Best extension cab for a Fender Rumble 800 stage

Which format will give me the best value:volume

  • 115

    Votes: 6 16.2%

  • 210

    Votes: 25 67.6%

  • 410

    Votes: 6 16.2%
  • Total voters
    37
H

HalfDecentBass

Nov 25, 2019
2
6
2,551
#1
Hi everyone, thanks in advance for reading. Theres a little background so you know the situation.

I bought a rumble 800 stage (combo) a couple months ago, and let me say I love the thing. Now that my band is gaining a little more traction, we've started to play some bigger venues. We play mostly covers at these gigs (from Zeppelin, to Skynyrd, to Chilis, to Bob Marley, to Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs, to Black Eyed Peas... if its a tune, we play it). The flexibility of the 800 stage really helps me do it all justice.

One issue I'm having is that it's still not quite loud enough. Our PA system isnt the best, and we've found that when I run a line from the 800 to the mixer (either directly or through a mic) it kinda dulls out the rest. I am looking to add a compatible extension cab to my combo.

I am open to any suggestions you have, but I am mostly interested in a good format to compliment my 800. It's been great so far so I'm partial to a Fender Rumble 115, 210, or 410.

I like the idea of having the 210 run my dynamic sounds and adding some extra volume and boom with the 115, but I was hoping you could recommend the best value as volume is my priority.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this, and for any input you may have.
 
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#2
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Welcome to TalkBass! Congratulations on your choice of the Rumble Stage 800. Must be quite a loud band if the 400 watt 210 isn't enough. My Rumble 500 combo, with 350 watt 210 is usually plenty with my loud country band.

Well, Halfsy, Fender makes their Rumble 210 in the same black cosmetics as the Rumble Stage, so they are obviously promoting that as a suitable match for the Stage. The 115 is a bit lower rated, so I wouldn't run just one of them with the combo if you're looking for lotsa volume. Fortunately, the Stage can run two 8 ohm extension cabs, so two 115s would do the trick. But, for value, nothing beats the Rumble 410, if you don't mind the weight. And, again, the Stage can run two 410s for maximum SPL, or two 210s for very significant SPL. It's really up to your own preference and taste!

You're welcome to come to The Rumble Club thread to discuss with other Stage owners. And checkout the Stage & Studio section of the Rumble Club Wiki page linked in my signature to read more about them.
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#3
Excellent choice of the Fender Rumble Stage 800 @HalfDecentBass, and welcome to talkbass. I recommend the matching Rumble 210. First because it is an exact match to your current combo with the exact same drivers and alignment. It's a proven performer since 2015 as a match for the Rumble 500 combo. Secondly because it gives you a vertical 210 + 210 stack that gives you: a) twice the air displacement/movement; b) that in turn gives you twice the sonic dispersion, c) allows access to the full 800 watts giving you +1dB SPL and, d) the second cabinet gives you roughly +3dB SPL. You also gain additional low end reinforcement with the cabinet coupling effect of identical stacked cabinets. It's a win-win-win with the additional Rumble 210.
 
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#6
I use the Stage 800 on top of a 210 cabinet and it is tight and punchy to full on growl, loud and articulate.
Here's a peek of it behind me this weekend.
Screenshot_20191126-113448_Flickr.jpg
 
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#12
I have the same opportunity to add a cab to my 800 Stage combo, but help my ignorance here... Why does the second 210 better support the lower frequencies than a single or double 115? Seems like the 115 myth runs strong in the Force!
 
#15
G-Dog said:
Why, yes. Yes, it is, TP. Please come tell us about your Rumble in the Fender Rumble Club and get your free membership! :thumbsup:

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Click to expand...


According to the Fender 210 cab specs, the continuous power rating is only 350 watts - isn’t that technically 50 watts too low, given that if you hooked up a Fender 210 cab to a stage 800 combo amp and selected the 8 ohms switch that there would be essentially 400 watts being sent continuously from the 800 stage combo amp to the Fender 210 cab? Or am I missing something here? I don’t want to blow up my amp and/or cabinet.
 
#17
jimboliah7 said:
According to the Fender 210 cab specs, the continuous power rating is only 350 watts - isn’t that technically 50 watts too low, given that if you hooked up a Fender 210 cab to a stage 800 combo amp and selected the 8 ohms switch that there would be essentially 400 watts being sent continuously from the 800 stage combo amp to the Fender 210 cab? Or am I missing something here? I don’t want to blow up my amp and/or cabinet.
Click to expand...


Yes, Jimbo, that's right. In print and on paper the 210 cabinet is rated "just" 350w continuous. That happened back in 2014, when the cab was first introduced and 350w was the most it could see from a Rumble (the 500). Fender is known for conservatively rating their products. So, back then, 350w was sufficient for the 500, so that number was "good enough" for the new 210 cab. ;)

Then, in 2018, Fender introduced the Rumble Stage 800 combo putting up to 400w continuous into its internal speakers, and another 400w into a single 8 ohm extension cab. So, what speakers did they decide to put into this new powerful combo with the new black grille? Why, the exact same speakers as the 4-year-old Rumble 500 and the 210 cab, that's what! They even make a newer-looking 210 cab (with the same speakers) with a black grille to match the Stage combo!! Apparently Fender's 4-year experience with those 210 speakers has convinced them that they can actually handle 400w continuous after all!!! :woot:

But, why they haven't re-rated the 210 cab is anybody's guess. :confused:

Jimbo, we'd love to have you come to the Fender Rumble Club and get a free membership. There's lotsa friendly, knowledgeable Rumblers there willing to discuss our favorite amps & cabs.
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#18
jimboliah7 said:
According to the Fender 210 cab specs, the continuous power rating is only 350 watts - isn’t that technically 50 watts too low, given that if you hooked up a Fender 210 cab to a stage 800 combo amp and selected the 8 ohms switch that there would be essentially 400 watts being sent continuously from the 800 stage combo amp to the Fender 210 cab? Or am I missing something here? I don’t want to blow up my amp and/or cabinet.
Click to expand...

Fender rates this cab at 700W (Program), 350W (Continuous).
Here they bill it as a great companion for the Rumble 500 combo.
Rumble™ 210 Cabinet | Bass Amplifiers

The power output specs for the 800 combo operating at 8 Ohms is 400W. This, operating into the stock 2x10 internal speakers. These are the same speakers used in the the external, 2x10 cab. So technically, Fender is under rating the speakers in their 800 combo by 50W.

I specifically also included the phone number so you can call Fender, ask your question, and see what they say.

Otherwise, don't crank the amp to maximum. Not that you'd probably need to, as I've heard multiple reports of the 500 combo + extension cab being stupid loud. The 800 should technically be ever so slightly louder, but not by much. But you get some additional headroom, which is good.
2DEE046F-D761-4B88-9039-8F0056B0310D.png
 
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#20
TimothyLindeman said:
This sounds crazy, but I have a question. Could one use an ampeg ba115 combo amp as an extension speaker to a Fender rumble 800 stage?
Click to expand...
looking at the ampeg manual, i don't see where you can disconnect the speaker from the amp part to connect it to the fender instead, so no

you could in theory take a line out or effects send from the fender, feed that non-speaker signal into the front of the ampeg and add the ampeg to what the fender is doing; in practice it probably won't help much
 
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