Rumble 500 vs GK MB210 vs Ampeg BA 210 vs ?

Toss the new Hartke KB12 and KB15 into the fray.

 

What bass are you playing?

 

I think the ultimate rig for you in that price range could be an Ampeg pF350 head with a PF115LF cabinet.
This is about 650 USD at Sweetwater.
Then you'll get volume, certainly clarity and the head does respond very well IMO to tweaking, so great tone as well.
It is technicaly not a combo, but hey, it's lightweight and awesome.
>> Try Linnen's suggestion and this one, I'm sure there's a winner for you!

 

If you are seeking "enunciation" you should check out the GKs. The MB210 gets loud, cuts nicely in the mix, and has an effective 4 band eq, with all the highs and mids I would ever want and a huge low end that can be dialed back. That said, I prefer the MB212 which is even louder, and the GK 12s are awesome.

 

The Rumbles pair great with Precisions, so if you don't like the tone you're getting, you're obviously into something else altogether. In that case, GK or Hartke might get you in he ballpark. Or you could keep the Rumble and get a Jazz.

 

After using one V2 and 2 V3 Rumbles, I gave up on the muddy murkiness and went for more articulation and clarity. I switched to GK and couldn't be happier! You can EQ the GK's to get dark and boomy like the Rumbles, but you'll never get the clarity and definition of the GK's out of any Rumble. SOOOO much more versatility!

 

I love the Rumble but the GK will give you volume and clarity.

 

GK for sure if you want sharp articulation and a lot of tone shaping possibilities. The ampeg 2x10 is not bad but kind of one dimensional. I started with GK, then strayed to Acoustic, MarkBads and others but ultimately back to a GK rig becuase they are just awesome!

 

GK all the way if you want articulation. Even my older, cheaper, Backline 112 is much more articulate than many other newer and more expensive combos. And the GK EQ is phenomenal for tone shaping. Can't imagine not being able to get any tone I would ever want.

 

I tried the Fender Rumble, and several other brands against the GK. There wasn't even a contest. GK won hands down for power, clarity, and versatility. And it's a quality product made in the USA with American support. Get your Rumble packed up and run it back to the Post Office. I agree with @SpruceApple -- If you can, buy the ultimate combo-- the GK MB212. Loud, light, and easily transportable. It has 2 x 12's and 500 watts. And it it's not enough, you can get an MBP212 powered cabinet for 1,000 watts of backline!

 

GK all day. priced right and hard to get a bad sound out of it. end transmission.

 

I know exactly what you are saying...I feel like it's muffled.

I still use it as a practice amp, but when playing out - I bring my Mesa D-800.

I have yet to find a tone with it that I don't like.

 

In agreement with the OP, I just couldn't get my Rumble 500 head and 115 cab to give me the tone I was seeking. I thought there was plenty of volume and the build quality was decent, but to me the vintage tone was just too much uncontrolled bottom.

At that same time I also was running the Ampeg BA-210 and even though I was suffering from some quality control issues, the tone was never in question. I currently own a GK practice amp and agreed, I found the quality of its tone is well beyond that of any comparable Rumble.

Different strokes I guess...

 

Here is one of them...
Gallien Krueger Club. GK Rules !

 

I have the rumble and everything you say is true. That's why I like it. But I get what you're saying. I'm my rock outfit it worked great. So I'm keeping it. I spent the last 4 days playing the GK stuff. It's everything you want that not in the Rumble. If I were you, that's what I'd go with. That's what I'm getting next. You need two amps anyway.

 

Cool avatar!