Nice video! I happen to have the same amp and used to use the vtbass deluxe quite alot. In my experience they don't really go well together though, could you maybe share your settings on the vtbass?
@@ampthebassplayer nice video. I have an active bass, and the rumble doesn’t have 2 inputs one for passive one for active. So will the rumble play an active bass. Love the sound. Just not sure if you can play an active bass on the rumble 100
Being a gigging musician, I too have been using the 500 for over a year now - I can't complain! It has plenty of power, however, should you want to blow the roof - plug in an extension cab (2x15) and feel the earthquake!! My gawd!!!
I saved a dollar everyday in middle school until I could buy a Fender rumble 25, best decision I made in middle school I may need to update to a bugger one if I start doing gigs
@@pugzz6931 I'm not the OP, but my mom always gave me $3 for lunch. Standard school lunch was $1.75 (this was in the '90s and early 2000's), but you could buy a soda, slice of pizza or other a la carte items too. When I wanted to buy something, I would save my $1.25 and just eat the standard school lunch. Took about two months to save up for a video game (back when they were only $40).
Just as a note, the stock speakers only take 350W, to access the full 500W, you need to use the Ext Spkr output. That isn't to say that 350W is anything to sneeze at and the 2x10 setup definitely makes use of that 350W excellently.
I had many very expensive bass amps and Rumble is my favorite. Light but powerfull. You can play deathmetal or vintage blues. Also usable as clean platform for guitar. Fender did great job!
I have this amp, and used it on many gigs. It also works really well as a keyboard amp. It is one of those stupid simple amps that is good just to have around. It is reliable, sounds good, and easy to find cheap.
Wow, great that you mentioned that is also good for keyboard ...as I play it as well..that is why is a.plus to read the comments on videos....thank you !!!!
I have the Ampeg BA 115 and I have to say, coming from using an Ampeg 8x10 prior, I am thoroughly impressed with the BA 115 combo. A good example, my one band had a reunion show. Heavy metal, 4x12 Mesa cabs, Peavey 6505+ and 5150 heads. Definitely a lot to keep up with, but the saving grace with a combo like this? DI. I brought my usual rack set up I used with my head and cab and used it with my combo (just compression and a sans amp for some extra grit), and DI’ed the amp and this thing sounded massive. Obviously not the same stage volume as an 8x10 but once I went DI with it, it rumbled the entire room like it was an 8x10. A few guys after our set loved my tone and asked what I was using. Needless to say the expression on their faces was priceless. Just shows you don’t need a massive amp to deliver massive tone.
I've been gigging a Rumble 500v.3 head into a Rumble 210 cab for a couple of years now. I've only used a second cab, a Rumble 112, a couple of times for outdoor gigs, but I'm not sure that I even needed it. I'm also not a fan of the Rumbles built-in overdrive. A bit fizzy sounding. The other thing I dislike is that the DI is "Post Master Volume", so adjusting the amp's Master Volume even just a little bit during a performance will significantly change the output level of the built-in Di. That is a serious design flaw. The Di ought to be placed BEFORE the Master Volume in the signal chain. So I set the Rumble's controls to "Rumble Flat" All filters off, Bass @ 9:30, Low Mid and High Mid @ 2:00, Treble @ 10:00, and use a preamp pedal with a DI on my pedal board. The Rumble is just a stage monitor, and my pedal board is my sound. My preamp pedal began making undesireable noise during last night's soundcheck, so I bypassed it and went straight from the other effects on my board to my Rumble, and the soundman mic'd up one of the drivers on my Rumble 210. It sounded fantastic both on stage and in the mains! If I was buying a new one today, I'd go with the Rumble 800. Fender placed the Di before the Master Volume on the 800. They finally got it right.
The only other issue with the Rumble 500 (seperate head) is that adjusting the Master Volume knob while your bass signal is not muted (either by turning down the volume on your bass or using a tuner pedal) causes a super loud crackling noise while the knob is being turned. Cleaning the pots does not alleviate the problem. Fender says that it was a design flaw, but since it is not a safety issue there will be no recall.
A common use of an FX loop on a bass amp is for an external preamp. You can send it directly into the power amp bypassing the preamp of the amp itself. That way you aren’t coloring your preamp pedal with a whole Nother preamp
Just bought a Rumble 500. This review has given me just that bit more confidence at what I can expect when it arrives. I live very remote where I am and rely upon good revies when things need replacing/acquiring. Great share, thank you. ...oh yeah, I agree. I don't like that gimmicky stuff either. Just get my pups to the speakers asap and sounding good. :)
I have been looking at all the great combos in todays bass marketplace and decided on this amp. Weight and the simplistic features and the ceramic magnet drivers were important but I was impressed with the sound. I have a show Saturday and will give it a good road test. I will use a Fender P Bass and a Fender J Bass for starters. Update: I’ve played a few shows with this amp and it’s a really great product. Great volume for it’s size and super easy to transport. I picked up the nylon Fender cover from Musicians Friend and I’m set. This will see lots of action.
Just got a Rumble 500 a few months back, after reading all the great reviews, as the price/size difference between it and the 200 was minimal. Got a great deal on Reverb, mint condition for much less than new, and I just picked up the accompanying 115 cabinet last night through Reverb, and again, like brand new with matching cover for a great deal. Can't wait to pair them up as soon as I get a patch cord, and rattle my windows in style!!
This amp is indeed a beast. I have purchased to day, and after i recorded my bass with it, mamamia, i couldn't believe my ears when i played it back. Now i understand why all my previous mixes suck. Always record your base through an amo.
Great vid. Thanks for posting. I'd love to have seen more live action footage spliced into the vid. Take us on a journey from load in, sound check, show and then after thoughts. It's fun to see it live a life.
This video hit the nail on the head. My band recently opened for the stones and we also had 2 of those same amped heads go out. One of which was during sound check. We ended up having to DI into the soundboard for bass! Just picked up one of these so we don’t have to keep renting bass amps and I’m super happy with the sound. Still have the ampeg w 4-10’s if this thing isn’t loud enough but for most gigs I think it will work out great.
Dude, bonus points for including footage of you and your band with the amp. That's a real f----ing review! OH and by the way, I play Laney, at every gig. But I'm a guitarist.
I’ve had a Rumble 40 v3 as a practice amp for the past couple of years, but last winter I sold my MarkBass stack as I’m no longer actively gigging. Now, of course, I’m looking at getting back into a band, and with the R40v3 being too small, and my MB stack long gone, I am looking at getting a gig-worthy combo that isn’t too heavy for easy transport. The Rumble 500 v3 is at the top of my list. Especially since it has the same exact control section that I’ve been using-just with way more power and an additional speaker-and I honestly love the way it looks. In short, I think your review is spot-on: for the money, the Fender Rumble 500 v3 could be the best bass combo amp ever made.
Thank you so much! I appreciate this comment and I agree that the key aspect is how inexpensive they are. There are definitely better sounding, lighter, better looking amps out there, but they are all more expensive than the Fender. It's an incredible value all around for the price.
I had my mind made up, I just HAD to have a new Ampeg RB combo till I watched this! Most definitely like the Rumble lines versatility and tone better and your story of having to use the Fender as a temporary stand in helped make up my mind. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge. No tell what I’ll walk out of the music store with but will demo the Fender and Ampeg for myself and decide then. Only seems fitting to play a Fender Mustang with flats through a Fender amp. I’ll get a pedal for that grit like you’ve done, thanks again!
Awesome. I recently tried out a Rumble 800 in place of my Harte stack, and haven’t turned back either. I’m all about simplicity and less weight/setup as well. It has effects built in, so I don’t even carry a pedal board anymore. I’ve replaced a micro head, 2 cabs and board, with one lightweight combo amp (and an occasional Harte cab as extension, which is probably unnecessary). Best amp I’ve ever owned!
