What comes first, the amp or the gig?

[BAG]

Was it a 100 by chance? I've heard this complaint about the 100s specifically.

Forgot to mention it was indeed the 100

If you are running the amp on the floor, try elevating it.

This..... get it up off the floor and away from walls, corners as much as possible and put soft things behind it like gig bags, speaker covers etc. Your BL may think it sounds better like this as the higher frequencies will be going to your ears and his rather than down by your ankles.

Yes! I've just been researching HPF. And in general learning that my instinct to turn bass up, treble down, does not really work live...

Resist that instinct.
On any new (to me) amp i'll start with everything flat and hopefully be able to either get it up off the ground or tilt it toward me. If the bottom end isn't too boomy/muddy i'll start by playing with the mids and tops till I like how the D and G strings sound on an Em scale. I'll then play with the lower mids and bottom end till i'm happy with the the fatness on the E and A strings on the same scale, paying particular attention to the lowest notes on the E string.... the G in particular can boom in many rooms.

 

[CallMeAl]

Prepare ye the way of the Funk.

Hey, you're just right up the road from me!

 

[CallMeAl]

Forgot to mention it was indeed the 100


This..... get it up off the floor and away from walls, corners as much as possible and put soft things behind it like gig bags, speaker covers etc. Your BL may think it sounds better like this as the higher frequencies will be going to your ears and his rather than down by your ankles.



Resist that instinct.
On any new (to me) amp i'll start with everything flat and hopefully be able to either get it up off the ground or tilt it toward me. If the bottom end isn't too boomy/muddy i'll start by playing with the mids and tops till I like how the D and G strings sound on an Em scale. I'll then play with the lower mids and bottom end till i'm happy with the the fatness on the E and A strings on the same scale, paying particular attention to the lowest notes on the E string.... the G in particular can boom in many rooms.

BL told me we don't need a stand, we will just EQ it. I still want to try a stand...

My tastes are changing, as far as EQ. It took me forever to like a P bass, the sound in the store just turned me off. But once I got one, and learned how effective they are live... I just love that sound now. I think the EQ of the Rumble sounds good flat, and I try to just EQ to the room.

 

[Clark W]

I'm just trying to make sure I'm being practical and not falling prey to GAS.

Actually you are being practical and falling prey to GAS! Sometimes the lines can get blurred. But at the same time you need that rig!

His main complaint is that the Rumble 100c is "boomy, or muddy." I've been pretty darn happy with its performance in this setting, though I do think I push the little guy too hard on occasion. Frankly a 200c would be plenty for this project, but the 500c seems like a better "long game" amp.

Also I demoed the 200 and 500 last weekend (which really fired up the GAS!) And the 500 knocked my socks off. I think BL would be very happy with the crisp, clear sound of the 2x10.

Even if you didn't need the 500, you do need the 500. You just don't know it. In your current setting the 500 would open up the headroom and give you the ability to better control the sound because you're not having to push it.

I currently use a 500 watt GK MB210-II. It runs 350 watts @ 8 ohms into it's 210s, add an extension cab, say another 8 ohm 2x10 cab, and you now have 500 watts into 4x10s @ 4 ohms. There's nothing wrong with being able to play at lower power settings. If I need drive, I can use the gain and boost to get some of that while keeping the main down low, or I can use a pedal. The flip side, if I have to go up against a full drum kit, I can and have done that with no problem with just the 210s.

As far as the muddiness of your current rig. Running wide open is going to attribute to that some. But then so does the acoustics of the venue you're playing in. It just varies from venue to venue. Try getting it up off the floor. Stages with big hollow spaces underneath them attribute to that alot.

Bottom line is the 500 will do more than what you currently need, it will do what you do need now effortlessly, and it will sound great doing it. But then when the time comes and you need more, it's already there. And that is how you justify buying the 500

Get the 500 and enjoy!

 

[jerry]

Stick with what you've got for now. You can always get something bigger later, but if you don't need it, you don't need it.

What is this responsible amp advice you speak of?

 

[armybass]

Get it and keep both.... we are not talking about an amp purchase that is gonna break the bank and you should always have a backup.

 

[JimmyM]

What is this responsible amp advice you speak of?

I'm sorry, but I'm only irresponsible with other people's money when it concerns Ampeg, Yamaha, Line 6, or EMG

Get it and keep both.... we are not talking about an amp purchase that is gonna break the bank and you should always have a backup.

Personally if I were him, I'd take more time to shop around, though. If we're just getting past the dabbling stage, he's already got the Fender for that type of sound and it's a solid amp, so he can take his time and see what's out there. Or he can end up getting another Fender. But he's not pressed for time, so I say take advantage of it.

 

[dkelley]

Most of my pro career was ampless
Never had a lack of work. I went direct before it was a popular thing.... I let the soundman do his job.

I have owned and do own amps (some pretty amazing ones). But I have almost never brought my amp to a gig.

