Fender2376000000 Rumble Studio 40 - Electric Bass Guitar Combo Digital Modeling Amplifier, Black

Most of the reservations in my previous review (see below) have been addressed by the September 2018 firmware and app updates (and by turning the volume up).Firmware: They added a very sweet Acoustic Sim amplifier model, to give a nice acoustic tone to an electric bass. Acoustic Sim finally gives me exactly what I bought the Studio 40 for in the first place. They also added an amp model called Acoustasonic, for upright bass, and seven new effects that I haven't tried out yet (but I will).Android app: It connects, stays connected, and reconnects to Bluetooth better than previously -- but far from perfectly. Automatic connection on app startup only works about 50% of the time -- but that's better than before. Reconnecting is a little easier, but it still isn't one-click like it should be. Presets can now be saved to and restored from the Fender cloud. Effects can now be deleted from the app, which is a big deal when you're creating or editing presets.The app still pretty bad for ease-of-use, but at least everything does what it's supposed to do, once you've learned how. And it needs some important features: 1) A bluetooth connected/disconnected icon -- in the app, not in the phone's notification bar. 2) One-click bluetooth reconnect. 3) The current preset should be highlighted in the preset list, so you can get back to it. If you're looking at the preset list on your app, the only way to know which one you're playing is to go look at the screen on the amplifier. It would be super cool to have a box or a pull-down with the last several presets I've played. 4) An option to show the phone's notification bar in the app. 5) A user-feedback/feature request function.And finally, a "my bad" -- when I complained about breakup at medium volume in the previous review, the volume control on the amp was only about 1/4 of the way up (with the volume control on my guitar turned way up). When you turn the amp's volume up to about 3/4, and your guitar volume down, the tone becomes dramatically better. It still doesn't match the Rumble 100, but you can't expect it to -- it's a 40. Plenty of volume, and plenty of low end, for practice, small jams, and maybe gigging in a small room.Well done, Fender. It's a much better amp now, but will you PLEASE make the app about 20 times easier to use!September 2018___________________________________Previous review, May 2018:The amp itself (Studio 40) is very good. The 100 preset amp models are amazing, and the ability to edit any of those presets, or to create up to a hundred more, or to check out other peoples' presets, is a fantastic feature set.The sound is good, but far from superb. At low volume, it's big, fat, and full, all the way to the bottom of the low-A on my detuned five string -- but the low end starts to break up at medium volume, and on a lot of the presets. I have a Fender Rumble 100 ($300), and the Studio 40 doesn't begin to match the tone or the depth of the 100. The Studio 40 has an infinite variety of voices, but the Rumble 100 sounds vastly better, within its much more limited tone set. The Rumble 100 is $50 cheaper than the Studio 40, so you'll have to decide where you want to spend your money. It would be interesting to do a side-by-side with the Rumble 40 ($199), but I don't have one.It's the right size for home practice, jam groups, studio, or gigging in a small room. If you want these voices for a larger room, you can line-out and use the 40 as your monitor (or get the Stage 800, which, judging by the reviews here, sounds a thousand times better).Wifi connected just fine, right out of the box. The only reason for Wifi is firmware upgrades.Suggestion: spend ten bucks on a surge suppressor. This is an expensive piece of gear, and I don't want it getting zapped out by lightning, or my own a/c.The app: YIKES -- not ready for prime time. It runs by connecting your phone directly to the amplifier with Bluetooth, and if Bluetooth doesn't connect, the app doesn't work. My Samsung phone wouldn't connect, but I contacted Fender, and they fixed it (took a couple weeks, but that's OK). The amp works without the app, but it's difficult almost to the point of being useless. Some phones won't connect, and unless you're running Android 6.0 or later, the app won't even install. Fender does not list the devices that don't connect -- they should. The Bluetooth connects automatically about 2/3 of the time. When it doesn't connect, you have to do it manually, which is a nuisance.The app needs a LOT of work. It needs 1) The current (in-use) preset should highlighted, so you can get back to it when you're scrolling around the list; 2) Delete effects directly from the app -- you can add effects from the app, but you have to use the amplifier controls to delete them; 3) Backup all your presets; 4) When Bluetooth disconnects or doesn't connect, make it a one-button option to reconnect. It's a big fat nine-step rigamarole to connect, when it doesn't happen automatically; 5) A notification for "New firmware is available;" 6) a user feedback function.The app needs a whole lot of attention from Fender, but I see absolutely no sign it's getting any. At this writing, it hasn't been updated in two months.So, overall, it's a fun and versatile amp, now that the app is working. Right now I spend more time scrolling through the presets, and tweaking them, than I spend actually playing or practicing. That'll change, though, as I get to know these voices and get them set the way I want them.Four stars -- 4.5 for the amp, minus .5 for the half-baked app.

This amp is amazing. Pumps a fair amount of volume for only 40 watts. Most models are good, but some are just outstanding! And if there are any models you don’t like, just tweak them ‘til you do. Downloading the Fender Tone app makes adjustments a breeze and allows you to download additional user created and pro musician created models. Phone jack for practicing quietly (to keep the family from staging a mutiny), an effects loop and an XLR out for recording or plugging into the P.A. system for a live performance. The separately sold four button footswitch also opens up a whole new word of possibilities. Great Fender quality! Buy with confidence!

Love the amp. Surprisingly light and makes my $200 guitar sound like a $2,000 one. The built in digital tuner is a bonus for when you want to drop tune that E string to D or drop tune to flats. Many presets. The volume is way more than I expected. My windows rattle.😄

This amp is super versatile and full of tones to suit your ear.it was easy to pair unlike some of the reviewsIts powerful and clean sound……definitely a great buy

Bought one of these in October 2019 to replace a Rumble 25 that burned out after 2 years. It produced a nice sound and had a versatile set of features. However, after about a month it started freezing up (wouldn't produce sound; screen frozen) after it had been on for a few minutes. Around my 7th week of ownership, it would no longer power on.It was under warranty, so I got it replaced free of charge in early January. It's now mid-February and the screen on the new unit no longer works. (It still produces sound--for now--but without a screen I can't use a lot of the features, like the built-in tuner.)It's not like I'm using the amp all that much--maybe 5-6 hours a week. It was nice while it lasted, but I expect an amp to last years, not weeks. After three failed Fender amps in a little over two years, I'll probably never buy Fender again.

Love this little guy, I use it at church and at home for practicing, really punchy for a 40 watt 1x10, super light and sounds great, I did get the foot switch separately which is a must for the looper..... now I want the Stage 800 👍👍

Love the sound. Setup was a pain but worth it.

I love the versatility of the amp. So many presets and the app makes it easy to dial in a sound. Haven't used the external connectivity but I like that it's there. It's lightweight.