Yes I am a fender bass player also, “P”, fret less jazz, and a “PJ” but my amps are combo=Ampeg BA210 for practice and small gigs and I add a SVT 115EN classic for larger events. When outside I use a Blackstar Unity 700 elite with the 115 and a custom 2-15. I am also a laney lover. I LOVE my Digbeth pre amp and put it in the loop for everything…….it can give me what I need to give the audience what they want…….BASS !!!! In 1975 my rig was a fender 400 PS with the 18” in a folded horn box. Now that was heavy……. Big speakers move Air.
Great video! I have the Fender Rumble Stage 2x10" 800-watt Bass Combo Amp....and it is AMAZING!!! It has all the effects, amp heads, etc., all ready pre-programmed within it. YOU select what you want. It comes with 100 preprogrammed tones and you get to carve out your own for another 100!! I have set the tone to all the bass players that I play the music for and I also have my own unique ones. This amp is worth every cent I paid for it and it should be double the price in my opinion. Still light weight and easy to carry!! Sweetwater has them for $899. Rock on!!
I would love to try out the settings on these! I remember trying out the Fender Bronco back in the day and really not liking the way it worked, but I've heard only good things about the new versions so it would be cool to get my hands on one to try it out!
@@ampthebassplayer You MUST try it out!! The "rename" some of the amps but you can figure them out (SVT, Ampeg, GK, etc). It is awesome andn you get to carve out your own!! The technology is SO far beyond what I would expect, it's totally cool!!
Tried and like the Hartke KB500 with a 15" speaker. I use short scale, long scale and 5 string basses and they all work very well with this amp. However, whenever I test guitars in a store, I always use a Fender amp with tones set to 12 o'clock as it makes assessments uniform. Having said that, I feel the single 15" projects sound better than a 2x10 cab.
I use this amp with an extension cabinet! It makes it LOUDER and therefore better. I also use this with my pedalboard. It has a fairly transparent tone so I can control the tone with my pedals (OD, preamp, EQ etc.)
I recently learned that an Effects loop can be very useful if you have a preamp that you like more than the Fender preamp. You just plug your bass into the preamp, the preamp into the Effects Return, and you're golden--using just the Fender power amp. I do that with my Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp and it's awesome.
I've been meaning to try that out with my VT Bass pedal. I'm really curious how different it sounds from just running the pedal into the front of the amp.
@@ampthebassplayer Running it through Effects return makes it a little simpler because you don't have a preamp feeding another preamp. The controls on the amp's preamp literally become useless. You can turn them all day and nothing will happen.
I own a fender rumble 20 watt and that in itself is amazingly loud for the size and the fact that it's not very heavy. I've even done small club gigs with a thing and it's been more than adequate. I can imagine having 500 watts available to me in that same model amp it would shake the roof. It also is an amazing guitar amp. Reminiscent of the old fender basement amps that are in such demand by guitar players because they sound so amazing. Thank you for creating this video.
Good choice! I use the R500 combo with an 210 extension in a doom metal band, after 60+ gigs it still amazes with tone, portability and power. It actually only gives 350 watts on its own, so you need an extra cab to get those 500. It's a small beast.
Totally agree! It's a killer amp with plenty of power. I have a 210 cab to tap into the full wattage, but I'm actually selling the extension cab because I never use it.
When I was looking for a combo amp last year, I was very much considering a Rumble 500. I opted for a Hartke 508 combo instead, but still really dig the Fender. Thanks for a cool review! 😎
As a huge Fender fan, (been using Fender gear since the early 70's. Still have some older pre-CBS stuff.) I find all of your reviews so far to be spot-on. It's great that you're giving fair and honest reviews. My main gigging amp is the Rumble 500 too. I added the 210 cabinet and keep a 115 cabinet as a spare. Does it need the extra cabinet? Nope! But it looks really cool and lets me deliver when necessary. Actually, the drummer complains he can't hear me sometimes, so I set one facing him once in a while. Problem solved. I also own an older Rumble 30 and a late model Rumble 100. They can take a lot of punishment. Great gear for the money. Keep up the good work!
I payed the full $600 for my Rumble 500 Amp, and it's worth every penny! My USA Commemorative P Bass sounds excellent through it, and it fits in the back seat of my Dodge Challenger....lol. I believe it runs at 250 watts until you add the 8 ohm extension, but still plenty of punch live with no speaker farting...
I have tried and used many amps. I did a bunch of research looking for a classic sound and settled on the Fender Rumble 500, which is really like 350 without an additional cabinet. I've never had an issue with it. I've never even turned it all the way up. Its so easy to move around, too. I also bought a 10 for kicking around the house for practice. Its a basic amp, though. If you want a modelling amp, something like Orange, lots of fancy stuff, this might not be for you. I will say that. I'm an upright bass player doing rockabilly so I prefer basic and change with my pedals.
Had a Rumble 200, but wanted a 500, but never the opportunity. Then I got the Ampeg Rockebass 500, but the tone was not what I wanted, so I FINALLY got the opportunity to trade for the Rumble 500. I FINALLY got what I wanted! That with my Samsung Bass Driver V2, I get every sound I ever wanted... and LOUD!!
If you are using the SVT pedal, thats when an effects loop can be useful. I think the SVT has a preamp on board as well as everything else? Plug the output of the pedal into the return on the effects loop. You'll bypass the Rumble preamp altogether and just go straight into the power amp. I don’t gid with them, but have massive respect for Rumbles
My first amp was a 1966 Fender Bassman (all tube with 212 cab) that I bought new in 1966. Have had lots of amps and cabs over the years. I toured for 3-years in the early 70's using a Standel piggy-back amp (MCIIb/SAM30b). I primarily use DNA and Eden gear now. Eden makes some nice "Terra Nova" combos, but they can't be expanded like the Fender can. As soon as you plug something into their combo, it shuts off the interior speaker and only goes to the extension speaker...not versatile. Great sound, but no path real path to expansion. DNA hasn't made any combos and now they are shutting down. Other combos you might look at though are the newest Ampeg Rocket Combos. Direct competitor with Fender with an Ampeg sound instead of the Fender sound. I have basically three cabs and three amps that I currently use. I use an Eden TN-226 (225-watts rms) paired with an Eden EX-112 cab for small venues because I can carry in my amp, cab, bass, and gig bag in one trip and still have great sound. For medium-sized and large indoor venues, I'll use my DNA-800 into my DNS-210 cab (handles 700-watts rms). It's a very loud cab as well as clear, clean, and articulate with a tight and focused bottom end (down to 34Hz). When playing most outdoor venues I'll use my DNS-410 cab instead with my DNA-800. When playing wide open music festivals I'll usually run my Eden WT500/800 bridged at 800-watts into my DNS-410 cab (handles 1400-watts rms). If I really got carried away, I could run both my DNS-210 and 410 stacked using my DNA-800 amp. But when running my 800-watt Eden amp into my 410 at music festivals, I get told to turn down if I turn my master up to 10:30. So I really don't need to run a stack. It looks really good, but don't need it.
I just got one of these this week. I've been playing guitar since forever, but I've only been doing bass on the regular since March, when I agreed to become the bass player for my friend's band. Things that are great about this amp: It's light. It's loud. And it's fairly idiot proof for a newbie. Great amp.
I had that combo for years and it was a great gigging combo, nowadays I’m using the newer Hartke Kickback 115 500watt combo which in my opinion has a way cleaner tone, more compact and lighter. The Fender has that old school sound, the Hartke has a more modern tone. A big plus for the Hartke is its a kickback design so hearing yourself on any size stage in never a problem. Cheers, Davyo
I was also playing on that Fender and it is ultralight. But it has lack ow lows. Even Markbass 210 cab has more lows but it is bigger and weights more.
