So what? These new Fenders are far superior to anything else available today.
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New amp day: Fender Rumble Studio 40
- Thread starter baileyboy1
- Start date
I have the Zoom B3. Through my Mesa D800+ and Darkglass DG500 heads, it’s a great unit.
The Fender Rumble Studio 40 really stands on its own in the bass amp market, though. It’s market is the person who wants an all-in-one solution to cover a lot of ground. The amp and cab sims are VERY good, most of the effects are also very good, it has a looper, an effects loop, aux in, stereo XLR outs, onboard tuner that actually works well with the bass (including low B on a 5-string) without being jumpy/fidgety. Onboard compressors, limiters, bass-tuned OD/fuzz/distortions, octave, touch wah, etc. USB connectivity. Compatibility with 4-button footswitch to access presets or turn effects on/off, expression pedal comparability,... weighs in at 20 pounds. Tweeter that you can attenuate or turn off. All-in-one compact solution for practice, recording...even stage.
The other nice thing is that your bass will still sound like it’s supposed to: J sounds like a J, P sounds like a P, etc. in the guitar digital amp world, a common complaint is that some of those low/mid-price offerings tend to make all guitars sound very similar.
I can’t think of an actual peer when you think about the feature set.
With 15% off you can get one new for about $300. Yes - there are plenty of options, bigger and louder, at a lower price point. But - I think if you are in the market for what this amp offers, you are not really comparing it to less expensive bigger/louder/heavier amps...apples and oranges, right?
I have a fair amount of gear, and there is absolutely a place for this amp in my stable.
Quick summary:
With my active Sire VV7 (Jazz): easily dialed in slap tones. Great bottom end. Great growl. Easy to dial in a scooped mids tone (not my preference, but certainly the presence of many).
With my Stingray: pure Stingray goodness.
With my P bass: great classic tones.
The Fender Rumble Studio 40 really stands on its own in the bass amp market, though. It’s market is the person who wants an all-in-one solution to cover a lot of ground. The amp and cab sims are VERY good, most of the effects are also very good, it has a looper, an effects loop, aux in, stereo XLR outs, onboard tuner that actually works well with the bass (including low B on a 5-string) without being jumpy/fidgety. Onboard compressors, limiters, bass-tuned OD/fuzz/distortions, octave, touch wah, etc. USB connectivity. Compatibility with 4-button footswitch to access presets or turn effects on/off, expression pedal comparability,... weighs in at 20 pounds. Tweeter that you can attenuate or turn off. All-in-one compact solution for practice, recording...even stage.
The other nice thing is that your bass will still sound like it’s supposed to: J sounds like a J, P sounds like a P, etc. in the guitar digital amp world, a common complaint is that some of those low/mid-price offerings tend to make all guitars sound very similar.
I can’t think of an actual peer when you think about the feature set.
With 15% off you can get one new for about $300. Yes - there are plenty of options, bigger and louder, at a lower price point. But - I think if you are in the market for what this amp offers, you are not really comparing it to less expensive bigger/louder/heavier amps...apples and oranges, right?
I have a fair amount of gear, and there is absolutely a place for this amp in my stable.
Quick summary:
With my active Sire VV7 (Jazz): easily dialed in slap tones. Great bottom end. Great growl. Easy to dial in a scooped mids tone (not my preference, but certainly the presence of many).
With my Stingray: pure Stingray goodness.
With my P bass: great classic tones.
I’ve spent some good quality time with the amp this morning...thought I’d add to my initial impressions.
I think the Octobot and pitch shift effects both do very useable octave effects. On Octobot, I turn the “sizzle” setting down to minimum to get a cleaner octave effect.
The Bass OD effect is very good. I keep the gain dialed in to just a modest hint of grind.
The vibratone effect has a pretty nice Univibe effect.
There are a lot of delay options, including a multitap dealt where you can use various combinations of three taps.
You can use several of the same effect type in your signal chain - ie, several modulations, several delays, etc.
The reverbs sound good, including shimmer.
The envelope filter allows you to choose HPF, LPF, and band pass setting, as well as several modes (high up, high down, low up, low down), the Q and the threshold. I dial in the overall effect level somewhat low to keep the effect present, but a bit subtle.
There are two 7-band graphic EQs and a parametric EQ (lets you dial in the mid frequency).
