Just got a Rumble 200 - Low B muddy

[Pilgrim]

Yeah, I just don't know why this amp isn't clicking with me. Part of it's also the footprint, but that's on me, because I should paid more attention to the dimensions.

Admittedly, part of this was the price, cuz I just spent a grand on a bass, last week, but I think I'm just gonna have to spend more to get something I'll be happy with.

If that's not doing it for you, I LOVE the advice to look at Genzler.

I'm a budget buyer, so I'd look for a used Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.2 on a 2nd series T12 cabinet. Very clear, very flexible sound, 36 pounds total. I have a G-B 6.2 on a 1st series T12, and I also have a Rumble 100.

Genzler stuff is as good as anything in the world. Definitely check it out.

 

[lordradish]

If that's not doing it for you, I LOVE the advice to look at Genzler.

I'm a budget buyer, so I'd look for a used Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.2 on a 2nd series T12 cabinet. Very clear, very flexible sound, 36 pounds total. I have a G-B 6.2 on a 1st series T12, and I also have a Rumble 100.

Genzler stuff is as good as anything in the world. Definitely check it out.

You might have missed, back earlier in the thread... my main head is the Magellan 800, I love it. If Genzler made a smaller more portable combo than what they have, I'd already have it. Not too into the head-bracketed-to-the cabinet thing.

 

[lordradish]

Well, I ended up getting the Markbass Richard Bona 102-500, weighs one pound less than the Rumble, half as wide, and hopefully, will sound a lot better, too. This certainly shaped up to be a great conversation (it can keep going, too!). This community rocks, at times it feels like the 2nd best thing about being a bassist.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Good luck with the Markbass. Good quality stuff though I’ve owned a couple and found them dry, but I like the Rumble sound. Very old school. It’s all a matter of taste.

I’m guessing you didn’t audition the Rumble because that tone is baked in like sugar on a cookie, and the entire line has it so you were better off getting the MB than moving up to the 500c.

Enjoy!

 

[oren]

Well, I ended up getting the Markbass Richard Bona 102-500, weighs one pound less than the Rumble, half as wide, and hopefully, will sound a lot better, too. This certainly shaped up to be a great conversation (it can keep going, too!). This community rocks, at times it feels like the 2nd best thing about being a bassist.

I look forward to hearing how you like your new amp!

 

[Richard Martin]

Well, I ended up getting the Markbass Richard Bona 102-500,

It's low tone control is at 40 Hz so it should do better.

 

[lordradish]

I look forward to hearing how you like your new amp!

It's coming next week, so I'll let you all know!

 

[Yahboy]

Been a Pre-rumble 200 combo owner, I am sure this combo can't handle Low B string well. She is not muddy tone actually, it sound less clarity , blurry and out pitch with B string.
Then I get the Hartke KB15 combo which able handling low B well.
Both pretty close in weight , but the KB15 sound louder and clearer than rumble 200 combo. 250watts vs 140watts.

My current Tech 21 VTbass 200 combo can handling low B well with it 12' driver. No blurry, no boomy, no farting.

 

[AstroSonic]

Many players, especially here on TB, are willing to look 'under the hood' for possible solutions to tone issues. For those who are, here are a couple of potential fixes to the 'muddy' bass and related low B problems. First we have to acknowledge that, to some extent, these problems are a matter of personal preference. This is evident from the comments here, with some critical of the Rumble 200's performance and others praising that performance. For those who have a Rumble 200 (or one of the other Rumbles) and find that the bass is muddy or over prominent, but are otherwise pleased, a couple simple mods may prove helpful.

First, stuff (Dacron, or fiber glass: not tightly) the bass ports. This damps the Helmholtz resonance of the cab making the loading aperiodic. (tightly stuffing changes the cab to sealed). The effect may be adjusted by changing the amount of damping material in the ports. Many will find that this is all that is needed.

If the problem is still evident, a blanket of damping material may be fastened directly being the driver. Remove the 15 inch driver and set the cone face-down on a flat surface. In the past (when drivers were rear mounted and cab backs were removable), this was done by using wood staples to fasten a blanket of acoustic damping material over the back of the driver. For front mounted drivers (like most modern cabs) the blanket can be fastened by flipping the edge of the blanket back toward the opening and stapling. Size the blanket by draping the sheet of damping material over the back of the driver and cut the sheet, allowing a couple of inches beyond the frame for the fold-over. Cut a small slit for the speaker wires. A potential downside to this mod is some loss of (reflected) mids (and aggressiveness). Try a little boosting of the lower and upper mids.

These mods, combined with some EQ experimentation will probably resolve the bass issues for many. Both of these mods are inexpensive and easily reversed. In the event that some are still unhappy with the bass tone, it is probably best to simply try something else. For those enamored of the otherwise positive attributes of the Rumble 200, a driver upgrade, such as those described in the Rumbles thread, may provide what they are looking for.