your entire mix, so it's a good place to start if you find your mix lacks clarity in any way.
• 500Hz - 1kHz: Punchiness and aggression live in this low mid-range.
• 2.5kHz - 5kHz: If you want to boost the overtones of your bass guitar and give it some more attack, look in this range.

 

[silky smoove]

"Prolly phasing each other"? What does that mean?

It's a misunderstanding of terms. In this case, with the two preamps cascading into each other there is only one sound source, and thus no phase relationship to consider in so much as one cancelling the other out. If it were two sources in parallel it would be a consideration, but not here.

 

[BassBrass]

I'd always use a compressor to taylor my attack envelope (with a slow compressor attack that preserves mine but atenuates the bloom) with a Rumble because the thing is voiced like a g. d. Tuba (in my mind) or maybe something underpowered from the late 60s (like a 100w Fender tube amp) which is Why you put bass at 10am and keep the preamp down... For punch, my 2 Rumble 100s chained would be my 3rd string bass amp, good for low weight, my favorite bought this winter is a Hartke LX5500, I love it's mid filtering eq, and the compresser is good, I even add a hint of the drive. Punch city. Better than my old Ampeg 500w Portaflex. I have a punchy 300w Markbass Nano MkIII too, that would do you fine too. But with the Fender, use a compresser. and either of these or other punch pedals, voiced overdrives: solid gold Beta or creationaudiolab Grizzly Bass or others.... They both help with eq., the Beta has baked in "punch". Try a more midrange forward bass too. or not.
BTW, Rumbles make a Great keyboard or modular synthesizer amp.

 

[LowG]

My best sound I ever had was a Sadowsky pre amp a Hofner beatle bass and a hartke kickback 12.

It seems like buying this again wouldn't be too hard. If it's more volume you need just get a bigger Hartke.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I bought a new rumble 800 combo and a Mxr 81 preamp.Im not getting any punch. it's just all blended together.It seems I remember haveing a Sadowsky pre amp years ago and it punchy as hell and snappy. woth less controlss. (which I like less is better)any thoughts?

'Did you play your Sadowski through your rumble? Might not be the bass.

 

[richntiff]

The baked in rumble tone is that vintage mush - you are fighting an uphill battle if you want to sound punchy.

 

[magic8161]

Mabe it's the 2x10's abd I need a 15.

 

[Aidenn7]

"Prolly phasing each other"? What does that mean?

Anyway. I have an MXR M81 and a Fender Rumble. The M81 is a great preamp and has never made any amp I have plugged it into sound worse. I don't care for the sound of the Rumble. Sounds like a different amp would be the solution.

I noticed. Some amp and pedals don't don't sound good together.. Or the settings are cancelling each other out.. Virtually causing a dull spot or notch or comb filter.. Something like misaligned phasing of sound does..

 

[Not_Shane]

on my rumble i have everything flat and hit the scoop button.
if you have a preamp, id leave everything on the amp at noon and just use the preamp.
not sure why youd use both.

 

[Jogobass]

Try engaging the vintage and bright buttons both on the Rumble. I find that setting to give more punch than the neutral settings.

 

[Lammchop93]

Boost the low mid knob on your rumble. I have the same combo and it's one of the punchier amps I've had.

 

[AndyLES]

I never was sure on all that megahertz stuff or really how to set a amp....

There's your issue. Learn how to use the gear you currently have before buying pedals, preamps, etc.

 

[magic8161]

There's your issue. Learn how to use the gear you currently have before buying pedals, preamps, etc.

And that why I ask Questions and started this thread.....'-)

 

[AndyLES]

And that why I ask Questions and started this thread.....'-)

Start by losing the pedal, and instead plugging straight into the bass amp. I don't know if the rumble has a clip light, but if it does, start by setting proper gain structure.

1) Set the controls on your bass the way you typically do. If you're running an active bass, keep the EQ knobs flat (neither boosting nor cutting), volume all the way up, pan knob set to whatever pickup you like.

2) Turn on your amp, and turn the master volume DOWN for now. Set the EQ to 12 0'clock, and turn all the buttons and other features offf. Play your bass like your normally would, raising the input gain knob to the point where the input clip LED flashes occasionally. When that happens, back off the gain a tiny bit, maybe a single notch.

3) turn up the master to the preferred volume, and then start playing with the controls. Remember that cutting, not boosting, is often the way to go - in other words, if your sound is too rumbly, FIRST try to cut bass instead of raising mid or treble. A little goes a long way, and you have to EQ with your ears, not your eyes - in other words, don't worry if the knob settings look "weird."

 

[brianrost]

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

That's the Rumble sound! Try reducing the low mids and boosting the high mids. Also try engaging the contour button, which removes low mids.

Get rid of the preamp until you've explored the Rumble EQ.

Don't think that smaller drivers will be brighter. It's up to designer, really. My old Fender Bassman Ten was a 4-10 and a mud machine.

 

[HolmeBass]

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

Yeah speaker diameter is a lousy proxy for estimating tone.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

is your bass properly set up with proper pickup heights?

 

[_Tay_]

Try pluggin your MXR into the amps FX return. Try even plugging your bass into the FX return. I have a Rumble 500 and i plug my board into its return. My (active) bass sounds really good going into the return too.