Rumble 40 sound

[Andy Marshman]

I've had all the R models from 200 on down to 15. The R40 was a charm. Comments above about achieving the flat settings, as a start, are good. Those little buttons for vintage, bright etc can lead you off into the weeds initially.
I wish I'd never got rid of my R40; it was that good.

 

[Wfrance3]

I have the 40 and am good with the tone. It is its own flavor, different from a GK, different from a MarkBass, etc...
I got my Rumble 40 for low volume home practice only. It may never leave my house.
Couple things that helped me dial in; don't be afraid to use the bright, contour, vintage in combination. You don't have to pick just one. You may even give having all 3 on at the same time a try. If that doesn't get it for you, you may do what I do and use your rumble with an inexpensive little Zoom Pedal.

WARNING - Somewhat off topic from here forward, but does go to the original topic; getting sound out of a rumble 40 that makes you happier with it...

I have a ZoomB1Four bought it here on TB! I had been using it with my previous amp, and ancient Pevey 10" combo amp from the early 90s. Sadly, it died. I liked it just fine, but one day it just gave up...
I just carried using my Zoom pedal forward to the Rumble. It's a really nice utility pedal, especially for the price. If you have access to one to try or even have access to the previous version, the B1ON, you can change the nature of the amp using the models they have in that pedal. The B1Four is a little more tweakable because you can separate the cabs from the amps if it turns out all you need is a cab sim model to get you where you need to be. Also on the B1Four has models HPF and LPF pedals. Both Zoom pedals have models of compressor pedals, a couple different EQ pedals, and just outright effects pedals. It seems counter intuitive to use an amp sim with an amp, but it works for me. - Zoom makes other bass pedals with all kinds of amp sim/pedal models, those are just the two I have owed and am most familiar with and are proven to work for what I want them to do...

I've had good luck just setting the rumble 40 flat, and then tweaking one of the zoom amp models to my liking and then changing the EQ on the amp for final tweaking, which may or may not be necessary.

Hope this helps!!

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I played one at a gig that was backlined about a year ago and I did not get along with it. I am so used to my GK800RB and 700RB II. This amp was like the polar opposite. However, it was a good sounding amp and the guy who owned it got a really nice tone out of it with his P bass. He had an old school rock tone going on. I go for more of an agressive Geddy Lee style J bass tone.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I had a Rumble 200, but realizing that my chances of playing out were getting slimer to noner each day, I traded in for a Rumble Studio 40. So I have a more manageable home amp and with a lot of bells and whistles that make it fun.

Being a modeling amp it needs to cover quite a bit of ground tonally. Both the Studio 40 and Regular 40 have the same power and same size speaker (assumed to also be the same speaker?). The obvious difference is the modeling aspect of the Stage 40. I also have heard that the Studio uses a class D output where the regular 40 does not. Since voicing is derived mainly in the preamp, I would expect that being class D or not would have a significant impact. Especially when playing clean.

It will emulate Ampegs, and while it sounds quite different from a Rumble emulation, I don't know how close it really comes to being Ampegish. It emulates a lot of other types of amps as well. So it seems to have a wide range of flexibility. Does this carry over to the regular Rumble 40? Do they use the same preamp architecture? Or are the Studio/Stage versions of the Rumble void of any such voicing so they can better model other amps? Inquiring minds would like to know.

edit- Insert "Studio 40" where I said "Stage 40."

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Some people love them, some don't. If you can't get something that you like by setting the EQ, you will need to try something else.

 

[fordkisskrazy]

Thank you everyone for your response and help!!!
I messed with it, finally got it where it's playable....but I believe some of you are correct. It's sound is not for me. I feel it doesn't let my bass sound like it does, the fender has its own sound and it's not for me. I'll be selling it and getting either an ampeg or acustic.
Thank you all again!!!