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Rumble 200 combo vs head and 115 cab

bwinger

bwinger

Jan 30, 2018
20
49
#1
Hi everyone. I have a Rumble 200 combo with the matching 112 extension cab.

I really like the tone with the extension cab added, enough so that I am no longer thrilled using the combo alone. By itself I suppose I find the combo a bit boxy, although I did like it before I picked up the extra cab.

I have been thinking of selling off both of these and picking up a Rumble 500 head and 2 of the 115 cabs. Looking for a second 112 is also an option, but of course those are harder to find now.

I guess I'm looking for tone comparisons between the 115 extension cabs and the 15 in the smaller boxed combo.

Any experience is much appreciated!
 
#2
I would post your question in the Fender Rumble Club and get the exact answer you need:
Fender Rumble Club

Lots of information in there - I am almost positive this question was asked and actually answered in there. Google is your friend: you can search for a few key words and type "talkbass" at the end of it and you might find it faster. Good luck!
 
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#4
I understand your concern about your post getting buried. I have had that happen in the Spector club before. However, that is the most knowledgeable group on Talkbass and you should at least try. Lastly, I usually tell people to avoid combos and go straight for separates. Separate heads and cabs almost always sound better, are much louder, and you end up with more flexibility.

What size speakers does your combo have?

bwinger said:
I'm very familiar with google, but have not had any luck finding an answer that actually compares the cabinet sizes, not even in the 41k posts in the Fender Rumble Club. Lots of stuff for 200 vs 500 or 115 vs 210, but that's not what I'm asking.

I can ask over there, but didn't want my question to get buried in all the cross talk.
Click to expand...
 
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#5
The extension cab has the same 15 inch speaker and tweeter as the combo. The box size is the main difference between the two. I can imagine this leading towards a bit more low end in the extension cab, which I'm not sure I really need.

Being able to mix and match other heads and cabs would be nice too - I do have an Ampeg pf800 and an Avatar 410 cab as well.
 
#11
nilorius said:
I don't think 15'' + 12'' combination is good.
Click to expand...

Fender designed Rumble v3 112 extension cab to pair with the v3 200 combo and they sound fantastic together. I would agree generally that mixing 15s and 12s isn't the best idea, however this isn't my concern here.

I believe the 115 extension cab came out later. I suppose I could make a guess that the larger box was considered an improvement over the combo size for this particular speaker, but I have also heard it was designed to pair with the 410 cab.
 
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#12
bwinger said:
Fender designed Rumble v3 112 extension cab to pair with the v3 200 combo and they sound fantastic together.

I believe the 115 extension cab came out later. I suppose I could make a guess that the larger box was considered an improvement over the combo size for this particular speaker, but I have also heard it was designed to pair with the 410 cab.
Click to expand...
That is what you heard, 15'' is not the the same as 10'' or 12''.
 
#14
Hey hey, over the last year and a half I've gigged the Rumble 200 by itself, Rumble 200 + a Rumble 1x15, and a Bassman 500 + Rumble 1x15.
My opinion, the Rumble 200 alone is killer. I believe it's the low and high mid controls that make it shine. Something that the the Bassman heads don't have...
When I joined the current band I'm in, Raindeer, the singer had a Rumble 200 combo. I tried it and was blown away. At the time (~3 years ago) I was making a "comeback" to gigging and was running an Aguilar TH500 + SL112 cab (wasn't me). I was always a 70's SVT into a 1x15 or 8x10 kind of guy, but wanted something smaller and lighter that I could move myself.
I sold the Aguilar rig and bought the 200.
Due to aesthetics, I snagged a Rumble 1x15. It looked great and sounded great, but there was something intriguing about the Bassman 500 head (500 watts, great looking, 17 lbs). I bought one and realized the tone of the 200 was simply better, but I rolled with it anyway.
I now have the Bassman 500 (for sale), Super Bassman and 2 Rumble 1x15's. I'm leaning towards picking up 2 Bassman Neo 15's to go with the Super and will most likely gig that (whenever we're out of Coronavirusland ... 2030?).

TL;DR, Rumble 200 combo slays and watch the videos :roflmao:.

Here are some examples for ya (use headphones):
Rumble 200:



Rumble 200 + Rumble 1x15 cab:


Bassman 500 + Rumble 1x15 cab:


The bass I'm using (64P) recorded direct (through an Avalon M5 - if you want a direct sound reference):


Hope that helps!
Hit me with any questions you have.
 
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#16
Combo - you get what you get. Might be able to add an extension cab. Amp/head - you have the ability to switch out one or the other as well as possibly add if you need to cab wise. I always try to find what I need in a amp/cab setup, I get it though - a lot of great combos out there and usually makes load in and out a little easier as it's all one piece.
 
#17
bwinger said:
Hi everyone. I have a Rumble 200 combo with the matching 112 extension cab.

I really like the tone with the extension cab added, enough so that I am no longer thrilled using the combo alone. By itself I suppose I find the combo a bit boxy, although I did like it before I picked up the extra cab.

I have been thinking of selling off both of these and picking up a Rumble 500 head and 2 of the 115 cabs. Looking for a second 112 is also an option, but of course those are harder to find now.

I guess I'm looking for tone comparisons between the 115 extension cabs and the 15 in the smaller boxed combo.
:thumbsup:
Any experience is much appreciated!
Click to expand...
What genre(s) of music do you play? What does your band consist of (instruments and gear). That will help us help you
 
#18
A few years ago I bought 3 x v3 cabs to demo for 30 days with the idea of keeping two:
2 x 115 and 1 x 210.
I understand that cone size does not necessarily determine the frequency response, but I found that for whatever reason, these cabs followed the stereotype. The 210 did not seem to have the “full” bass at the lower range as the 115, but the upper registers were more shimmery and present on the 210. I tried the cab combinations in different rooms, tweeters on/off, and different basses. I was using a GB Shuttle 6.0 and Mesa 400+ at the time.

I ended up sending back a 115, and keeping a 115 and 210. My preference would normally be not to mix cabs, but this combo worked best for me. I gigged those cabs with the Shuttle for 3 years before eventually upgrading. I think the 115 handles 300 watts rms and the 210 is 350 watts rms, so they are well matched power wise too with the 600w Shuttle. And they sounded really good live.

Sorry no experience with the 112 but hope this helps.
 
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#19
Yeah, I don't really plan on keeping the 112 if I decide to upgrade to 2x 15s.

I'm just not sure if what I'm hearing now (that I like) is due to the added 12, the amp running at 4 ohms, the extra height or something else.
 

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