I just played a gig with my Rumble 40. I had to max out the volume and ended up harming the speaker. I love the tone at reasonable levels but can't handle clubs, so I'll definitely upgrade to the 500.
Even the 200 is plenty for small gigs and you can use the line-out to the PA system for larger gigs. If you can afford the extra cash, the 500 is the way to go, but if you find a good deal on a 200 or don't want to shell out the extra money for the 500, it will suit you well. I've owned both; sold the 500 to our bass player who was tired of lugging around a heavy 4x10 cab, and I keep the 200 in my basement for rehearsals (I'm primarily a drummer but do play bass occasionally).
@@robertfoshizzle, I just went straight for the 500 so I wouldn't have to upgrade eventually. Plus, I got a pretty good deal (considering prices in Germany anyway).
I love this damn thing! I used to do the tube amp / large cab setup but was sold on this Rumble 500 when I checked it out at a music shop a few years ago. I wanted something cheap and easy that I could use for rehearsal / simple band situations and wasn't even looking at combos at the time, but the guy at the shop told me to check it out. I couldn't believe how freaking loud it got! I kept cranking it up more and more and it wasn't even breaking a sweat! Then he told me to pick it up, and at that moment I was absolutely sold. Yeah when it's completely dry I can see how one might say it lacks character or whatever, but you're right, it handles pedals beautifully and even alone it's more than useable. I ended up selling every other amp/cab I own because I just never used them anymore, portability and ease of use won out in the end. I can't believe how usable it is, even with outdoor gigs and I've never heard anyone say anything bad about how it sounds, only compliments.
I just had a pretty prominent bass player in my area at a gig, and he was very complimentary of my sound. He looked at my amp and was like “well damn, if you can make that sound good…” These Rumbles are better than tone snobs are willing to admit for sure!
Best bass amp I ever owned was a Laney 100w combo back in the late 80's to early 90's. Only issue was it was 100w at 4 ohms and had a 16 ohm speaker in it. I didn't have the room to transport an extention cab as well so it got traded in on a peavey TNT 160. That Laney was a seriously good amp though, but it was far cheaper to change the amp than my car.
I see so much hate for the rumbles on bass forums and really don’t get it. They’re extremely loud, have good low end, the EQ is more than usable and can get you close enough to any sound you realistically need. Just add a preamp pedal if you need a more specific sound. They’re also very reliable with the 3rd gen. They’re also rather cheap. There’s no real downsides.
I reluctantly plugged into one when checking out a bass at a local music shop and was super impressed and purchased one. Funny that you'd say that about the distortion part but I switch to metal occasionally and I freggin love it. 10/10 amp!
I bought one new a few years back and I didn't think there was any way it could push 500 watts at like 36 lbs. I was shocked! It has so much head room and the tone options are great!
Complaints about the R500 are rare, and until mine started ‘rattling’ mid-gig I had no issues either. Tech says it’s not a blown speaker but it sounds like it; farting out especially in lower range. But while I played, he put his hand on the metal panel in back and the rattle stopped. Turns out the noise is likely the amp’s chassis rattling and somehow getting sent through the speakers. He did say these are built overseas and not like Fenders used to be made. I hope it’s fixable; it’s been great for the 2 years since I bought it new.
You might have just convinced me it is time to scale down. I've been lugging around my Peavey VB-2 all tube head and Avatar 210 and 212 cabs and cables and crap for so many years now. And I only gig 4 or 5 times a year at this point and nothing more than typical bar size rooms. I do play heavier stuff but my sound is typically running direct to PA and I'm using in-ear monitors now. Why do I need all that stuff? I would miss that classic tube sound though. But honestly I think I can dial in fairly close with just my Sansamp through a solid state. I'll be on the lookout for one of these in my area.
I picked up a rumble as an at home bass amp, and a solid state my kids could use without worrying about my tubes. Would you mind sharing your eq settings for guitar?
@@Questionable_Talent I just got a Rumble 40 yesterday and tested it with guitar. It sounded great. Just start with the eq flat, and all switches out. Then maybe try engaging the bright switch. From there you can tweak the EQ, but you will probably be happy with just the bright switch. The overdrive is ok for guitar, but you would probably be better off just using a pedal.
I am a professional gigging musician who plays keyboards, bass, and guitar. I have multiple gigs currently lined up in Las Vegas. I just recently realized that the fender rumble 500 makes an amazing guitar amp and also an amazing keyboard amp. No I know there’s gonna be somebody out there saying I shouldn’t play a guitar through a bass amp yeah I don’t care, it sounds amazing and it also has a gain channel will you plug it up into a guitar, Sounds like a natural tube screamer, ( does not sound good with bass though) not to mention effects loop and direct out into the board I play very large rooms. I am telling everybody right now who’s in a similar situation just buy this amp, it is a jack of all trades worth every penny try to get one use if you can. It doesn’t matter. This thing is amazing and lightweight.
For the more casual (non-gigging) players, the Rumbles at the smaller end of the spectrum are also really worthwhile. I had a Rumble 25 for several years and recently upgraded to the 40 and it is a LOT more amp (in overhead and tone flexibility) than the 25--and a few pounds lighter. For my use, I think it's the sweet spot of cost/features/portability and the smallest of the line I would recommend. That said, getting the 500 for $300 is an absolute STEAL.
I completely agree. 500 watts is overkill if you don't plan on playing with a drummer so the smaller ones are a better buy. The 25 is definitely too small, but the 40 is fantastic.
I have a Rumble 15 that is the best practice amp ever. I don’t need it to be super loud when I’m practicing by myself ..it’s very small so it can live in a small nook at the side of my bed. It’s not gonna do anything in a band setting but it’s surprisingly Loud for 15 watts
it's absolutely ridiculous with the 1x15 extension. massive subby low end will still have clear articulation. i've owned the 40, 2 100's that i ran together wet/dry, a 200, and now the 500. Easily the most underrated amp out there.
Would you recommend 2 100’s wet/dry, or upping to a 200 for gigging? I need some extra stage volume going against 3 guitar amps I currently own the 100 and love the tone just not sure where to step up in the line, any advice?
@@anthony_young I actually used to run a wet dry set up with 2 of the fender rumble 200’s. They kept up a blues junior and excelsior that were running pretty hot. You’ve just gotta watch out if you run a lot of sub or distortion on the wet cab. I run a lot of whammy Octave down and blew a speaker. Only reason I went up to the 1x15.
@@adamgreen3030 did the 2 100’s wet dry provide enough stage volume to compete with 3 fuzzed out and heavy stereo effects, or would you recommend just upgrading to the 200 with my effects going on and off as opposed to a constant wet/dry on stage? I run fuzz with a digitech drop and eq before it on my bass
@@anthony_young if you can swing two 200’s wet dry, that would be best. The 2 100’s may just be able to keep up, but will definitely get lost sometimes. I had a hard time keep 1 200 from getting muddy when I started hitting it with sub effects.
Reviving an old video but I fully agree with your assessment. I love this amp so much for both tone and weight that I got rid of all my bigger/heavier and much more expensive Aguilar and GK gear. One thing I disagree on is the drive channel, I find the drive on this thing to sound incredibly useable. Bump the gain and turn the drive almost or completely “down” and it still adds a little hair to your tone. That in combination with the contour switch I can ALMOST cop a sansamp bddi vibe. Another note is that I play for a pretty loud dual lead guitar rock band and while the 500c alone keeps up well we’ve found that with the rumble 210 extension cab we can put the extension on one side of the drummer and the combo on the other for a much more balanced sound and more importantly stage feel live. An amazing piece of gear, especially for the price!
