Traynor SB115 vs Fender Rumble 200 v3

[BulbousMoses]

Going over the pros and cons of these 2 combos.

Traynor SB115

Pros:
-Lightweight grab and go solution for jam/rehearsal/small gigs
-Full 200 watts @ 4 ohms
-Lighter than the Rumble
-More compact than the Rumble
-Made in Canada


Cons:
-No extension speaker out
-More expensive than the Rumble
-No effects loop
-2 year transferable warranty

Fender Rumble 200 v3

Pros:
-Extension speaker out
-Cheaper than the Traynor
-Effects loop
-5 year transferable warranty

Cons:

-Need additional cab to get the full 200 watts
-Not a grab and go solution if the full 200 watts is needed
-Larger than the Traynor
-Heavier than the Traynor
-Made in Indonesia


Did I miss anything?

 

[Linnin]

Fender has a new facility in Indonesia where all the Rumbles are now made along with the new line of Champion guitar amps. Like everything else nowadays components are sourced world wide. The custom designed 15" woofer by Eminence (made in the Eminence factory in China) is getting rave reviews for it's great tone.

If you're never going to use an extension speaker cab or the effects loop, then I would just audition both combos side-by-side and pick the one that sounds best to you.

 

[BulbousMoses]

Fender has a new facility in Indonesia where all the Rumbles are now made along with the new line of Champion guitar amps. Like everything else nowadays components are sourced world wide. The custom designed 15" woofer by Eminence (made in the Eminence factory in China) is getting rave reviews for it's great tone.

If you're never going to use an extension speaker cab or the effects loop, then I would just audition both combos side-by-side and pick the one that sounds best to you.

I've always thought that combos with extension speaker outs were not as much of an advantage as people think. In order to leverage the full 200 watts of (in this example) the Rumble, you have to buy an additional cab. It then becomes, in my opinion, a rather cumbersome rig. And it comes up to more than the Traynor if you factor an extension cab into the price.

But you are right about trying both and seeing which sounds better.

 

[shawshank72]

Stick with employing fellow Canadians.
Plus the Traynor blows the rumble away in my experience.
Owned the SB115 and tried out the Fender side by side, no contest in my opinion.
But then im a Traynor lover to start with.

 

[shawshank72]

Also.....
When trying out the SB115, dont be afraid to push it.
I noticed that when i had the volume at 3 o clock and the gain at 10-11 o clock it started to bloom volume and sound wise.

 

[BulbousMoses]

Also.....
When trying out the SB115, dont be afraid to push it.
I noticed that when i had the volume at 3 o clock and the gain at 10-11 o clock it started to bloom volume and sound wise.

That matches up with what Premier Guitar magazine said when they reviewed it. Good to know that you can drive it hard and not have to worry.

 

[CPplaysBASS]

I own the Traynor SB115 in addition to the SB500H head and 2X10 / 1X15 NEO Traynor cabs for "larger" gigs. I've been using the SB115 for everything. This past weekend I played a venue with a capacity of about 350-400 with PA support so I only needed an amp for on-stage monitoring. The sound guy was literally at the very back of the room and he asked me to turn down my amp a little between sets (which I complied with as I was hearing myself more than loud and clear on stage to be honest ... lol). That was with the gain at 10 o'clock, the EQ controls pretty much flat, and the master at 1 o'clock. Nowhere near what the amp could handle. And the room was full and very boisterous (great gig to say the least but I digress ...)

It is a surprisingly "deep but clear and clean" sounding amp. I usually boost the low mid and treble slightly for some extra punch with a P-Bass. Used with a hollow-body strung with flats ... heaven in my opinion.

I've heard great things about the newest Rumble models but have not tried them.

 

[BulbousMoses]

I own the Traynor SB115 in addition to the SB500H head and 2X10 / 1X15 NEO Traynor cabs for "larger" gigs. I've been using the SB115 for everything. This past weekend I played a venue with a capacity of about 350-400 with PA support so I only needed an amp for on-stage monitoring. The sound guy was literally at the very back of the room and he asked me to turn down my amp a little between sets (which I complied with as I was hearing myself more than loud and clear on stage to be honest ... lol). That was with the gain at 10 o'clock, the EQ controls pretty much flat, and the master at 1 o'clock. Nowhere near what the amp could handle. And the room was full and very boisterous (great gig to say the least but I digress ...)

It is a surprisingly "deep but clear and clean" sounding amp. I usually boost the low mid and treble slightly for some extra punch with a P-Bass. Used with a hollow-body strung with flats ... heaven in my opinion.

I've heard great things about the newest Rumble models but have not tried them.

Great info. Could it handle a smaller room without PA support?

 

[CPplaysBASS]

In my experience yes it can handle smaller rooms without PA support. I've used it in a band with three guitarists and a drummer. The drummer was not a hard hitter, but I still had to be heard through three guitars. I'll admit because of its size, I'll debate whether I should be bringing my larger rig at times, but then I get lazy and opt for the lighter guy and I have never regretted it.

I used to own a GK MB115 - the older model but 200W as well - and that amp couldn't keep up , so the Traynor SB115 was a nice surprise to me.

Don't want to over state it since my needs may not be the same as yours. I will say, however, my main band is notorious for obnoxious stage volume even when we have PA support (a country band that seems to prefer metal-like volume). Three guitars, a keyboard player and hard-hitting drummer in that band, usually on a squished stage where my amp is literally just behind my knees. When I shift my weight I bump into the amp! Even in those conditions, I've never have an issue hearing myself though the chaos.

At rehearsal with the same band, it's all I use. Straight amp.

