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Post subject: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 4:05 pm
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I've been looking to upgrade my bass amp and was wondering if the Fender Rumble 100 would do the trick. I need an amp that can be played with a lead guitarist using a Blackstar ID:30 and a rhythm guitarist Line6 Spyder 4 (15w). Also we will soon be getting a drummer and a singer. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 5:07 pm
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Blow em' away with a Rumble 500. You can thank me later. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 8:20 am
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Mr. Nylon just bought a Rumble 100. Also there are some excellent first impressions at the Fender Rumble Club. http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-rumble-club.970397/page-35 The Rumble 100 would be fine for rehersals, and you could get by with it at a gig if you have PA support. You can DI direct to the board from the amp. But you'd really be better off with either the Rumble 200, or 500. Not just for volume, but for headroom for better sound. The 200 & 500 combos also have an extension speaker output jack (the 100 does not) and can accept an additional 8 ohm speaker cabinet. When you play out, you are going to want more speakers.

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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:30 pm
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linnin wrote:
Blow em' away with a Rumble 500. You can thank me later. :wink:

I would, but its wayyy out of budget for me. I can probably go with the 200 though.


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 7:43 pm
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Buy the biggest amp you can afford. If you have to turn the master or gain much above half way (12 O'Clock) then you need a bigger amp.

Most 100 watt bass combos are loud enough to keep up with a drummer in a rehearsal environment. Remember that at one time 75 watts was considered a professional class bass amp! Of course they were tube amps and while engineers may argue, most players know there is a difference between a tube amp and a solid state amp of the same power rating.

What is probably going to happen when you add a drummer is that the guitarists, especially the 15 watt R-guitarist, will ramp up their power to bigger amps. I'd say a 75 to 100 watt bass amp is the minimum standalone amp for a rehearsal environment. Gigs are different and whether they are outdoor or indoor will matter. Outdoors 100 watts is about 1/10th of what you actually need unaided by a PA.

Patching to a bass capable high power PA is a fine idea. That is what I like to do, but this requires a trailer full of PA gear including a pair of 2000 watt subwoofers, 4 mains, crossovers, compressors etc along with a tech to make it sound good. Most basic rehearsal PA setups with a pair of speakers on poles will not like having a bass direct plugged into it much and it will be seriously overtaxed very quickly.

The point about headroom in a bass amp was a VERY good one. A general rule of thumb is HALF VOLUME on the gain and master in most real world bass amps is going to give you about all that the amp can do cleanly.

Depending on the EQ settings you can sometimes go to 1 or 2 o'clock on the master and gain but go much beyond that and it is going to start clipping and distorting.

Most bass amps, especially combos, are solid state. Most also have EQ's that are weighted toward bass. Bass amp EQ weighting means that when all tone controls appear to be set FLAT at 12 O'Clock in reality the bass and low mids are often not flat at all, but boosted some. Bass frequencies take far more power to produce at the same SPL as mids or highs. So if you boost the bass and low mid EQ way up there is a chance that even at the half master and half gain setting the amp will already be doing some minor clipping. Minor clipping is often undetectable by the human ear, especially when masked by drums, cymbals and other instruments. Minor clipping can be endured by most drivers.

Severe clipping on the other hand is obviously ugly sounding. Severe clipping also causes the voice coil in the driver to heat up and if this goes on long enough it will lead to permanent voice coil damage. When the voice coil burns out this means speaker failure and the amp goes dead. Sometimes you'll smell something burning when pushing a bass amp at a severely clipped level for a while. That smell is the voice coil in a speaker overheating most likely.

Many modern solid state amps have a built in protection circuit that detects clipping by the power amp and engages one form or another of limiting compressor. On these amps you will find a point where turning the volume up further doesn't result in any increase in volume at all. The amp is maxed out and that is all it can do cleanly.

Clip detection/limiting is a good feature in a bass amp for long term reliability. Bass amps are driven into clipping more than other amps due to the power hungry bass frequencies involved. On some amps this feature is switchable. It should always be left engaged and activated. The amp may sound louder with it switched off, but eventually you are going to have issues if you do this.

Other bass amps, especially high end pro level solid state heads, may have clip detection LED's that are usually red or orange in color. One flash now and then is ok, but if it lights up on every note immediately turn down the master to avoid speaker damage.

There is a thing I call "The Proximity Effect." Standing right in front of your amp it does not sound as loud as standing 12 feet in front of it. Often I've thought I was not loud enough but when I got farther away the amp sounded much louder and I actually needed to turn down. Eventually I learned not to get too close to it so I can hear it better.


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 8:53 pm
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brotherdave, spoken like someone who's been there. I agree with you on all counts. Hometown, the having more power than you think you need is for headroom, which is pretty important in any amp, particularly one for bass. Buy what you can afford and respect the tone/gain/volume controls. Your amp will thank you with many happy years of service. Good luck and let us know what you buy. I'm thinking about the 200 myself.


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:34 am
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> Also we will soon be getting a drummer and a singer.

That detail was important. A 100 watt 1x12 combo ain't gonna cut it with a drummer unless you plan on playing granola music like folk or whatever. You'll either blow the driver or wish you hadn't bought the amp in the first place. Probably both. I'd suggest you look for something a lot bigger, but second-hand. Play through it first to make sure the drivers are in good shape, bring a flashlight to check the cones for creasing and/or tears, get a return privilege, etc. There's lots of used stuff on the market. Some is junk because it was owned by morons or loaned to morons. The rest is fine because it was owned by responsible people who simply chose to upgrade before they blew out what they had, or lost their jobs & needed cash, or whatever.

