Rumble 200 Combo Experience

[The Bass Clef]

Don't want to start any fights, but just stating my personal experience with a Rumble 200 V3 combo amp that I bought a couple weeks ago at GC. I bought it because I had read so many positive reviews here on TB about them (both in terms of tone and volume), and I wanted a small lightweight combo for quick setup/tear down for one of my bands that plays a lot of 45-60 min. sets with several other bands in a night.

1st problem, despite all the reviews that they are loud, I could not hear it very well at practice over a moderately loud rock drummer and single guitar (playing a Les Paul thru a 1x12 Deluxe Fender combo) without cranking both gain and the master knobs to about 85% (EQ set flat).

2nd problem, at those volume settings, the tone got pretty ugly fast and was farting out.

3rd problem, the amp started rattling really bad, to the point I could hear the rattle over the notes I was playing and over the full band. It didn't take too long to figure out that if pressed hard on the back of the amp itself right in the center with 2 or 3 fingers, I could get the rattle to stop, but I didn't feel I should need to take a new amp apart to see what was loose inside, so I took it back to GC after the 1st practice with it and got my money back.

I'm sure the Rumble 500 combo would likely have been a better choice for more headroom, but according to many reviews on TB, the single 1x15 combo should have been "plenty loud" with a 3 piece band with a guitar combo (not a half stack), in a small practice room at that. So after the horrible rattle and not so great tone (IMO) even at medium volume, I got turned off and didn't want to spend an extra bill to try out the 500 combo, so now I'm looking at GK or maybe the new Peavey Max 250 (which is supposed to come out in the next month or 2, and looks promising).

Maybe my standards are really high because I own a great Aguilar rig (TH 500 and 2 SL112s) and a V4B reissue w/ 2 SVT210AVs, but my experience with the Rumble 200 V3 combo was surprisingly not good at all. YMMV. Don't hate me cuz I didn't like it.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

New amp with problems?
Warranty time.

 

[The Bass Clef]

New amp with problems?
Warranty time.

If the rattle was the only issue I had, I would have swapped it out for another 200. But the volume and tone was lacking IMO compared to other 1x15 combos I've played over the years (Peaveys, Carvins, Ampegs).

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Take it back & get a 500.
I just brought home a 100 that I'm taking back on Monday, because I prefer the 10" driver's sound more.
When I finally upgrade, it will have to be two 10".
or possibly a 2x8"

 

[mattbass6945]

I'd be looking for something 300+ watts. Even then, you may run into issues if you have one speaker pointed at the back of your knees and a moderately loud drummer. Best of luck!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If the rattle was the only issue I had, I would have swapped it out for another 200. But the volume and tone was lacking IMO compared to other 1x15 combos I've played over the years (Peaveys, Carvins, Ampegs).

As long as you were sure the amp was working properly, then you don't like what ya don't like.
Good luck with your next amp.

 

[AstroSonic]

What can you (and we) learn from this?

1) Your band plays louder than most of the bands with bass players who found the amp to have adequate volume.

2) Your tonal preferences differ, you guessed it, from the tonal preferences of most of the players who like the amps tone.

3) If you push equipment beyond reasonable design limits (i.e., into severe distortion), damage is likely. Just because the knobs can be turned that far doesn't mean that its safe. Adding a knob that goes to '11' will not help.

4) There is no substitute for an audition, and at near-live volume played with music (recording of your band?) if you are more interested in performance tone vs bedroom tone.

There is comfort in numbers (of favorable reviews), but it is often short lived. Take some comfort in knowing that most of us have done this, even more than once.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I remember when a bass with 35 watts and a 15, playing with two guitars and drums - no PA support, was good for a medium sized gym sock hop.

I have the Rumble 200 but wouldn't considering gigging it these days with the same band without having the 15" extension cab to push twice the air and get the amp up to full power capability.
That's just me though.

 

[dtripoli]

I have a Rumble 150 combo as a backup to my Ampeg PF500 with 1x15 cab and a 2x10 cab I use for out door gigs only.
Honestly, I haven't touched or used the Rumble for months but I can say this;
They are pretty good looking especially with the caster wheels on. They are loud as advertised but they sounded more like a guitar amp than a bass amp to me. Weird? I don't know, you decide.
I am sure the larger Rumbles with more wattage and better/larger speakers may sound incredibly snappin', poppin', and deep.
I got the Ampeg PF500 just a few weeks after the Rumble purchase so again, I have played it no more than 3 times.
Conclusion, they are loud and my Rumble 150 cut through the mix well with a full band, probably because it sounds like a guitar amp and sounds good through FOH even though I dialed in a lot more treble which left me with little to no deep bass thumpiness. Me and Rumble 150 need to spend some more quality time together before I start spouting off a good or bad endorsement of it.
Those Rumble amps are also rugged. They can stand a good amount of normal loading/unloading at gigs better than most combos.

