Fender Rumble ok for beginner?

[Mike]

Hey Guys,

Back in February, I picked up a Jazz Bass from a pawn shop. I've been really enjoying it, but truth be told, I haven't played it as much as I want, because... my girlfriend took over my bass.

I'm not going to complain. She's been playing it for about three months now, and practices for at least 4 hours a week. She's getting better, and I think she is going to stick with it. Plus, she's only 5 feet tall, so holding a bass = huge laughs.

I would like to get her an amp. I found a Fender Rumble 100 on the local CL that looks like it was a bedroom amp for a high-schooler who gave up after a couple of months of playing. It still has the factory stickers on it.

The seller wants $125. There are three of the same amps at local pawn shops for $175, with their first lower offer around $140, so this is below the cost for the pawn shops.

Do any of you guys have any experience with the Rumble bass amps? Do you think a Rumble 100 would be adequate for a living room player who will never be in a band, and likely never even connect an effect pedal?

Thanks!

Mike

[grindonomicon]

It's craigslist. Offer $100 cash. $100 for a 15" speaker 100 watt solid state Fender practice amp = a dang nice starter amp.

Next - cheap good-with-bass fuzz pedal!

[Mike]

Cool, thanks. It's about a half hour away, so I am hoping to try'n'buy tomorrow.

We're still at the rhythm and technique stage of things. If she ever wants to use any pedals, she'll have her choice of whatever she wants. If what I have doesn't fit the bill, I'll pretty much build her anything she'll want... heh!

Mike

[Noise...]

I'd say more than ok, definitely for $100-ish.

I like the Rumble line well enough. An Ampeg or something might be a good upgrade in the future, but she won't really be *hurting* for that upgrade.

And get that girl a Mustang Bass. :P

[The4455]

Yah, the rumble series are okay, for a begginer they're good amps. I'd get it, for $100 you can't really get anythign else that's that good.

[Mike]

Great, I'm going to go check it out tomorrow around noon, and if it works (and I'm sure it will), I'll be bringing it home. Even at the asking price, it's lower than anything else around, and in much nicer shape: http://savannah.craigslist.org/msg/2573522166.html

I've been looking for an amp for a while. We've been using a Roland keyboard amp that I garbage picked (and fixed), and it sounds like mud. I wanted something bigger than a tiny amp, so she at least has a chance at keeping up with me.

She's been thinking about getting her own bass. She's seen a bunch that she likes based on looks, but wants to play them first. I'll giver a few more months before I kick her off my bass. :P

She likes the thinner neck of the jazz bass, for sure. We're worried that a bass with a wider nut, even a short scale, might be too wide. Her hands are ridiculously tiny-- she could trace them on a paper plate right now and you would swear it was a kindergartener's hands.

Thanks guys!

Mike

[Noise...]

Great, I'm going to go check it out tomorrow around noon, and if it works (and I'm sure it will), I'll be bringing it home. Even at the asking price, it's lower than anything else around, and in much nicer shape: http://savannah.craigslist.org/msg/2573522166.html

I've been looking for an amp for a while. We've been using a Roland keyboard amp that I garbage picked (and fixed), and it sounds like mud. I wanted something bigger than a tiny amp, so she at least has a chance at keeping up with me.

She's been thinking about getting her own bass. She's seen a bunch that she likes based on looks, but wants to play them first. I'll giver a few more months before I kick her off my bass. :P

She likes the thinner neck of the jazz bass, for sure. We're worried that a bass with a wider nut, even a short scale, might be too wide. Her hands are ridiculously tiny-- she could trace them on a paper plate right now and you would swear it was a kindergartener's hands.

Thanks guys!

Mike

Check out the Squier Vintage Modified '70s Jazz Bass. SUPER skinny neck that would probably be just what she's looking for.

Spending more, and see the Geddy Lee Jazz bass, which has a similar skinny neck.