I really am enjoying this amp.
I did not really look at the Mustang GTs when they came out because I still have a Mustang III v2 that I occasionally use specifically for some of the Fender clean settings with my Strat. For bass, I think the Studio 40 is in a really nice sweet spot.
I think the Octobot and pitch shift effects both do very useable octave effects. On Octobot, I turn the “sizzle” setting down to minimum to get a cleaner octave effect.
The Bass OD effect is very good. I keep the gain dialed in to just a modest hint of grind.
The vibratone effect has a pretty nice Univibe effect.
There are a lot of delay options, including a multitap dealt where you can use various combinations of three taps.
You can use several of the same effect type in your signal chain - ie, several modulations, several delays, etc.
The reverbs sound good, including shimmer.
The envelope filter allows you to choose HPF, LPF, and band pass setting, as well as several modes (high up, high down, low up, low down), the Q and the threshold. I dial in the overall effect level somewhat low to keep the effect present, but a bit subtle.
There are two 7-band graphic EQs and a parametric EQ (lets you dial in the mid frequency).
I really am enjoying this amp.
I did not really look at the Mustang GTs when they came out because I still have a Mustang III v2 that I occasionally use specifically for some of the Fender clean settings with my Strat. For bass, I think the Studio 40 is in a really nice sweet spot.
You're killin' me! I already want this bad enough to sell my momma on Main Street.
I've got a ZOOM B3; and a V2 Rumble 75 (modified and punked out) to trade. I was also thinking of adding my Rumble 200 in. That ought to be enough. Would really like to keep the 200, but ...Do you have a couple of pedals lying around that get little use? In this price range, 2-3 pedal sales = 1 new Rumble Studio
Keep the 200. My 2 cents. What if you need a jam amp for those friends that will call to coax you over to jam?
8 payments of $43.75 no interest. I know that doesn't seem like much, but I'm hand-to-mouth as it is. My Social Security went up $9 to $915 a month. My SNAP benefit was immediately reduced by $9 to $32 a month. If I gave up my cell phone, I could swing it.
Was it showing the 12 payment plan ?
Perhaps the 12 payment plan just shows up on mine because I paid off my 6 month plan purchase on time.
I'm in the market for one of these. I currently have a Rumble 60, back when they still had the lights on the bottom, and I think it's time for an upgrade (Yes, I know with less power, but I'm a basement player, so I'm fine with it.) Tip Of The Hat to baileyboy1 for providing good info (And the rest of you too.)
If you’re a basement player, this amp is a great option. Lots of good tones in one package.
Oh MY GOD!!
This thing is amazing. I scrolled through the presets the day I got it and was so inspired by the "Basic Bass Shimmer" that I literally laughed out loud. I'm going to have so much fun. I got the footswitch as well and stumbled into the looper function and that's freaking cool.
My biggest pet peeve, the top-rear control panel, isn't even a big deal because I can adjust everything with the app, so I don't have to reach for knobs and lean over to see the screen. Very happy with this amp.
This thing is amazing. I scrolled through the presets the day I got it and was so inspired by the "Basic Bass Shimmer" that I literally laughed out loud. I'm going to have so much fun. I got the footswitch as well and stumbled into the looper function and that's freaking cool.
My biggest pet peeve, the top-rear control panel, isn't even a big deal because I can adjust everything with the app, so I don't have to reach for knobs and lean over to see the screen. Very happy with this amp.
I’m still enjoying mine as well. There are a lot of great sounds and a lot of ability to tweak. It’s a great all-in-one practice amp.
The XLR out is pretty awesome, and one of the features that makes the Studio 40 such a fun amp. I'll soon run an XLR cable from the POST side straight into the PA Mixer on a Stagepas 400bt.
The Shimmer also got my attention; like playing a note out of the Dark Crystal or Labyrinth soundtracks. And the app is really quite useful--I suspect the wave of the future will be more and more amps will be IOT.
Where did you see "gate effect"? Just curious.
I've seen a couple of references to a "noise gate" from Rumble Stage & Studio owners in the Fender Rumble Club. You might ask about it there.
A "gate" is mentioned in the user manual but there isn't any description of what it is.
Page 14:
"These consist of “deeper” parameters such as (depending on amp) compression sag, bias and gate controls."