Over the years I’ve used a number of Bass amps. But my first serious gigging bass amp setup was a Hartke head with 4x10 + 1x15. Which was a really lovely rig. However, it was quite bulky. Did have a Roland Bass combo as a backup for smaller gigs, but it had a much different sound to the Hartke. The Hartke had a much nicer overall tone. I currently use Ashdown. Which is lovely but for such a compact combo it’s not light. And am pondering a change. I’ve heard good things about the current V3 Fender Rumble amps I remember some years ago trying an older Fender Rumble and not liking the tone or what it did. However, knowing how lightweight these new Fenders are someone like myself with advancing years and arthritis, my joints would probably thank me for a lighter amp rig.
The best practice app for a bass guitar ever is the fender Rumble 25! I have a rumble 25 and a Rumble 100. I also have a fender BXR60. Which my 25 will put that BXR60 to bed. For only an 8" woofer. The Rumble 25 is a tiny beast I named BAM BAM. My first Rumble 100 I named Barney.
I had a 50 watt Laney bass amp in the mid 90s. I thought it sounded great; sold it in the mid 90s though. Prior to that I was playing bass through a 30 watt peavey guitar amp that sounded like a fart no matter what you plugged into it, so anything made for a bass would have sounded better. I recall it was better and louder than a comparable fender that a friend used. It also made a fantastic guitar amp. Based on that experience I might rock a Laney if the price was right
I’m a guitarist in a band and my bass player plays guitar too. Up until now we swap one bass and one amp which is a pain. If I can get one of these for 300 ish and a used Mexican jazz it’s worth it to have my own rig
I have the Rumble 200 V3...light, powerful, punchy and can really move air with the 115...the Effects Loop...in the event you figure out that 2 of these amps are better than one, the Send from one amp into the Return of the other, allows you to run both together...try one on each side of the stage...you're welcome
2022 and these STILL can be found for $300. Not long after I watched this last week, I started searching the 500 model over the 200. Lo and behold, a quick 45 minute drive from my house was totally worth it for the 500 for only $300. Older guy's band was done and no longer had a need for it. Great conversation too. So the question is, do I (likely) get rid of my Peavy TKO 115 amp? Last I checked it sounds fine (though I don't know junk about bass tone as I play guitar primarily), But, even with onboard EQ sliders as well (I have a Boss GEB-7 pedal in case it feels needed for the Fender), the Rumble 500 weighs HALF! Any thoughts/feelings would be appreciated!
My D-Class SVT Chinese made Ampeg died a month out of the box. Will never make that mistake again. I am using Ashdown now, and am very happy. But as far as Combo's, the rumble seems to be the best choice.
Rumble 25 owner, I play guitar with it and I have not played a lot of amps but this has a lot more kick and umph to it, I don’t know if it’s because it’s a bass amp but it sounds absolutely great with in home use, not loud enough to play with a drummer though but that’s only because I have the 25 watt version
I have a Rumble 500 combo and play a Ric 4003, Fender P bass, and a Fender Jazz bass thru it. Stupid easy to tweak this amp to get a good sound and they all sound sweet thru this amp. I can't see any need for another amp. I run my basses into a TC compressor and that's it.
Good video I have a hartke KB15 Kickback 500 watt amp combo love it. It is a basic amp no efect loop and a great di out an nice and lite. Have had it for 6 years trouble free playing. I would highly recomend this amp. LOVE IT
I use the same and also use that stuff nobody uses. That's how I dial in the perfect tone for every song with just the push of a button. Plus the factory footswitch. The only pedal I use is a tuner. Examples...Pink Floyd Money I use the OD + Bright, Queen Another One Bites The Dust Clean Channel + Bright, Sunshine of Your Love Cream OD + Vintage + Bright...and you get the picture. Plus I play a PJ bass and I'll use one or the other pickup or both always full tone. I keep a list close by I can look at.
I think that’s a problem with new Ampegs. I had two recently. First one made a hissing noise, and the replacement lasted two weeks and crapped out. In the shop now just so I can sell it when I get it back.
That’s rough. I’ve been seeing a ton of people reporting that sort of thing with Ampegs. I’m hoping to get mine fixed at some point but I’m not optimistic.
I've done tons of gigs with just the 1/15 model. Big theatres and festivals even. My band wasn't too loud though the guitarists played at reasonable volumes. I kinda hate SVTs and the other big heavy tube amps, would rather have the rumble... That being said I do prefer an Aguilar if I get to choose a backline.
Nice video! I happen to have the same amp and used to use the vtbass deluxe quite alot. In my experience they don't really go well together though, could you maybe share your settings on the vtbass?
Hey thanks so much! I just posted a photo of my settings here for you: instagram.com/p/CDmh_s6ALwS/?igshid=9klkvew1br42
@@ampthebassplayer nice video. I have an active bass, and the rumble doesn’t have 2 inputs one for passive one for active. So will the rumble play an active bass. Love the sound. Just not sure if you can play an active bass on the rumble 100
Yes, an active bass will be just fine. These days I’m playing an active Yamaha bass through it and it sounds great.
@@ampthebassplayer thanks AMP! God bless
Thanks How do you set the knobs on the Rumble?
Being a gigging musician, I too have been using the 500 for over a year now - I can't complain! It has plenty of power, however, should you want to blow the roof - plug in an extension cab (2x15) and feel the earthquake!! My gawd!!!
For some reason, I have a 410 sitting next to it that’s never been plugged into it. Not even for science.
Just out of curiosity sir, is the sound really thick?
Some combo begin to make cranky sounds when I increase the volume to the max.
Get you a Marshall 1000 w amp. It will cover anything
@@ampthebassplayer get you a 1000 w Marshall amp
I only use a 2/10 cabinet with just a 1/15 cabinet with my Rumble 500v3 head 😇
I saved a dollar everyday in middle school until I could buy a Fender rumble 25, best decision I made in middle school I may need to update to a bugger one if I start doing gigs
I have the rumble 25 too. I love it!
How do you save a dollar every day
@@pugzz6931 I'm not the OP, but my mom always gave me $3 for lunch. Standard school lunch was $1.75 (this was in the '90s and early 2000's), but you could buy a soda, slice of pizza or other a la carte items too. When I wanted to buy something, I would save my $1.25 and just eat the standard school lunch. Took about two months to save up for a video game (back when they were only $40).
@@robertfoshizzle for me my lunch money is digital through the schools system so I don’t get it physically
I’ve got it to use it for recording but I’ve got an ampeg for playing live
Just as a note, the stock speakers only take 350W, to access the full 500W, you need to use the Ext Spkr output. That isn't to say that 350W is anything to sneeze at and the 2x10 setup definitely makes use of that 350W excellently.
I've had a fender rumble for about 7 yrs now, never let me down, sounds brilliant and is very lightweight.
Brilliant amp! 👍
I had many very expensive bass amps and Rumble is my favorite. Light but powerfull. You can play deathmetal or vintage blues. Also usable as clean platform for guitar. Fender did great job!
I have this amp, and used it on many gigs. It also works really well as a keyboard amp. It is one of those stupid simple amps that is good just to have around. It is reliable, sounds good, and easy to find cheap.
Wow, great that you mentioned that is also good for keyboard ...as I play it as well..that is why is a.plus to read the comments on videos....thank you !!!!
Is this amp loud enough on his own to play with loud drums in a big practice room?
Great review man. I recently ordered my Fender Rumble 500 and I can’t wait to play it.
Hope you enjoy it!