 

[Texican]

I have a Rumble 150 combo as a backup to my Ampeg PF500 with 1x15 cab and a 2x10 cab I use for out door gigs only.
Honestly, I haven't touched or used the Rumble for months but I can say this;
They are pretty good looking especially with the caster wheels on. They are loud as advertised but they sounded more like a guitar amp than a bass amp to me. Weird? I don't know, you decide.
I am sure the larger Rumbles with more wattage and better/larger speakers may sound incredibly snappin', poppin', and deep.
I got the Ampeg PF500 just a few weeks after the Rumble purchase so again, I have played it no more than 3 times.
Conclusion, they are loud and my Rumble 150 cut through the mix well with a full band, probably because it sounds like a guitar amp and sounds good through FOH even though I dialed in a lot more treble which left me with little to no deep bass thumpiness. Me and Rumble 150 need to spend some more quality time together before I start spouting off a good or bad endorsement of it.
Those Rumble amps are also rugged. They can stand a good amount of normal loading/unloading at gigs better than most combos.

View attachment 3158447 View attachment 3158450 View attachment 3158451

I have the exact same amp, and I pretty much feel the same. It was only $150 and I needed an amp (I'm rebuilding after a playing hiatus). I chose it because it was beyond cheap, adequate for most gigging or rehearsal situations, and can serve as a dinner table or TV stand once my divorce is final and I have no furniture lol. I wouldn't buy it new, but I'd buy it again for $150 in a heartbeat if I needed an amp quick.

 

[Stumbo]

Don't want to start any fights, but just stating my personal experience with a Rumble 200 V3 combo amp that I bought a couple weeks ago at GC. I bought it because I had read so many positive reviews here on TB about them (both in terms of tone and volume), and I wanted a small lightweight combo for quick setup/tear down for one of my bands that plays a lot of 45-60 min. sets with several other bands in a night.

1st problem, despite all the reviews that they are loud, I could not hear it very well at practice over a moderately loud rock drummer and single guitar (playing a Les Paul thru a 1x12 Deluxe Fender combo) without cranking both gain and the master knobs to about 85% (EQ set flat).

2nd problem, at those volume settings, the tone got pretty ugly fast and was farting out.

3rd problem, the amp started rattling really bad, to the point I could hear the rattle over the notes I was playing and over the full band. It didn't take too long to figure out that if pressed hard on the back of the amp itself right in the center with 2 or 3 fingers, I could get the rattle to stop, but I didn't feel I should need to take a new amp apart to see what was loose inside, so I took it back to GC after the 1st practice with it and got my money back.

I'm sure the Rumble 500 combo would likely have been a better choice for more headroom, but according to many reviews on TB, the single 1x15 combo should have been "plenty loud" with a 3 piece band with a guitar combo (not a half stack), in a small practice room at that. So after the horrible rattle and not so great tone (IMO) even at medium volume, I got turned off and didn't want to spend an extra bill to try out the 500 combo, so now I'm looking at GK or maybe the new Peavey Max 250 (which is supposed to come out in the next month or 2, and looks promising).

Maybe my standards are really high because I own a great Aguilar rig (TH 500 and 2 SL112s) and a V4B reissue w/ 2 SVT210AVs, but my experience with the Rumble 200 V3 combo was surprisingly not good at all. YMMV. Don't hate me cuz I didn't like it.

Cranking gain just adds distortion.

Without an extension cab you're getting 140w.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Oops, hadn't thought of that. Yeah, add a 15" cabinet & you'll probably be ok.

 

[BassPilot]

I have a Rumble 150 combo as a backup to my Ampeg PF500 with 1x15 cab and a 2x10 cab I use for out door gigs only.
Honestly, I haven't touched or used the Rumble for months but I can say this;
They are pretty good looking especially with the caster wheels on. They are loud as advertised but they sounded more like a guitar amp than a bass amp to me. Weird? I don't know, you decide.
I am sure the larger Rumbles with more wattage and better/larger speakers may sound incredibly snappin', poppin', and deep.
I got the Ampeg PF500 just a few weeks after the Rumble purchase so again, I have played it no more than 3 times.
Conclusion, they are loud and my Rumble 150 cut through the mix well with a full band, probably because it sounds like a guitar amp and sounds good through FOH even though I dialed in a lot more treble which left me with little to no deep bass thumpiness. Me and Rumble 150 need to spend some more quality time together before I start spouting off a good or bad endorsement of it.
Those Rumble amps are also rugged. They can stand a good amount of normal loading/unloading at gigs better than most combos.

View attachment 3158447 View attachment 3158450 View attachment 3158451

I had a Rumble 150 Combo, then bought a Rumble 200 combo (140 watts without an extension cab).
I think the 150 is a great amp. After playing the 200 as a stand alone I much preferred the sound of the 150 to the 200 stand alone.
I think gigging the 150 would be adequate for small/small-medium sized gigs and it punches nicely. But I preferred transporting the 200 A LOT MORE .

 

[birminghambass]

That combo wasn't enough for me either. 200w into a 1x15 from any combo probably won't be enough.

 

[JakobT]

The Rumble 200 is good, but that doesn't mean it's good for everything. Apparently your needs is outside the scope of its design, so you may need something else entirely. Happy shopping!

