Double Bass Small amp just to boost acoustic volume some

[Stewie]

I saw a large (25 piece?) Jazz big band play in a park. The bass player had a Fender Rumble 40. There may have been an electric guitar player, but I only noticed how good the bass sounded. Not sure what he had for a pickup, but he just had one cable to the 40. No preamp

 

[overit]

I'm using this for outdoor acoustic gigs where just a little volume enhancement is needed. It works well in this limited context, and the battery power is very useful.

I have the bigger brother Cube 20XL. Almost sold it to pick up something more powerful but it's a nice unit at 20lbs with a bunch of nice practice features/effects.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I saw a large (25 piece?) Jazz big band play in a park. The bass player had a Fender Rumble 40. There may have been an electric guitar player, but I only noticed how good the bass sounded. Not sure what he had for a pickup, but he just had one cable to the 40. No preamp

As big a Rumble fan as I am, I still find this hard to believe. Are you sure that bassist wasn't using the DI on the Rumble to connect to a PA?

 

[Stewie]

Yup, outside, I went to ask him what he was using. He laughed and said "Pick it up". The thing was like a lunchbox. There was a mellow drummer, mostly brushes, and the horns that weren't soloing were subdued. They were playing for something like 100 people, all sitting on a hillside. 18 pounds, $200, try one

 

[rickwolff]

That Rumble 40 at $200 looks like such a great deal I'd pick one up if I didn't already have the BAM 200 and an MAS 16. Velcroed together I think they weigh about 16 pounds and fit in a shoulder bag. I used that rig at a rather loud Birthday party of about 70-80 people and it sounded stellar.

 

[Ric Vice]

That Rumble 40 at $200 looks like such a great deal I'd pick one up if I didn't already have the BAM 200 and an MAS 16. Velcroed together I think they weigh about 16 pounds and fit in a shoulder bag. I used that rig at a rather loud Birthday party of about 70-80 people and it sounded stellar.

Well, IME there's no way that a Fender Rumble 40 would sound as good as the BAM 200, MAS 1/6 would. Just my take.

 

[Matt Ides]

This is where I wish a new version of the GB Shuttle combos existed. There were such great little combo amps, small foot print, loud (when needed) and light.

 

[Wasnex]

This is where I wish a new version of the GB Shuttle combos existed. There were such great little combo amps, small foot print, loud (when needed) and light.

Have you taken a look at the Genzler Magellan 350 combo?
Magellan 350 Combo - Genzler Amplification

 

[marchone]

AER Amp One.

 

[buldog5151bass]

As someone who has played some bluegrass, and a lot of jazz (but admittedly, hasn't touched an upright in almost 30 years), I would stick with the 100. There really isn't that much difference in size that the audience will ever notice, and you are always better turning down an amp that is too loud than pushing an amp that isn't loud enough. The "purists" will sneer at any amplification.

 

[Ric Vice]

AER Amp One.

IME the AER Amp One is a very nice EB amp but not so much for Double Bass at least with the three basses I tested it out with. Just my take though.

 

[Ric Vice]

This is where I wish a new version of the GB Shuttle combos existed. There were such great little combo amps, small foot print, loud (when needed) and light.

True, the Genzler Magellan 350 has a mounting bracket so you can attach it to the Genzler 10/2 Bass Array and a carrying bag, but I don't think it is as small and light as the Genz Benz Shuttle Series were.

 

[marchone]

IME the AER Amp One is a very nice EB amp but not so much for Double Bass at least with the three basses I tested it out with. Just my take though.

You're right. AER Amp Three is designed for both electric and acoustic bass.

 

[brianrost]

I went to ask him what he was using. He laughed and said "Pick it up". The thing was like a lunchbox.

For those who have never encountered a Rumble in the flesh before, they are indeed so light it seems like they forgot to put a speaker in before they shipped it. I am not crazy about the way Rumbles are voiced, but they are crazy light and very affordable. They seem to be very reliable based on what users on the BG side of TB say.

If the goal is using an amp even though you'd rather not, you could do a lot worse. Plus, unlike brands like AI, PJB, Genzler, etc. they are widely available in stores.

 

[Wasnex]

True, the Genzler Magellan 350 has a mounting bracket so you can attach it to the Genzler 10/2 Bass Array and a carrying bag, but I don't think it is as small and light as the Genz Benz Shuttle Series were.

The Genzler is still a very small and light rig.

I pulled these specs from MF:
Shuttle 3.0-10T 300W 1x10 Bass Combo Specifications:

• Power: 175W/8 ohms; 300W/4 ohms
• Cabinet response: 56 - 20kHz
• Speaker configuration: 1x 10" & tweeter
• Preamp type: FET
• Dimensions: 14"W x 15.5"H x 11.75"D
• Weight: 18.75 lbs. as combo, 16 lbs. for cab, 2.75 lbs. for head

These are from Genzler:
Magellan 350 Combo Specifications:

• Power Handling 175W @ 8_ohms
• 350W @ 4_ohms
• 350W @ 2.67_ohms
• Frequency Response 55-20KHz
• Sensitivity 1W/1M 96 dB
• Nominal Impedance 8 ohm
• Crossover Frequency 1.6K Hz
• Weight LBs. 25
• Dimensions – HxWxD 16″ x 15.5″ x 15″

 

[bassically_eli]

As much as I love my MAS-16s and as good as so many of these other options sound (both literally and figuratively), I just can't see spending more than what the Rumble costs. Sure, my MAS-16 can sound like MBOL and can go way louder than a Rumble 40, but at super low volumes (where everyone else is playing acoustically), people are hardly even going to hear the amp. The cost, size, and simplicity of a little combo amp such as the Rumble seems ideal IMO.

 

[Wasnex]

As much as I love my MAS-16s and as good as so many of these other options sound (both literally and figuratively), I just can't see spending more than what the Rumble costs. Sure, my MAS-16 can sound like MBOL and can go way louder than a Rumble 40, but at super low volumes (where everyone else is playing acoustically), people are hardly even going to hear the amp. The cost, size, and simplicity of a little combo amp such as the Rumble seems ideal IMO.

When it comes down to it, I would have a really hard time justifying a Rumble 40 when I already own a Rumble 500.

The 500 weighs 36.5lbs and measures 23"x19"x14".
Rumble 40 weighs 18lbs and measures 16.6"x16.5"x12".

Yes some people in jazz circles will whine because the 500 looks too big. But some people whine to too much. I would tell them my amp has a volume control, so I can turn down however much is necessary.

I copied these images from Fender and resized the 500 so the handle and Fender badge are approximately the same size as the 40.

 

[bassgrass]

As someone who has played some bluegrass, and a lot of jazz (but admittedly, hasn't touched an upright in almost 30 years), I would stick with the 100. There really isn't that much difference in size that the audience will ever notice, and you are always better turning down an amp that is too loud than pushing an amp that isn't loud enough. The "purists" will sneer at any amplification.

I have a 100 but the 25 is more than adequate for playing with mic'd bluegrass instruments.

 

[gerry grable]

Yup, outside, I went to ask him what he was using. He laughed and said "Pick it up". The thing was like a lunchbox. There was a mellow drummer, mostly brushes, and the horns that weren't soloing were subdued. They were playing for something like 100 people, all sitting on a hillside. 18 pounds, $200, try one

I have the Rumble 100 and am very pleased with it. In the music store where I bought it, I almost hit myself in the face when I leaned over to pick it up. It was so light. I had been using an Ampeg B-15 tube amp for my whole career!

 

[Stewie]

I'll gladly take that awful B15 paperweight off your hands, I'd even pay for shipping