Careful . My rumble 509 head had some serious reliability issues
I have the Ampeg BA 115 and I have to say, coming from using an Ampeg 8x10 prior, I am thoroughly impressed with the BA 115 combo.
A good example, my one band had a reunion show. Heavy metal, 4x12 Mesa cabs, Peavey 6505+ and 5150 heads. Definitely a lot to keep up with, but the saving grace with a combo like this? DI. I brought my usual rack set up I used with my head and cab and used it with my combo (just compression and a sans amp for some extra grit), and DI’ed the amp and this thing sounded massive. Obviously not the same stage volume as an 8x10 but once I went DI with it, it rumbled the entire room like it was an 8x10.
A few guys after our set loved my tone and asked what I was using. Needless to say the expression on their faces was priceless. Just shows you don’t need a massive amp to deliver massive tone.
I love this amp !!!! My Hartke & Marc Bass rigs are in the garage collecting dust !!!!!
I've been gigging a Rumble 500v.3 head into a Rumble 210 cab for a couple of years now. I've only used a second cab, a Rumble 112, a couple of times for outdoor gigs, but I'm not sure that I even needed it. I'm also not a fan of the Rumbles built-in overdrive. A bit fizzy sounding.
The other thing I dislike is that the DI is "Post Master Volume", so adjusting the amp's Master Volume even just a little bit during a performance will significantly change the output level of the built-in Di. That is a serious design flaw. The Di ought to be placed BEFORE the Master Volume in the signal chain.
So I set the Rumble's controls to "Rumble Flat" All filters off, Bass @ 9:30, Low Mid and High Mid @ 2:00, Treble @ 10:00, and use a preamp pedal with a DI on my pedal board. The Rumble is just a stage monitor, and my pedal board is my sound.
My preamp pedal began making undesireable noise during last night's soundcheck, so I bypassed it and went straight from the other effects on my board to my Rumble, and the soundman mic'd up one of the drivers on my Rumble 210. It sounded fantastic both on stage and in the mains!
If I was buying a new one today, I'd go with the Rumble 800. Fender placed the Di before the Master Volume on the 800. They finally got it right.
The more I think about it, the more of a deal breaker that is. I can't adjust my "monitor" volume at all without screwing up the PA mix?
The only other issue with the Rumble 500 (seperate head) is that adjusting the Master Volume knob while your bass signal is not muted (either by turning down the volume on your bass or using a tuner pedal) causes a super loud crackling noise while the knob is being turned. Cleaning the pots does not alleviate the problem. Fender says that it was a design flaw, but since it is not a safety issue there will be no recall.
A common use of an FX loop on a bass amp is for an external preamp. You can send it directly into the power amp bypassing the preamp of the amp itself. That way you aren’t coloring your preamp pedal with a whole Nother preamp
Just bought a Rumble 500. This review has given me just that bit more confidence at what I can expect when it arrives. I live very remote where I am and rely upon good revies when things need replacing/acquiring. Great share, thank you. ...oh yeah, I agree. I don't like that gimmicky stuff either. Just get my pups to the speakers asap and sounding good. :)
I have been looking at all the great combos in todays bass marketplace and decided on this amp. Weight and the simplistic features and the ceramic magnet drivers were important but I was impressed with the sound. I have a show Saturday and will give it a good road test.
I will use a Fender P Bass and a Fender J Bass for starters.
Update: I’ve played a few shows with this amp and it’s a really great product. Great volume for it’s size and super easy to transport. I picked up the nylon Fender cover from Musicians Friend and I’m set. This will see lots of action.
Man. Your bass has great tone
T O A N K I N G
Just got a Rumble 500 a few months back, after reading all the great reviews, as the price/size difference between it and the 200 was minimal. Got a great deal on Reverb, mint condition for much less than new, and I just picked up the accompanying 115 cabinet last night through Reverb, and again, like brand new with matching cover for a great deal. Can't wait to pair them up as soon as I get a patch cord, and rattle my windows in style!!
That section from 1:05 to 1:17 was incredible. Love that groove over the melody.
It’s one of my favorite covers we play for sure.
What's the name of the song? Also, do you have a full version of your cover of it?
@@Zombiehair It's our version of Valerie. I'll have to see if the guys would be down to record it.
This amp is indeed a beast. I have purchased to day, and after i recorded my bass with it, mamamia, i couldn't believe my ears when i played it back. Now i understand why all my previous mixes suck. Always record your base through an amo.
Great vid. Thanks for posting. I'd love to have seen more live action footage spliced into the vid. Take us on a journey from load in, sound check, show and then after thoughts. It's fun to see it live a life.
Dude that clip you showed of you playing at the beginning was pretty cool, you got a great stage presence man!
This video hit the nail on the head. My band recently opened for the stones and we also had 2 of those same amped heads go out. One of which was during sound check. We ended up having to DI into the soundboard for bass! Just picked up one of these so we don’t have to keep renting bass amps and I’m super happy with the sound. Still have the ampeg w 4-10’s if this thing isn’t loud enough but for most gigs I think it will work out great.
Dude, bonus points for including footage of you and your band with the amp. That's a real f----ing review! OH and by the way, I play Laney, at every gig. But I'm a guitarist.
You're a natural in front of the camera! Great video, very informative.
Thank you! Very kind of you to say!
I’ve had a Rumble 40 v3 as a practice amp for the past couple of years, but last winter I sold my MarkBass stack as I’m no longer actively gigging. Now, of course, I’m looking at getting back into a band, and with the R40v3 being too small, and my MB stack long gone, I am looking at getting a gig-worthy combo that isn’t too heavy for easy transport. The Rumble 500 v3 is at the top of my list. Especially since it has the same exact control section that I’ve been using-just with way more power and an additional speaker-and I honestly love the way it looks.
In short, I think your review is spot-on: for the money, the Fender Rumble 500 v3 could be the best bass combo amp ever made.
Thank you so much! I appreciate this comment and I agree that the key aspect is how inexpensive they are. There are definitely better sounding, lighter, better looking amps out there, but they are all more expensive than the Fender. It's an incredible value all around for the price.
I had my mind made up, I just HAD to have a new Ampeg RB combo till I watched this! Most definitely like the Rumble lines versatility and tone better and your story of having to use the Fender as a temporary stand in helped make up my mind. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge. No tell what I’ll walk out of the music store with but will demo the Fender and Ampeg for myself and decide then. Only seems fitting to play a Fender Mustang with flats through a Fender amp. I’ll get a pedal for that grit like you’ve done, thanks again!
Yo, which one did you pick? I'm literally in the same boat.
@@nicholasquinn7893 Tried both the Ampeg and Rumble on a trip to Dallas. I prefer the Rumble but haven’t bought yet.
Awesome. I recently tried out a Rumble 800 in place of my Harte stack, and haven’t turned back either. I’m all about simplicity and less weight/setup as well. It has effects built in, so I don’t even carry a pedal board anymore. I’ve replaced a micro head, 2 cabs and board, with one lightweight combo amp (and an occasional Harte cab as extension, which is probably unnecessary). Best amp I’ve ever owned!
I love the 200...has a 15 and a horn that you can turn on or off...all the ins and outs,has dirt on board...it rules.
Yes I am a fender bass player also, “P”, fret less jazz, and a “PJ” but my amps are combo=Ampeg BA210 for practice and small gigs and I add a SVT 115EN classic for larger events. When outside I use a Blackstar Unity 700 elite with the 115 and a custom 2-15. I am also a laney lover. I LOVE my Digbeth pre amp and put it in the loop for everything…….it can give me what I need to give the audience what they want…….BASS !!!! In 1975 my rig was a fender 400 PS with the 18” in a folded horn box. Now that was heavy……. Big speakers move Air.