[wdinc01]

I think Squier is making a line of Mustang basses now, so that's something to look at. If not, a used Fender Mustang may also be something to consider.

As for the amp, I would certainly suggest that. I got a Fender Rumble 15 when I first started playing, which was six or seven years ago. I still use it today as my bedroom/small practice amp. And I really like the sound of them enough to actually continue using it. No need to replace something that works fine for me.

[Astricii]

I can second the Squire VM line. I had the 70's jazz bass model and it was nice for my little guitarist hands. I'm thinking of picking up a VM Short Scale Jaguar for my lady. She's been showing more interest in her old bass recently. I think a nice novice set up would give her some motivation to get back on it. ... The bass that is...

[MaxMaps]

Great, I'm going to go check it out tomorrow around noon, and if it works (and I'm sure it will), I'll be bringing it home. Even at the asking price, it's lower than anything else around, and in much nicer shape: http://savannah.craigslist.org/msg/2573522166.html

I've been looking for an amp for a while. We've been using a Roland keyboard amp that I garbage picked (and fixed), and it sounds like mud. I wanted something bigger than a tiny amp, so she at least has a chance at keeping up with me.

She's been thinking about getting her own bass. She's seen a bunch that she likes based on looks, but wants to play them first. I'll giver a few more months before I kick her off my bass. :P

She likes the thinner neck of the jazz bass, for sure. We're worried that a bass with a wider nut, even a short scale, might be too wide. Her hands are ridiculously tiny-- she could trace them on a paper plate right now and you would swear it was a kindergartener's hands.

Thanks guys!

Mike

As you said it, she has to go out and try each bass before she makes her final choice. There are a million options available and if you simply can't find one your dead set on you can always swap necks and go the warmoth route. Like it was said before try the squire bass line, Ibanez basses have small necks from the few that I have owned.

With respects to the amp, almost anything will do. If I was you I would just keep supporting her interest in playing which I think is paramount. I have quit and started playing three times in my life, I really really really wish I had people back then that would have forced me to keep on going ( le drama *sigh* ). You can buy best of the best as far as basses, amps and effects goes, but if you can use them to produce anything then they are just about as good as paperweights. I have meet many musicians who could produce awesome music and play circles around me with a 200.00 instrument and a 100.00 amp.

[Mike]

Well, I picked it up. She's about to come home for lunch and try it out.

After I looked at it, I decided to not even try to negotiate. This thing looks brand freaking new. The beaters at the pawn shop would run me $150 out the door, so a practically brand-new amp for $125 seems worth it. It doesn't have a single flaw on it that I can find (besides one missing screw grommet, looks like someone tried to take it apart, but gave up). The plastic on the brand plate is still on it!

The guy told me he bought it for his son, who only stays with him every other weekend. The son played it for a few months, and then it sat in the closet until now.


This is her second time trying to learn an instrument. Back in around 1999, we got her a really nice mandolin. She struggled at it for a few months, and then gave up. Too many strings and too fine of technique required, and not enough common music to keep inspired. Her mandolin does make a nice decoration, though... heh!

I've encourage so many people to learn an instrument over the years (I've been playing for 2 decades). I always really, really stress what I call the "5 minute rule" of learning an instrument. I don't care how long you play each week, so long as you practice 5 minutes a day, every day. It works. Not only do the daily exercises help build muscle and coordination, but the rule is actually a trick. Nobody can pick up an instrument and play for just 5 minutes. 5 minutes becomes an hour before you know it.

Hopefully, in a few months, she'll have enough confidence and skill to hit the music stores and try a bunch of basses.

Thanks guys!

Mike

[Noise...]

memo to self find girlfriend and force her to play an instrument rather than finding elusive musician girlfriend.

[Mike]

And here it is...

[MaxMaps]

And here it is...

I started on something that was way below the quality of that rig.

Very nice.

[Noise...]

And here it is...

I started on something that was way below the quality of that rig.

Very nice.

I still have a less quality bass rig, and I've been playing for like five years.