 

[MDBass]

Don't want to start any fights, but just stating my personal experience with a Rumble 200 V3 combo amp that I bought a couple weeks ago at GC. I bought it because I had read so many positive reviews here on TB about them (both in terms of tone and volume), and I wanted a small lightweight combo for quick setup/tear down for one of my bands that plays a lot of 45-60 min. sets with several other bands in a night.

1st problem, despite all the reviews that they are loud, I could not hear it very well at practice over a moderately loud rock drummer and single guitar (playing a Les Paul thru a 1x12 Deluxe Fender combo) without cranking both gain and the master knobs to about 85% (EQ set flat).

2nd problem, at those volume settings, the tone got pretty ugly fast and was farting out.

3rd problem, the amp started rattling really bad, to the point I could hear the rattle over the notes I was playing and over the full band. It didn't take too long to figure out that if pressed hard on the back of the amp itself right in the center with 2 or 3 fingers, I could get the rattle to stop, but I didn't feel I should need to take a new amp apart to see what was loose inside, so I took it back to GC after the 1st practice with it and got my money back.

I'm sure the Rumble 500 combo would likely have been a better choice for more headroom, but according to many reviews on TB, the single 1x15 combo should have been "plenty loud" with a 3 piece band with a guitar combo (not a half stack), in a small practice room at that. So after the horrible rattle and not so great tone (IMO) even at medium volume, I got turned off and didn't want to spend an extra bill to try out the 500 combo, so now I'm looking at GK or maybe the new Peavey Max 250 (which is supposed to come out in the next month or 2, and looks promising).

Maybe my standards are really high because I own a great Aguilar rig (TH 500 and 2 SL112s) and a V4B reissue w/ 2 SVT210AVs, but my experience with the Rumble 200 V3 combo was surprisingly not good at all. YMMV. Don't hate me cuz I didn't like it.

Sounds like yours was defective.

I've used that amp for both festival and club gigs with LOUD dual guitar rock bands, never had either the volume or gain past noon, and I've never been short of volume or presence on stage.

Definitely not a gig worthy amp if you don't have FOH support though.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Don't want to start any fights, but just stating my personal experience with a Rumble 200 V3 combo amp that I bought a couple weeks ago at GC. I bought it because I had read so many positive reviews here on TB about them (both in terms of tone and volume), and I wanted a small lightweight combo for quick setup/tear down for one of my bands that plays a lot of 45-60 min. sets with several other bands in a night.

1st problem, despite all the reviews that they are loud, I could not hear it very well at practice over a moderately loud rock drummer and single guitar (playing a Les Paul thru a 1x12 Deluxe Fender combo) without cranking both gain and the master knobs to about 85% (EQ set flat).

2nd problem, at those volume settings, the tone got pretty ugly fast and was farting out.

3rd problem, the amp started rattling really bad, to the point I could hear the rattle over the notes I was playing and over the full band. It didn't take too long to figure out that if pressed hard on the back of the amp itself right in the center with 2 or 3 fingers, I could get the rattle to stop, but I didn't feel I should need to take a new amp apart to see what was loose inside, so I took it back to GC after the 1st practice with it and got my money back.

I'm sure the Rumble 500 combo would likely have been a better choice for more headroom, but according to many reviews on TB, the single 1x15 combo should have been "plenty loud" with a 3 piece band with a guitar combo (not a half stack), in a small practice room at that. So after the horrible rattle and not so great tone (IMO) even at medium volume, I got turned off and didn't want to spend an extra bill to try out the 500 combo, so now I'm looking at GK or maybe the new Peavey Max 250 (which is supposed to come out in the next month or 2, and looks promising).

Maybe my standards are really high because I own a great Aguilar rig (TH 500 and 2 SL112s) and a V4B reissue w/ 2 SVT210AVs, but my experience with the Rumble 200 V3 combo was surprisingly not good at all. YMMV. Don't hate me cuz I didn't like it.

I've owned the 500 combo and had the same experience

 

[4SG]

Sounds like you got a lemon. I've played my Rumble 200 at over 50 gigs so far, in all kinds of rooms, with big and small bands. Never had any of the problems you describe and always had enough volume. Maybe I just got lucky with mine? Dunno, but hopefully you'll be able to return yours since it's relatively new.

 

[mattbass6945]

There's a couple issues at play here. Mainly, everyone's definition of "loud" is different. Do you have the amp pointed at the back of your knees? Are you playing in the same frequencies of the kick drum or a drop tuned guitar? Do you have p.a. backup?

Sometimes it isn't the power, but the lack of speaker. Either way, sounds like it didn't work for you. Time to go back to the drawing board. Best of luck.

 

[TheDialog]

Strange... I played one with a new band recently and fell in love with it.
Started the year gigging a '71 SVT (first time gigging in ~5 years). Was overkill and too much. So, I sold it and bought an Aguilar TH500 and SL112. Was still using a Micro VR rig too ... sold both the Ampeg and the Aguilar rigs and bought a used, minty, V3 200 and love it.
It sounds great at practice and gigs. It cuts really well and is the perfect tone for the psych pop band (Raindeer) I'm playing with.