I owned this amp for just over a year now and find it incredibly versatile I use my fenda p bass standard and it’s a good pairing....
End to end Fender is not a bad way to go!
Agree.. same equip
Great video! I have the Fender Rumble Stage 2x10" 800-watt Bass Combo Amp....and it is AMAZING!!! It has all the effects, amp heads, etc., all ready pre-programmed within it. YOU select what you want. It comes with 100 preprogrammed tones and you get to carve out your own for another 100!! I have set the tone to all the bass players that I play the music for and I also have my own unique ones. This amp is worth every cent I paid for it and it should be double the price in my opinion. Still light weight and easy to carry!! Sweetwater has them for $899. Rock on!!
I would love to try out the settings on these! I remember trying out the Fender Bronco back in the day and really not liking the way it worked, but I've heard only good things about the new versions so it would be cool to get my hands on one to try it out!
@@ampthebassplayer You MUST try it out!! The "rename" some of the amps but you can figure them out (SVT, Ampeg, GK, etc). It is awesome andn you get to carve out your own!! The technology is SO far beyond what I would expect, it's totally cool!!
Tried and like the Hartke KB500 with a 15" speaker. I use short scale, long scale and 5 string basses and they all work very well with this amp.
However, whenever I test guitars in a store, I always use a Fender amp with tones set to 12 o'clock as it makes assessments uniform. Having said that, I feel the single 15" projects sound better than a 2x10 cab.
I use this amp with an extension cabinet! It makes it LOUDER and therefore better.
I also use this with my pedalboard. It has a fairly transparent tone so I can control the tone with my pedals (OD, preamp, EQ etc.)
I recently learned that an Effects loop can be very useful if you have a preamp that you like more than the Fender preamp. You just plug your bass into the preamp, the preamp into the Effects Return, and you're golden--using just the Fender power amp. I do that with my Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp and it's awesome.
I've been meaning to try that out with my VT Bass pedal. I'm really curious how different it sounds from just running the pedal into the front of the amp.
@@ampthebassplayer Running it through Effects return makes it a little simpler because you don't have a preamp feeding another preamp. The controls on the amp's preamp literally become useless. You can turn them all day and nothing will happen.
That's what I do with my bass driver di.
I own a fender rumble 20 watt and that in itself is amazingly loud for the size and the fact that it's not very heavy. I've even done small club gigs with a thing and it's been more than adequate. I can imagine having 500 watts available to me in that same model amp it would shake the roof. It also is an amazing guitar amp. Reminiscent of the old fender basement amps that are in such demand by guitar players because they sound so amazing. Thank you for creating this video.
I play this amp with my guitar and it handles amazing. Very good with some pedals
Good choice! I use the R500 combo with an 210 extension in a doom metal band, after 60+ gigs it still amazes with tone, portability and power. It actually only gives 350 watts on its own, so you need an extra cab to get those 500. It's a small beast.
Totally agree! It's a killer amp with plenty of power. I have a 210 cab to tap into the full wattage, but I'm actually selling the extension cab because I never use it.
I use extension cab as combo holder :-)
When I was looking for a combo amp last year, I was very much considering a Rumble 500. I opted for a Hartke 508 combo instead, but still really dig the Fender. Thanks for a cool review! 😎
As a huge Fender fan, (been using Fender gear since the early 70's. Still have some older pre-CBS stuff.) I find all of your reviews so far to be spot-on. It's great that you're giving fair and honest reviews. My main gigging amp is the Rumble 500 too. I added the 210 cabinet and keep a 115 cabinet as a spare. Does it need the extra cabinet? Nope! But it looks really cool and lets me deliver when necessary. Actually, the drummer complains he can't hear me sometimes, so I set one facing him once in a while. Problem solved. I also own an older Rumble 30 and a late model Rumble 100. They can take a lot of punishment. Great gear for the money. Keep up the good work!
I payed the full $600 for my Rumble 500 Amp, and it's worth every penny! My USA Commemorative P Bass sounds excellent through it, and it fits in the back seat of my Dodge Challenger....lol. I believe it runs at 250 watts until you add the 8 ohm extension, but still plenty of punch live with no speaker farting...
I have tried and used many amps. I did a bunch of research looking for a classic sound and settled on the Fender Rumble 500, which is really like 350 without an additional cabinet. I've never had an issue with it. I've never even turned it all the way up. Its so easy to move around, too. I also bought a 10 for kicking around the house for practice. Its a basic amp, though. If you want a modelling amp, something like Orange, lots of fancy stuff, this might not be for you. I will say that. I'm an upright bass player doing rockabilly so I prefer basic and change with my pedals.
Had a Rumble 200, but wanted a 500, but never the opportunity. Then I got the Ampeg Rockebass 500, but the tone was not what I wanted, so I FINALLY got the opportunity to trade for the Rumble 500. I FINALLY got what I wanted! That with my Samsung Bass Driver V2, I get every sound I ever wanted... and LOUD!!
If you are using the SVT pedal, thats when an effects loop can be useful. I think the SVT has a preamp on board as well as everything else? Plug the output of the pedal into the return on the effects loop. You'll bypass the Rumble preamp altogether and just go straight into the power amp. I don’t gid with them, but have massive respect for Rumbles
My first amp was a 1966 Fender Bassman (all tube with 212 cab) that I bought new in 1966. Have had lots of amps and cabs over the years. I toured for 3-years in the early 70's using a Standel piggy-back amp (MCIIb/SAM30b). I primarily use DNA and Eden gear now. Eden makes some nice "Terra Nova" combos, but they can't be expanded like the Fender can. As soon as you plug something into their combo, it shuts off the interior speaker and only goes to the extension speaker...not versatile. Great sound, but no path real path to expansion. DNA hasn't made any combos and now they are shutting down. Other combos you might look at though are the newest Ampeg Rocket Combos. Direct competitor with Fender with an Ampeg sound instead of the Fender sound.
I have basically three cabs and three amps that I currently use. I use an Eden TN-226 (225-watts rms) paired with an Eden EX-112 cab for small venues because I can carry in my amp, cab, bass, and gig bag in one trip and still have great sound. For medium-sized and large indoor venues, I'll use my DNA-800 into my DNS-210 cab (handles 700-watts rms). It's a very loud cab as well as clear, clean, and articulate with a tight and focused bottom end (down to 34Hz). When playing most outdoor venues I'll use my DNS-410 cab instead with my DNA-800. When playing wide open music festivals I'll usually run my Eden WT500/800 bridged at 800-watts into my DNS-410 cab (handles 1400-watts rms). If I really got carried away, I could run both my DNS-210 and 410 stacked using my DNA-800 amp. But when running my 800-watt Eden amp into my 410 at music festivals, I get told to turn down if I turn my master up to 10:30. So I really don't need to run a stack. It looks really good, but don't need it.
I just got one of these this week. I've been playing guitar since forever, but I've only been doing bass on the regular since March, when I agreed to become the bass player for my friend's band.
Things that are great about this amp:
It's light.
It's loud.
And it's fairly idiot proof for a newbie.
Great amp.
I just acquired one and I plan to use it w my Rumble 15 extension cab. Loud, punchy and lightweight.
I love seeing you play live with it. Definitely completes the video. Well done!
Thanks so much!
An extra and talented showmanship to the gig of a good band
I love this AMP! I use the Rumble 500 for practicing at home :PP (at 15-20% of max volume and MAN!! it sounds awesome)
What settings do you have it at for playing at home?
I had that combo for years and it was a great gigging combo, nowadays I’m using the newer Hartke Kickback 115 500watt combo which in my opinion has a way cleaner tone, more compact and lighter.
The Fender has that old school sound, the Hartke has a more modern tone.