 

[juancaminos]

I lived with the low powered amp for too long. Once I moved to a higher powered amp my smile got bigger. It takes power run a clean bass sound that can cut through. Even at lower volumes. At least that's what I learned. Get the 500 now and get used to it. The 2X10 sound is awesome!

 

[bigtone23]

Just get the 500. For solid state, it's better to have a bigger amp and have it run cool vs a smaller amp running near the red line. Having the power available is a good thing.

 

[Stumbo]

A HPF and a tilt-back stand will give your 100 what it needs to take care of the mud and boom. And, you'll be able to hear yourself much better. Save some cash by doing these things first. Based on other TBr experiences, you'll be happy with the results.

Check out my TB Wiki for more info: High Pass and Low Pass Filters | TalkBass.com

Also, for the venue, you really can't adjust your rig properly from the stage. Stop reaching for the bass tone control, especially when your BL is going FOH to get the balance he wants. Once the mix is set, leave it. It's the only tone that matters.

I strongly suggest you go wireless so you can hear how how you sit in the mix.

Whatever amp you buy, the HPF and a stand will always be useful.

And, by waiting, you can try out different rigs in the mean time. See if there's anything else out there, like Ampeg, for one.

Good luck!

 

[Coot]

I understand the situation. I have a Rumble 500 head and Rumble 4x10 cab and I decided to get a Mesa WD-800. The Mesa has a High Pass Filter and Damping selection on it that can control the boom the fender cabs often have . It also has two volumes ( gain/master).. I can get from very nice at low volume to very nice at high volume.. It may be over-kill at 800 watts , but I can play anywhere and sound good @ low or high Volume..dial in a beautiful tone then the volumes are there to suit the room.It's nice to have the headroom available for any venue..good luck and welcome to the bass world .

 

[Wisebass]

hi alanloomis1980

He even recommended the rumble 100 in the first place.

And you listened to him. And got that amp.

His main complaint is that the Rumble 100c is "boomy, or muddy."

And you listen to him, complaining about the amp he recommended.

My BL specifically told me I dont need anything bigger

And you still believe him? I would not!

L told me we don't need a stand, we will just EQ it. I still want to try a stand...

HPF and a stand will always be useful

This!

Just do it! Don' t ask! EQ won' t put your amp closer to your ears!

When he doesn 't like stands put your amp on a beer crate!

And get a HPF!!! That way you take care of the boom & mud problem.


I think for the moment your little Rumble will do the job.

Take your time and try as many amps as you can find. (try other brands too!!!!)

Did I mention not to ask your BL for his opinion, when you find that killer deal?



may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[bassadvisor]

I would never give much or any importance to my BL's opinion. My sound and my gear is my responsibility, and only mine. Said that, get something powerful. I have a Barefaced cab and Bugera "2000w" head (it must be 500-600 real wats). And believe me sometimes I put the thing to its limit. It's better having spare power just in case, because the case will come someday.

 

[whero]

What do you want - not amp-wise but musically?

If you have no ambition to go beyond your current band situation then you've got all you need. As others have said, a stand and HPF should help with the mud. But if you want to be doing something else some day, either instead of or as well as your current gig, go bigger. Something like @Clark W suggested - a 500w and two 2x10 cabs, where you're getting 300 - 350w with one cab or the full 500 with both. Pick and choose depending on the gig.

 

[Andy Daventry]

The gig comes first. The nature of the gig will determine the gear you need. So while it's worth having "do it all" gear so that you can deal with any eventualities, if what you have does the job in hand, don't change it until you have to. Then you have a chance of avoiding the fruitless, unending and soul destroying GAS disease - a path to doom, despair, depression and debt.

 

[Nunovsky]

My 2 cents...

It's better to have more and be able to push back than to have less that won't give you more when you need it.

The rumble 500 is a good amp, solid and reliable. And it's light and not too big.

If you're running just the combo, then it'll work at about 300w which is loud enough for most gigs that you get. It will only give you the 500w when you run it at 4 ohms with another cabinet.

From what I understood of the original post, even now you feel that what you have is short for what you need. So I'd say go for the 500. It's best to be prepared for other gigs then for those to appear and you find yourself short of gear.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If the money doesn’t hurt, get the amp and get used to it. Know your tools. If you would rather not buy an amp yet, do your research and find out what you want, have the cash stashed away so you can jump quickly if a new band opportunity comes along.

 

[brianrost]

Do bands expect players (on this level) to be equipped right out of the gate, or can I just say "I'll buy the amp when we need it?"

6 pages later...unless you are going on tour with Beyonce I doubt it matters whether you have the amp before the gig. I will say that I was gigging with combos similar to the Rumble 100 in power and volume through most of the 1980s and nobody seemed to care about it, certainly not at the auditions.

If you have the money and can afford the 500 now, go ahead and buy it if you want.

 

[Acoop]

It's the old 'chicken or the egg' scenario. ... In the 60's a good amp could get you a gig. Ask Bill Wyman. ... Today, not so much. ... But, a gig, that's pays, could hatch you a better amp.