Rumble 100 into ? - need to get louder.

[philthedill]

Hi all, planning an outside rock covers gig soon with newly formed band. I have a Rumble 100 which is enough at rehearsal home jam sessions etc and I really dont want to part with it as i love its tone, and weight and portability, but once we go outside I know it will struggle. PA will be used used for vocals, harmonica and acoustics so I am on my own.

Was seeking advice on options that minimize further gear acquisition for $450 or ideally less in the US.

- Rumble 100 xlr out with the Rumble sitting on top of a Blackstar 250 Watt Active Ext Cab.

- Rumble 100 FX loop send into active input of an additional 150-200 watt or so combo amp (wattage range so as to keep it under $450)

- Rumble 100 into a single powered PA speaker ( Mackie Thump or something of the sorts)

I prefer to buy gear new ideally, and I don't have a ton of time to wait for something used to appear locally that I can check out.

 

[abarson]

All three are viable options.
#1 is simple, straightforward and should give you more of what you’ve got. I’ve no Blackstar experience.
#2 I’d say go with another Rumble 100 or 200, since you like the tone. I don’t know if it’s enough wattage for your needs.
#3 could easily drown out your combo.

But they all seem like a stop gap solution. If this band is going to gig more, I would invest in a bigger rig, possibly based on a Rumble head and cabinets, as you like the sound.

 

[808State]

The 12" speaker is not very special in the 100 combo.
Efficiency is rather poor

Even if it was special it is still 100 watt amplifier.

You would have to double the speaker area and double the wattage for 3 dB more Sound pressure.
Would not be enough for many.
Might work for you, might not.

No room gain outside, and gusts of wind literally sweep away the sound.

Im not sure what the benefit of new is at that price range.
You could probably cobble up something more powerful used.

Small combo might still work for you.
If I remember the 12" in the rumble combo was around 93 dB
Just a more straight forward 150 to 200 watt combo with a 1x15
is getting closer to beating 2 rumbles.
Expect around 97 to 99 dB with a good 15" and little more clean overhead
with a 150 or 200 watt combo.

Even a ancient TNT150 or BA115 would kill the thing in output

 

[Gearhead17]

Adding subwoofers and a dedicated sound person to these shows would likely be the best option. It would allow your bass tones to actually be heard, otherwise, all other options are not going to get you very loud. It's tough outside because the majority of bass frequencies will travel in ALL directions since there are no walls to bounce off of.

Not sure how far your sound has to travel, but if you are playing to a 100 people or more, beef up the PA system.

 

[G-Dog]

.
@philthedill, if you like the Rumble tone, as many do, you should ...

1. Post a pic of your Rumble 100 in the Fender Rumble Club for a free membership.
2. Get another Rumble, at least a 200, or maybe a 500, to help your 100 for louder venues.

.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Sell/trade in your amp and get a Rumble 500.

 

[CallMeAl]

I ran a pair of Rumble 100s for a bit, but as mentioned above it was just a stop gap. I’d think about a used 500, you could probably find one for ~450$. Or get a new ampeg ba210 for 500 bucks.

 

[JakobT]

A Rumble 500 combo will get you more wattage with the tone and portability you like, and won’t cost that much more. It will be a simpler and more dependable solution than cobbling a lot of stuff together. Sell your Rumble 100 if necessary.

 

[Stinga1990]

Get a rumble 500 combo or a rumble head and cab. Best way to keep the rumble tone and make it louder and bigger for your situation.

 

[JDLowEnd]

Sell/trade in your amp and get a Rumble 500.

this is the choice! I have used mine for quieter home practice and is kept up easily in a full band setting, plus an extension out to add whatever cab you want. I have been debating about other amps but this always seems to fit the bill no matter the situation.

