Upgrading the Fender Rumble v3 40w speaker

Kikegg

Kikegg

Mar 3, 2011
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Madrid, Spain
#1
Totally wrong thread... re-starting... I was sure it was loaded with a 8" speaker but not, it's a
10" Fender Special Design. The combo sounds pretty good and has enough volume to stand against a regular drummer :)

Anyway, the question is still valid.

which 10", 8 ohms speaker would you recommend me for this combo? Would be worth changing the stock speaker with a better one?

Thanks in advance
 
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#3
Kikegg said:
Totally wrong thread... re-starting... I was sure it was loaded with a 8" speaker but not, it's a
10" Fender Special Design. The combo sounds pretty good and has enough volume to stand against a regular drummer :)

Anyway, the question is still valid.

which 10", 8 ohms speaker would you recommend me for this combo? Would be worth changing the stock speaker with a better one?

Thanks in advance
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Did you search the forum? There are at least 2 good threads with recent posts discussing this idea with pictures and technical help regarding how to retune the ports for the new speaker.
 
#5
BassmanPaul said:
You bought a practice amplifier. Trying to make it more by changing out the driver is wasted time and money. if you want more, trade the unit in and add the price of the new driver what you get. Buy something better.
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Good point. As you said it primary use is at home for practice.

I've giged a couple of times with it in small venues and IMO it has the "balls" to hold on quite good, that's the reason. My main rig is a Rumble 500 head + EBS Classic 4x10, so more than anything changing the speaker is a whim not necessity :)

Thanks all for your comments.
 
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#7
BassmanPaul said:
You bought a practice amplifier. Trying to make it more by changing out the driver is wasted time and money. if you want more, trade the unit in and add the price of the new driver what you get. Buy something better.
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That particular practice amp has some nice features and is extremely lightweight, and well priced. The stock speaker is the weak link. The speaker upgrade makes an enormous improvement in the sound, as testified in the threads I mentioned. If you buy the combo used (in mint condition) like I did, as well as a used S2010 like I did, you can have the upgraded package for less than the already low price of a new one. :)

But it is absolutely vital to read the prior threads about this.
 
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#8
bobcruz said:
That particular practice amp has some nice features and is extremely lightweight, and well priced. The stock speaker is the weak link. The speaker upgrade makes an enormous improvement in the sound, as testified in the threads I mentioned. If you buy the combo used (in mint condition) like I did, as well as a used S2010 like I did, you can have the upgraded package for less than the already low price of a new one. :)

But it is absolutely vital to read the prior threads about this.
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Thanks a lot. Very useful.

It's my fault I didn't search 'cos at first I thought it was loaded with a 8" speaker (What I was thinking of? I don't know) so I searched for other terms and no results were found. Later I realized that I was wrong and re-did the post not searching again. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

edited to fix typos
 
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#9
Start here Fender Rumble v3 40 - First Impressions

I followed the above thread, using @AstroSonic recommendations and it turned a pleasant practice amp into a coffeehouse-gig workhorse!! Honestly night-and-day difference!! I use it with an old-time band regularly in brew pubs and wine bars... an fdeck HPF in front of my upright handles most needs, also sounding great with the usual electrics...

The speaker and port changes make a huge difference in sound and allow me to use it for sane-volume rehearsals with a roots group. It has definitely earned its keep. Of course, it won't replace your big rig, but the line out is decent to feed to FOH in a pinch. Folks can naysay all they want, but for the niche it fills in my lineup, I consider the amp and upgrade money well spent!

-robert
 
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#12
doghous said:
My question is: would it be a problem if you powered a 2-300 watt four ohm W speaker with such a low wattage amp? Does a speaker like that need more power to sound good?
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We'll see what @AstroSonic has to say. To me you'd be wasting your money. The speaker would be a total sleeper at 40 watts. Do not use a 4 ohm speaker. Use an Eminence Basslite S2010.
 
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#13
doghous said:
My question is: would it be a problem if you powered a 2-300 watt four ohm W speaker with such a low wattage amp? Does a speaker like that need more power to sound good?
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The amp is only rated to power an 8-ohm speaker. 40 watts can make most speakers sound loud if they have decent sensitivity, but you have to use an 8 ohm speaker.
 
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#14
doghous said:
My question is: would it be a problem if you powered a 2-300 watt four ohm W speaker with such a low wattage amp? Does a speaker like that need more power to sound good?
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No, but I'd probably leave it stock anyway. There's not much to gain from replacing the speaker. Still going to be a 40w amp.
 
