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Should I do this?

Ron Berenato

Ron Berenato

Mar 26, 2017
684
1,218
Memphis Tennessee
#1
IMG_9621.jpeg

My current rig. It sounds great. I use this setup for small gigs and I have two Peavey 210 cabs for outdoor/larger gigs when I want more volume. I'm in the middle of down sizing and am thinking about selling this rig and going with a Fender Rumble 500 combo. I've read the threads on TB and everyone seems to love the Rumble amps. And yes, one 36lb combo amp will take up much less room than all the cabs I have laying around. Question is . . for you Rumble guys - will I be happy with this switch? Honestly I will probably never play anything more than small bar/coffee house gigs from here on out and (from what I've read) the Rumble 500 with two 10's should give me everything I need. Have any of you guys found this amp to be not enough?
 
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#4
I had the Rumble 500 head, and 210 cab (bought it used as a cheap backup). It is enough to use in a band setting, and you can always add a second 210 cab if you want more volume. Plenty of people gigging them regularly. It will do everything that rig in the photo will do.

Not everyone likes the tone. It worked in a rock setting - it would not be my choice playing jazz.
 
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#6
New, the combo is cheaper than buying the head and cab separately. I have the 210 combo and use it in a band setting without any complaints. Played an outdoor gig with it yesterday and it kept up just fine, although I had it cranked up pretty good and I’m considering adding the 210 extension cab for future outdoor gigs
 
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#7
On the plus side, the Rumbles are lightweight and good value for money.

On the minus side, they have a baked in tone with a mid scoop that some people cannot get past. The mid scoop can be EQ'd out to an extent, but there's still something about their sound that some people do not like. But this is clearly a minority of TBers, and the positives are absolutely legit, so if you don't mind the baked in tone, then they're a good deal.
 
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#9
Ron Berenato said:
View attachment 5333326
My current rig. It sounds great. I use this setup for small gigs and I have two Peavey 210 cabs for outdoor/larger gigs when I want more volume. I'm in the middle of down sizing and am thinking about selling this rig and going with a Fender Rumble 500 combo. I've read the threads on TB and everyone seems to love the Rumble amps. And yes, one 36lb combo amp will take up much less room than all the cabs I have laying around. Question is . . for you Rumble guys - will I be happy with this switch? Honestly I will probably never play anything more than small bar/coffee house gigs from here on out and (from what I've read) the Rumble 500 with two 10's should give me everything I need. Have any of you guys found this amp to be not enough?
Click to expand...
In medium size bars and outdoor gigs with foh support, my Rumble 500/210 was always loud enough for Classic Rock and Blues with two guitarists playing 50 watt tube amps (1 Mesa/Boogie combo, 1 half stack) and a skilled drummer.
Tried it with a second cab, and it was too loud.

Once you learn to eq it, it sounds really good everyplace.

I have gone ampless at every gig for the past two years now, and love it.

I still keep the rumble stack around just in case.
 
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#12
I have a Peavey TNT-115 & A Fender Rumble 40. Huge difference in size, weight, and volume, but that's why I bought the Rumble. Were talking about tone here.

The Rumble, with its 4 band tone control, can't compare to the Peavey's parametric EQ. No matter how I fiddle with it, I can't dial in MY tone on the rumble. It serves its purpose as a lightweight portable amp, and it's fine when I'm playing the occasional electric bass part with a concert band instead of my string bass, but on it's own, I feel the tone stack is very limiting.

I've gotten it close using an outboard bass EQ pedal though. I'm more of a plug and play guy, so while it's not the end of the world, it is an annoyance.

I'm usually playing an early 80's Aria Pro II SB-700, and I gravitate towards an 80's bass tone no matter what I'm playing, so consider that.

It might work for you though. Head to a guitar center with your favorite bass, put it through its paces, and for a little while, become THAT guy. LOL.
 
#14
I have played a few Rumbles and I think there is a baked in tone that you can't really escape.
It's not a bad sound, though - and it works for many people. I think you could try it in a music store and decide whether or not you dig the baked in tone.

If the pictured rig is enough for what you do, the Rumble 500 should be, too.
You get a decent size/weight/cost/loudness ratio.
 
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#15
20 years ago, this was my go to live rig...I carried this thing in and out of venues.

Old Live Bass Rig.jpg


The 115 cabinet is about 50lbs, the 210 cab is 75lbs and the head alone is 79lbs. I took a long break from playing to raise kids. When I started playing with a band again, I quickly decided (before I even started) that I was NOT going to lug that stack around anymore and started looking for a better option.

After a lot of research, I landed on the Rumble 500 combo. I have now been using it for over a year and I am more than happy with it!! At 39lbs, it is definitely light enough that I don't hate myself for killing my back to load in and out. Had I waited a little while longer, I probably would have bought the 800 combo instead, but it didn't exist when I needed it. I am still happy with the 500, though. It has been more than sufficient for every gig we have played (Rock hits cover band). The one festival we played, the sound guy simply plugged into the DI out on the amp and all was well.

In this day of class D amps and neo drivers, I don't see a reason to break your back. I'm definitely not going to be!
 
#16
Ron Berenato said:
View attachment 5333326
My current rig. It sounds great. I use this setup for small gigs and I have two Peavey 210 cabs for outdoor/larger gigs when I want more volume. I'm in the middle of down sizing and am thinking about selling this rig and going with a Fender Rumble 500 combo. I've read the threads on TB and everyone seems to love the Rumble amps. And yes, one 36lb combo amp will take up much less room than all the cabs I have laying around. Question is . . for you Rumble guys - will I be happy with this switch? Honestly I will probably never play anything more than small bar/coffee house gigs from here on out and (from what I've read) the Rumble 500 with two 10's should give me everything I need. Have any of you guys found this amp to be not enough?
Click to expand...

I have the same amp as you but paired with two Hartke HD112. When I tried the Rumble at a store I had no problem getting a great sound out of the combo. What makes me a bit hesitant to use this amp for gigs is backup. From what I understand you cannot use the speakers with a different head.
 
#19
ShadowGroover said:
...... Keep just your existing head.
......Consider that you haven't heard your current head through a decent cab. .....
Click to expand...

I agree with this fella ^^^^^

(Im not bashing Behringer or anything)..
You might/(will) be surprised by the difference in a quality Bass cabinet VS that 210 you have there. You should be fine with that head.
Also, not sure which model Peaveys you mentioned, but still, try a Mid to Higher tier Cab. IMO.


Rumbles (combos) are decent Bang for Buck Amp. Light/inexpensive/(usually) loud enough. But, (IMO) that's it. As mentioned (often) they have a particular tone, that isnt horrible, but not my thing.

YMMV, etc..

T$
 
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