plugging bass into guitar amp
- Thread starter spuds
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
it is not impossible to damage the speakers (what are the speakers), but the amp will be fine.
spuds said:
it is not impossible to damage the speakers (what are the speakers), but the amp will be fine.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
I would not recommend this; I've heard horror stories about this sort of thing.
When I was younger and borrowed a bass guitar to do a side thing with a few friends, I plugged the bass into my Vibrolux Reverb. It couldn't get very loud, but it worked and my amp hasn't shown any problems. However, other people haven't been so lucky so I say to stick with an amp that you know can handle the proper low end that a bass delivers. Guitar speakers aren't made to handle the low end that a bass throws out.
I would not recommend this; I've heard horror stories about this sort of thing.
When I was younger and borrowed a bass guitar to do a side thing with a few friends, I plugged the bass into my Vibrolux Reverb. It couldn't get very loud, but it worked and my amp hasn't shown any problems. However, other people haven't been so lucky so I say to stick with an amp that you know can handle the proper low end that a bass delivers. Guitar speakers aren't made to handle the low end that a bass throws out.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
Jack Bruce
Tim Bogert
Les Claypool
Chris Novoselic
Nole Redding
Felix Pappalardi
Alen Woody
J Mascis
Paul Macartney
I know thqt is a small list but those guys all play bass through guitar amps...not to mention most bass players form the 60's and 70's that played bass through Marshalls were using the guitar versions...it will not hurt the amp at all...if it is a small amp that uses small speakers the speakers could be damaged, but other that that the amp does not care what you plug into it.
Jack Bruce
Tim Bogert
Les Claypool
Chris Novoselic
Nole Redding
Felix Pappalardi
Alen Woody
J Mascis
Paul Macartney
I know thqt is a small list but those guys all play bass through guitar amps...not to mention most bass players form the 60's and 70's that played bass through Marshalls were using the guitar versions...it will not hurt the amp at all...if it is a small amp that uses small speakers the speakers could be damaged, but other that that the amp does not care what you plug into it.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
I would go for it.
I would go for it.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
I think with a 12 you'll be fine...just dont try to tune down, don't try a 5 string bass, and pound the living hell out of the low notes and you should be alright...I wouldn't gig with it, but in your house...no biggie.
spuds said:
I think with a 12 you'll be fine...just dont try to tune down, don't try a 5 string bass, and pound the living hell out of the low notes and you should be alright...I wouldn't gig with it, but in your house...no biggie.
rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
Ideally, you really shouldn't do this. Guitar amps, and especially guitar speakers, weren't designed to handle the low end frequencies from a bass. You can probably get away with it, but if it were me, I'd just practice unplugged until I could get my hands on a bass amp.
Ryan
Ideally, you really shouldn't do this. Guitar amps, and especially guitar speakers, weren't designed to handle the low end frequencies from a bass. You can probably get away with it, but if it were me, I'd just practice unplugged until I could get my hands on a bass amp.
Ryan
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
Thank you, someone agrees with me. It's one of those things where it has been done and in certain cases, it hasn't caused problems, but why even take that chance in the first place? It's like hooking up a guitar head to a different impedance cabinet than what the transformers are tapped for.
rspst14 said:
Thank you, someone agrees with me. It's one of those things where it has been done and in certain cases, it hasn't caused problems, but why even take that chance in the first place? It's like hooking up a guitar head to a different impedance cabinet than what the transformers are tapped for.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
How? The amps does not know the difference.
HolyDirt said:
How? The amps does not know the difference.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
thank you
BigBazz said:
thank you
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
I don't think it's a very good idea. Why would they make BASS AMPS if it was just fine and dandy to run a bass through a guitar amp? Anyone who thinks just the speakers would be affected is a moron. The amp DOES know the difference because it's not like it doesn't "transport" the frequencies from the bass and its pickups THROUGH TO THE SPEAKER. If guitar amps could talk I'm sure they would tell you that they can feel the difference between a bass and a guitar, that's like HEARING the difference between a bass and tenor in real life.
Long story short buddy, only use the bass through a bass amp because you never know what could happen. And I trust The Chris's experience on this.
I don't think it's a very good idea. Why would they make BASS AMPS if it was just fine and dandy to run a bass through a guitar amp? Anyone who thinks just the speakers would be affected is a moron. The amp DOES know the difference because it's not like it doesn't "transport" the frequencies from the bass and its pickups THROUGH TO THE SPEAKER. If guitar amps could talk I'm sure they would tell you that they can feel the difference between a bass and a guitar, that's like HEARING the difference between a bass and tenor in real life.
Long story short buddy, only use the bass through a bass amp because you never know what could happen. And I trust The Chris's experience on this.
BigBazz
New member
Re: plugging bass into guitar amp
Many people have used guitaramps for bass, and bass amps for guitar, a bass guitar simply sends a small electrical signal into the amp which then eventually pushes it out into the speakers, only the frequency range of the speaker will effect whether it can handle bass or not. bass amps are made because thier designed to sound better with bass and guitar amps designed to sound better with guitars, theres no rule, just make sure if you are going to use a guitar amp that you use a cab designed for bass.
Many people have used guitaramps for bass, and bass amps for guitar, a bass guitar simply sends a small electrical signal into the amp which then eventually pushes it out into the speakers, only the frequency range of the speaker will effect whether it can handle bass or not. bass amps are made because thier designed to sound better with bass and guitar amps designed to sound better with guitars, theres no rule, just make sure if you are going to use a guitar amp that you use a cab designed for bass.
