How many of you have tried both and like the rumbles better? In store is not the same as at a gig, I know, but I was extremely surprised that I liked the Fenders better. They are half the price so I'm wondering what they sound like in the real world where you can crank. I'm moving to Italy and the Markbass amps are a little cheaper there. Thanks!
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Rumble vs Markbass
- Thread starter zetzbass
- Start date
Just go with the sound that fits better to your ears, all the amps are pretty much the same nowadays, except for little colour details 
A couple of weeks ago I had the Rumble 200 V3 and a MarkBass JB Players combo at my house to compare side by side. The tone of the MarkBass was much fuller and more solid.
I would recommend the Markbass for sound and quality over the Rumble
I own both. To me Markbass stuff if very clean and has a flat response, very little character until you get the VPF filter in the mix, more suited to an active bass in my opinion.
I find Rumble head has a tube-ish compression going on at high gain and a little more in the way of built in eq character, love the overdrive circuit with a P-Bass.
It really depends on what sort of tone you prefer, if you want to hear the pure tone of your bass then go for the Markbass, if you want something versatile with variable character that will fit many genres without the need for preamps or pedals, then the Rumble heads have that cracked.
In my experience the Rumble also appears to have more usable power on a like for like 500 watt basis.
So to sum up, faced with this pleasant choice, if I could keep only one, it would be the Rumble.
I find Rumble head has a tube-ish compression going on at high gain and a little more in the way of built in eq character, love the overdrive circuit with a P-Bass.
It really depends on what sort of tone you prefer, if you want to hear the pure tone of your bass then go for the Markbass, if you want something versatile with variable character that will fit many genres without the need for preamps or pedals, then the Rumble heads have that cracked.
In my experience the Rumble also appears to have more usable power on a like for like 500 watt basis.
So to sum up, faced with this pleasant choice, if I could keep only one, it would be the Rumble.
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Hi: my never to be humble opinion
Had Markbass, own Rumble. (V3 not the older series completely different animals...)
like both, for different reasons.
$$ and value Rumble win!!!
MarkBass tone IS nice (if you dig it and it varies by model)
Rumble nice warm flexible tone (if a little soul-less)
Resale : Markbass wins...
No speakon for the Rumble? BOOOOOO!
Footswitchable OD (or clean boost on the Rumble! Winning)
Badass vintage look with white cupcake knobs VS obnoxious Corvette Yellow details (Stryper...)
Rumble wins.
Easy to get from many retailers should it be needed? RUMBLE win
try to get warranty repairs in the US IF/WHEN GC goes BK? MARKBASS Fail...
Summary: Buy 2 Rumbles for the price of a Markbass
Had Markbass, own Rumble. (V3 not the older series completely different animals...)
like both, for different reasons.
$$ and value Rumble win!!!
MarkBass tone IS nice (if you dig it and it varies by model)
Rumble nice warm flexible tone (if a little soul-less)
Resale : Markbass wins...
No speakon for the Rumble? BOOOOOO!
Footswitchable OD (or clean boost on the Rumble! Winning)
Badass vintage look with white cupcake knobs VS obnoxious Corvette Yellow details (Stryper...)
Rumble wins.
Easy to get from many retailers should it be needed? RUMBLE win
try to get warranty repairs in the US IF/WHEN GC goes BK? MARKBASS Fail...
Summary: Buy 2 Rumbles for the price of a Markbass
Thanks, those two are probably the best to compare since they are both 15" and that is what I am thinking of getting. I am retiring and I am picking up the bass again after, gulp, 35 years of making a living and working too much. I try to play like before and my hands hurt! but anyway...
My 1973 rig was a Sunn Concert Bass Head and an inverted horn twin 15"s. That was a monster set up and worked well everywhere. Sold that but kept my Ric that was customized with a precision pickup.
When I went to GC to try out combos, I went to the Markbass first. Sounded great! Then I plugged into the Rumble v3 100. Immediately, my wife who was standing about 15" away (from both) said wow! What a sound! Since the Markbass seems to be a standard for pros, I want to know if my experience was just because we were "in store" or if I would get that same feeling at a rehearsal or gig.
In Italy no one has a lot of room to store things and multiple set ups won't do. Fender is expensive there. A Markbass JB Players combo and the R 200 are the same price. I think that because I can use the Rumble to practice (CD in and Headphones out), play at home, have the power enough to jam with others including a drummer and have the flexibility to add an extra cabinet when needed the Rumble looks like a winner but I want to hear from others first. I can also get a 121H or 121P used for that same price point.
Thanks for the input.
I think the MB players special is on sale for $399 @ GC,I've got one and although I've never needed it I like the option to run another 8 ohm speaker and the power goes up to 250watts.At 59 years old I really like the 35lb weight too! Havent had mine long enough to say for sure but I'd be very surprised if the Markbass doesn't hold up longer than the Fender,just my impression of the quality from the local GC showroom,I haven't used a Fender amp since the 70's so I really don't know about there current quality.
My experience with the Rumble is it sounds good by itself, but then gets lost in a band situation.
That is not the issue. It's the voicing. Someone mentioned the voicing of the MarkBass, it is those mids that allow it to cut through and give it some definition. The Rumble is good for someone on a budget.
Everyone's said it all already, so just another humble vote for Rumble, from a Rumble owner.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I've only played Markbass in the store, but they just seem a bit pricey for what you get. I've been very happy with my Rumble, and it has done well in gigs, so I'm inclined to lean that way myself.
I have a V3 Rumble 500 as a backup for my Fender 100t all-tuber. Does the trick I.M.H.O. I can E.Q. it to have a mid-bump and also to keep the low frequencies in check. Wouldn't consider the Markbass though I have tried some models.
Also, the Rumbles are priced much lower than the Markbass line.
Marc
Also, the Rumbles are priced much lower than the Markbass line.
Marc
Rumble vs. MarkBass??
It's like Mustang or Camaro vs. Maserati or Porsche. They both work to get you there, but . . . . .
It's like Mustang or Camaro vs. Maserati or Porsche. They both work to get you there, but . . . . .
The MarkBass hands down has a much clearer and more full rounded sound.