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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 2:04 pm
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Good Advice, Craig-P.... along those same lines, be very suspicious of ANY combos, cabinets or heads that may be available at a Pawn Shop. In my experience over the years, in simply examining items locally, most are usually in some state of needing repair while equipment that has been traded in to a quality music store has probably been looked at by the resident technician before it was put out for sale. As an example, I spotted a Laney RB 6 kickback at a local pawn shop recently. After examination, I saw that it had a structural separation of the bottom on one sidewhere it was secured to the sides and rattled like a snare drum.


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 8:39 am
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The only way I'd go with a 100 watt amp is if it's all tube. Even then I know I'd need PA support often and I'd be pushing it. I run a hybrid SWR 550X and honestly there are gigs where I push it more than I'd like (about 7 or 1 O'clock) if there's no PA support available. That's an actual professional grade head, too. So Brotherdave, as always. Spot on. Get the biggest amp you can afford NOW. With keeping in mind that you may need to trade it in. Also, don't be afraid of well cared for used gear.

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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 8:20 am
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Anybody who has any reservations on how good the new Rumble 100 is, just go here -> http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-rumble-club.970397/page-38
Photos and first hand testimony from the bass player in a 5 piece + singer country band playing to about 300 or so in a medium sized club. Yes he's running through the board to FOH. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 9:31 am
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Here's an early prediction: I believe the Rumble 100 is going to be the line's runaway top seller and will be one of Fender's most popular amps until they add pulsing red LED lights at the bottom in 2016!

My reasoning is using a watts/weight/dollar ratio it's the strongest player out there. I'm contemplating picking up either the 100 or 200, but as of today cannot "see" the $100 dollar difference. While I haven't had the opportunity to play through either one yet, I just feel the trade off between the two is less than say the 200 vs. the 500 for yet another $100.

What I'm really interested in seeing is how the new Rumbles fare against the Ampeg v2 BA-series. I'm having a hard time with their overall looks as opposed to the classic Fender vibe with the Rumbles. I know that has nothing to do with sound, but once again I think the 100 finds itself in a particularly enviable niche between their 75-watt 112 and the 150-watt 115. Time will tell, but I'm betting that the 2014 Rumble amps do quite well.

Any other testimonials from new owners, especially the 100 and 200s, would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for an informal jam amp that still sounds good in a small practice room; something I don't usually get with a 15" driver.

Let's keep these new amps hot on the forum as they seem worthy (so far) of it.


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 11:05 am
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There are quite a few owner reviews/praise reports in The Fender Rumble Club thread from the 40 all the way up to the 500, both heads & combos. Both the new 115 & 410 cabs are also getting rave reviews from their new owners. It is a beautiful thing. :mrgreen:

As far as Ampeg's upcoming version 2 BA combos goes, they have to overcome a history of serious unreliability issues and exceedingly poor build quality. BA's fail frequently. Also they are famous for buzzing and rattling of the cabinet. Farting out and blowing out of thier notoriously poor/cheap speakers. And super loud hissing SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Also Ampeg deals in what I call "Fairy Tale Watts", if you are lucky the good watt fairy will bring you the watts Ampeg says they have. {TC Electronics are also great believers in the good watt fairy} Ampeg has taken an old dirt pedal design that they took off the market because it failed to sell, and they've shoved it into the new BA front end. Whoopee. Feature wise they are chasing after the huge success of Fender's Rumble line. My advice is to avoid all things Ampeg like the plague, and always but always buy Fender. :D

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One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 12:12 pm
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No, but really linnin, what do you think of Ampeg? Don't hold back! :P

I agree with you, Ampeg has had it's share of problems, particularly after LOUD acquired them. I used to run with a B2 combo that weighed 80-some pounds and was anemic in the bottom end, but build quality was a night and day difference from today's offerings. That said, the first time I plugged into a "working" BA-115 I found what I considered my favorite tone. I'm hoping the new Rumbles have that old school vibe as well, being I cannot afford the higher-scale tube offerings.

If I get that same feeling though playing through a 100 or 200 I'll definitely add my moniker to the TB Rumble Club this summer. Thanks for your quick reply!


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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:56 pm
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iabssplyr wrote:
No, but really linnin, what do you think of Ampeg? Don't hold back! :P

I agree with you, Ampeg has had it's share of problems, particularly after LOUD acquired them. I used to run with a B2 combo that weighed 80-some pounds and was anemic in the bottom end, but build quality was a night and day difference from today's offerings. That said, the first time I plugged into a "working" BA-115 I found what I considered my favorite tone. I'm hoping the new Rumbles have that old school vibe as well, being I cannot afford the higher-scale tube offerings.

If I get that same feeling though playing through a 100 or 200 I'll definitely add my moniker to the TB Rumble Club this summer. Thanks for your quick reply!


From past experiences with Ampeg Combos, Run Away From Them! They are very over rated on their rated wattage output, as compared to their actual true wattage output. The Ampeg Combos just don't put out the POWER they should for their rated wattage output, to the actual true wattage output. My Fender Rumble 100 sounds more powerful than a 100 watt amp.
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Post subject: Re: Power of a Rumble 100?
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 9:21 pm
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Hello Mr. Nylon, nice to make your acquaintance. BTW, great picts of your amp and basses!

I myself have wondered why some amp makers play the shell game with their wattage ratings because I personally don't think it's worth tarnishing your reputation with bogus numbers such as Peavey's TKO and TNT-series of combo amps, where they give out a 600-watt maximum rating, though I believe it translates far less than that in terms of RMS power. Yeah, I don't get it.

I own a Bronco 40 that I really like for small room practicing because I get a lot of different tones and can maintain the volume so as not to offend anyone else in the house. My playing out rig is a Markbass combo and extension cab where I use the combo for rehearsals and small gigs, and the duo for larger venues. So a Rumble purchase is purely an impulse buy right now, but they look so darned good! Did you get a chance to try the 200 or 500?


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