Peavey MiniMax, or Fender Rumble 500. Help me decide guys

Stewie

Stewie

Supporting Member
Jul 3, 2013
3,547
7,882
5,413
Near Boston
#1
I have the cash to replace my heavy Fender BXR300 combo, and a nice Ampeg SVT15E cab(looking for another).

I've narrowed it down to these two. Never had a chance to try either. Anyone tried both?

If you can convince me either way, I won't have to be the guy who orders both and sends one back.

I play mostly upright, but with a magnetic pickup. I like a big fat low end and brights, only a hint of mids. Kinda like a my Pbass with flats, but with a lot more personality.
 
#2
I replaced my Rumble V3 500 with a MiniMax for few reasons:

1. The Rumble did not play well with my smaller Avatar 210 cab, though it sounded great through my Carvin BRX 410. It just had too much push and overloaded the cab. I had to turn the gain way down for this cab, and it just didn't have the sound.

2. The MiniMax could get the lows if needed, but I really like how more flat it sounded and how it works with my pedals.

3. The Rumble only has 1/4" out. Not a big deal, but I am converting most of my cabling to speakon

4. MiniMax has built-in tuner.

I didn't hate the Rumble at all, I used mostly for our larger gigs for a while. The Peavey just fit me better.

Though, from the sounds of it, you might like the Fender a little more for you.
 
Last edited:
#5
Thanks for the responses

mmbongo said:
Peavey MiniMax. Fender doesn't even have Speakons, so cannot be taken seriously by me.
Click to expand...

I don't own anything with Speakons. Regular phone plugs have been good enough for me for the last 43 years. I do like the look of the Peavey, especially the "deep" and "bright" buttons, and I have no use for built in distortion on the Fender. How do you guys like the tuner on the Peavey? Is it quick and easy? or fussy like my little Korg PitchCrow?
 
#7
9Thumbs said:
Thanks for the responses



I don't own anything with Speakons. Regular phone plugs have been good enough for me for the last 43 years. I do like the look of the Peavey, especially the "deep" and "bright" buttons, and I have no use for built in distortion on the Fender. How do you guys like the tuner on the Peavey? Is it quick and easy? or fussy like my little Korg PitchCrow?
Click to expand...


Using technology for 43 years that was designed for telephone use in the first place is probably the best argument to update your stuff :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: downlowuponit, ToS, Hounddog409 and 2 others
#8
mmbongo said:
Using technology for 43 years that was designed for telephone use in the first place is probably the best argument to update your stuff :)
Click to expand...

No doubt, I have even gone backwards to the bass that was in vogue before Leo created the ultramodern P Bass. Unfortunately, it ain't loud enough to hang with the big boys without electric amplifiers. Seems that the Peavey is winning so far(and it has chicken head knobs)

I'm pretty sure the MiniMax allows use of 1/4 inch phone plugs for the speaker cables, so I've got that going for me ;)
 
#9
Ok, I'll be the guy that says why not try them both. It is very hard to tell from an online discussion which amp you are going to like better. Trust me, been there done that. I'll also be the guy that says to try out other amps also, don't just stick to these 2. There are a lot of great amps out there right now. I'll also be the guy that throws this out as well, I have never played a Peavey amp that I like, never. The MiniMax might be a very good amp, but I couldn't care to find out. I gave up on Peavey bass amps many years ago and when I find myself having to play out of one, I hope for the best and am always disappointed. IMHO, IME and YMMV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aqualung60
#11
I'd start with Fender...gets more love generally here and the Peavey seems to have really dropped off the radar discussion-wise, compliments-wise ....at least that is my perception and IMHO only

and as usual I put in my $0.02 for Traynor Amps

4lb 500watt tone monster


sb500h_lg.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: pudgychef and J.D. Detroit
#14
9Thumbs said:
I have the cash to replace my heavy Fender BXR300 combo, and a nice Ampeg SVT15E cab(looking for another).

I've narrowed it down to these two. Never had a chance to try either. Anyone tried both?

If you can convince me either way, I won't have to be the guy who orders both and sends one back.

I play mostly upright, but with a magnetic pickup. I like a big fat low end and brights, only a hint of mids. Kinda like a my Pbass with flats, but with a lot more personality.
Click to expand...

Personally, I would go with the MiniMax.

I have a rumble. While it has been a good amp with zero issues, I cannot get a tone I like out of it.
I almost purchased a mini max, I liked the tones when I tested one out, but went with the Mesa D800.

That thing is awesome if you can scrap up a few more $$$$
 
  • Like
Reactions: jchrisk1
#18
I've got a MiniMax and I like it. It took a while of fiddling with the knobs to get the tone I want but it sounds great now. The tuner works ok, I mostly use it as a mute when plugging in or unplugging. I do like the deep, punch, and bright switches. I've only used the psychoacoustics switch a few times so I don't really have an opinion on that either way.

I've played through a few Rumbles and like them ok but the MiniMax had more features for what I wanted. People with the MiniMax complain about two things the fan and the sales sticker on top. The cooling fan is loud but when you are playing it is not noticeable and I peeled the sticker right off with new residue or anything.
 
#19
Now to throw a wrench into it. I just found a mint, made in USA, Ampeg B2R in a nice soft case for $125. I'm not that much of a tone fanatic, so long as I can get a good thump out of my 15s. Reading reviews, the problem seems to be that these don't have the Ampeg "sound". I haven't had an Ampeg since the 70s. I think maybe I oughtta jump on this one.
 
#20
9Thumbs said:
Now to throw a wrench into it. I just found a mint, made in USA, Ampeg B2R in a nice soft case for $125. I'm not that much of a tone fanatic, so long as I can get a good thump out of my 15s. Reading reviews, the problem seems to be that these don't have the Ampeg "sound". I haven't had an Ampeg since the 70s. I think maybe I oughtta jump on this one.
Click to expand...

For that price you could get that amp and a preamp pedal (one of the Ampegs or something else) and come out cheaper. Does it meet your needs for power? Is weight a consideration?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back