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Just got a Rumble 200 - Low B muddy
- Thread starter lordradish
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- fender rumble 200 low b
I realize that I'm most likely gonna have to get closer to the 1k mark than the 500 dollar mark. Bad timing, but I can do it.
Few questions... what is it you're not 'broadly a fan about'? I only played one MB, it was of a student of mine, I don't remember which model, one of the smaller (can't remember if it was a 10 or a 12), but I was surprised at the clarity and power in such a little package. I don't mind tuning the EQ a bit to get the honk out, and sometimes I like a bit of honk.
What kind of music you play? I generally play funk, jazz, ambient, mellower stuff, I'm not so much of a rock guy, but I have my big rig for that, if I need it. I tend to go for a more modern tone than the old school sound, but I do like to have that sound when I need it.
I'm thinking about that MB Bona Ninja 102-500. Only been able to find one review on it, said it was really good. Weighs about the same as the Rumble, but half the size.
So, small, loud enough to gig with, and clarity. If you weren't gonna go with a MB, what would you recommend?
That's sweet, but I want a combo. Already have a Genzler Magellan, which I love.
GK & Rumble are apples and oranges. Both fantastic though. I've owned both a Rumble 500 (head) and a GK Backline 250 (sold, but wish I had it back). The Rumble IMHO responds pretty differently to different cabs/speakers (at least with my cabs- a 1 x 10" flat cab, and a 1 x 15 Peavey Black Widow Cab). If you like the Rumble except for the 'B' mud, definitely try a larger Rumble combo. If not, you're on the right track looking elsewhere.
I haven’t tried your amp, but I own a GK MB112 and have used a Rumble 100 at the school where I used to teach extensively. The GK definitely has some clarity that the rumble didn’t have. The GK also has a much more useable/flexible eq compared to the rumble.
But, when I first got the GK several years ago, I had a genz Benz shuttle 9 and shuttle 12” cab I compared it to. The difference in detail of sound and clarity was pretty apparent. The GK was boxy in comparison. It’s all relative. The genz setup cost probably twice as much as the GK, and the GK cost a good bit more than the Rumble I haven’t been disappointed in the GK ever since, and it has been a workhorse.
But, when I first got the GK several years ago, I had a genz Benz shuttle 9 and shuttle 12” cab I compared it to. The difference in detail of sound and clarity was pretty apparent. The GK was boxy in comparison. It’s all relative. The genz setup cost probably twice as much as the GK, and the GK cost a good bit more than the Rumble I haven’t been disappointed in the GK ever since, and it has been a workhorse.
Unless you're using a shared space.. leave the heavy cab at your practice space. You can always take the head home and feel pretty assured that your cab isn't being used by someone else. I use a 15w Rumble @ home, or I bring my momark head home to use the DI.. but my 4x10 cab stays at my drummer's house.
Or just look for a lighter cabinet to go with your head. I'm looking to do so in the future. Been eyeballing the Phil Jones C4 and am so curious what they sound like in person.
Or just look for a lighter cabinet to go with your head. I'm looking to do so in the future. Been eyeballing the Phil Jones C4 and am so curious what they sound like in person.
have you thought about phil jones combo? those thing are meant to be the pinnacle of definition, also pretty darn small footprint too
I've been drooling over a Ninja for years. The carry is made even easier by the form factor, thin with the handle in the top. Pro sound. I'd go w the 500 watt version though, for the little extra plus you can add a powered MB 2x10 cab to it later for a vertical 4x10 super stack if you wanted to. You could get rid of all your other gear all together and just have one solution. I'll bet you can find it on sale and buy it in co junction w a GC 18% off coupon on a bigger holiday sale.
5 reviews here of the 250 version....
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amp...chard-bona-signature-250w-2x10-bass-combo-amp
I got a deal I "couldn't refuse" on a 200 a few years ago. It was in brand new condition. Also noticed the same issue but as I only used it when staying at a remote location and as it was/is not a primary piece of gear I find the lack of clarity not to be an issue. I wouldn't want to use it in a professional setting.
You can't buy a Ford Taurus and expect Corvette performance.
You can't buy a Ford Taurus and expect Corvette performance.
