Best Practice Bass Amp: Fender Rumble vs. Ampeg Rocket Bass 108

[@jhgust]

Excellent job!!! Thank you for playing the same basic lines to demonstrate the different tones that you can get from the amplifiers. All too often people who demonstrate amplifiers show how good their chops are and we are left wondering what the amp actually sounds like. Bravo!!!

[@phatboyzband831]

9:08 you're welcome

[@rasmustand]

The video is chaptered😭

[@JohnDavis-yj7lf]

Why didn't you use the next size up on the Ampeg? Your giving the Fender an advantage from the start... you should have started on equal ground dude

[@e.paradigm7415]

I just got the FR40 and it is actually one of the best practice bass amps that I’ve ever had. I was so blown away by how good the amp sounds for the size and price. It is also INCREDIBLY light! feels sooo good bringing it over to my cousins house so we can jam together and not have to haul around a heavy amp. It is actually pretty loud as well to play with a guitarist but I’ve yet to practice with a drummer. The dynamic range of the amp is one of my favorite things in itself as u can find the right tone for your bass. Again, for the price you get a lot of awesomeness with the FR40 I bought mine on sale so with tax I paid a little less than $200.

[@MOAB-UT]

Agreed.

[@BuildYourOwnBass]

This simple shootout video bought you all a new subscriber. Glad to find your channel 🤘

[@CaseyTXFA]

I like Alamo's videos. Great job. I just purchased an 800 series Taylor from them and it went great. Now exploring bass amps.

[@gibsonnyata127]

I like how you've done your comparison,also your advice has come at a right time where I was stranded as a bass beginner to which combo speaker to go with.av realised that at a Start of learning point I dnt need such an expensive investment.thanks much man for your wise advice.av now known where to begin....

[@briansotodo]

Thank you Carlos! This was very helpful

[@keith1r]

I compared the Rocket 50 to the Rumble 40 in Guitar Center. Same bass and same settings. Rumble had more low end and was much louder. Rumble was also less expensive

[@bobvogt2242]

I bought a Rumble 40. It was good but I thought it could be better. For starters I installed some acoustic foam to smooth out the tone. The biggest improvement, however, was to trade the 10" speaker that came with the amp for an Eminence Baselite S2010 speaker. I can take it to more gigs and be heard. Moreover, it now makes a great recording amp in the studio.

[@RyanLovesReds]

Thanks for sharing your mods. The 100 and 500 have eminence speakers but the 40 just says custom. While it’s decent for a novice, definitely seems like replacing it is the way to go down the road.

[@zaheerquraishi5494]

Isn't it kinda unfair to compare the RB 108 (30 W, 8 inch woofer) to a Rumble 40 tho? Here in Canada the Rumble 40 (40 W, 10 inch woofer) is 320 (+ tax) and the Ampeg RB 110 (50 W, 10 inch woofer) is 330 (+tax). I think the Rumble 40 and RB 110 would have been a much more fair comparison.

[@tagadabrothersband]

Nice review, but I think we should have compared the Rumble 40 to the Ampeg RB110, as it has closest specifications (10'' speaker and equivalent control knobs).

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I love my Rumble 100. It punches above its Weight-class. Small, lightweight, portable & Sounds great. No more hernia or back breaking ( just to gig ). It's a little beast.

[@aluminati9918]

Nice comparison. I’d add the TC Electronic BAM 200 watt micro-head amp ($169,-) to the mix. Together with a small/ mid size cab at your rehearsal space, this will take you from home-rehearsal w. phones all the way to loud gigs.

[@thomasgawecki6970]

The Ampeg RB110 is a better comparison to the Rumble 40 than the Ampeg RB108 is, as the RB110 has a 10-inch speaker like the Rumble has. Then you'd have closer to an apples-to-apples comparison, especially when comparing the tones to each other. It's almost like you biased your comparison to favor the Fender.

[@yeoldefoxeh254]

Right?

[@64jazz]

👍🏾That would make more sense for an equal/fair comparison 👊🏾

[@wijoma2]

Probably because the Rumble 40 and the RB-108 are around the same price. If someone's looking to spend $200 these are the two they'd be considering.

[@johncollins5552]

True but he does say they are equal in price range not speaker size in the video before he plays them. The ampeg with the 10 inch is considerably more expensive. A hundred bucks more approx.

[@jmongmon1100]

What I wonder is what is better with the ampeg 10" vs the fender 12" as they are about the same size and price point....jist like these 2. Ampeg makes a bigger cab per inch speaker.

[@s9plus20]

Great review Carlos! Thanks!

[@MOAB-UT]

It's Rumble for the win. This video proves it. I also played both today at Guitar Center. Clearly, the cheaper Rumble sounded better. More fullness and deeper bass. It is also more versatile with more settings and features. Ampeg makes some great bass amps but this is clearly their bargain model and it shows. Even the dials felt cheap- felt like they want us to pay the extra $50 for the name. Sorry, not happening.

[@darwinsaye]

I would love to hear a comparison of the new Ampeg Rocket series vs the previous BA v2 series, because I worry that they may have changed the tone to cater to players who prefer "modern" tones. My BA has that perfect classic Ampeg tone, which is why I chose it over the Fender Rumble, so if the new Rockets are trying to sound more like the Rumbles, I'm going to be *really* disappointed.

