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Post subject: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:34 pm
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I've noticed that Fender has in the last 2 weeks downsized it's Bass Amp line up,....gone are the Bassman 300 & the Pro Series & now there's just the Bassman Series, the Rumble line up & the Bronco40,.........I'm really impressed with how they've beefed up & improved the Rumble line up of Amps, ........Since Fender owns SWR & SWR seems to be headed for the Sunset
I wonder if Fender borrowed from SWR when they Beefed up the Rumble line by introducing the Rumble 150 & 350 D class amp heads that are similar but scaled down ( no mute, aural enhancer,& adjustable comp) from my 400w SWR headlite , & the Eminence Neodymium 1x12 & 2x8 cabinets are similar to the SWR
Golight Cabinets & the Rumble 350 Combo is kinda like a scaled down version of the RedHead 2x10 combo ........It's just a thought as now that Fender only has 2 model's in their line up the reasonably priced Rumble is going to really be pushed to the Fore front in Fender's Bass line up.
I recently bought the Bronco 40 to use as a practice amp & I find myself using the Rumble setting a lot,.... it's got me considering a Rumble 350 Combo as a backup amp, that being said ..... with only 3 models in their line up I wonder what's next for Fender Bass Amplification ....... will they continue to expand & improve the Rumble line or will they add a few more options & models to the Bronco (I'd like to see Bronco expanded with more options like how Fender has expanded the Mustang guitar amp line) ..... any thoughts??


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:45 pm
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I was in a SA the other day, and they had the Rumble 410 cabs on closeout.

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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:33 pm
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Really hmm?? ....... maybe they're gonna switch them from the current 4x10 cabinet with Fender special design speakers to 10" Neodymuim speaker cabinets or maybe they'll go with 2x10 cabinets......interesting so Fender's not done downsizing or switching it up yet.
Was there anything else in the Rumble line that was on close out??
Maybe SA ordered too many 4x10 cabs thinking they were going to fly off the shelf & then ended up with a slow mover,.....I think the rumble 350 2x10 combo would be a better seller or the Rumble 350 head coupled with a 2x8 or 1x12 cabinet as they're more convenient & this is coming from a guy who has a SWR 4x10 workingpro cabinet & a SWR 2x10 Goliath jr cabinet ..... my 4x10 cabinet is an absolute back breaker when it's gotta be hauled up stairs....


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:22 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
I've noticed that Fender has in the last 2 weeks downsized it's Bass Amp line up,....gone are the Bassman 300 & the Pro Series


Geez, the honeymoon barely lasted a year!

WTFO?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:41 am
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The 100T and 300 are both still there. (the ones that came out last year.) The "old" 300 Pro is gone.

The 4x10 cab is still listed. Maybe someone overstocked? They are less expensive but very heavy at 76 lb.

Art


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:13 am
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The heavy comes from the Medium Density Fiberboard. I was surprised to see the 410 on closeout. They have the right idea. I just wonder if they are hurting themselves with the 350 Combo being such a good unit. All in one etc.

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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:11 am
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the other two cabs have Alnico Speakers and weigh 25 - 35 lbs. The 4x10 does NOT use the AlNico speakers and weighs 76lb. I doubt that it is the MDF.

Art


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:13 am
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Mr. Nylon wrote:
The heavy comes from the Medium Density Fiberboard. I was surprised to see the 410 on closeout. They have the right idea. I just wonder if they are hurting themselves with the 350 Combo being such a good unit. All in one etc.


I agree Mr. Nylon & most people today don't want to lug around heavy gear if they don't have to,..... hence the success of the 350 combo or the 150 & 350 head with 2x8 & 1x12 cabinets.... much easier on the back ......hopefully the 4x10 goes neodymum ....that being said I'm sure SA was over stocked,.......... & with regard to Downsizing .....The re-issued TV Bassman lasted a little over a year to........


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:32 pm
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Fender seems to be going with 3 lines doesn't it? Backbreaking pro tube gear even Shrek and Donkey would hate moving, Rumbles in various sizes for gigging weekend warriors or home practice and the Bronco for recording.

The Rumble 350 combo is a great combo if you need something that big. The 150 combo I've not tried out but the 350 I'm sure is a great unit but it is just too big.

Agree Fender could and should expand the Bronco line with a more powerful version. 40 watts is hardly enough for anything beyond studio/recording and home practice. I am primarily interested in a small, light combo that will cover home practice, rehearsal, recording and also work on stage as a monitor with an XLR out to the PA. An all in one Swiss Army amp.

The Bronco, as tonally great as it is now, is less than half the power needed to cover all four applications.

I keep up with other combos on the market and many of the micro combos out right now come much closer to filling my needs.

I would like to see a Bronco or any Fender combo with the following features/specs.

Current Bronco emulation capability is enough.
All solid state
100 watts minimum at 4 Ohms but more is better for headroom.
1x10 inch speaker or 1x12 inch speaker, 4 Ohms.
External speaker jack that mutes internal speaker as backup amp for your stack head.
Piezo or other horn with independent variable level control.
Size: The 10" cab should be 14x14x14 and the 12" 16x16x16 or LESS.
Shape: Cube
All wood cabinet.
Weight: Under 40 lbs but lighter is better.
Fuse connectivity.
Balanced XLR out with ground lift switch (variable output level control possibly.)
2 input jacks, 1 passive & 1 active instead of 1 jack with an active/passive pad switch.
Aux input for CD/MP3 etc with volume control for this input.
Headphone output that mutes speaker out but not the XLR out.
Chromatic tuner with mute switch & mute jack.
Variable optical compressor with OFF/ON switch based on the Aphex Punch Factory.
Tolex cabinet covering, metal speaker grill.

