Surprise: Fender Rumble amp!

[JakobT]

This thread just demonstrates the often overlooked fact that it's the quality that guarantees the brand, and not the other way around. I had no experience with previous incarnations of the Rumble series, and had no particular opinion of Fender as bass amp makers. I simply switched from my old Ampeg when it became too unreliable. The Rumble series seemed to tick all the boxes, and sounded way better to me than the Ampeg, so I was sold - so much so that I now have three, a 500c, a 40, and a 15.

Since then, I've been amazed at the amount of negativity sometimes directed at these amps and those of us who use them (present company excepted, of course). An amp is a tool to perform a certain job under certain circumstances. If it doesn't work for you because you have other needs, or there are other factors you need to consider, that's totally fine, go ahead and pick something else. It doesn't mean that the amp is bad, it just means that you need something different. There ARE bad amps out there, of course, but most reputable manufacturers make decent stuff, so few, if any, amps in current production are really bad.

I can't imagine why I would want to heap abuse on other peoples choice of gear - it's just gear, after all. Pick whatever works for you, let everyone else pick what works for them, and let's move on with our lives. And if someone should be ill-mannered and ignorant enough to criticize your choice of gear, don't take the bait. You know what you need. They do not.

 

[Hounddog409]

This I can respect and agre with...I actually love my Rumbles tone, but tone is subjective and everyone has different preferences. Now saying you don't like them because if an earlier version(which is not relevant), or the name on the label is a ridiculous argument IMO

Agreed. It's a good amp, as in I have had zero issues with it. I am not a Fender basher at all. I usually like their stuff. As soon as I find a used American standard dimension HH IV at a good price, its mine. Just can't seem to find a tone I like with the new Rumble combo I have. Might be different with a head and good cabs, just have no reason to try. Just very happy with the head/cabs I have now.

My son has a Fender guitar amp that sounds freakin awesome. One of the reasons I tried the Rumble.

 

[waveman]

Had a Rumble V3 for a couple of years. It's a great amp for the money. I would own another one. I cycle through a new head every year or two, and it didn't make want to sell my main amp, and the amp I replaced it with was not a more expensive better known head. I just liked it better with the cabs I have.

 

[Linnin]

This thread just demonstrates the often overlooked fact that it's the quality that guarantees the brand, and not the other way around. I had no experience with previous incarnations of the Rumble series, and had no particular opinion of Fender as bass amp makers. I simply switched from my old Ampeg when it became too unreliable. The Rumble series seemed to tick all the boxes, and sounded way better to me than the Ampeg, so I was sold - so much so that I now have three, a 500c, a 40, and a 15.

Since then, I've been amazed at the amount of negativity sometimes directed at these amps and those of us who use them (present company excepted, of course). An amp is a tool to perform a certain job under certain circumstances. If it doesn't work for you because you have other needs, or there are other factors you need to consider, that's totally fine, go ahead and pick something else. It doesn't mean that the amp is bad, it just means that you need something different. There ARE bad amps out there, of course, but most reputable manufacturers make decent stuff, so few, if any, amps in current production are really bad.

I can't imagine why I would want to heap abuse on other peoples choice of gear - it's just gear, after all. Pick whatever works for you, let everyone else pick what works for them, and let's move on with our lives. And if someone should be ill-mannered and ignorant enough to criticize your choice of gear, don't take the bait. You know what you need. They do not.

Well said @JakobT. Thanks for posting.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I wasn't too impressed with the older ie. heavyweight Rumble stuff from 10-12 years ago, but their current lightweight stuff is really impressive both from a weight and $$ aspect.

 

[jlepre]

I have higher end $$$ "pro gear".

I also own the "entry level" Fender Rumble 500 Combo.

I play weddings, rock gigs, backyard parties etc. Sometimes I will opt to take the Rumble Combo for convenience sake. And let me tell you, this the rumble does not leave me wanting for a single thing as far as pro gear goes. As a matter of fact, when I think about the price I paid for it, it becomes more amazing!!! Add to that the light weight of the combo and it becomes a no-brainier for me.

I love it when bass players come up to me at a gig and tell me the Fender combo sounds impressive, and then proceed to tell me about their "pro gear" as as if it adds to their value as a player.

I don't care about labels, brands, being on the "winning team", or flavor of the year club.

My main concern and focus is engaging the audience with our music. Gear and basses are simply tools. First, I look at gear to see if it meets my needs in professional situations. I don't care who, or what brand happen to make it.

No piece of gear is for everyone of course, but the Fender Rumble 500 combo amazes me!!! It is a great time to be a bass player for sure!!!

+1!
You took the words right out of my mouth. I have the same 500C combo, and along with my other higher end gear, I'm covered for anything. On a few occasions I have thought about selling my 500C. but then I take it to a gig, and realize that there's no reason to not keep it. Covers most all of my gigging needs, but I leave her home for some of the larger stages, or outdoor gigs.

 

[ubernator]

Not by me. Just pointing out that I don't think Fender got the "braintrust" from GB - they are elsewhere. The amps I use have ICE modules - but that doesn't mean much as it is what the designer does with it that matters.