A big plus for the Hartke is its a kickback design so hearing yourself on any size stage in never a problem.
Cheers, Davyo
I was also playing on that Fender and it is ultralight. But it has lack ow lows. Even Markbass 210 cab has more lows but it is bigger and weights more.
The Fender Rumble sounds AMAZING. So much warm GROWL. When it came out it was the best secret. Now there are entire threads dedicated to it.
I just played a gig with my Rumble 40. I had to max out the volume and ended up harming the speaker. I love the tone at reasonable levels but can't handle clubs, so I'll definitely upgrade to the 500.
Yeah, 40 would be really underpowered for a gig. The 500 will make a world of difference, trust me.
Even the 200 is plenty for small gigs and you can use the line-out to the PA system for larger gigs. If you can afford the extra cash, the 500 is the way to go, but if you find a good deal on a 200 or don't want to shell out the extra money for the 500, it will suit you well. I've owned both; sold the 500 to our bass player who was tired of lugging around a heavy 4x10 cab, and I keep the 200 in my basement for rehearsals (I'm primarily a drummer but do play bass occasionally).
@@robertfoshizzle, I just went straight for the 500 so I wouldn't have to upgrade eventually. Plus, I got a pretty good deal (considering prices in Germany anyway).
I love this damn thing! I used to do the tube amp / large cab setup but was sold on this Rumble 500 when I checked it out at a music shop a few years ago. I wanted something cheap and easy that I could use for rehearsal / simple band situations and wasn't even looking at combos at the time, but the guy at the shop told me to check it out.
I couldn't believe how freaking loud it got! I kept cranking it up more and more and it wasn't even breaking a sweat! Then he told me to pick it up, and at that moment I was absolutely sold. Yeah when it's completely dry I can see how one might say it lacks character or whatever, but you're right, it handles pedals beautifully and even alone it's more than useable. I ended up selling every other amp/cab I own because I just never used them anymore, portability and ease of use won out in the end. I can't believe how usable it is, even with outdoor gigs and I've never heard anyone say anything bad about how it sounds, only compliments.
I just had a pretty prominent bass player in my area at a gig, and he was very complimentary of my sound. He looked at my amp and was like “well damn, if you can make that sound good…” These Rumbles are better than tone snobs are willing to admit for sure!
Best bass amp I ever owned was a Laney 100w combo back in the late 80's to early 90's. Only issue was it was 100w at 4 ohms and had a 16 ohm speaker in it. I didn't have the room to transport an extention cab as well so it got traded in on a peavey TNT 160. That Laney was a seriously good amp though, but it was far cheaper to change the amp than my car.
I see so much hate for the rumbles on bass forums and really don’t get it. They’re extremely loud, have good low end, the EQ is more than usable and can get you close enough to any sound you realistically need. Just add a preamp pedal if you need a more specific sound. They’re also very reliable with the 3rd gen. They’re also rather cheap. There’s no real downsides.
I bought one too, used off of Guitar Center and I love my Fender Rumble 500, I want to buy the extension cab so I can stack them up.
I know nothing about bass or amps but I'm still subbed to u lmao
4:05
Fenaer
My pf-500 was done for too! I got a fender rumble 500 and I love it
I reluctantly plugged into one when checking out a bass at a local music shop and was super impressed and purchased one. Funny that you'd say that about the distortion part but I switch to metal occasionally and I freggin love it. 10/10 amp!
I love my Fender Combo 500!!!
I can sit on it when the guitarist is taking a long, boring solo...
I bought one new a few years back and I didn't think there was any way it could push 500 watts at like 36 lbs. I was shocked! It has so much head room and the tone options are great!
Just fyi. Without the extension cab it only pushes 250w i believe. You need the extension for full 500w
@@gonzalosanchez6387 People telling me to turn down as is. Haha!
Complaints about the R500 are rare, and until mine started ‘rattling’ mid-gig I had no issues either. Tech says it’s not a blown speaker but it sounds like it; farting out especially in lower range. But while I played, he put his hand on the metal panel in back and the rattle stopped. Turns out the noise is likely the amp’s chassis rattling and somehow getting sent through the speakers. He did say these are built overseas and not like Fenders used to be made. I hope it’s fixable; it’s been great for the 2 years since I bought it new.
You might have just convinced me it is time to scale down. I've been lugging around my Peavey VB-2 all tube head and Avatar 210 and 212 cabs and cables and crap for so many years now. And I only gig 4 or 5 times a year at this point and nothing more than typical bar size rooms. I do play heavier stuff but my sound is typically running direct to PA and I'm using in-ear monitors now. Why do I need all that stuff? I would miss that classic tube sound though. But honestly I think I can dial in fairly close with just my Sansamp through a solid state. I'll be on the lookout for one of these in my area.
I've been using one of these as a guitar amp at practices for my hc band and I ain't even embarassed about it anymore. These things are wild
I picked up a rumble as an at home bass amp, and a solid state my kids could use without worrying about my tubes. Would you mind sharing your eq settings for guitar?
@@Questionable_Talent I just got a Rumble 40 yesterday and tested it with guitar. It sounded great. Just start with the eq flat, and all switches out. Then maybe try engaging the bright switch. From there you can tweak the EQ, but you will probably be happy with just the bright switch. The overdrive is ok for guitar, but you would probably be better off just using a pedal.
I am a professional gigging musician who plays keyboards, bass, and guitar. I have multiple gigs currently lined up in Las Vegas. I just recently realized that the fender rumble 500 makes an amazing guitar amp and also an amazing keyboard amp. No I know there’s gonna be somebody out there saying I shouldn’t play a guitar through a bass amp yeah I don’t care, it sounds amazing and it also has a gain channel will you plug it up into a guitar, Sounds like a natural tube screamer, ( does not sound good with bass though) not to mention effects loop and direct out into the board I play very large rooms. I am telling everybody right now who’s in a similar situation just buy this amp, it is a jack of all trades worth every penny try to get one use if you can. It doesn’t matter. This thing is amazing and lightweight.
I’ve heard from quite a lot of people that they like how guitar sounds through this amp, so you’re not alone!
For the more casual (non-gigging) players, the Rumbles at the smaller end of the spectrum are also really worthwhile. I had a Rumble 25 for several years and recently upgraded to the 40 and it is a LOT more amp (in overhead and tone flexibility) than the 25--and a few pounds lighter. For my use, I think it's the sweet spot of cost/features/portability and the smallest of the line I would recommend. That said, getting the 500 for $300 is an absolute STEAL.
I completely agree. 500 watts is overkill if you don't plan on playing with a drummer so the smaller ones are a better buy. The 25 is definitely too small, but the 40 is fantastic.
I have a Rumble 15 that is the best practice amp ever. I don’t need it to be super loud when I’m practicing by myself ..it’s very small so it can live in a small nook at the side of my bed. It’s not gonna do anything in a band setting but it’s surprisingly Loud for 15 watts
it's absolutely ridiculous with the 1x15 extension. massive subby low end will still have clear articulation. i've owned the 40, 2 100's that i ran together wet/dry, a 200, and now the 500. Easily the most underrated amp out there.
Would you recommend 2 100’s wet/dry, or upping to a 200 for gigging? I need some extra stage volume going against 3 guitar amps I currently own the 100 and love the tone just not sure where to step up in the line, any advice?
@@anthony_young I actually used to run a wet dry set up with 2 of the fender rumble 200’s. They kept up a blues junior and excelsior that were running pretty hot. You’ve just gotta watch out if you run a lot of sub or distortion on the wet cab. I run a lot of whammy Octave down and blew a speaker. Only reason I went up to the 1x15.