I really think this is possible. Other makers are doing or have done most of this already. With Line 6 abandoning bassists completely the market for a compact emulation bass amp this versatile is now wide open. The Bronco's emulation seems to be to be better and more natural than Line 6's ever was but the Bronco power just isn't there yet.


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:44 pm
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I agree Dave & I gotta tell ya I'm really getting a kick messing around with the Bronco40 I got myself for Christmas......so many possibilies, I think that if Fender were to come out with a Bronco60 or Bronco75 it would be a hit....(hint hint Fender.... :) )

I was talking with the sales guy in the bass department at my local music store recently & he brought up the fact that he couldn't believe Fender came out with the current Bassman line & The Pro Line (recently discontinued) .... when everyone else is coming out with & selling smaller D class heads with Neodymium cabinets, IE: Mark Bass, Gallien-Krueger, Genz Benz, Ashdown, TC Electronics, Ampeg (to some extent) .....etc. I know Fender has The Rumble in this class but it's limited in choice (they should add Neodymium 1x15, 2x10 & 4x10 cabinets & a Rumble power amp (similar to Amplite) .
Anyway the sales guy said (as did Mr.Nylon in last post) & I agree (having bought the SWR Headlite & Amplite 3 yrs ago) know one wants to lug arena size equiptment around anymore if they don't have to,.......... Maybe Fender will surprize with some new product in this catagory soon....... :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:17 pm
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J.D. I wasn't gonna mention any names but since you started a list I'd like to tack on CARVIN MICRO and IBANEZ PROMETHEUS to that list.

Let's be honest. Fender has not exactly been a leader in bass amplification since long before CBS bought out Leo. Sure Fender has had flashes of brilliance but by and large Fender has never exactly been tops in bass amps since like 1962. At least not since the Ampeg B-15, Marshall SuperBass, Ampeg SVT, Sunn's 2000S (my favorite head ever) plus other Sunn power plants....and so forth.

I also don't think anything less than 100 watts is going to be competitive in a micro combo. The difference between a 40 watt Bronco and a 60 or 75 watt Bronco is 1.5 and 2.8 dB respectively. That isn't enough louder to matter enough to make a bigger combo. It would have to be over 100 watts, which would be more like 4.5 dB. 150 or 200 watts would be much better.

PEAVEY just came out with a $200 list price 10 incher with 100 watts. It has few of the other pro line features I want other than being small and powerful. It is cheap but it doesn't have much of anything else going for it.

I think the Ibanez Prometheus (the first version, not the cheaper newer ones) was one of the best micros out. I never really liked the MarkBass CMD12 tone much but it is loud as heck. I went to pick up a CMD12 once at Guitar Center, but came home with a Line 6 Studio 110 instead because it sounded better and was much cheaper. I've been satisfied with the little Line 6 but wished it had a wee bit more power plus a built in tuner...but I made it work.

I think Fender went in the right direction with the Bronco as studio/practice amp but would like to see a 100+ watt version. I'd for sure buy one. 75 watts just isn't enough no matter how good the tone or how versatile it is. Versatility and quality tone only matter if you can hear it.


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:55 am
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Art1 wrote:
the other two cabs have Alnico Speakers and weigh 25 - 35 lbs. The 4x10 does NOT use the AlNico speakers and weighs 76lb. I doubt that it is the MDF.

Art


Sorry, I meant Neo speakers.

Art


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:08 pm
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The Bronco looks interesting to me, but I'll admit that I've been a little unsure of modeling amps or amps filled with digital effects, in general. I guess I've been worried about more things that can go wrong with the amp and there is the learning curve of programming, scrolling menus, etc. I'm rather a lazy bastard when it comes to that. I'd rather turn a few knobs on a stomp box. I guess I should quit being impatient with tech and learn to deal with that, though.

Anyway, I hope they keep up the Rumble line, and even add to it. The 350 combo is a really nice and versatile amp (at least for me) and it's not that heavy, considering I've got a Peavey Basic 60 combo which seems to weigh as much if not more. It is only 50 or 60 watts, compared to 350, too. I've also had stacks and other combos, as well, so I'm well versed in carrying gear. I'd like to get another 350 combo as a backup, or slave it with my first one, in case I'd ever need that much power. I'd feel confident using it in some situation like a festival. The bassist in The Joy Formidable have done this. The Rumble head and cabs look interesting to me, too.


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:42 pm
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I wouldn't be surprised if Fender introduced a louder meaner Bronco at some point, ......I have a feeling we'll see another model added (similar to what they've done with the Mustang line of Guitar amps) ........ I think Fender has unloaded many of the amps from their current line up to make way for some new product....... (what do you have up you sleeve Fender..... :) ??


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Post subject: Re: Fender has downsized it's Bass amp line up...
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:15 am
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Speaking about its bass amps. I was unable to find a single mention of anyone using the TBP-1 preamp. WTF happened with what looks to be a very good, if overpriced, amp? One if the new crown, class D amps, a mix of good cabs with this preamp sounds like it could be heavenly. Was this a complete dud? Just playing with the two 12ax7's alone could provide fun. JJ's, Tung-Sol, NOS.

Watcha got BrotherDave? :D

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