 

[lomo]

If possible, I'd look for a decent used 410 or 212 cab and borrow or rent a head for this gig.......or buy a used head with at least 500 watts into 4 Ohms and borrow/rent a cab for this gig. Bottom line: make it your goal to have a rig that can properly handle this type of gig in the future and don't waste money on anything that doesn't get you closer to that goal. Separates are more flexible. Of your choices above, I'd prefer the 250 watt, powered Blackstar cab.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

I'd expand your band's mixer, run the XLR to the board and instead of that Mackie Thump pumping out your sounds to your audiences, have it facing you as a monitor. Can certainly EQ/Compress etc, the PA system to meet the needs and you'll probably hear yourself a whole lot better.

If this isn't an option, I'd look into a Rumble 500, they're light, three times the amount of wattage, and if you want to expand with an external speaker to 500 watts you could.

 

[bassicg]

Plug it into your nearest GC as a trade-in towards a Rumble 500! You won't believe the volume you'll get!. I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. Just having a little fun. Nevertheless, I hope you find a satisfactory solution to your dilemma!

-Blessings

 

[fleabitten]

The 12" speaker is not very special in the 100 combo.
Efficiency is rather poor

Even if it was special it is still 100 watt amplifier.

You would have to double the speaker area and double the wattage for 3 dB more Sound pressure.
Would not be enough for many.
Might work for you, might not.

No room gain outside, and gusts of wind literally sweep away the sound.

Im not sure what the benefit of new is at that price range.
You could probably cobble up something more powerful used.

Small combo might still work for you.
If I remember the 12" in the rumble combo was around 93 dB
Just a more straight forward 150 to 200 watt combo with a 1x15
is getting closer to beating 2 rumbles.
Expect around 97 to 99 dB with a good 15" and little more clean overhead
with a 150 or 200 watt combo.

Even a ancient TNT150 or BA115 would kill the thing in output

TNT 150's just keep going. yaaa

 

[Thundar]

All your options are do-able....but I would just buy a used Rumble 500 combo, and then later you can add a 210 or 15" ext cabinet. I have the Combo and the 210 ext cab...its fantastic

 

[808State]

TNT 150's just keep going. yaaa

Its almost comical and old school to even mention them to many im sure.
But then again a good 15" is going to beat a rumble 12" for efficiency.
They can still work.

For compact rig there is of course single 15" or 12" speakers that will reach high enough SPL.
This is the typical higher powered neos and require at least 300 to 400 watts.

Meaning using the fairly typical 500 watt heads available.
Usually most move to 2x12 for assurance.
Ill assume a 500 watt 2x10 combo mentioned should be more feasible as well.
sensitivity of a 2x12 would also be higher.

Then again a matching 2x10 extension cab for a rumble.
will also make sensitivity higher.

 

[philthedill]

.
@philthedill, if you like the Rumble tone, as many do, you should ...

1. Post a pic of your Rumble 100 in the Fender Rumble Club for a free membership.
2. Get another Rumble, at least a 200, or maybe a 500, to help your 100 for louder venues.

.

Thank you - and thanks all for the advice. Realize I just need to pony up more $$ and looking at Rumble 500 plus 2 x10 Cab ext. Although he GK 4x10 500 wattCombo looks interesting, and will give me a free hand to carry bass in other.

 

[JakobT]

Thank you - and thanks all for the advice. Realize I just need to pony up more $$ and looking at Rumble 500 plus 2 x10 Cab ext. Although he GK 4x10 500 wattCombo looks interesting, and will give me a free hand to carry bass in other.

GK definitely makes good stuff, but at 63 lbs the MB 410 isn’t really a one-handed carry - that’s why it comes with side handles and casters. Get two 210s instead, and carry your bass on your back. With the Rumble 500, you’ll need the other 210 less often than you think, and when you do, stack them, and you will get the much desired vertical cabinet coupling effect, which a 410 will not provide.

 

[Mushroo]

- Rumble 100 into a single powered PA speaker ( Mackie Thump or something of the sorts)

If you have money for PA speakers then upgrade your PA and run bass through the PA. That is the long term, professional-results solution to the problem.

If that's not a viable solution (for whatever reason) then why not just rent/borrow a bigger amp for the gig? You should be able to rent an 8x10 "fridge" or whatever for the night.