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#15
doghous said:
My question is: would it be a problem if you powered a 2-300 watt four ohm W speaker with such a low wattage amp? Does a speaker like that need more power to sound good?
Click to expand...

No, it would not be a problem replacing the Rumble 40 stock driver with one rated at 2-300w, but it would likely be a waste of money. The amp really only puts out 40w into 8 ohms. So why put in a new driver? Well, the amplifier and preamp are quite decent. Running it into a few different cabs made it clear that the amp could be used to advantage with better cabs. The tone with the stock driver was too thumpy/muddy for my taste (strictly a personal preference issue). I was also able to make the stock driver fart out well before the sound became dirty. I modeled a bunch of drivers in that cab and decided on the S2010. This was the least expensive driver that I felt would meet my needs for improved (to my ears) tone and small gig capable. The choice had nothing to do with the neo magnet, though it was nice to see that the combo now weighs 17 pounds (a pound less than stock). Compared to the stock driver, it has more bass depth and much better articulation, yet sounds 'full'. Its mids are smooth and it has nice upper mids-lower treble presence. It is also obviously louder (3+ db greater sensitivity) than the stock driver. Like others, I have found the upgraded Rumble 40 to be not only a great practice amp (I prefer a practice amp with good tone), but quite suitable for small gigs (though not for heavy metal and the like).

JimmyM said:
No, but I'd probably leave it stock anyway. There's not much to gain from replacing the speaker. Still going to be a 40w amp.
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I find the tone of most small 'practice' combos to be wanting. This upgrade made the Rumble 40 into a practice amp with good tone, and made it suitable for small gigs. I found both those gains to be well worth the cost. I've not found any combo amps below $300 (what I have into this) that sound nearly as good. These amps/combos are marketed to/made for beginners. What if a non-beginner wants a practice amp or something for small gigs. They could settle for the under-damped bass and scooped tone that is so appealing to beginners and sounds great in a quiet audition in the store. Or they could buy one with a decent amp and cab, and upgrade the 'cab' with a better driver and optimum tuning.

The cost, with the new driver, is about the same as the Rumble 100 (100w, with a 12 inch driver). Why not just go for more power and a bigger driver. The modified Rumble 40 sounds (to me) substantially better than the Rumble 100 (same thumpy bass issue), and is capable of about the same maximum volume. The Modified 40 actually works better in a rehersal/small group setting - because of its tonal balance it cuts through a mix a lot better.
 
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#16
AstroSonic said:
I find the tone of most small 'practice' combos to be wanting. This upgrade made the Rumble 40 into a practice amp with good tone, and made it suitable for small gigs. I found both those gains to be well worth the cost. I've not found any combo amps below $300 (what I have into this) that sound nearly as good. These amps/combos are marketed to/made for beginners. What if a non-beginner wants a practice amp or something for small gigs. They could settle for the under-damped bass and scooped tone that is so appealing to beginners and sounds great in a quiet audition in the store. Or they could buy one with a decent amp and cab, and upgrade the 'cab' with a better driver and optimum tuning.

The cost, with the new driver, is about the same as the Rumble 100 (100w, with a 12 inch driver). Why not just go for more power and a bigger driver. The modified Rumble 40 sounds (to me) substantially better than the Rumble 100 (same thumpy bass issue), and is capable of about the same maximum volume. The Modified 40 actually works better in a rehersal/small group setting - because of its tonal balance it cuts through a mix a lot better.
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Hmmm, no kidding? Well I'll take your word for it since I don't own it. Fair enough...never mind my original post in here :D
 
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#18
Thx for the replies. I’ve been playing professionally for almost 40 yrs but still have a lot of gaps in my technical knowledge. I just thought that since many amplifiers are rated a certain amount at 8 ohms and often times double that at 4 ohms then maybe somehow there would be an advantage by having a four ohm speaker. Am I looking at it in the wrong way?
 
#20
doghous said:
Thx for the replies. I’ve been playing professionally for almost 40 yrs but still have a lot of gaps in my technical knowledge. I just thought that since many amplifiers are rated a certain amount at 8 ohms and often times double that at 4 ohms then maybe somehow there would be an advantage by having a four ohm speaker. Am I looking at it in the wrong way?
Click to expand...
Only applies if the amp can safely operate at the lower impedance. Some CAN operate safely at 8,4 & 2 ohms, some at 4 ohms and above, some at 8 ohms, but not lower. Depends on the amp's design etc.
Please remember, I'm far from a trusty elec expert in these matters.
 
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