@@adamgreen3030 did the 2 100’s wet dry provide enough stage volume to compete with 3 fuzzed out and heavy stereo effects, or would you recommend just upgrading to the 200 with my effects going on and off as opposed to a constant wet/dry on stage? I run fuzz with a digitech drop and eq before it on my bass
@@anthony_young if you can swing two 200’s wet dry, that would be best. The 2 100’s may just be able to keep up, but will definitely get lost sometimes. I had a hard time keep 1 200 from getting muddy when I started hitting it with sub effects.
Reviving an old video but I fully agree with your assessment. I love this amp so much for both tone and weight that I got rid of all my bigger/heavier and much more expensive Aguilar and GK gear.
One thing I disagree on is the drive channel, I find the drive on this thing to sound incredibly useable. Bump the gain and turn the drive almost or completely “down” and it still adds a little hair to your tone. That in combination with the contour switch I can ALMOST cop a sansamp bddi vibe.
Another note is that I play for a pretty loud dual lead guitar rock band and while the 500c alone keeps up well we’ve found that with the rumble 210 extension cab we can put the extension on one side of the drummer and the combo on the other for a much more balanced sound and more importantly stage feel live.
An amazing piece of gear, especially for the price!
1:06 damn that was a sweet song.. is it on itunes? Damn, your bass line was awesome
My guitar player plays a Laney 2x10 guitar amp (not sure of model) from the mid-80s. It finally bit it last week (Jul 2022) not a bad run
Over the years I’ve used a number of Bass amps. But my first serious gigging bass amp setup was a Hartke head with 4x10 + 1x15. Which was a really lovely rig. However, it was quite bulky. Did have a Roland Bass combo as a backup for smaller gigs, but it had a much different sound to the Hartke. The Hartke had a much nicer overall tone.
I currently use Ashdown. Which is lovely but for such a compact combo it’s not light. And am pondering a change.
I’ve heard good things about the current V3 Fender Rumble amps I remember some years ago trying an older Fender Rumble and not liking the tone or what it did. However, knowing how lightweight these new Fenders are someone like myself with advancing years and arthritis, my joints would probably thank me for a lighter amp rig.
Yep
I play a Laney Digbeth 500 head and cab.
Previously played the Nexus range and Richter range
The best practice app for a bass guitar ever is the fender Rumble 25! I have a rumble 25 and a Rumble 100. I also have a fender BXR60. Which my 25 will put that BXR60 to bed. For only an 8" woofer. The Rumble 25 is a tiny beast I named BAM BAM. My first Rumble 100 I named Barney.
I had a 50 watt Laney bass amp in the mid 90s. I thought it sounded great; sold it in the mid 90s though. Prior to that I was playing bass through a 30 watt peavey guitar amp that sounded like a fart no matter what you plugged into it, so anything made for a bass would have sounded better. I recall it was better and louder than a comparable fender that a friend used. It also made a fantastic guitar amp. Based on that experience I might rock a Laney if the price was right
I have used Fender rumble amps since 2004 and I have found nothing better. I recently sold my Fender 350 and I’m wanting to get a 500.
I’m a guitarist in a band and my bass player plays guitar too. Up until now we swap one bass and one amp which is a pain. If I can get one of these for 300 ish and a used Mexican jazz it’s worth it to have my own rig
Absolutely! If you can score both of those, you'll have my exact rig actually. Great tones, and super flexible. instagram.com/p/CByUZ6OAFtg/?
I have a fender rumble 100 and I love it!
I have the Rumble 200 V3...light, powerful, punchy and can really move air with the 115...the Effects Loop...in the event you figure out that 2 of these amps are better than one, the Send from one amp into the Return of the other, allows you to run both together...try one on each side of the stage...you're welcome
2022 and these STILL can be found for $300. Not long after I watched this last week, I started searching the 500 model over the 200. Lo and behold, a quick 45 minute drive from my house was totally worth it for the 500 for only $300. Older guy's band was done and no longer had a need for it. Great conversation too.
So the question is, do I (likely) get rid of my Peavy TKO 115 amp? Last I checked it sounds fine (though I don't know junk about bass tone as I play guitar primarily), But, even with onboard EQ sliders as well (I have a Boss GEB-7 pedal in case it feels needed for the Fender), the Rumble 500 weighs HALF!
Any thoughts/feelings would be appreciated!
Just got a used fender rumble 500. Its so good. I love it.
My D-Class SVT Chinese made Ampeg died a month out of the box. Will never make that mistake again. I am using Ashdown now, and am very happy. But as far as Combo's, the rumble seems to be the best choice.
Great review, I'm getting the Rumble 25 soon for recording. In regards to Laney amps, I used to see those back in the early to mid 1980s.
Rumble 25 owner, I play guitar with it and I have not played a lot of amps but this has a lot more kick and umph to it, I don’t know if it’s because it’s a bass amp but it sounds absolutely great with in home use, not loud enough to play with a drummer though but that’s only because I have the 25 watt version
I am mainly a guitar player but do play bass. I use 100w fender rumble low level , harke 300 2x15 emmenience speakers high level.
SLC??? Awesome! I'm in Saratoga Springs!
Wait, where'd u get it for 300?
I have a Rumble 500 combo and play a Ric 4003, Fender P bass, and a Fender Jazz bass thru it. Stupid easy to tweak this amp to get a good sound and they all sound sweet thru this amp. I can't see any need for another amp. I run my basses into a TC compressor and that's it.
Good video I have a hartke KB15 Kickback 500 watt amp combo love it. It is a basic amp no efect loop and a great di out an nice and lite. Have had it for 6 years trouble free playing. I would highly recomend this amp. LOVE IT
I use the same and also use that stuff nobody uses. That's how I dial in the perfect tone for every song with just the push of a button. Plus the factory footswitch. The only pedal I use is a tuner. Examples...Pink Floyd Money I use the OD + Bright, Queen Another One Bites The Dust Clean Channel + Bright, Sunshine of Your Love Cream OD + Vintage + Bright...and you get the picture. Plus I play a PJ bass and I'll use one or the other pickup or both always full tone. I keep a list close by I can look at.
I think that’s a problem with new Ampegs. I had two recently. First one made a hissing noise, and the replacement lasted two weeks and crapped out. In the shop now just so I can sell it when I get it back.
That’s rough. I’ve been seeing a ton of people reporting that sort of thing with Ampegs. I’m hoping to get mine fixed at some point but I’m not optimistic.
I went to a pawn shop and found a lightly used ashdown c210 500 watt combo for 300 and I love it
My school has a laney. Its so old that it just gives out and you have to hit it on the top for it to work
If you keep the overdrive knobs all the way down, it works as a stand by.
Try it out
That’s a fantastic tip. Thanks!
Funny, that's exactly what I do too!
Good review!! I use a rumble for bass and Laney for guitar. Laney makes bass amps? Also, the rumble is only 350 watts unless extension is plugged in.
I've done tons of gigs with just the 1/15 model. Big theatres and festivals even. My band wasn't too loud though the guitarists played at reasonable volumes. I kinda hate SVTs and the other big heavy tube amps, would rather have the rumble... That being said I do prefer an Aguilar if I get to choose a backline.
i would recommend checking out the blackstar unity series
I play a Laney, I got a 4x10 cab and RBH 700 head for £50 off of Marketplace.
Yeah next video show your settings. It would be nice to see. So I can build a mental general setting that people use. I know how I use the rumble 500.
yup did it again. bought the rumble 500 now im watching youtube to see what people think of it
Great video
Great review! Would this amp be overkill for a small (25-40 ) worship service?
Not at all! It doesn't sound any different at lower volumes, and it's always good to have more power than you need.
@@ampthebassplayer Thanks! You Rock (Literally...)