[@mikesalt8248]

Well said could not agree more !

[@jmongmon1100]

I have the ba 115 and has a very nice tone. I may get the fender 12 to use for a lightweight option for open mics.

[@BillonBass]

Why aren’t you comparing to the Rocket RB-110? That would be apples to apples. The biggest difference that makes the Ampeg a better choice is it just sounds better as is always the case with an Ampeg compared to a Fender bass amp of any size.

[@andygazi]

10watt more and $100 more. If you want to compare price points then, compare the RB-110 it to a Rumble 100. There is not 1-1 comparison.

[@lucasimmons075]

@@andygazi That's a crazy difference because in Canada the RB-110 is only 10 bucks more than the Rumble 40

[@sboy1955]

Good info.. thanks!

[@MNMitchell-h5s]

the Ampeg has a much better-constructed cabinet. That's easily seen when removing the drivers. The problem it has is with the absolutely awful speaker that Ampeg insists on using that was used in earlier 8" bass amps. If you replace that with a decent driver ($50-70 typically) you wind up with an fantastic combo.

[@raletky]

I live in TX too!

[@danielnava-ut4nz]

It is the best comparison I've seen / heard +++++

[@orlandonandez]

I have both. Anyone else get a lot more floor noise on Ampeg than Rumble? I found it very striking.

[@MOAB-UT]

Yes. It is the cheap Ampeg. Find an amp with class D amplification. Also, your power matters and also if you have lights, routers, etc. nearby and don't ignore the quality of the cables and what they are next too.

[@rolandoamado1459]

The Ampeg tone is head and shoulders above the Rumble. Both very nice amps.

[@gorlagOv]

Yamaha makes good things, but I really like the Rumble in person better.

[@albertmunk1481]

I still have my 1978 Fender precision I bought from yall new it was a cream color custom ordered that they did not pick up it is retired in Pennsylvania and I'm playing my 2001 50 year anniversary American Deluxe Zone

[@rcb_matt]

I've played through a Rumble 40, 100, 200 and 500. I like the 40... that's when i went and bought a 200. I gigged with the 200 for a couple years. Loved it... found a deal on a 500 and after using it for a few shows, I sold it. I didn't like the 500. IMO the 200 blows away the 500 in tone. The 500 is super loud and will carry any venue within reason. Just didn't like it.

[@chriscuthbertson]

This comparison is worthless, comparing apples to oranges. should have used a Ampeg RB110

[@MusicLand53]

Agreed

[@mattiisosalo918]

I bought Orange Crush Bass 50. No regrets, it’s great.

[@fredparker3384]

Is it loud enough for the basement??

[@mattiisosalo918]

@@fredparker3384 It’s loud enough for living room at least. Amps this size are basically practice amps. If you’re going to play with a drummer I would get something more powerful like the Crush Bass 100, but for practice or jamming with a guitarist with a small amp it’s fine.

[@kevinmach730]

Fair enough, but that's another 50% more than what these amps featured here cost.

[@AbelHinojosaArias-hi4xl]

Yo compré un fender rumble y no llena mejor lo rematé y compré un buguera con bocina turbosoun de 1000 wats y un ampeg 115 de 300 wats. El rumble es para lugares pequeños, afuera no llena 👍

[@jessebarrera159]

Can you use a pedal to improve the sound and increase the volume?

[@yeoldefoxeh254]

A pedal won't increase the volume of an amp. It can raise signal level but that'll be capped and distorted at a certain level.

[@mikesalt8248]

I am a big fan of Ampeg, but they have made a mistake in omitting the aux in volume control. It is a necessary feature on a practice amp ! So I am glad I own a BA 108

[@michaelbrohl1625]

This is a totally unfair comparison. You either need to downgrade the Rumble to a 1x8 25 watt or upgrade the Ampeg to the 1x10 50watt. Now THAT would be a more fair comparison.

[@antolin22]

Great comparison!!! One question, I need one amp for jam in small place (70m2) with acoustics instruments and electronic drum. The Ampeg RB-108 it'd be enough? Or would not have enough power? Thank you in advance. Best regards!!

[@frankyyy510]

Hands-down the Ampeg sounds way better. Sounds fuller in the upper mids and not bright. It does the ampeg thing.

[@phatboyzband831]

Ampeg hands down better.. tone on all thos ampeg line is cleaner deeper rumble muddy

[@MOAB-UT]

Poor comparison comparing an 8" to a 10" is rediculous. Next up, "BMW M3 vs. Kia! Check out who wins!" Stop focusing on the $50 difference- we get it.

[@sovka8394]

Fender Rumble 40 is 110€ more expensive than Ampeg in Europe. Totally not worth it imho.

[@Jason-td4hu]

Why not compare a 110 to a 110? Makes no sense.

[@frankconijn3987]

Next video, be much more to the point and don’t repeat yourself. This one could have lasted 5 minutes and you could have told exactly the same.

[@yoshiyakusamura7405]

Ampeg sounds way better here.

[@dylanshackelton845]

comparing a 1x8 to a 1x10, instead of doing the 1x10 against the 1x10 smh.

[@MoneYovanI]

Ampeg LasT longer than Fender

[@williampatterson5067]

No they don't had 2 ampegs both didn't last a year. Bought the Fender have had it for 2 years now so screw Ampeg they suck!