The Official Rumblekat Club

[mongo2]

I guess I'll take a number...how about 0?

I gigged my Rumblekat for several years after they came out but lately I've been using my Hofner Club bass. Due to this thread I brought out my Rumblekat yesterday, did a seasonal adjustment on the setup and I decided to use it at tonight's gig. Everything old is new again.

 

[user362432]

I guess I'll take a number...how about 0?

I gigged my Rumblekat for several years after they came out but lately I've been using my Hofner Club bass. Due to this thread I brought out my Rumblekat yesterday, did a seasonal adjustment on the setup and I decided to use it at tonight's gig. Everything old is new again.

Close enough - Number 6.

 

[mongo2]

The only change I've made to mine is throwing a set of TI Jazz flats on...
I have a set of GHS Pressurewounds to try too, but I'm in no hurry to change to them yet.

I tried TIs but they felt too floppy for me. I also tried D'Addario Chromes and they felt better but now mine sports D'Addario Nylon tapes and has the tone I was looking for from it.

I used the stock bridge for years and early on had the bushings start to pull out so I removed the bushings, put a dab of superglue on the side of the bushings and reinstalled them. They've been good since.

 

[Slaughter6]

Which pressure wounds did you go with?

 

[Andy114]

mongo2 - very interested in your thoughts between the rumblekat and hofner club especially gigging - thx.

 

[user362432]

Which pressure wounds did you go with?

SHORT SCALE PRESSUREWOUND™SHORT SCALE PRESSUREWOUND™

 

[Slaughter6]

All of the screws on the pickup and pickup guard on mine are rusted, any idea where I could get replacements and what size? As I mentioned before bought mine used in pretty rough shape, so all of the hardware is kind of corroded. Don’t really have the funds for new hardware right now, so thought about pulling off the bridge and taking some steel wool to it. Maybe the tuners as well.

 

[CalBuzz51]

Hello, I'm Rumblekat curious. A bandmate played one and said it had a bit of a nasal tone. Does that sound true? I have a Dano Longhorn that covers that territory if so, but I thought I would ask the experts.

 

[user362432]

Hello, I'm Rumblekat curious. A bandmate played one and said it had a bit of a nasal tone. Does that sound true? I have a Dano Longhorn that covers that territory if so, but I thought I would ask the experts.

With a some hardware improvements, it can be great instrument, very unique sound, easy to play. I like to compare it to - air guitar.
If you get it, plan to replace strings and, at least, the bridge for better sustain and play-ability.

 

[mongo2]

mongo2 - very interested in your thoughts between the rumblekat and hofner club especially gigging - thx.

Apologies for the late reply, I just saw your question.

The Hofner Club is much easier for me to play and therefore more comfortable which is one of my criteria for playing an instrument for 3-4 hours. Tonally they're different but a few tweaks of the amp and they both work well for what we do.

 

[Slaughter6]

I’ve decided to go with Chromes, only question is do I need short or medium scale? I’ve read a few reviews complaining that the shorts were too short, but nothing specific to Rumblekat.

 

[Sub41]

I’ve decided to go with Chromes, only question is do I need short or medium scale? I’ve read a few reviews complaining that the shorts were too short, but nothing specific to Rumblekat.

I've got short scale Chromes on my Rumblekat and they're a perfect match.

 

[Slaughter6]

Awesome, thank you!!

 

[Oddly]

Club revival time! I've noticed a few other TB'ers talking about our beloved RumbleKats and thought we could bolster our numbers...

So, @only4, @HouseofElrond , @MrUsefulAlien , and @mojomike001 , how about posting some pics and joining this exclusive club?


Also, on strings, I'm now using Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats. Just didn't take to the GHS Pressurewounds.

 

[only4]

Ok, here we go then.
After the invite from Oddly to join here’s a photo of my Rumblekat. It currently lives in my office at work for lunchtime practice, but at some point I’ll give it a whirl at a gig.
It’s currently strung with D’Addario EXL170S but I’m toying with a set of flats, but what to choose?
The only mod I’m thinking about is fitting a set of Gotoh res-o-lites as it’s a little neck heavy, but nothing too bad.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

So thanx for the invite to join this club.

I snagged this Rumblekat just a short time ago, on Memorial Day weekend. The guy was asking $300 on CL and I talked him down to $250. It only came with a gig bag so I still have to get a decent case for it.

So I purchased this not knowing much about it other than it looked interesting and it was a short scale. My first observation was it's heavy. Most of my playing/gigging these days is in a 3 pc acoustic based group, guitar/bass/cajon and all 3 singing. It's been a blast. Anyway, the bass I primarily used for this group had been my Hofner Ignition Club bass in the non-glorious "turd-burst" brown. (horrible color but only that and black were available at the time I bought it) Anyway, compared to the Hofner the Allen Woody is a beast weight-wise but man this thing plays and sounds great right out of the gate. The previous owner had put some kind of flats on and it's smooth like butter!

Cool bass, nice color, solid tuning and great sound. It's a keeper I'd say.

Here's a photo of the bass in action on Tues 7/10/18 at a great outdoor show.

 

[Oddly]

It's a fairly solid bass alright...especially if switching from the Hofner. Personally I switched from an AmStd Precision and mine is sure lighter than that was!

 

[WI Short Scaler]

mongo2 - very interested in your thoughts between the rumblekat and hofner club especially gigging - thx.

I was just invited to join this club today and saw your post.

I have been part of a 3 pc acoustic group bass/guitar/cajon for about 3 years and I bought a Hofner Club especially for that group. I would normally have one of my Musicmasters along as a spare only if needed, and the Hofner never failed.

I just got the Rumblekat about two months ago from a CL sale. I had never seen one before and was interested primarily because of the low price and it being short scale. I got it for $250, the previous owner had put some flats on of unknown origin. The bass plays great right out of the gate and has become my favored bass for the group with the Hofner in the backup role.

Both are very playable, stay in tune well, sound nice. IMO, the sustain and "depth" of the tone on the Epi is a little better. The one negative to the Hofner is the neck dive, but that's something I'm used to from my Musicmasters. The one negative to the Epi Rumblekat is the weight, compared to the Hofner it's like an anchor weight wise.

Hope this helps.

 

[Paulabass]

Hey guys- I just bought a RumbleKat on Amazon. I hate mail order but they where over a hundred less than the big discount house. Should arrive any minute (Amazon Canada is only 18 miles away, I get stuff fast)
Plans are a hipshot bridge, and Chromes. See what else it needs when it gets here.
I'm new to short scales, but recently bought a Mustang PJ, and really diggin it.
Photos and test drive report after set-up.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

So after some gigs and some vacation time I finally had some time to do some work on my Rumblekat bass.

First I was able to dismantle it and really clean it, getting out all the grunge and schmutz from however many fingers ever molested this bass before I got it.

Then, I acted on something else I wanted to do. The wine red color is kind of cool but I was not fond of the hardware and plastic piece colors. The dark tortoise control plate, black pickup rings were too dark. And the gold top hat knobs reminded me of the old amber glass ashtrays that used to be in restaurants. So I replaced the control knobs with clear speed knobs, and painted the control plate and pickup rings white. I like it alot. The gold pickups would look better with the white if they were chrome but I still like the overall "brighter" look.