Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

[greco]

A freind of mine just bought a bass guitar and is saving for an amp.

He has been told that it is OK to play the bass through a regular guitar amp (old 40 watt Farfisa amp with 2 x 12").
He is concerned that he might blow the speakers, or damage the amp. somehow.

Should he be concerned?

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Ive blown two amps using a bass through a guitar amp, they were the schools amps, and i told the idiot band teacher that it would happen he told me to shut up and play.. not my fault

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

He should not try it.

 

[greco]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

I figured that they made bass amps for a reason.

Was it the speakers that blew? (assuming)

Thanks

Dave

 

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Yeah, it's usually the speakers. At the Guitar Center near me, they finally made a point of not having any decent guitar amps anywhere near the basses, according to the manager.

That said, it's perfectly OK to play a bass through a guitar amp/cab if you do it at low enough volume. I do it all the time when I'm practicing bass in bed and am too lazy to go in the studio where my bass amps are.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Just the speakers. You're not going to damage the amp itself.

Generally speaking, guitar speakers aren't meant to handle the 40hz thump you're getting off a low E. Especially if you're playing an old open back guitar combo.

If you're going to do it, it has to be at a really low volume.

 

[SizzleSale.com]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Good question. I was curious about this too.

 

[i love everyone]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

i've done it before at high volumes, but not for very long at once, and with the bass on the guitar amp all the way down. a friend of mine ran her bass through a guitar stack with her band for years. i think it'll work alright as long as the bass on the amp is turned down.

 

[greco]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Is the reason for this due to the fact that the speaker cones on bass speakers are thicker in construction, or made of a different material, or is it something to do with the other parts of the speaker (e.g., coil).

Thanks for all the responses.

Smilemon....I'm still laughing at #2 post.....not about what happened....just the way it was written.

 

[baritone]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Playing a bass guitar through guitar speakers is definitely not recommended. It is true that it can be done if you watch the volume and the EQ, but this is only useful if playing alone at home.

I have an old Epiphone guitar practice amp I bought used for traveling a few years ago. Since I now have better guitar amps, and my bass amp is a little difficult to get in and out of my Mustang, I decided to convert this Epiphone.

The amp is a 25 watt solid state combo with a single channel, 3-band EQ, and built-in gain, and with an 8" Electar speaker. I just switched out the speaker for an Eminence pro-audio speaker, which goes down to 50Hz and handles up to 125 watts. The sound is great, and the distortion sounds better with my bass than with my guitars, but it still does not get exceptionally loud.

 

[greco]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Could someone please answer post #9. Thanks

My curiosity is killing me and I enjoy getting more education in general.

Dave

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Q9: Bass speakers are designed/built to go low, and at high amplitude (vol)
This makes heat, and needs to be dissipated. Or Mr. Coil will melt.
Also heavy dampening...

Think onroad vs offroad car tyres....

 

[greco]

Re: Bass guitar through a regular guitar amp...OK ??

Q9: Bass speakers are designed/built to go low, and at high amplitude (vol)
This makes heat, and needs to be dissipated. Or Mr. Coil will melt.
Also heavy dampening...

Think onroad vs offroad car tyres....

Thanks....never knew that dissipating heat would be the key factor...interesting

Mr. Coil melting would certainly not be a very nice sight to behold.:scared:


Dave