A local club where I gig regularly has one as backline but I bring my own rig as I strongly prefer it. fwiw I think the Rumble is a fine amp for the price, just not my thing. Ymmv.

again brain trust was wrong term, I was not inferring they had GB or even SWR people working there still. But what they do have are the schematics and experience making them. That has to count for something re fender amps getting much better in recent years. That's all I am saying. I don't have much inside info, I'm a logical speculator.

 

[Zonked]

again brain trust was wrong term, I was not inferring they had GB or even SWR people working there still. But what they do have are the schematics and experience making them. That has to count for something re fender amps getting much better in recent years. That's all I am saying. I don't have much inside info, I'm a logical speculator.

So what you're saying, is the reason that the new Fender Rumbles are so good and many players love them, is because of GB and SWR know-how? Interesting speculation...

How do you feel about the GB and SWR buy outs?

 

[ubernator]

So what you're saying, is the reason that the new Fender Rumbles are so good and many players love them, is because of GB and SWR know-how? Interesting speculation...

How do you feel about the GB and SWR buy outs?

Same way I feel about every fender buyout and the corporate juggernauts around the world growing larger and larger forcing everyone to "join or die"

Any time a company in ANY industry absorbs another one (that still has an active product line, cases like acoustic where just the name is purchased don't count), those trade secrets become part of the absorbing company.

In the case of SWR, I preferred the circuits based on the Rabe era amps, I did not like the Mo-bass, which was a post first buyout, but pre fender buyout product for instance.

I don't have any GB experience. I was definitely an SWR fanboy, in the sense that I bought a rig in 1998 and was still happy with it when it got stolen in 2015 a few years prior to the 20yr mark. Other than adding some used Eden cabs to the collection and a GC acoustic B600h as a "backup", I just had the same rig the whole time (I still have the 98 Goliath III). Good deals I could not pass up on the eden cabs, and same with the acoustic which I picked up for cost+10 in 2008, and they were making a YUUUGE margin on those (it cost me $200).

Since black Friday 2014 I have been using the rumble 200. Sometimes I wish it was a 500, but only when I am in drop C and not near the wall or in a corner.

 

[J-Bassomatic]

Agreed. It's a good amp, as in I have had zero issues with it. I am not a Fender basher at all. I usually like their stuff. As soon as I find a used American standard dimension HH IV at a good price, its mine. Just can't seem to find a tone I like with the new Rumble combo I have. Might be different with a head and good cabs, just have no reason to try. Just very happy with the head/cabs I have now.

My son has a Fender guitar amp that sounds freakin awesome. One of the reasons I tried the Rumble.

I will agree you have to get used to all the EQ/tone possibilities, it's a lot more complicated than it looked to me. I find I have to really play around with it. Heck of an amp tho.

 

[Zonked]

Same way I feel about every fender buyout and the corporate juggernauts around the world growing larger and larger forcing everyone to "join or die"

Any time a company in ANY industry absorbs another one (that still has an active product line, cases like acoustic where just the name is purchased don't count), those trade secrets become part of the absorbing company.

In the case of SWR, I preferred the circuits based on the Rabe era amps, I did not like the Mo-bass, which was a post first buyout, but pre fender buyout product for instance.

I don't have any GB experience. I was definitely an SWR fanboy, in the sense that I bought a rig in 1998 and was still happy with it when it got stolen in 2015 a few years prior to the 20yr mark. Other than adding some used Eden cabs to the collection and a GC acoustic B600h as a "backup", I just had the same rig the whole time (I still have the 98 Goliath III). Good deals I could not pass up on the eden cabs, and same with the acoustic which I picked up for cost+10 in 2008, and they were making a YUUUGE margin on those (it cost me $200).

Since black Friday 2014 I have been using the rumble 200. Sometimes I wish it was a 500, but only when I am in drop C and not near the wall or in a corner.

I understand what you're saying but, If we are merely speculating I am going to have to speculate and say that GB and SWR got paid what they wanted for those "trade secrets".

As a matter of fact that opened up the doors to new products and ventures. I will also speculate that Fender probably have some bright minds and "trade secrets" of their own and I would not go so far as to say that the success of the New Rumble series was beyond them. But again just speculating.

 

[Glurg]

I picked up a Rumble 500 head cheap just to have a small lightweight back up to my Mesa M6. I play the rumble almost exclusively now. I can't see any good reason to hate on these things at all. I also have a Rumble 25 combo that easily out performs any other amp in its class. The little 8" driver even does an acceptable low B and to me that says a lot.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Right. I just can't get past the name and the cheesy flashing lights in the cab. That established the line as discount store merchandise.

If you see cheesy flashing lights in the new Rumbles, you should seek immediate help. And stop doing that stuff, it's bad for you.

 

[mjmeche]

I have 500 V3 with V2 2x8 and 112 cabs wish I had a 2x10. I also have a SWR 410 Golight so I am not lacking for speakers.
With the controls and contour buttons . If you can’t find a tone keep trying.

I have a GB Shuttle 6.0 and find a lot of similarities, I do prefer the 4 eq on Rumble vs semi parametric mids of GB , just personal Preference.