 

[Roland GR 88]

It should handle everything unless you play with loud stacks or a really heavy hitting drummer. You can rent it for $13.00/week and see, they'll even take $13.00 off the list if you like it.

 

[AstroSonic]

Both are fine combos. However, in comparison there is IMO no significant difference in size or weight: Fender 34.5 lbs, 3.54 cf; Traynor 31 lbs, 3.36 cf. The Fender is less squat and maybe easier to carry. The Traynor does deliver a full 200w to its 15, while the Fender 'only' delivers 140w to its internal 15. But that's not such a big deal: that power ratio only amounts to a 1.5 db difference (assuming the 15's have the same sensitivity). If the Fender driver had a sensitivity 1.5 db greater than the Traynor's they would produce the same spl. As it is, a 1.5 db difference is barely detectable. Far and away, the most effective means of getting more spl from a low power rig is to move more air (add another cab). I think it's a pretty safe bet that the Fender with the additional Rumble 115 cab would way exceed the spl capability of the Traynor. If this is going to be your only rig, the Fender is the more capable choice. If you already have a 'big' rig and are looking for something maximally compact and capable, the Traynor marginally edges out the Fender. OTOH, if a player strongly prefers the tone of one of them over the other that could be the deciding factor.

 

[BulbousMoses]

Thanks for all the replies. The kind of music I play doesn't require massive volume (acoustic folk/roots/Americana, etc) so I think the Traynor will fit the bill quite well. I will try both so I can get a sense of which one I like tonally but I'm leaning towards the Traynor at the moment.

 

[jeff7bass]

Looks real solid. Read nothing but good things about the Traynor.
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19853-traynor-sb115-review

 

[Gizmot]

I'd buy the Traynor. I've owned 4 Traynor amps and all of them were rock solid and sounded good. Go Canada - its a great country

 

[webmonster]

...that power ratio only amounts to a 1.5 db difference (assuming the 15's have the same sensitivity). If the Fender driver had a sensitivity 1.5 db greater than the Traynor's they would produce the same spl. As it is, a 1.5 db difference is barely detectable. Far and away, the most effective means of getting more spl from a low power rig is to move more air (add another cab).

Adding another cab adds +3dB, doesn't it?
Is 3dB a lot more noticable than 1.5 because dB is measured on a logarithmic scale?

 

[AstroSonic]

Adding another cab adds +3dB, doesn't it?
Is 3dB a lot more noticable than 1.5 because dB is measured on a logarithmic scale?

If the drivers had the same sensitivity (as is the case with the Fender - Rumble 115 cab) there would be a 3 db gain from the additional speaker, plus a 1.5 db gain for the power increase (140w to 200w) for a total of 4.5 db. And yes, it's logarithmic. 1 db is at the limit of perception for the average person, while 3 db is obvious. A 4.5 db increase is quite noticeable, though by no means 'massive'. For the Traynor to equal that, it would need 564w. Of course, the Traynor is limited to 200w. This just goes to show how much more effective an additional driver (or cab) is at increasing the sound level versus adding more power.

 

[jeff7bass]

All that extra driver stuff is true IF the other things are equal. If the OP isn't interested in hauling another cab then the better combo should win out. A lot of things go into the design of a combo (speakers, cab design, electronics) and the most critical factors are usable volume and tone. I've seen combos perform below their listed specs and have seen others perform better than thier listed specs. 200w into a speaker that can handle it will have more clarity and punch than splitting 200w between two lesser 15's also.
IMO Fender should have changed the names of these new Rumbles because the first line of them were bad. They weren't worthy of carrying the name forward, the name should have been relegated to the dust bin. I'm glad Fender re-designed them and people seem to like them, however. I'm still going with Canada because they're are neighbors, they play hockey (go Blackhawks) and they want to help us get off middle east oil.

 

[AstroSonic]

All that extra driver stuff is true IF the other things are equal. If the OP isn't interested in hauling another cab then the better combo should win out. A lot of things go into the design of a combo (speakers, cab design, electronics) and the most critical factors are usable volume and tone. I've seen combos perform below their listed specs and have seen others perform better than thier listed specs. 200w into a speaker that can handle it will have more clarity and punch than splitting 200w between two lesser 15's also.
IMO Fender should have changed the names of these new Rumbles because the first line of them were bad. They weren't worthy of carrying the name forward, the name should have been relegated to the dust bin. I'm glad Fender re-designed them and people seem to like them, however. I'm still going with Canada because they're are neighbors, they play hockey (go Blackhawks) and they want to help us get off middle east oil.

As I said in post #11, both are fine amps, and the choice comes down to tone preference and intended use: as a one-cab combo for practice and small gigs, or as a rig that can be expanded for medium gigs with the addition of another cab. I take no sides in this. It's a players choice. Just tried to explain what appear to be pivotal issues in this case. A player is free to make instrument and equipment choices based on political opinion if they so choose.

 

[jeff7bass]

Just tried to explain what appear to be pivotal issues in this case.

That's all I did. I'd much rather have a high-quality combo than a lesser quality combo which needs an additional cab for the reasons I listed. Quality, punch, clarity, focus, ease-of-transport, all important.

I also like Fender, have a new bass on the way, but the first line of Rumbles weren't worthy of the Fender name. I'm glad these amps are better because consumers deserve quality for their hard-earned cash.

As for WHERE we are sending money, it's practical, not political.

 

[BulbousMoses]

Just to add a little clarity. My intended purpose for wanting a smaller lightweight combo is so that I can have a gig-able grab and go solution. I am not interested in having a multiple cab setup so I would only really be considering these 2 combos in their stand alone configurations. As for volume, considering what I just said, there won't be an appreciable volume difference so it would come down to tone and a few other factors such as warranty, country of origin, etc...