Build Quality:4.9 out of 5 stars
Hardware:4.8 out of 5 stars
Electronics:4.8 out of 5 stars
Sound:4.8 out of 5 stars
Value:4.9 out of 5 stars
Average:4.8 out of 5 stars

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Fender Rumble 40 v3 Bass Combo Amplifier

Pros:

  • Extremely lightweight and portable
  • Pretty loud for its capacities
  • Line output is very handy for recording
  • Meticulous tone controls

Cons:

  • Footswitch is not included in the package

We all know perfectly well that there are certain features and components that comprise a decent amplifier. Depending on the purpose of the unit, we generally have different requirements and are relatively strict if we are talking about stage amps. The same goes with the bass combos, particularly those that are made for practice. They do not have to be extremely powerful or loud enough to shatter the windows of your bedroom. However, they still have to possess quality sound and be versatile enough to help you find your tone. And while talking about such amplifiers, we definitely have to mention Fender Rumble 40 V3. We do not only have to mention it, but we also have to discuss all of its features and qualities. If you are interested, stay with me and find out more information about the properties of this amplifier.

Features

Fender Rumble 40 V3 has quite an all-encompassing package when it comes to the features. This bad boy has 40 watts of power (which you have already guessed from the name), which is brought to life with the help of a single 10” speaker. It is designed with the supervision of bass players, which means it has everything a professional bassist would need. Now, when we are talking about the versatility of bass amplifiers, we hardly ever mean a bunch of effects or fancy parameters. We simply mean the ability to tweak as much as possible. For this reason, I can easily say that Fender Rumble 40 V3 is one of the most diverse combos since it has not only a 4-band EQ, but also three different voicings that help you shape your tone to perfection. This way you can easily go from vintage to modern and travel through centuries with simple modifications. This little fella does also have all the shapes and sizes of overdrive, which makes your bass even more scrupulous. Fender Rumble 40 V3 is compatible with a foot controller, which enables you to control the overdrive section on the fly. But unfortunately, it is not included in the package, so if needed, you would have to purchase it separately. And finally, this amplifier has a single input for your bass guitar, an auxiliary input for all your CD and MP3 players, headphone output so that you can practice without bothering anyone, and Line Out which allows you to connect this combo to a PA system or a recording apparatus, as well as an input for the footswitch.

Controls

The control section is thought out in a way that screams the functionalities of each knob. It takes just a glance to have at least a rudimentary understanding of what is going on. The design is pretty simple, yet quite fancy: we have ivory knobs mounted on the black surface that enhance the visibility and ease of usage even more. We have just a couple of controls to discuss here, so let’s begin!

All the encoders that you might need during the performance are featured on the front panel. The Gain knob adjusts the input signal from your instrument, making the amplifier compatible with various types of basses. If you engage the overdrive, then this knob will also enhance the amount of distortion. Next, we have three buttons: Bright, Contour and Vintage.

They add presence and shimmer to higher frequencies, cut the mid frequencies and boost the rest of the range, and create the dark tone that is steeped with harmonics and mild compression, respectively. We have one more button, labeled as Overdrive, which triggers the overdrive circuit. In this section, Drive controls the amount of preamp distortion, while Level sets the volume of this effect. Next, we have the equalizers that are presented with Bass, Low Mid, High Mid and Treble knobs. They modify your tone according to the environment in which you are playing. And lastly, we have the Master, which adjusts the overall volume of the combo.

Fender Rumble 40 Sound

Would we be spending so much time discussing the features and controls of Fender Rumble 40 V3, if it sounded like crap? No, we would neglect its existence and move on to the combos that actually have decent tone. Well, since I went on and on rumbling (no pun intended), it means that this amplifier knows how to treat your bass. It is quite surprising to see so many controls and such adjustability on a 40 watt amplifier. But Fender went out of its way to supply its customers with everything those low-ends need.

Let’s get a bit more specific. Three different voicings available on Rumble 40 V3 allow you to easily travel from one mixture of tones to another. The bright switch mixes the shimmery highs with your lows and creates a well-defined, full and rich body. The contour removes the mids while accentuating trebles and basses, delivering that punchy sound. And the vintage switch provides you with that old-school distortion that is rich in harmonics and has a very distinctive character.

The overdrive sounds pretty decent for the price as well. But when it comes to the EQ, you just have to listen to the magic yourself, because no words can describe its capacities. Even though Fender Rumble 40 V3 will not handle any stadiums or concert halls, it will easily rock your bedroom or the practice basement and help you master various bass techniques easily.  

Conclusion

All in all, Fender Rumble 40 V3 has all the bells and whistles needed to nail anything from vintage to modern distortion, clean bass and all of its dimensions. It is very lightweight, which will be useful for those who move around a lot. Even though the size of this combo does not say much, this baby can pack a punch and rumble up your existence in seconds! Good luck!

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