I’m playing a Rumble now, and I do like it. I’ve gotten to play 2 Mark combos (CMD 121 and 102) for back line, and they are KILLER! tone, punch clarity and power for days. I can dial in an old school tone to please a Rumble fan like me, or that clean tone they are so well known for. Definitely worth looking into further
I know how you feel. I just returned a Rumble 200. It had a problem with the aux in and headphone out jacks and I just didn't care for it at all. Especially where you have to go out and buy an extension speaker to get the full 200 watts. If you want something smaller then look at the GK MB112. 200 watts out a a single 12" speaker. It is smaller than the Rumble 200/500 and lighter. One nice thing with GK is the ability to add an additional powered speaker which will double your output. It is a good looking stack and won't put too much strain on the back. Good luck. 
I use my Rumble 200 when I'm playing country or classic rock gigs, as it really nails an old school bass sound... It does have it's volume limitations, though - and if I'm playing a gig where it might run out of gas, I bring something a bit more robust, instead... I mainly bought it because I got it used, but in new condition - and fairly cheap - to use for spot rehearsals, and some gigs - it it's worked out for me... I also got it to use for the occasional outdoor gig with weather concerns, or a dive bar gig where I don't want to bring my "good stuff"...I have 6 amps, and 9 cabs, so I have plenty of choices available to me...
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Understandable - IME, ALL combos are a compromise when it comes to the speaker cab section - which is the price one pays for convenience... I will say that the Mesa D800/Subway115 pairing will smoke ANY combo I've ever played, but is extremely convenient to gig with...When I add the 2nd SW115 I have, it'll cover any gig I'll play, and is a very modular approach...
Ive have gigged my 500 combo for about 3 years now. My experience is i can get anywhere from hi-fi to ampeg'ish dark tones out of it with minimal tweaking, using my 5 string active J or my flatwound strung precision. I dont get the trouble bass players have getting their prefered tones out of the beast..
I've owned both the Combo 500 and the Combo 200, and will admit that the 200 with it's 15" speaker probably doesn't do "hi-fi" as well as some would like - but really excels at "old school" 15" speaker tone... I flipped the 500 and kept the 200 because I preferred the sound of the 15" in the 200 over the pair of 10s in the 500... If I really want to use 10s in a smallish setup, I use this:
I've yet to encounter a pair of 10s that could stand up to the above...
I totally understand if I'm coming across a bit snobbish with this. I am generally not in the market for combos and think many brands put lesser components into them compared to heads & cabs, even nearly identical ones. I don't think MB does that but there are a lot of threads on here where everyone is severely polarized about MB, extreme love or extreme hate and in between is no man's land. Without doing science about it, seems many of the bad experiences are with combos. I own two combo amps, both Peavey Combo 300s from the 80s. My small at home rig is a PF50-T into a TC RS212. So that's one part I'm generally not fond of, but more important for you I apologize I don't have much in the way of which combos to recommend.
I think MB are more proud of their gear than they ought to be. I don't love all the colour schemes, in the car audio world generally yellow cone speakers used to be an indication that looks were more important than sound. Some of the heads in particular have what looks like cheap plastic faces that would easily crack or discolour in the sunlight. So that's part of it also.
I think the sound of most MB heads is about the same flat, the vintage sound they're able to achieve is good yes, but for the money you spend to sound like old tube gear you could buy old tube gear in good condition. For the money you spend to get a very crisp clean modern sound, you can do it better for less (Carvin would have been my counter-example there), or 'better' now for about the same (Mesa, Quilter, Darkglass, Aguilar) depending on your version of better and your cab selection. Like you I also like my mids, and especially the mid-high range where the honk is, but you need a microscope to dial it back (assuming MB head & cab, or combo) enough to tame it without losing what you do want. MB head into a generally more 'clean' cab (in my case Carvin BRX10.4 with the tweeter off) does let a much nicer sound shine through. The reason I do use the MB primarily with my 5 (Carvin LB75 with Roto 66) because of the clarity I get out of the B string; the upper mid & high EQ knobs are actually what really gets it there.
There is something I can't quite put my finger on about MB that, while I'm a fan of Ampeg I hate their SS stuff; while I love classic 70s-90s Peavey I tried but couldn't like the Mini Max; Bassman yes, Rumble no. It's not fair to compare classic Acoustic to the current 'Guitar Center owned Acoustic brand', but that's another one. Maybe by giving these examples you can understand where I'm coming from, MB straddles the line for me between what I like and don't like.
Generally I play covers. Could be any kind of rock from 60s-early 00s, my ideal band would sound like Kozmic Blues or CTA era Chicago, maybe some E-Street, Wallflowers in some songs, and MxPx or the Misfits in others.
They're cool but do yourself a favor and check the GK combos. Absolute in love with my MB212.
What are your settings for “hifi?”