Rumble volume problem

Is your band really cranking their Marshalls in pubs? Plug your amp into the soundboard for shows in nice venues.

 

For the best answer possible go ask the question again in the Fender Rumble Club. Lots of experts in there.
Fender Rumble Club

 

Have you tried a higher gain setting? And more Lo Mids? Like, the Lo Mids at 1 o'clock, or at 2 o'clock?

 

I find on my Rumble 500 head that you lose a lot of perceived "loudness" with the gain set any lower than 10 'o clock. You can crank that gain knob and not really worry about distortion, in my experience, but I don't have a Stingray. I do have a Jazz Bass with DiMarzio Model J's wired in series I've tried this with, however, so it's rather hot for a passive bass. Higher gain settings just give some more compression.

I'll also echo the above regarding the midrange EQ. A "flat" setting on the Rumble is with the bass and treble knobs around 10 'o clock, high mids around 2 'o clock, and low mids around 1 'o clock.

 

I use a 500 combo with a 112 extension and am trying to imagine it never being loud enough. Never farted out. Dial back on your bass knob. I understand that just because you’re new to the site, it doesn’t mean that you’re new to bass, but a lot of “new” bassists think that they have to crank the bass knob.

 

Fender Rumble with 210 speakers and 350-380 watts keeping up with Mesa's and Marshall's cranked? Even if you open up your gain and volume you'll lose that volume war...but you can help yourself by adding another Fender Rumble 210 ext cab and get the full 500 watts and added speaker surface area. It will make a real difference but in the end they will have to turn down some.

 

That's what OP already has.

 

I can't imagine a scenario where the rumble 500 (if working properly) would have trouble being loud and clear enough for any bar setting. We play medium sized bars and I never turn my master past nine o'clock.

I will say that this is my third Rumble 500 combo. The first two had an issue similar to what you are describing. I believe the problem was a solder joint on the master circuit board? (i'm not an amp tech and it was a couple years ago). Fender replaced the combo and then the replacement developed the same problem a month later. My third and current one I've had for a year with no issues and I love the thing. If there is a Fender authorized service center near you I'd get it checked out, but be prepared to be without it for a couple weeks.

 

Too late to prevent tinnitus, I have now formulated a theory that nobody wins volume wars.

My rig was adequate- but somebody else was too loud. Why did I ever think that I needed to get too loud too?

 

^ True. There comes a point where the only answer to volume wars is refusing to participate.

 

Volume wars suck

I have read a lot about the Rumble series and have not heard the 500 (head or combo) not being loud enough
With the added 2x10 you have 250w going to each pair (combo and ext) and that is moving a good bit of air
I would definitely take it to a repair shop as this is not adding up
And redwingxix has experienced this as well, great advice from someone who has gong thru it already

Best of luck to you

 

This is some serious wisdom dropped here. Refusal to participate is the answer regardless of anything else.

 

turn up your gain

 

WERD!

 

I've played bars with a 120-watt single 15 combo and never had to crank it up.

 

I haven't seen it mentioned yet so I have to ask... you do have a good 9v battery in your bass, right?