bass guitar through a guitar amp

[jake_xms3_punk]

people have always told me that playing a bass through a guitar amp is a BAD idea because it can blow. is there any truth in this? i have played bass and keyboard etc through countless guitar amps (not for a prolonged amount of time or anything) and nothing bad has happened. is it a myth or fact that playing a bass through a guitar amp should never be done?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

Speaker can blow: yes

Transformer can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Power Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Preamp Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Tone can blow: yes

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

is it a myth or fact that playing a bass through a guitar amp should never be done?

Compare and contrast, if you will, the schematic circuit diagrams of the Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100w guitar amp head and the 1992 Super Bass 100w bass amp head. :naughty:

The main difference between the lead and bass stacks is the heavier duty loudspeakers fitted in the 4x12 cabs for bass.

 

[Kam]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

I played bass live through my Laney AOR 50 combo for nearly three years with the thing cranked right the hell up and there have been absolutely no adverse side effects.

 

[cronnin]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

Speaker can blow: yes

Transformer can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Power Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Preamp Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Tone can blow: yes

Girls in the front row can blow: ?

 

[ksmith63]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

Speaker can blow: yes

Transformer can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Power Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Preamp Tube can blow: no (no more risk than usual)

Tone can blow: yes

If you blow the speaker you can fry the transformer because it won't have the right load on it.

 

[Hellion]

Re: bass guitar through a guitar amp

I played bass in a band using a Fender Dual Showman as my amp, and I never had any problems, but it was a little anemic. It sounded fine. But (and here's the but), I was running it through a Caberet series JBL 15" cabinet. Normal guitar cabinets I think this would have fried.